Whatever the weather, there's plenty going on at A la Ronde

There’s no need to struggle for ways to entertain the family over Spring Bank Holiday week. Just look to your local National Trust property, A la Ronde, near Exmouth where there’s a wealth of activities to keep everyone entertained.

On Tuesday 28 May, young naturalists can discover some of the ’mini- beasties’ that live in the meadow at A la Ronde by joining the free mini beast safaris at 11.30am and 2.30pm. National Trust volunteer, Elaine Harrison says: "The whole experience is about introducing children to nature by using their senses... especially looking, listening and touching, but definitely not tasting!"

During the safari the children will have a chance to search for insects under Elaine’s expert guidance. The habitats to be explored are woodland and grassland, and there will be a bit of plant identification, but it is mainly about having fun! Places on these discovery safaris are limited and tickets will be available to collect from the shop on the day.

Also taking place on Tuesday 28 May, between 11am and 4pm, is the ever-popular craft activities day. A la Ronde volunteers will be on hand to help children make a variety of fun crafts to take home. £1.50 per participant – no need to book, just turn up. This session takes place in a marquee so, thankfully, wet weather is not a problem. Participating children will need to be accompanied by an adult.

Looking to appeal to adults with a creative streak, there’s a great opportunity to join artist Yvonne Taylor as she leads a ‘Drawing with Colour’ workshop on 29 May. Working as part of a small group (max 8), the day will enable beginners, and artists with more experience, to work ‘en plein air’, using various drawing media such as pastels, watercolour pencils and inks. A lively approach will be encouraged and there will be an opportunity to experiment with different media. If the weather is wet, there will be an option to move under-cover.

If you’re still in the creative groove there is a further opportunity to get crafty on Friday 31 May, when Lesley Strong will be demonstrating the art of making embroidered buttons. Known as Cartwheel or Dorset buttons, these intricate designs once formed part of a cottage industry in Dorset.

This is a drop-in workshop in the marquee. You don’t need to book, so why not come along and have a go at making a button yourself. While you’re at A la Ronde don’t forget to visit Lesley’s own ‘Neptune’s Bounty’ exhibition, where she uses the textures and colours of the seashore seeks to create new artistic order.

There’s even more to see and do at A la Ronde so why not make a day of it by playing garden games on the ha-ha lawn or maybe trying your hand at brass rubbing or the nature and buildings spotter sheets. The tea-room which serves coffees, lunches and afternoon teas is open from 10.30am to 5.30pm (last orders are at 5pm) or, if it’s a lovely day, perhaps bring a picnic and relax in the orchard. Dogs on leads are welcome in the grounds too.

There’s a family trail to follow in the house; and a Discovery Room with dressing up, silhouette and shell activities. There’s also a super second-hand book room to browse through with lots of titles for all ages and interests.

A la Ronde is a unique and quirky sixteen-sided house, built under the instructions of the two cousins Jane and Mary Parminter in the eighteenth century. It is full of unusual craft and art work, which was collected by the cousins during their ten year European tour.

Normal admission charges apply for entry to the house which is open from 11am to 5pm with last admissions at 4pm. The grounds, tea-room and shop are free to enter and are open between 10.30am and 5.30pm, with last orders in the tea-room at 5pm.

For further details and how to get there click here.