Winter Wonderland 2021
Winter Wonderland at Bendrigg Trust
After the success of last years event, we are delighted to announce that the Bendrigg Trust Winter Wonderland is back again for 2021!
***UPDATE 08/12/2021 – Due to damage to our woodland from the recent storms, we have had to reroute the winter wonderland. At the moment we are no longer able to have the trail through our woodland as it is still unsafe, however work is progressing everyday and if we are able to re re route the trail through the woodlands again we will do so. Our first priority is making sure everyone is safe, our second priority is ensuring you have a wonderful time, so rest assured whatever happens, we will do our best to make sure you have a great experience. Thank you in advance for your understanding and patience.
After such a fantastic event last year, Santa has asked the Bendrigg Elves to host the Winter Wonderland event again, to help spread some Christmas joy to all!
The Bendrigg Elves have created a festive trail through the accessible 15 acre grounds where people of all abilities can explore and keep their eyes peeled to tick off loads of festive installations! From nutcrackers & reindeers to candy canes and snowmen, the Bendrigg Elves have really gone to tinsel town again for this special event.
Our Yurt will be transformed into Santa’s grotto and although the big man himself won’t be here, one of our very friendly Bendrigg Elves will be waiting to present you with a small gift.
As well as welcoming families again, this year, we’ll also be opening up before the school holidays to Groups and Schools to visit, please see full details under each of the headers below.
If you’d like to support the event in some way you can find out what we really need your help with at the bottom of this page.
Families (Thursday 16th – Tuesday 21st Dec)
Is this only open to people with a disability?
Feedback from our visitors has shown that typical Christmas events can either be inaccessible to people with physical disabilities or incredibly overwhelming for people with sensory impairments or learning disabilities, so we have designed this event to combat this feedback.
We therefore want to prioritise offering bookings to people with disabilities and their families first, as there are not many events available to them which are fully accessible and designed specifically to meet their needs elsewhere.
If we have places left available closer to the time, we may decide to open the bookings up to everyone – the best place to hear about this first will be on our Facebook Page so please follow us to keep posted.
Dates & Times
This event will be held between Thursday 16th – Tuesday 21st December 2021 and you must book a place via our booking portal here to attend (more information below).
Bookings will be available with specific start times to make sure that we do not have crowded areas on site at any time.
How long will does the trail take to walk around?
At a very relaxed pace, the trail will take around 40 minutes – 1 hour depending on the speed you wander.
Will there be other families on site?
To make things as safe as possible for everyone, we are limiting numbers for each start time.
Arrival times have been staggered and families will have 1 hour to explore the trail ensuring plenty of space to explore safely and at your own pace. Our site is spread across 15 acres so even with other families around the trail you will likely not notice there are other people there.
The only other people in the grounds will be Bendrigg Staff and Volunteers.
How Much Does It Cost?
We have worked hard to keep the cost as low as possible for families and are heavily subsidising this event. but in order to cover our costs we will be asking Participants (children or adults who will be receiving a gift) to pay £9.60 per person. You will be asked to pay in full at the time of booking.
All adults and carers (not receiving gifts!) go free.
Will there be any refreshments available?
New for this year we will be opening up the Bendrigg Lodge dining room for simple café food & drinks.
A selection of food and drink will be available to purchase including soup & a roll, tray bakes, hot chocolate, tea and coffee.
Card payment methods will be available.
Will there be an accessible toilet?
Yes, you will have access to a fully accessible toilet before you start the trail where there is a changing bed, shower and hoisting facilities. There will also be another toilet available which can be accessed through the Bendrigg Lodge café.
How do I book my place?
Click here – All places MUST be pre-booked on our booking portal
Once you book your place you’ll receive a confirmation email with further information about where to park and check in.
If you have any questions at all please do get in touch our friendly team will be happy to help! 🙂
BOOKINGS NOW CLOSED
Schools and Groups (Mon 29th Nov – Weds 15th Dec)
This year, we are delighted to offer time slots for school groups and other organisations from the local community to come along and enjoy our Winter Wonderland.
Dates & Times
We will have morning (10am – 12pm) and afternoon (1pm -3pm) time slot available for schools and groups to book between Monday and Friday. This will be starting from Monday 29th November through to Wednesday 15th December.
You’ll need to contact us directly to discuss availability and booking so please call 01539 723766 between 9-5 normal office hours.
How Much Does It Cost?
We have worked hard to keep this event as affordable as possible by fundraising, but in order to cover our costs for gifts and staffing, participants (children or adults who would like to receive a gift) will be asked to pay £9.60 per person upon booking. All adults and carers NOT receiving gifts go free.
*Minimum charge for 12 people
*Maximum group size 36 people
What activities are included?
You will have 2 hours onsite with your group to wander around the festive woodland trail which makes an exciting an orienteering activity where you can tick and count the number of “festive installations” as you go.
For group bookings only, each person can also take a ride down our fabulous Tube Slide into our snowball pit at the other end!
Each paid guest will also receive a gift from a Bendrigg Elf in our fabulously decorated yurt and a cookie/mince pie/hot chocolate will be served in the Bendrigg Lodge Dining Room at the end. (This is all included in the price)
Will there be other groups on site?
There will be a small number of other guests staying at Bendrigg for their residential so you may see them out and about enjoying their activities, but this will not interfere with your Winter Wonderland experience.
How can I book a place for my school or group?
If you would like to book please contact our bookings team directly on 01539 723766
Would you like to support our Winter Wonderland?
Volunteering
If you would like to volunteer to help us with the set up or deconstruction of the Winter Wonderland we’d love to hear from you! – Please contact our volunteer co-ordinator Kate McCallum
Donations & Gifts in Kind
If you would like to donate towards the Winter Wonderland we’d be very grateful! You can do so by clicking Donate in the top right hand corner of our website. (On a mobile this will be a £ sign)
Alternatively you could donate a “Gift in Kind” to support this event. This could be a Christmas Tree, Fairy Lights, Outdoor Lighting, or even a Festive Installation! We have several items on our Amazon Wishlist to purchase or perhaps you own a business which supplies these items or a spare tree in your loft that you’d like to loan us… either way we’d love to hear from you so please get in touch!