In Poland outdoor pursuits are held in high esteem; camping, hiking and
nature watching in particular. The best way to enjoy these pursuits if you have
a young family and live in the North East, I am finding, is to join the
National Trust.
The National Trust is a UK conservation charity which was founded in 1895. It aims
to protect the nation's heritage and open spaces. It protects historic buildings,
gardens, parts of the coastline, farmland, woodland, archaeological remains, nature
reserves and villages of historical significance and much more. The charity’s
main concerns are about the environment, food, farming, transport and heritage.
Family membership to the National Trust gives you unlimited free access
to 300 historic houses and gardens, and countryside and coastline
spaces. National Trust owned estates in
the North East include Gibside, Wallington, Seaton Delaval Hall and Cragside.
All have fantastic play facilities for children, with large playgrounds and
lots of open space for running! Gibside
has the famous ‘Strawberry Castle’ children’s space: http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/home/view-page/item405111/248903/
- which is surrounded by fields and
trees, and Wallington has a large playground in the woods: http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/wallington/things-to-see-and-do/for-families/
- which includes dens built from
branches. Fantastic!
Also,
membership to the National Trust allows you to park in any National Trust car park
for free, and if you like visiting the Lake District this comes in very handy-
lots of National Trust car parks there.
Family membership
currently starts at £70 a year so to make it value for money go to a National
Trust property (or playground! ) at least once a week. Most of the properties are
well connected by public transport but check timetables especially for Sunday
services which often see buses run infrequently.
This
weekend Gibside and Wallington are hosting various Jubilee related events, with
lots of free activities for all the family.
For more
information about the National Trust go to: http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk
