Nature
Be guided by true experts and go home with skills that’ll last a lifetime
Saturday 24th October
5:30pm - 8pm
Your ticket includes a snack from Hawarden Estate Farm Shop, plus tea or filter coffee on arrival.
In amongst the stunning setting of the Hawarden estate, around the Old Castle, the old woods and the meadows are some wonderful wildflowers that call this area home. From the beautiful to the sublime we will explore the grounds at dusk to discover what emerges as it gets dark.
This event will be a gentle stroll around some of the more hidden parts of the estate with the aim to totally immerse ourselves in the pleasure of the estate at dusk.
Saturday 21st November
10am - 12pm
Your ticket includes a snack from Hawarden Estate Farm Shop, plus tea or filter coffee on arrival.
A fungal foray with a true expert.
Join renowned naturalist and foraging expert David Winnard for a leisurely stroll through the grounds of Hawarden Estate to explore the world of mushrooms and other fungi. During this walk you will learn:
How mushrooms and fungi work.
Why they are important.
How they fit into the ecosystem.
How we go about identifying different species.
We will look for a variety of species in different habitats and, where appropriate, discuss edible, poisonous and medicinal species.
“During winter we see more medicinal types of fungi on the estate. From Hairy Curtain Crust to Turkeytail, Shaggy Parasol to Oakbug Milkcap, the world of mushrooms and other fungi await us to discover them in a beautiful setting.”
Saturday 27th February
10am - 12pm
Your ticket includes a snack from Hawarden Estate Farm Shop, plus tea or filter coffee on arrival.
If you have ever wondered how you identify a birch from a beech or an oak from a sycamore then this will be a great place to start.
Hawarden Estate is home to some stunning trees, with a wonderful selection of native trees as well as some interesting specimens from all corners of the globe. Our walk around the grounds will encounter many of these fascinating plants and we will explore some of the mythology and folklore around some of the species as well as delve into how to identify some of our more common species.
We will explore how other species interact with trees, like fungi and lichens, as well as take in the reasons why some cultures have a strong relationship with Yew Trees, why Hawthorn bakes the sweetest bread, why burning Elder wood may not be wisest of ideas and why Ash trees are having a really hard time at the moment.
Whilst many people think you need to see the leaves of a tree to identify them, it just isn’t the case, with the leaves off the trees in winter you get to see more of their form and use other identification features such as bark, buds and habit to get to know them.
Our walk around the grounds of this historic and beautiful estate will leave you with a new appreciation of trees as well as seeing some of the best examples of some species in this part of North Wales.
Saturday 10th April
10am - 12pm
Your ticket includes a snack from Hawarden Estate Farm Shop, plus tea or filter coffee on arrival.
Join local nature expert David Winnard on a guided foraging walk around Hawarden Estate.
This event is an ideal introduction to foraging, but will also be a great session for more experienced foragers, too. David will guide you into how to safely and sustainably forage for some of the commoner species of plants (and maybe some fungi) in the spring. We will be looking at a variety of species, learning about their habits, how to identify them as well as understanding which might be edible, medicinal or even poisonous.
At this time of year, the countryside comes alive with spring flowers and foliage. During the event you will get to grips with some common species like Nettle and Dandelion, but also a range of plants that you may never have used before. You will be able to try some plants (should you wish) - you can literally graze on some wonderful wild plants as we walk through the estate.
Take home some key facts and inspiration to take you forward into an abundant spring and summer.
Sunday 25th April
10am - 12pm
Your ticket includes a snack from Hawarden Estate Farm Shop, plus tea or filter coffee on arrival.
Join local nature expert David Winnard on a guided foraging walk around Hawarden Estate.
This event is an ideal introduction to foraging, but will also be a great session for more experienced foragers, too. David will guide you into how to safely and sustainably forage for some of the commoner species of plants (and maybe some fungi) in the spring. We will be looking at a variety of species, learning about their habits, how to identify them as well as understanding which might be edible, medicinal or even poisonous.
At this time of year, the countryside comes alive with spring flowers and foliage. During the event you will get to grips with some common species like Nettle and Dandelion, but also a range of plants that you may never have used before. You will be able to try some plants (should you wish) - you can literally graze on some wonderful wild plants as we walk through the estate.
Take home some key facts and inspiration to take you forward into an abundant spring and summer.
Saturday 15th May
8am - 10am
Your ticket includes a snack from Hawarden Estate Farm Shop, plus tea or filter coffee on arrival.
The grounds are the home of some wonderful bird species such as both the Green and Great Spotted Woodpeckers, Nuthatch, Treecreeper as well as Sparrowhawks, Tawny Owls and Buzzard.
During this morning walk across Hawarden Estate we’ll be looking at how to identify a variety of species that occur on this great estate. We’ll do this both visually as well as learning some of the bird songs and calls we encounter on our walk. This will be a relaxed walk and birdwatch through garden, open countryside and some woodland as we look to encounter a wide array of species.
If you have ever wanted to learn how to identify the commoner species of bird but did not know where to start, or you’re interested in which bird species are on the estate, then this is the event for you!
Saturday 24th July
10am - 12pm
Your ticket includes a snack from Hawarden Estate Farm Shop, plus tea or filter coffee on arrival.
The wildflowers of Hawarden Estate.
In amongst the stunning setting of the Hawarden estate, around the Old Castle, the old woods and the meadows are some wonderful wildflowers that call this area home. From the beautiful to the sublime we will explore the grounds to discover some of the best wildflowers that Hawarden has to offer.
From natives to aliens we will learn how to identify some of the commoner species as well as learn about their history, folklore and place in the eco-system. We will even take in a few of the interesting 'weeds' from the formal planting (but don't tell the gardener, he won't appreciate us looking at the more interesting 'weeds'!).
This event will be a gentle stroll around some of the more hidden parts of the estate with the aim to totally immerse ourselves in the pleasure of the summer wildflowers.
Saturday 14th August
10am - 12pm
Your ticket includes a snack from Hawarden Estate Farm Shop, plus tea or filter coffee on arrival.
The flowers, fruits and fungi of Hawarden Estate.
This is the perfect time of the year to get to grips with the edible, medicinal and poisonous plants found on the estate.
If you are new to foraging, or know a little bit, then this walk will be perfect for you as we discuss the dos and don’ts of foraging (including what the law is) as well as delving into identifying some of the commoner plants and maybe some fungi that are present in the hedgerows and woods.
Expect to be finding fruits like blackberries and apples and nuts like hazelnuts and sweet chestnut, among the huge variety of other plants that have so much folklore behind them (like Mugwort - a favourite of your nature guide, David).
Not only will we learn how to identify these species but also discuss ways of how to preserve them, whether that is drying them or doing something more involved like turning our finds in to liqueurs.
We will forage in some of the wilder parts of the estate as well as look around some of the more formal bits of garden - not for the cultivated plants, but for some of the more interesting ‘weeds’ which often have many uses (just don’t tell the gardeners we are looking at their ‘weeds’!).
You will leave feeling confident to find and pick your own foraged plants from the wild.
Saturday 4th September
10am - 12pm
Your ticket includes a snack from Hawarden Estate Farm Shop, plus tea or filter coffee on arrival.
The flowers, fruits and fungi of Hawarden Estate.
This is the perfect time of the year to get to grips with the edible, medicinal and poisonous plants found on the estate.
If you are new to foraging, or know a little bit, then this walk will be perfect for you as we discuss the dos and don’ts of foraging (including what the law is) as well as delving into identifying some of the commoner plants and maybe some fungi that are present in the hedgerows and woods.
Expect to be finding fruits like blackberries and apples and nuts like hazelnuts and sweet chestnut, among the huge variety of other plants that have so much folklore behind them (like Mugwort - a favourite of your nature guide, David).
Not only will we learn how to identify these species but also discuss ways of how to preserve them, whether that is drying them or doing something more involved like turning our finds in to liqueurs.
We will forage in some of the wilder parts of the estate as well as look around some of the more formal bits of garden - not for the cultivated plants, but for some of the more interesting ‘weeds’ which often have many uses (just don’t tell the gardeners we are looking at their ‘weeds’!).
You will leave feeling confident to find and pick your own foraged plants from the wild.
Saturday 18th September 2027
10am - 12pm
Your ticket includes a snack from Hawarden Estate Farm Shop, plus tea or filter coffee on arrival.
A fungal foray with a true expert.
Join renowned naturalist and foraging expert David Winnard for a leisurely stroll through the grounds of Hawarden Estate to explore the world of mushrooms and other fungi. During this walk you will learn:
How mushrooms and fungi work.
Why they are important.
How they fit into the ecosystem.
How we go about identifying different species.
We will look for a variety of species in different habitats and, where appropriate, discuss edible, poisonous and medicinal species.
“From Hairy Curtain Crust to Turkeytail, Shaggy Parasol to Oakbug Milkcap, the world of mushrooms and other fungi await us to discover them in a beautiful setting.”
Saturday 9th October 2027
10am - 12pm
Your ticket includes a snack from Hawarden Estate Farm Shop, plus tea or filter coffee on arrival.
A fungal foray with a true expert.
Join renowned naturalist and foraging expert David Winnard for a leisurely stroll through the grounds of Hawarden Estate to explore the world of mushrooms and other fungi. During this walk you will learn:
How mushrooms and fungi work.
Why they are important.
How they fit into the ecosystem.
How we go about identifying different species.
We will look for a variety of species in different habitats and, where appropriate, discuss edible, poisonous and medicinal species.
“From Hairy Curtain Crust to Turkeytail, Shaggy Parasol to Oakbug Milkcap, the world of mushrooms and other fungi await us to discover them in a beautiful setting.”
Saturday 16th October 2027
5:30pm - 8pm
Your ticket includes a snack from Hawarden Estate Farm Shop, plus tea or filter coffee on arrival.
In amongst the stunning setting of the Hawarden estate, around the Old Castle, the old woods and the meadows are some wonderful wildflowers that call this area home. From the beautiful to the sublime we will explore the grounds at dusk to discover what emerges as it gets dark.
This event will be a gentle stroll around some of the more hidden parts of the estate with the aim to totally immerse ourselves in the pleasure of the estate at dusk.
Saturday 20th November 2027
10am - 12pm
Your ticket includes a snack from Hawarden Estate Farm Shop, plus tea or filter coffee on arrival.
A fungal foray with a true expert.
Join renowned naturalist and foraging expert David Winnard for a leisurely stroll through the grounds of Hawarden Estate to explore the world of mushrooms and other fungi. During this walk you will learn:
How mushrooms and fungi work.
Why they are important.
How they fit into the ecosystem.
How we go about identifying different species.
We will look for a variety of species in different habitats and, where appropriate, discuss edible, poisonous and medicinal species.
“During winter we see more medicinal types of fungi on the estate. From Hairy Curtain Crust to Turkeytail, Shaggy Parasol to Oakbug Milkcap, the world of mushrooms and other fungi await us to discover them in a beautiful setting.”
Sunday 18th October
10am - 12pm
Your ticket includes a snack from Hawarden Estate Farm Shop, plus tea or filter coffee on arrival.
A fungal foray with a true expert.
Join renowned naturalist and foraging expert David Winnard for a leisurely stroll through the grounds of Hawarden Estate to explore the world of mushrooms and other fungi. During this walk you will learn:
How mushrooms and fungi work.
Why they are important.
How they fit into the ecosystem.
How we go about identifying different species.
We will look for a variety of species in different habitats and, where appropriate, discuss edible, poisonous and medicinal species.
“From Hairy Curtain Crust to Turkeytail, Shaggy Parasol to Oakbug Milkcap, the world of mushrooms and other fungi await us to discover them in a beautiful setting.”