A Christmas Wish at Furzey Gardens
21 November - 23 December | 10am - 4pm
A little Christmas magic is waiting in the gardens...
One winter night, a shower of Christmas stars fell across Furzey Gardens, losing a little of their sparkle on the way.
But wishes have a special kind of magic here… They have the power to bring back the sparkle!
Create your own Wishing Star, follow six starry challenges through the gardens and help the fallen stars shine again.
At the end of the trail, hang your decorated star on the Wishing Tree and send your Christmas wish up to the stars, before collecting a chocolate treat from the Tea Rooms.
Trail costs £3 per child, for a wooden wishing star, simple craft activity, trail and chocolate treat.
What to expect in this trail
Your Christmas wish has a little adventure ahead of it.
Start in the Bug Barn, where children can decorate their own Wishing Star with chalk markers and felt tips and write a wish on the back. Then take your star with you into the gardens, where a trail of fallen Christmas stars is waiting for your help.
Along the way, children can:
- peek inside a giant star to search for hidden golden stars
- wander beneath the wisteria tunnel and count the stars twinkling overhead
- add decorations to a wooden Christmas tree
- make a joyful jingle with a star covered in bells
- test their aim with a starry ring toss
Once the stars have found their sparkle again, make your way to the Wishing Tree on the top lawn. Hang up your own star, send your Christmas wish up to the sky and then head to the Tea Rooms to collect your chocolate treat.
There’s no need to race around or complete every activity in a particular way. Children are welcome to explore the trail at their own pace, with grown-ups helping wherever they need to.
The activities are designed to be simple and playful, and children can take part in their own way. Some involve lifting, reaching, throwing or making noise, and grown-ups are very welcome to help.
Building the trail
We are very grateful to the amazing team in the Woodcraft Workshop at Crafted Earth Studios, Minstead Trust’s New Forest Day Opportunities.
They have created all the stops around the trail, giving opportunities to neuro disabled people to become involved in a public trail at Furzey Gardens.
Lucy, Josh, Liam and David in the Woodcraft workshop
Some frequently asked questions
We want families to have as much information as possible before visiting. Please get in touch if we haven’t answered your question below!
Is the trail accessible?
The trail takes place around Furzey Gardens and follows garden paths through a natural woodland setting. Some parts of the gardens may include slopes, uneven ground or surfaces affected by winter weather.
We find that prams make their way around, but please do be careful.
If you have particular access requirements and would like to talk through the route before visiting, please contact the Furzey Gardens team.
What do the activities involve?
The trail includes simple interactive activities involving looking, counting, lifting panels, hanging decorations, ringing bells and throwing rings.
Children do not need to complete every activity to enjoy the trail and grown-ups are welcome to help.
Is there anything noisy on the trail?
Yes. One of the activities features hanging bells which children are encouraged to ring.
Families who prefer to avoid louder sounds can simply look at the activity and move on. There is no requirement to take part.
What age is the trail suitable for?
The trail has been created primarily with younger children in mind, approximately ages 3–11, although siblings of other ages are very welcome to join in.
Younger children may need some help from a grown-up with parts of the trail.
How long does the trail take?
We recommend allowing around an hour for the trail itself, although families are welcome to take their time and explore the gardens along the way.
Do we need to follow the trail in order?
No. You can discover the activities as you explore, although we recommend starting in the Bug Barn so children can make their Wishing Star first.
What happens at the start?
Head to the Bug Barn, where children can decorate their own Wishing Star and write a Christmas wish on the back.
They’ll carry this star around the gardens and hang it on the Wishing Tree at the end.
What happens to my child's Christmas wish?
Wishing Stars will be displayed publicly on the Wishing Tree during the event, so please bear this in mind when writing your wish.
We recommend avoiding personal information such as surnames, addresses or contact details.
The wooden stars will be painted and reused in the future. If your child wants to keep their star, no problem!
Is the trail outdoors?
Yes. Most of the experience takes place outdoors around Furzey Gardens, so please dress for the weather and wear suitable footwear.
The star-decorating activity at the beginning takes place in the Bug Barn.
What happens if it rains?
The trail is designed to take place outdoors throughout the winter season.
Unless the gardens need to close for safety reasons, the trail will continue in wet weather, so waterproofs and wellies may come in handy.
Does the chocolate contain allergens?
We will provide milk chocolate treats, but also Nomo chocolate for vegans, or other dietary requirements.
If your child has an allergy or dietary requirement, please speak to the team before collecting their treat.