Families are invited to Arlington Court this summer for a free family fun day celebrating the launch of a brand-new outdoor experience area, a welcoming space designed for learning, creativity, and connection with nature.
Taking place on Wednesday 27 August from 10am to 4pm, the event offers a chance to relax with a story telling session under the teepee and hands-on activities like campfire cooking, whittling, and nature-inspired crafts such as hammer dyeing and pyrography.
The outdoor experience field is the result of 18 months of conversations with local community groups, who shared their hopes for a space that feels safe, accessible, and connected to nature.
Kate Tregellas, Volunteering & Community Officer for the National Trust in North Devon, said: “We wanted to create a space where everyone feels welcome and comfortable in nature, a place for learning, healing, and community. Time and again I heard people say how much they would love to be able to sit around a fire and work with their group. Where important work could be done whilst relaxing and learning a new, outdoors craft such as whittling, or they can just relax with a cup of tea in hand, wrapped in a blanket, listen to the birds or the breeze in the trees and work through some of the challenges they are facing.”
The field features a sheltered teepee offering privacy and quiet, as well as a winding path through species-rich grassland to encourage mindfulness and immersion in the natural surroundings. Whether used for school picnics, mental health sessions, or creative community workshops, the site is designed to meet a wide range of needs and support wellbeing through time spent outdoors.
Shelley Ellis, Director of Green Paths Education CIC, a community interest company offering outdoor education experiences, said: "The Outdoors Experiences field is a perfect space for us to hold our workshops, working with families and children with higher needs. Children and parents alike love the teepee, and sitting around the fire, they love winding their way up the path, through the wildflowers to find all the day's activities laid out for them. For us, this space is invaluable."
While the family fun day is open to all, the outdoor experience area will primarily be used throughout the summer by local community groups. If you would like to enquire about booking the space, please contact: arlingtoncourt@nationaltrust.
To find out more about the free family fun day please visit nationaltrust.org.uk/