Join the Easter Egg Hunts
Adventures in nature with the National Trust’s Easter egg trails in Kent and Sussex
Bring the whole family together this Easter and treat your loved ones to the magic of an Easter egg trail with the National Trust. With trails running across the whole of the Easter school holidays, spot the signs of spring and experience nature bursting into life at places in Kent and East Sussex. From identifying creepy crawlies to nature spotting, discovering new bird songs to giant art, the trails have been designed to tickle the senses and immerse little ones in the natural world.
And of course, each National Trust Easter adventure in nature trail ends with a chocolate egg, made here in the UK using cocoa responsibly sourced from Rainforest Alliance Certified farms. Here are some of the best National Trust Easter trails to enjoy nearby:
KENT
Sissinghurst Castle Garden, Cranbrook
Vita Sackville-West and Harold Nicolson fell in love with Sissinghurst Castle and created a world-renowned garden.
The Easter trail runs through our estate and is crammed with fun sensory activities, from identifying creepy crawlies and listening out for the cuckoos call to sniffing out floral scents. Enjoy the views across Sissinghurst Castle Garden and the weald of Kent as you weave around the country estate, peering into the veg garden and seeing the orchard blossom. There’s also an opportunity to find out about the conservation work which helps protect this world-famous garden.
Runs 2 to 18 April, £3 per trail plus normal admission
Ightham Mote, near Sevenoaks
There’s fish to spot in the moat and plenty of room to run free and have adventures in at Ightham Mote.
The Easter adventures in nature trail has a host of challenges for little explorers from butterfly spotting to story writing, discovering spring colours to weather watching. Don’t miss the natural play area too.
Runs 2 to 18 April, £3 per trail plus normal admission.
Scotney Castle, Lamberhurst
Follow the trail to find the bird ID stations and discover more about how our feathered friends look and sound.
In front of the house, make a “pledge for nature” on wooden discs prepared by rangers from branches felled on the Scotney estate, and add your pledge to create a giant oak leaf shape.
Stop by the Badger and Pepper play area, tree swings, natural drum kit and playhouse. Those happy to get their hands dirty can make a mud pie, or two, in our mud kitchen. There’s plenty of buggy friendly paths around the garden, and a wilderness camp to explore in the surrounding woodlands.
Runs 2 to 18 April, £3 per trail plus normal admission
Knole
Whether you’re hopping like a bunny, spotting a giant butterfly or having fun opening our bird boxes, immerse yourself in nature at Knole and take part in the Easter trail. Find all 10 markers in the parkland to become a nature explorer. Collect your trail from the Visitor Centre and once you’re finished, head back there to collect your chocolate egg, whilst stocks last.
Trail runs 9 to 18 April, £3 per trail.
National Trust car park is for house admission ticket holders only. To use the car park, pre-book admission tickets for every person in your vehicle. Members park free and non-members pay an additional £5 parking charge on arrival.
Chartwell, Westerham
Explore the gardens around Winston Churchill’s home at Chartwell on a new trail for Easter. As the flowers flood the grounds with colour, we’re celebrating nature. Say hi to the bumblebees that make it all possible, make friends with the Golden Orfe fish and dragonflies living in Churchill’s ponds or see what’s growing down in the Walled Garden to create your own recipe to try at home.
Head out into the woodlands after for play areas including swings, bomb crater and treehouse.
Runs 4 to 18 April, £3 per trail plus normal admission
Emmetts Garden, Sevenoaks
Hop to it at Emmetts Garden on a new Easter trail as spring awakens. Head out into nature to see what’s blooming and see what signs of new life you can spot.
Go on the hunt for footprints of some of the garden’s inhabitants, discover the variety of plants that grow here or be inspired by the Bug Hotel with top-tips to make one at home too. Head to the wild play area to join nature’s band and make your own rhythms, or scavenge for materials to build a nature tower.
Runs 4 to 18 April, £3 per trail plus normal admission.
Please check pre-booking requirements on the website before visiting
EAST SUSSEX
Bateman’s, Burwash
Some of the best-known children’s books were written at and inspired by Bateman’s. As Rudyard Kipling’s family home, this charming garden has a river running through it, hedges to hide behind and plenty of space to run around.
For the Easter school holidays, a new adventures in nature trail will challenge little ones to look for frogspawn, be a ‘hedge detective’ and create a nature story inspired by their literary surroundings.
Runs 2 to 18 April, £3 per trail plus normal admission
Bodiam Castle, near Robertsbridge
One of the most perfect moated medieval castles in the land. The towers, reflected in the water, look as they would have done 600 years ago. This is a place where you can relive your childhood memories and let your imagination run riot. As you enter under the 600-year-old portcullis, look out for the murder holes, and medieval graffiti on the sandstone walls.
On the Easter trail take in the view of Bodiam Castle and the surrounding countryside as you tick off the activity list. Look or listen out for a chiffchaff among birds singing in the castle grounds and find springtime reflections in the moat.
Runs 9 to 18 April, £3 per trail plus normal admission
Lamb House, Rye
Step into a hidden gem off the cobbled streets of Rye and explore the extensive garden of Lamb House on the Easter trail. The trail runs around the open lawn and hidden paths. Hop like a bunny or spot spring wildlife on an easter adventure. Make sure you peak into the veg garden to see what yummy veg is growing this time of year.
Runs 2 to 18 April, £3 per trail plus normal admission
Images courtesy of ©National Trust Images – James Dobson
