Thorp Perrow Arboretum

Thorp Perrow is 100 acres of trees on a private estate just south of Bedale, planned and planted by Colonel Sir Leonard Ropner (1895 to 1977) and still looked after by the Ropner family. It holds five National Plant Collections: lime, ash and walnut since 1991, laburnum since 2001 and smoke bush since 2002. Add 51 champion trees and Springs Wood, a stretch of woodland that has stood since medieval times, and it is a serious collection for anyone who likes trees.

What makes it a family day as well is the Bird of Prey and Mammal Centre, with close to 100 birds, meerkats, pygmy goats and a walk-through wallaby enclosure where children feed the wallabies by hand. There is a playground and a tearoom too. Thorp Perrow opens every day of the year apart from Christmas Day, so it works for a winter weekend when many gardens have closed for the season.

From Tea Time Cafe at 87 Market Place, Thorp Perrow is about 30 minutes by car, heading west across the A1(M) towards Bedale. Put DL8 2PS into your satnav, but watch for it sending you down Firby Road: there is no access to the arboretum from that side, so come in by the main entrance instead. The arboretum's own "Getting here" map on its contact page shows the way in, and admissions are on 01677 427203.

Start at admissions and ask what time the flying display is, because in winter it usually drops to one a day at 1.30pm and that becomes the fixed point you plan around. Then walk the arboretum. The named features are the ones to aim for: Cypress Avenue, Red Oak Avenue, the Acer Glade, the Milbank Pinetum, the Jubilee Oaks and the Catherine Parr Oak. In winter the evergreens and berries carry the colour, and snowdrops come later in the winter.

At the bird of prey and mammal centre, pick up food in the gift shop for Wallaby Wood, then visit the meerkats and the goats. The centre opens 10am to 4pm. Children can let off steam in the playground, and the tearoom serves lunches and homemade treats, with hot food until 3pm.

From 28 November 2026 to 3 January 2027 the Santa's Missing Presents trail lights up the woodland, and Santa's Grotto runs from 28 November to 24 December. The grotto must be booked ahead and includes a keepsake photograph.

For something more involved, the centre runs bookable Owl Experiences, Hawk Walks and Falconer for the Day sessions; ring 01677 427755 for prices.

The trees are the reason Thorp Perrow exists. Five National Collections and 51 champion trees sit within half an hour of Thirsk, and the named avenues give the walk a shape. The hand-feeding in Wallaby Wood is the moment most children remember. The birds are close to 100 strong, from owls and falcons to eagles, kookaburras and tawny frogmouths, with a songbird aviary as well. Year-round opening also makes it a reliable choice from November to March.

Book online, because each ticket is a pound cheaper than on the door and the arboretum says gate sales are subject to capacity. Visiting in December or January, check the Gardeners' World 2-for-1 offer (code GW2-for-1) and bring the pass, or it will not be accepted. In winter, plan your walk around the single 1.30pm display rather than expecting three. Get to the tearoom before 3pm if you want a hot lunch. Dogs are welcome on a lead on the paths, but they cannot go into the bird centre, the playground or the tearoom, so bring someone to share the waiting if the wallabies are on the list. Members of Yorkshire's Great Castles, Houses and Gardens get in free when they pre-book. On the way home, Bedale is a few minutes up the road, and Thirsk is half an hour back for a late tea.