By Lyn Funnell
The National Trust holds some interesting events at Sheffield Park Gardens. https://unknownkentandsussex.co.uk/11282-2/
As we are Members we decided to meet our family there and follow their latest event, The Alice in Wonderland Trail.
We met daughter Rana, granddaughter Isabella and Stormy the Dog at 11.30am and went to queue.
But then we saw a sign saying that dogs are not allowed in until 1pm!
It’s never happened before and as Members we hadn’t been informed. And we can’t see the point in it.
Thank goodness it was a warm day. If it had been cold and windy we would have gone home.
There were lots of people walking around with their dogs, wondering what to do.
Luckily we’d brought picnics so we could sit outside at one of the many picnic areas, listening to the Bluebell Railway train hooting nearby.
When we eventually went in, the White Rabbit pointed us along the trail.
Every few yards there is an Alice in Wonderland quote, and lots of games to have a go at.
We went to see the Mad Hatter’s Tea Party. Every place setting has something for you to try, eg rubbing your stomach and patting your head, or hopping round the table.
The gardens are absolutely wonderful at this time of the year with beautiful flowering shrubs.
There is no hurry and several families were enjoying their picnic sitting on the grass by the lake, often being watched by hopeful hungry ducks and geese.
As usual, everything is well-spaced out so there are no little groups of crowds anywhere.
It took an hour for us to walk slowly round the trail.
We’ll return again later in the year to see how the scenery has changed. https://unknownkentandsussex.co.uk/10412-2/
