Best of the season

From nature walks and flower festivals to Easter activities, bring a welcome ray of sunshine into your life with this selection of spring events

Spring is finally here! And with it comes a host of exciting events and activities across the region to help us make the most of every moment.

After what felt like a particularly long January and a decidedly grey February, the sight of blue skies overhead, sun-bathed daffodils and fresh growth all around us is balm for the soul. And if that isn’t enough, there are the Easter holidays to look forward to, beginning at the end of this month.

How will you spend the season?

11 March

Spring walk at Great Fen

Head into the great outdoors for this Signs of Spring guided walk at the internationally important Woodwalton Fen National Nature Reserve at Ramsey Heights in Cambridgeshire. 

Bring binoculars and hand lenses and look out for everything from sky-dancing harriers, wheeling kites, flocks of finches and blossoming wildflowers to busy bees, butterflies and beetles as you explore the peaceful paths. 

The walk is approximately 1.5 miles long and suitable for adults and children age 10+ (children must be accompanied by a booked adult). Details and booking available online. wildlifebcn.org

14-15 March

Mothers go free at Audley End Enchanted Railway

Celebrate Mother’s Day weekend with a family visit to Audley End Enchanted Railway, which will be launching its brand-new ‘play village’. Designed for toddlers and little ones, it features five themed role-play houses including a cafe, wood workshop, hospital, school and music house. Of course, there’s the enchanted woodland train ride complete with special spring scenes, a Fairy and Elf Walk, the adventure playground and the woodland cafe, which serves hot drinks, lunches and sweet treats. Even better, to celebrate Mother’s Day, all mothers and grandmothers go free during the event weekend! audley-end-railway.co.uk

21-22 March

Thriplow Daffodil Weekend & Country Fair

Run entirely by volunteers in aid of charity, the Thriplow Daffodil Weekend & Country Fair celebrates an iconic flower of the early spring season: the very embodiment of returning sunshine! 

Amid the beautiful village setting of Thriplow, Cambridgeshire, you’ll find fun family activities, 100+ stalls, tractor rides, classic car displays, open gardens, dog shows, live music, morris dancing and more. Plus, street food, drinks and plenty of homemade cake to keep you recharged. thriplowdaffodils.org.uk

25 March

Spring garden tour at Downing College

Soak up the sights and fragrances of trees coming into leaf and woodland blossoms; enjoy plants ‘waking up’ across the borders, beds and woodland; and spot the first bulbs and hellebore flowers. Do all this while learning about Downing’s interesting garden history in this special spring tour led by head gardener Jack Sharp. Booking is essential; tickets are £25, which includes a delicious cream tea. dow.cam.ac.uk

28 March – 12 April

Easter adventures at Wandlebury Country Park

There are two Easter activities taking place at Wandlebury Country Park this year: an Easter egg hunt from 28 March until 12 April, and kids’ bushcraft sessions from 30 March to 2 April. 

For the former, collect an Easter egg hunt sheet from the foyer (under the clocktower) and try to find all ten eggs hidden in The Ring. The bushcraft sessions are for children between ages five and 14 and are run by experienced instructors from Wild Thyme & Embers, who will teach practical survival skills to encourage self-confidence and a sense of achievement. Find out more about how to book online. cambridgeppf.org

28 March – 5 May

Magical tales at Anglesey Abbey

A brand-new sculpture trail will bring the much-loved characters of The Wind in the Willows to life at the National Trust’s Anglesey Abbey, Gardens and Lode Mill this spring. 

Inspired by Kenneth Grahame’s timeless story, this trail follows Badger, Toad, Mole and Ratty the water vole, alongside a cast of newly introduced species, as they embark on a modern-day adventure. 

Trail maps will be available to help you navigate the experience and learn more about the characters, artists and ideas behind the trail. Don’t miss Anglesey Abbey’s Easter egg hunt too, running from 28 March to 12 April. nationaltrust.org.uk/angleseyabbey

30 March – 3 April

Family fun at Paxton Pits

In a special series of ‘What Does Nature Do for Us Anyway?’ sessions at Paxton Pits Environmental Education Centre, children can have lots of fun over the Easter holidays discovering the amazing jobs that nature undertakes – as well as trying their hand at some of those jobs themselves! And there’ll also be an opportunity to make a terrarium ecosystem to take home. Suitable for children aged four to 14, find session dates, times, details and tickets online. wildlifebcn.org

30 March – 9 April

Craft workshops at Wicken Fen

Wicken Fen National Nature Reserve is hosting a series of workshops specially for families during the Easter holidays. With materials and guidance provided, learn the simple printing techniques needed to create striking flower designs and transfer them onto paper. Suitable for ages five and above (accompanied by an adult); booking is essential. nationaltrust.org.uk/wickenfen

3 April

Easter Paw-ty in Newmarket

The National Horseracing Museum in Newmarket is hosting a special Easter Paw-ty on Good Friday, with doggie-themed events including a Fun Dog Show, live demos in the arena, have-a-go opportunities and a live dog agility demo by Anglian Dog Works. In this, you’ll see judged and timed runs, hear feedback from Kennel Club agility judge and dog trainer Emma Filby, and get a behind-the-scenes look at how competitors prepare for agility events. Hot food and drinks will be available, with puppuccinos for those pampered pooches! nhrm.co.uk

Until 12 April

Talking Plants at the Botanic Garden

Ongoing until April is a world-first at Cambridge University Botanic Garden – an exhibition in which plants are given a digital voice. Visitors can have real-time conversations with 20 of the Glasshouse Range’s residents thanks to artificial intelligence. The two-way conversations can be either voice- or text-based, using your own mobile phone, with the plants answering questions about their ecology, evolution and cultural significance. 

You can even receive a meditation or play a trivia game! In a fun twist, each plant in the exhibition has been given its own name and distinct personality, designed to reflect aspects of its biology, history or cultural associations. botanic.cam.ac.uk