Ready to Go Rucksacks

Runnymede is ready for adventure!  

 

A row of hooks has been added to the features of the newly refurbished Magna Carta Tearoom.  Along with your coffee and cakes, soup and sandwiches, you can now borrow a rucksack, stuffed with a different sort of goodies.  

Yes, the Runnymede explorer rucksacks are now available.  Grab a pack (remember to sign it out at the cafe) and allow your youngsters to embark on a voyage of discovery around Runnymede, delving into the history and landscape of this historic area.  

Open up the trail guide: where shall we go first?   Shall we try the Magna Carta memorial and read the story of King John in the shade (or shelter!) of its circular roof?  Climb the steps through the trees (one step for every state in the Union) to the J F Kennedy Memorial?  Run through the wide grassy meadows - what happened here?  Whoa - there is a huge river flowing by; where did that come from?

Why is there a tea bag in the pack?  Why a measuring tape? A paint brush?  What's this old document all about?

Borrow a rucksack and find out!

Go out number 5 and explore the womders of Runnymede!

Celebrate!

We had a fabulous launch and celebration at the National Trust Magna Carta Tearoom in May. So good to have the partners together to celebrate the rucksacks and a successful project. The Mayor of Runnymede, Councillor Yvonna Lay opened proceedings and launched a good party as well as a great project!  

The rucksacks are presented to the press!

A welcome cup of tea

Trust to Trust - Kennedy Memorial Trust's Annie Thomas
talking to Landscape Design Trust's Sheila Harvey 

Testing, Testing

Runnymede! 

Testing the Rucksacks - Hannah Owen, Gatton Trust's education trainee reports:

What a day outdoors we had. The sun was shining and the bugs were flying creating the perfect setting for a fun family day out, if of course you had one of our green rucksacks to zip up, pack up and take on a hunt around the meadows and woods for some juicy finds, facts and figures.

Each rucksack was bursting with bug pots – microscopes - measuring tapes – maps and information cards to guide each group through Runnymede, past to present.

Here we stood on the same ground that King John and his barons had met nearly eight hundred years ago to sign the Magna Carta, the written promise that the king would govern England in accordance to the feudal law. This moment marked an attempt to stop the abuse of power and the suffering of England’s people by a king, much to King Johns disdain.

Nearby sits the JFK memorial and the Kennedy steps, which once conquered provide a beautiful view of the surrounding meadows and the River Thames running by. The information provided at each memorial in combination with the booklets and fun facts in our rucksacks created an enchanting hunt through history suitable for both adults and children, keeping everyone happy.

The theme of freedom rang true in every essence of the day, families were given all the tools they needed, a few hinters and then allowed to venture off in search of their treasures – be it woodlice or inscriptions in stones.

It also provided a chance to get your heart pumping and feet stomping (big and small) in and amongst nature, learning about a poignant time in our heritage along the way too.

It’s safe to say from this trial day, the rucksacks are here to stay! And if that’s not enough to entice you there’s easy road access, parking and a café to refresh and recharge those much needed batteries.
Left: the trial team, testing HQ - thank goodness it was a sunny day - and featuring rucksack no. 5

Gatton Trust provides the specialist Education input to the Landscapes Live! project 

What a Fabulous Day!

Just spent the day at Runnymede, in glorious sunshine, while local (and some not so local) families tried out our brand new rucksacks.  Each of these fascinating green packs contains an array of activities and stories which aim to bring the meadows of Runnymede alive.  Thank you to all the families who took part and thank you for your incredibly useful feed back at the end of the day.  

Our young adventurers set off!