In search of The Lost Words at Bodnant Garden
This summer at Bodnant Garden we’re inviting children to rediscover nature words – and experiences - which are being lost in our digital age.
Our Lost Words Trail is based on the book of the same name. Written by Robert McFarlane and illustrated by Jackie Morris, The Lost Words is a celebration of some of the words which have disappeared from children’s dictionaries in recent years; words like ‘broadband’ and ‘chatroom’ replacing others describing the natural world, like ‘bramble’ and ‘conker’.
Through the summer school holidays families will be able to follow a simple, self-led trail around the garden looking out for lost words relating to animals and plants. On different days there will also be activities along the way like willow weaving, pond dipping and children’s birdwatching walks. The trail ends at the Old Mill in the Dell, where children can listen to the whole book being read aloud by one of our storytelling volunteers.
Bodnant Garden’s events and engagement officer Charlie Stretton says: “We are lucky enough, here at Bodnant, to have most of the ‘lost words’ – otter, kingfisher, fern, newt, bluebell and raven, amongst others – present in the garden. Our trail will take families around the locations where, if they look carefully, they will spot some of these things. There are ‘spells’ around the trail, written in gold pen on Welsh slate, for the older children and adults to read.”
The Lost Words Trail will be a free activity (normal garden admission applies). Contact the garden office on 01492 650460 for more information about this and other family events at Bodnant Garden.