During the Summer Holidays The Walled Garden in Moreton are running a Dinosaur Trail and we visited recently with friends to enjoy some fun in the sun.

The Walled Garden is set within 5 acres of formal gardens and we started our afternoon in the play park so the kiddies could burn off some energy and we could catch up. In the same area you’ll find some wandering chickens plus guinea pigs, rabbits, 2 huge snoring piggies and probably some other animals which were hiding from the sun.

We then picked up a trail form and the children wasted no time hunting for the Dinosaurs in the stunning gardens and doing their best to answer the themed questions so they could receive their prize at the end.

They are taking everyone’s safety seriously and on the 2 entrances and at other locations you’ll find hand sanitiser plus there are visual reminders to social distance from others. The Café has an entrance for customers going in and a separate exit for those going out and there’s plenty of spaced seating inside and out. Having eaten in The Dovecote Café a few times before I can thoroughly recommend the food which is fresh and tasty.

By now us Mums were in need of a cuppa and we were delighted to find out that The Dovecote Cafe were taking part in the ‘Eat Out to Help Out’ scheme so our planned quick drink turned into a Cream Tea for 2. I have always LOVED scones and these did not disappoint. They were huge and perfectly baked with lashings of jam and clotted cream on top. They were so good that I popped my head in the Café when we finished and thanked the baker for her amazing scones.

There is plenty of free parking at The Walled Garden but there is also a field nearby which is offering free parking to discourage visitors from parking on the road. The Walled Gardens has toilets and everything you need to enjoy a day out.

Some of you may not know that Employ My Ability is based at The Walled Gardens and they offer vocational qualifications for those with learning disabilities and special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). Students are able to gain real hands on work experience in the hospitality, horticultural and retail industry giving them a start to employment within the local community. For this reason you will see donation boxes dotted around and signs asking for a donation should you wish to bring a picnic.

While we were in Moreton and also because we were melting from the sun we took a dip in the river which is very close by. The water level in the ford was quite low which was great for the kids because it was very shallow all the way across. With all of our current public splash parks and pools being closed it really was the perfect way to cool down. One thing you must note while you are there though is that it is essentially a road and you may have the occasional car or horse rider wanting to come through.

So definitely put Moreton on your Summer Holiday list of places to go because we had a wonderful time there and look forward to going back already.

Dinosaur Trail forms cost £2 per person and once completed you will receive a prize. For more information, please visit The Walled Garden.

All of our local tourist spots are really busy in the summer months so when you want to cool down on a hot day you need to think of other places to go.  RSPB Arne is an area of natural beauty which covers 565 hectares of heathland and woodland so you can choose to have a short visit or stay all day if you wish.  The reserve on the edge of Poole Harbour is a haven for wildlife and remains one of the few places in the UK where all six of the UK's native reptiles can be found.

There is a visitor centre and toilets close to the car park and I’d recommend using the toilets before you start your journey through the woods.  We chose to take the red route which we were told would take approximately 25 minutes however it was hot, I had a pushchair and my daughter had to keep looking for fairy doors (imaginary ones) and climb trees so for us it took about 40 minutes.

The views are simply stunning and by the time we got to the water we were hot hot hot and desperate to get in and have a paddle.  There seemed to be quite a lot of seaweed but we walked far to the right which was much clearer and whilst we didn’t go far enough in for a swim we was quite content in the warm shallow water and my daughter had endless fun fishing seaweed out with her spade and making a collection with some nice shells.

After our picnic it started getting too hot for us on the beach and whilst there was a couple of shady spots under the trees we thought it would be nicer to have a slow walk back through the woods where it was cool.

Now, here lies our one little problem.  We followed the red route down with no problems at all but on the way back I must have missed a turning and we ended up going a completely different route.  My mistake took us out of the lovely shade and onto a hot path which ended up taking well over an hour which luckily my daughter slept mostly through.  My poor mum was bursting for a wee and I’ll admit after a while I wished I’d picked up a map or invested in a compass haha.

We didn't see much wildlife on the day which was probably had something to do with my noisy children but pre kids I would visit with my husband late afternoon and we would see herds of deer.  It's such a beautiful and tranquil place to be and great for stretching those legs.

For more information including location, trails and car park open hours please visit RSPB Arne.

*UPDATED AUG 2022* 

We had origionally visited during the pandemic in summer 2020 so some of the facilities were closed and entry prices were different.  As of 2023, entry is £5 per adult and £2.50 per child.  The first child and those under 5 are free.  Entry for RSPB members remain free.  The above entry fees apply during facility open hours and once they close the parking charge is £5 per vehicle.  RSPB members park for free.