Are you a new visitor to the Garden?  Or would you like a few suggestions to help you explore our beautiful site with your family?

Our family friendly backpacks will open up a world of exploration and investigation to you.  Use the activities and equipment inside to help focus your walk around the Garden and Glasshouses.

There are currently two themes to choose from “Looking” and “Plant Hunter”.  They contain a selection of activities suitable for a range of ages, and are packed full of ideas to help you get the most from your visit.

Backpacks can be signed out without charge from the ticket office and used for the duration of your visit.

Looking

Explore the Garden with your eyes wide open!  Use a magnify glass to look close up at leaves, match the colour of plants to those on a wheel of colour and find your favourite view in the whole Garden.

Suitable for family groups with children aged 5 - 7 years.

Plant Hunter

Our plants and trees come from all around the world.  Use this backpack to help you discover the range of countries our plants have come from, and see the diversity of plant life we have growing here.  There's even a Plant Hunter hat to help you get into character!  This backpack was developed in collaboration with pupils from St. Kenelm's CE (VC) Primary School in Minster Lovell, near Witney.

Suitable for family groups with children aged 7 - 11 years.

Available to borrow from the ticket office all year round on a first-come first-served basis.  Free with entry to the Garden.