Hardwick Park events
Hardwick Park is a country park with a difference, a Visit England accredited attraction, and a great place to visit at any time of the year. Find the latest park news and details of our current events and activities.
Author Adventures: Beatrix Potter
Date: Thursday 4 April
Time: 1.00pm
Price: £10 per child
Hop, skip, and jump into Spring this Easter and be taken on a Beatrix Potter-inspired Spring adventure. Children will be introduced to a selection of the well loved stories by this famous author. At Hardwick Park they can explore the watery world of the ducks and frogs as well as the woodland home of animals such as a fox. Visit the story corner to enjoy some of these popular animal tales and be taken on a Spring adventure in the park with a selection of activities and games.
Easter Forest Club
Date: Tuesday 9 April
Time: 10.00am to 12 noon
Price: £8.50 per child
Under fives and their families can join us for our Easter Forest Club. Sessions are aimed at children 18 months to five years of age and will take place in our outdoor learning area.
Forest Club is a hands-on experience designed to teach children about the natural world around them. The session is play based and will offer a variety of familiar and new activities for the children to try.
Into the Wild
Date: Thursday 11 April
Time: 10.00am, 12.30pm (SOLD OUT), 2.30pm
Price: £20 per ticket (maximum of six per family)
Go wild with us this Easter. Families are invited to join our education team in the great outdoors where you will build your own den, decorate the inside and then build a fire to toast marshmallows then sit back and enjoy a hot chocolate.
Jack and The Beanstalk
Date: Wednesday 17 April and Saturday 20 April (SOLD OUT)
Time: 10.00am and 1.00pm (Saturday 20 April only)
Price: £5 per child
- Book Jack and The Beanstalk 17 April 10.00am
- Book Jack and The Beanstalk 17 April 10.00am
- Book Jack and the Beanstalk 20 April 1.00pm
Easter Trail - The Great Carrot Hunt
Date: Friday 29 March to Sunday 14 April
Time: Park opening hours
Price: £1 per collect from the cafe during opening hours
Can you help the Hardwick Bunny find those crazy carrots? Each time you find one collect the letter and solve the word puzzle.
Step into Storytime: The Very Hungry Caterpillar
Date: Wednesday 8 May, Friday 11 May
Time: 10.00am to 11.30am and 1.00pm to 2.00pm
Price: £6
Outdoor discovery sessions for younger children involving crafts, storytelling and interactive park trails. Suitable for children between the ages of two and five. Children must be accompanied by an adult and workshops will take place out in the park grounds.
Step into Storytime: Pirates Love Underpants
Date: Wednesday 12 June, Saturday 15 June
Time: 10.00am to 11.30am and 1.00pm to 2.30pm
Price: £6
Outdoor discovery sessions for younger children involving crafts, storytelling and interactive park trails. Suitable for children between the ages of two and five. Children must be accompanied by an adult and workshops will take place out in the park grounds.
Step into Storytime: Little Red Riding Hood
Date: Wednesday 3 July, Saturday 6 July
Time: 10.00am to 11.30am and 1.00pm to 2.30pm
Price: £6
Outdoor discovery sessions for younger children involving crafts, storytelling and interactive park trails. Suitable for children between the ages of two and five. Children must be accompanied by an adult and workshops will take place out in the park grounds.
Spring (term one) Little Fledglings Forest School - sold out
To be added to our waiting list contact us.
Join us to get wild before five at our Spring (term one) Little Fledglings Forest School. If you have a child aged between 18 months and five years you can sign them up for six weeks of fun learning through play.
During the six week programme each child moves at their own pace, supported each week by our Forest School Practitioner.
Little Fledglings Forest School aims to inspire children through nature, building their confidence and self-esteem and encouraging individual growth. Whether children are building, climbing, bug hunting or making mud pies; children will learn through play in the great outdoors with the park as their playground.
Date: Every Tuesday morning Tuesday 27 February to Tuesday 2 April 2024 (six week block)
Time: 10.00am to 12 noon
Location: Outdoor Learning Area at Hardwick Park.
Cost: £45 includes parking passes for each week you attend.
Children must be accompanied by an adult each week. Please be aware that the final week of Forest School Tuesday 2 April will run during the first week of the Easter school holidays. To make enquiries or to book a place contact us. Please note this session can not be booked online. Provide a contact telephone number, the child's full name and age and a member of the education team will contact you as soon as possible. Spaces are limited.
Self-led Love Exploring trails
Roman game
Try our bespoke new game to learn more about Hardwick Park's East Park and the unique Roman settlement that was found there. See roman buildings rise up from the ground and meet roman characters all in augmented reality. You can also try our games which include shaping a roman pot, solving a bronze making puzzle, and constructing iron tools all through your mobile phone. East Park is found by going through the underpass near the Hardwick Park Tower and Dragon. It is a field with rough paths and we recommend sensible footwear.
Halloween dance trail
If you love searching for scary skeletons, mixing with mummies or zoning in on zombies, this trail is perfect for you! See these creepy characters and more in augmented reality on a fun walk around the park. Our spooky creatures love to come out during Halloween but don't worry they're not too scary, they prefer dancing!
Download the love exploring app for free Download the Love Exploring app. We recommend all those who already have the app to update to the latest version of the platform when prompted.
Love Exploring is compatible with most but not all mobile phones. Please check you can access all features of the trails before you visit.
In partnership with
- Visitor Attraction Quality Marque
- Love Exploring
- Hardwick Park
- hardwickpark@durham.gov.uk
- 03000 262 899
-
Our address is:
- Hardwick Park Visitor Centre
- Sedgefield
- County Durham
- United Kingdom
- TS21 2DN
- Wharton Park
- whartonpark@durham.gov.uk
- 03000 262 655
- Parks and countryside education officer
- outdoorlearning@durham.gov.uk
- 03000 262 845