World Record Breaking Insect Hotel Planned For Cornwall
Survival Skills; Foraging; Assault Courses; even Wild Feasting. It’s all happening at The Lost Gardens of Heligan this May Half Term, Saturday 29 May until Sunday 6 June when the Heligan team invite visitors to rediscover their Wild Side, restore their survival skills and enjoy a week of much needed outdoor play before chilling by the campfire.
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Throughout the week, Heligan will take on the challenge to create an enormous, World Record breaking, Insect Hotel! Insects are important to us all and the new hotel will provide them with a safe place to shelter and hibernate. To beat the current World Record – which currently stands at 81.26m³ (2869.66 ft³) – the team will need help from as many Heligan Wild Things as they can.
Elsewhere on site, visitors can discover their survival skills. Canoe Cornwall will be teaching how to throw an axe like a woodsman, and to take aim and fire with target practice lessons. (Lessons are open to all ages). Bushcraft skills such as fire striking and rope making will also be being taught and children can make their own Wild Thing wrist band too.
On the wild outdoor assault course adventurers will be tested on their wild animal instincts – can they fly like an owl through the trees? Scramble through a fox’s den? Hop like a frog? Or balance over the large outdoor play space like a beautiful butterfly?
The Wild feasting tent will be open daily for visitors to try wild food tasting sessions – which includes insect custard and crunchy critters, as well as BBQ specials and other garden delights. Heligan chefs will be on hand to surprise and delight the curious (and fearless) and to discuss the wonders of foraging, wild game, and sustainable food sources of the future.
Heligan will be open daily – 11am to 5pm – throughout Wild Week* (29 May – 6 June) with visitors invited to begin their by exploring the Giants Head play trail, following the route to East Lawn where face painting will be taking place, before setting out on their day of wild activities.
All Heligan Wild Week activities are included within normal garden admission charges.
*Wild feasting runs from 11am to 3pm)
Coming up at Heligan – Sunday 2 May – International Dawn Chorus Day
Heligan will be opening early on Sunday 2 May so visitors can experience its enchanting ‘Dawn Chorus’ (Sunrise 5.53am) across The Gardens, Jungle and Estate. From sparrow to song thrush, blackbird to blue tit, Heligan’s Dawn Chorus is rich with a diverse range of birdsong. What better way to begin the day than by watching the day awaken whilst listening to the bird song. A sure way to boost your wellbeing and leave you feeling good. Tickets available from www.heligan.com
Booking is essential and costs £20 adults, £11 for children, and includes a Heligan Breakfast Box.
