Between 7th August and 6th September, families across the area are being encouraged to visit Bath’s best-kept secret at Beckford’s Tower, in the cemetery that was once William Beckford’s garden.
With lockdown easing, Billie the Mouse and her family have come out to play, with children being invited to find and explore their miniature mouse houses, gardens and treehouse hideaways.
Families are invited to take a stroll to the Tower and enjoy the miniature scenes.
There will be suggested activities to do and invitations to play games, sing songs and enjoy the nature that surrounds the cemetery.
The trail will be accompanied by some further information and activities available on the Tower family learning page here: https://beckfordstower.org.uk/learning-resources/.
Visitors are invited to share pictures of their trip with the Beckford’s Tower team using the hashtag #secretgarden on social media.
The trail is a self-led activity for families to discover on a visit to the Tower and Cemetery.
All children must be accompanied by an adult whilst exploring the cemetery, and it is requested that families keep to the mown paths whilst enjoying a visit.
Organisers are asking people to respect other visitors enjoying the cemetery and keep to social distancing.
Beckford’s Tower Trust’s Activities Officer, Ruth Yoxon, said: “We love to see families enjoying the Tower, so whilst we cannot open the building itself we’re delighted to have this secret garden on our doorstep that families can safely explore.
“Whether families stumble upon the miniature scenes or come ready for an adventure we hope that it adds a little spark of joy to their day.”
Beckford’s Tower and Museum remains closed to the public until further notice.
The event is part of “Our Tower”, a project at Beckford’s Tower which has initial support from The National Lottery Heritage Fund.
The project aims to bring William Beckford’s complex and creative life to a wider audience by sharing stories of his writings and collections, his inherited slave wealth, his sexuality and exile through a new visitor experience.
The project will also restore the architectural masterpiece of the Tower built for Beckford in 1826.
Already an important Bath landmark familiar to residents and commuters alike, the aim of this project is to inspire an appreciation for the story of William Beckford and his building, encouraging more people to explore and enjoy it and its landscape.