Events at Local Properties

 These events have been given to us by Local NT properties.

 Please check that they are still going ahead as we are not told of cancellations.

Anglesey Abbey

Open for your visit this week: Gardens with one-way system, and open spaces for free-flow. Hoe Fen Wildlife & Den Build Area. Toilets near House and Visitor Centre.Redwoods Restaurant & Outdoor Kiosk with hot and cold drinks, ice creams, cakes and sandwiches.Shop & Plant Centre from 10.30am.Bikes and scooters for under 5's only.Currently closed: House and Hoe Fen Play Area.

Anglesey Abbey has periods in the year with something to offer, free for national Trust members or where normal admission prices apply.

 This is our normal programme but please check what is on offer at our web site.

February - our gardens are transformed into a sea of white as over 270 varieties of snowdrop herald the arrival of spring.

March – see spring bulbs as they emerge in the gardens.

June/July – our Herbacious border at its best and our rose gardens in bloom.

September - see the beautiful colour and varieties of dahlia in our garden. The House will also be decorated with beautiful displays.

Dunwich Heath

You do not need to book a parking space. Our car park is open daily from 10am to 4pm and locked outside of opening times. The car park machine by the visitor Information Centre is in use for scanning your membership card to gain free parking. The tea room is open each day and the kiosk is open at weekends.

Some of our events coming up in the next few months: 

Mindful Walks – from mid-October (fortnightly) Heath Barn Lectures (monthly) - covering subjects such as diverse as the history of Dunwich Heath, ecology of hares, bats and heathland management. Dates to be confirmed shortly. 

Starling Murmuration – we plan to extend our opening times on Thursdays from October to February to allow visitors to witness the starling murmuration that usually occurs over Dunwich Heath. 

Flatford

The site is now open again. There is no need to book. The car park and walking routes will remain open for local exercise. 

The tea room is open every day and the shop Wednesday – Sunday. 

‘The Granary at Flatford is closed until further notice due to unforeseen circumstances’.

Please see Flatford NT website over the next few months for full details of events.

Ickworth

Important notice - The house, parkland, gardens, shops & cafés at Ickworth are open. We’re open everyday & we no longer have a booking system in place for visits. Please check opening times for detailed opening. Our quieter times to visit are weekdays & after 1pm. 

We look forward to welcoming you back.

The "Cycle Hub" reopens on Thursday 11th January - Thursday to Sunday. Times 10.00am - 4.00pm. Last hire at 2.00pm.

Snowdrops:

To find out more about Ickworth snowdrops - join Ickworth Head Gardener on Friday 9th February from 10.30am. (booking needed - we would think).

Children's crafts in the West wing Gallery during half term - make "snowdrops and spring flowers".

 * For more information and to ensure your place on our tours head to our website: https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/ickworth 

Lavenham

Wool Spinning Demonstrations             Nov  2023 - Feb 2024

Melford Hall

Important notice - We’re open Wednesday- Sunday and we have removed the booking system so you no longer need to book in advance. 

Summer opening times:

Wednesday - Sunday: 12:00 - 16:30 

Please note, last admission to the site is 3.30pm. Last orders in the tearoom at 4.00pm. 

Orford Ness

Important notice - Due to boat capacity you'll need to book your visit in advance. If you arrive without a booking, you'll unfortunately be turned away. To book please visit the What's On section on the Orford Ness NT website. Tickets are released 2 weeks in advance and are in high demand. 

Open Saturday and Sunday 

• Nature reserve: 10:00 - 17:00 

• We are opening our outdoor spaces only. Please check our website for further details and information on how to book your place https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/orford-ness-national-nature-reserve

Please note

The first ferry is at 10am and runs every 15 minutes outbound until 12:45. Tickets are for a timed ferry.    

National Trust Orford Ness, Quay Street, Orford, Suffolk IP12 2NU

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Oxburgh Hall:

Upstairs rooms reopen:

 We are delighted to be (re)opening some of the first-floor areas here at Oxburgh, following the completion of the Raise the Roof project. These spaces include the Marian Hangings room, the North Corridor and the North Bedroom. The Marian Hangings were embroidered by Mary, Queen of Scots and Bess of Hardwick between 1569 and 1584, when Mary was under the guardianship of Bess’s husband on the orders of Elizabeth I. The Hangings were in storage during the roof project and have only recently returned to us. They belong to the Victoria & Albert Museum, but are on long-term loan to Oxburgh, where they came via a marriage into the Bedingfeld family in the eighteenth century.

The North Bedroom took its present form during the nineteenth century and most of the furniture and interiors date to around that time. Perhaps most notable is the flying tester bed - its wooden canopy appears suspended in thin air, but it is in fact bolted to the ceiling. Two new additions to the room are the portraits of Edward and Jane Paston, after Godfrey Kneller, which date to the late seventeenth century. The Pastons, a prominent Norfolk Catholic family, married into the Bedingfeld family on several occasions. The portraits were sold from Oxburgh in 1951, when the estate was put up for sale and many of the contents were dispersed, but they were spotted and purchased at a local auction in 2016. They needed some conservation work before we could display them, which was kindly funded by the Royal Oak Foundation. It is thanks to our members, visitors, supporters and funders that we are sometimes able to buy back items indigenous to Oxburgh, to give them the conservation care they require and to research, interpret and display them for everyone to enjoy. The House, including the first-floor rooms already mentioned, will be open for guided tours on Thursdays and Fridays, and for free-flow access on Saturdays and Sundays. Please check our website for further details: www.nationaltrust.org.uk/oxburgh-hall

 Ilana van Dort Senior Collections and House Officer

We have received this message of thanks from Oxburgh, following ESNTA donations:

"You recently provided funds to the Oxburgh Estate for three items: an accessible picnic bench, interpretation panels for the Parterre project and interpretation panels for the West Park project.

I have some images for you, which I hope to come of interest.( -- which are reproduced at the bottom of the page)

We are still in need of creating the West Park interpretation panel (this is the next job on the list). Once created, I would be delighted to send over additional images.

However, we have purchased and built 2 new accessible picnic benches. These benches have extended panel edges to allow for use of a wheelchair. It has been very nice to see our visitors enjoying them in the sun. 

The parterre panels have been hugely successful and have correctly informed our visitors of the essential work that is happening to the Parterre and what they can expect over the next few years. We have seen a reduction in our visitor comments in regards to the Parterre since they have been in place, which is fantastic, it shows they are correctly informing our visitors. We have placed them in two ‘acorn boxes’ which we found in the workshop. 

Thank you once again for your kind generosity. We greatly appreciate you support, and the items purchased have made a huge difference to our visitor experience on site.

Sutton Hoo:

We were very lucky to receive funding from the East Suffolk National Trust Association to put the LEGO Sutton Hoo helmet on display. They have generously funded a display case and some LEGO which will shortly be appearing in the Discovery Room in Tranmer House where visitors (and volunteers and staff!) can have a go at making their own Sutton Hoo inspired LEGO creation. The creator of the helmet, Andrew Webb, visited on Saturday 15 April and ran a LEGO workshop for visitors- it was packed all afternoon! I am just waiting for the display case to arrive and then the LEGO and the LEGO helmet will be appearing in there. Any donations of LEGO and DUPLO are greatly appreciated! . 

- Josh Ward

Opening Times:

Winter hours until 11th February 2024. Weekday 10:00 – 16:00 Carpark machine in operation. Walks, viewing tower and play area open. Keepers Kiosk open Thursday—Monday 10:00—15:00 Weekends

Sutton Hoo will return to full seven day opening; 10:00—16:00 from Monday 12th February 2024 till 3rd November 2024.

*Riddlequest: Escape Game                   Jan - Feb 2024