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THE CASTLE TOUR
This tour concentrates on how people
have lived at Muncaster since Medieval times and how changes in
society have influenced the use and construction of the castle.
The Pennington family have continuously occupied the site since
at least 1208, this adds a personal focus which school children
can relate to.
Participants of our History Tour can compare life in the past to
how we live today through studying everyday objects (a hands on
approach is encouraged) and through the tales told about the people
who have lived and worked there. The History tour takes approximately
1 hour and works best if the school group starts the tour at least
¾ of an hour before the Castle opens to the general public
at 12 noon. The maximum number of children we are able to accommodate
on a tour is 20 (plus staff) and so larger groups need to arrive
as early as possible to enable us to do more than 1 tour. School
parties can tour the Castle once it has opened to the public but
this has to be using the wand interactive tour system, and cannot
be a personal tour. If this option is taken, a group must be split
into smaller units of 5 or 6 pupils each accompanied by a responsible
adult and should tour the Castle together.
Please let us know in advance if
you would prefer this option.
THE MUNCASTER MILLENNIUM PROJECT
THE MEADOWVOLE MAZE
Muncaster's new MeadowVole Maze is a highly original experience,
unlike any other. Built underneath a real wildflower meadow, the
MeadowVole Maze is designed to make learning about conservation
fun.
On entry to the Maze a short film can be viewed by up to 30 visitors
at a time. The animated cartoon introduces visitors to Max the MeadowVole
and his family. The maze itself mirrors the real wildflower meadow
above it and weaves all the wild elements of Muncaster - its gardens,
owls, wildlife conservation and habitat restoration - into a 'circle
of life story' dramatising the perils faced by Muncaster's real
meadowvoles - from badgers, to owls to humans. This attraction is
thought provoking and interactive. It would take a school party
approximately 20 minuets to complete a visit to the MeadowVole Maze,
there is a scratch card of questions for children to answer.
THE WORLD OWL TRUST TOUR
The Third Millennium Muncaster project has enabled The World Owl
Trust to significantly improve the World Owl Centre at Muncaster.
The Centre is home to over 200 birds. It has many successful captive
breeding programmes and undertakes crucial conservation and education
projects both at home and abroad. The new Ada Hillard Wildlife Hospital
has been built in the converted Stableyard and offers a wide range
of immediate treatments to injured wildlife.
A visit to the World Owl Centre will take approximately 30 to 40
minutes. This could be followed by a 'meet the birds session', a
daily flying display on the castle lawns. Key Stage worksheets booklets
and Teachers pack booklets are available.
A guided tour of the Owl Centre can be arranged with World Owl Trust
staff as your personal guides or they offer various activities such
as pellet dissection, art lessons, and mini beast safaris.
Please note: Payment for any owl tours/activities is to be made
to World Owl Trust NOT Muncaster. Entry fees are payable
to Muncaster. Please have two cheques for payment.
THE HIMALAYAN GARDENS
Experience the wild beauty of Muncaster's huge gardens, there are
over 70 acres of plants from all over the world, including many
beautiful and endangered British species. Created using plants grown
from seed collected on recent expeditions to the Sino-Himalayan
region of S.W. China and Tibet, the rejuvenated gardens further
underline the strong conservation thread which runs through Muncaster.
A 30 minute walk along the restored Terrace at Muncaster could be
linked to work in science and ties in directly with Scientific enquiry
2: Life processes and living things. Especially; life processes,
green plants and living things and the environment.
All the Guided Tours we provide can be followed up or preceded
by time spent in the Education Suite, which is free for school parties.
This area provides space for approximately 60 children and can also
be used for safe storage of coats and bags.
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