Summer Holiday Open Mornings

Join us at Howe Park Wood for free nature activities!

Howe Park Wood is one of the city’s jewels, a tranquil oasis, humming with wildlife and colour. As well as being home to a wide variety of wildlife, Howe Park Wood boasts more than 200 plant species, some so rare that English Nature has designated it a Site of Special Scientific Interest for its wildlife value. All activities are free and suitable for families. All ages are welcome!

There is free parking available on site, public toilets and Grounds Cafe will be open for refreshments. This event will take place at Howe Park Wood Education Centre, opposite the Westcroft Centre, off of the H7 Chaffron Way (MK4 3GG).  What3Words location pound.trespass.munched

If the car park is full, please park at the Westcroft Centre and walk under the underpass.  

Week 1: Tue 21st, Wed 22nd & Thu 23rd July: Our theme is Wildlife Warriors

• Learn what you can do to help wildlife locally
• Find out why ‘pests’ can be useful 
• Take part in challenges to protect habitats from invasive species  
• Plus, enjoy our popular colouring activities, perfect for all ages! 

Looking for more? You can also pre-book to create a mini bug hotel in our tent outside the centre. Please note this is a paid-for activity. Click here to book your session.

Week 2: Tue 28th, Wed 29th & Thu 30th July: Our theme is Super Senses

• Is your sense of smell as good as a fox’s? Test your nose with our smell pot challenge 
• Explore nature with our feely boxes 
• How good is our hearing? Use our sound tubes to find out
• Take part in our sensory trail in the wood 

Looking for more? You can also pre-book to join us for a guided wellbeing walk around Howe Park Wood. Please note this is a paid-for activity. Click here to book your session.

Week 3: Tue 4th, Wed 5th & Thu 6th August: Our theme is Wildlife with Wings

• Wonder at the beauty of live moths (they really are amazing!)  
• Work out what owls eat by exploring bones in their pellets 
• Take part in our bird beak challenge to find out about adaptations 
• Identify birds using their feathers 

Looking for more? You can also book to create a moth headdress in our tent outside the centre. Please note this is a paid-for activity. Click here to book your craft session.

Week 4: Tue 11th, Wed 12th & Thu 13th August: Our theme is Super Creatures

• Take part in our wildlife Olympic challenges outside
• Find out about Spidey Senses 
• See if your tadpole has what it takes to survive life in the pond 
• Discover the animal masters of disguise 

Looking for more? You can also turn up and join us outside the Education Centre for the Animal Olympics! Booking is not essential for this activity, please just turn up and join us from 09:30-12:30. 

Week 5: Tue 18th, Wed 19th & Thu 20th August: Our theme is Marvellous Minibeasts

• Discover the amazing microscopic detail of some of our common minibeasts 
• Investigate the weird and wonderful way that insects eat 
• See crickets and grasshoppers up close and find out more about them 
• Check if you can identify your insects from the rest of the minibeasts 

Looking for more? You can also book to do bug hunting in the field behind the centre, using a sweep net and a magnifying glass that we provide. Please note this is a paid activity. Click here to book your bug hunting equipment.
 
Week 6: Tue 25th, Wed 26th & Thu 27th August: Our theme is Nature Games

• How far do birds fly? 
• Top Parks game
• Tree-vial Pursuit  
• Can you get the hedgehog home? 
• There will also be our usual colouring activities, perfect for all ages! 

Looking for more? You can also pre-book to create happa zomes and seed parcels in our tent outside the centre. Please note this is a paid-for activity. Click here to book your session.