Introducing Our New Nature Trail
After what felt like a veryyy long winter, Spring is finally here.
With the sun making a more noticeable appearance, leading to warmer and brighter days, we can start getting excited about saying farewell to our big coats and hello to lightweight jackets.
It’s amazing how the weather can alter our mood. When it’s bright and enjoyable to sit outside, it can uplift us, make us feel more energised and positive, and be motivated to get out and do things more often. The Met Office conducted a YouGov survey, and results showed that 41% of participants stated their mental health was negatively affected by the weather, and people felt forced to stay indoors during the colder and darker months.
We feel it is extremely important to make the most of spending time in nature when we can, as it’s not only good for your physical health to get out and about, but it will also greatly improve your mental health and wellbeing.
On that note, we’re pleased to announce that we’ve recently launched a Nature Trail in our garden for families to participate in while having fun and making new memories together.
Nature Trail Packs
There are two options available…
Standard Pack for £4: Includes a Nature Trail booklet and a mini pack of pencils.
Snack Pack for £6: You’ll get a Nature Trail booklet, a mini pack of pencils, a carton of Apple & Pear or Apple & Mango juice, plus a pack of biscuits, for your little one to enjoy.
Inside the booklet, you will discover some common mini beasts and fun facts, along with flowers and plants that can be found in our garden, some colouring pages, a wordsearch, and a voucher for 25% off of your next hot drink. Our ceramics makers have also crafted 12 pieces, shaped with nature-inspired designs and finished in our popular Erith Gold glaze. These pieces have been spread out and hidden around all areas of the garden, so ensure you do a full circle to make sure you don’t miss any! Simply walk around and explore the garden, and tick off everything you find in the booklet as you go.
There’s no specific age range for the Nature Trail. It can be enjoyed by any family that’s excited by trying something new, spending time in nature, and finding hidden items.
If you’d like to get involved, you can purchase a pack from The Garden Room from Thursday to Saturday, 10.30 am to 4 pm. We hope you all enjoy taking part. Do tag us in any photos of you and your little ones on the Nature Trail. We’d love to share them!
Did You Know?
Our garden was designed by award-winner Sarah Price, who reimagined what was once a disused space of nettles and concrete, and relandscaped to make it an accessible space for the community to enjoy. The ground was prepared and planted by a team of incredible local residents alongside Sarah. The design was inspired by the area’s industrial heritage, the changes in local climate, and The Exchange’s mission for community involvement and craft.Since then, the garden has been cared for by The Exchange’s Head Gardeners, working alongside local volunteers and Sarah herself to nurture the garden towards maturity. This collaboration has already created a truly breathtaking space, free to access and a tranquil oasis for all. The garden now inspires visits from across Bexley, London and even as far afield as the US and Japan.
The Exchange’s garden is currently blooming beautifully, with vibrant flowers adding plenty of colour, and tidy paths, it’s always inviting you to explore. It’s a lovely place to walk through, and very photogenic if we do say so. We believe that the addition of the Nature Trail is something that the community can participate in to rediscover the garden and see how far it’s come since the beginning of its journey.
