Family Friendly Nature Discovery Day at Chiltern Open Air Museum

Loading Map....

Chiltern Open Air Museum

Chiltern Open Air Museum, Newland Park

Chalfont St Giles

Chiltern Open Air Museum is an outdoor museum that rescues and reconstructs threatened historic houses or workplaces of ordinary people. Each

Chiltern Open Air Museum Garden

building is then interpreted to tell the unique story of the Chilterns, its people, crafts, history and traditions.

The site is a spacious 45 acres and includes over 30 reconstructed historic buildings including; a 1940s prefab, blacksmiths forge, toll house, Victorian earth cottage, tin chapel, furniture factory, replica Iron Age roundhouse, medieval barns, World War Nissen huts and more. There is a working historical farm with livestock including goats, sheep, chickens and cows.

In addition to the buildings the Museum has a woodland, adventure playground and café. There are lots of annual special events including historical re-enactments and family activity days.

The wide variety of historic buildings means the Museum is a popular filming venue and had been used

for Downton Abbey, Midsomer Murders, Horrible Histories, Mary Queen of Scots, Countryfile, Call the Midwife, Grantchester, The Suspicions of Mr Whicher and more!

Nissen hut

Visit their website for more information: https://www.coam.org.uk

51.634502 -0.543691

Date/Time
Date(s) - Saturday 12 Jul 2025
10:00 am - 4:00 pm

Location
Chiltern Open Air Museum

Explore the Museum’s stunning 45-acre site nestled in the heart of the Chilterns and uncover the rich diversity of wildlife that calls it home. With hands-on, family-friendly activities throughout the day, there’s something for every young explorer and nature lover.

🌼 Wildflowers & Pollinators
Join Wild Amersham to discover the amazing world of wildflowers and the vital pollinators that thrive in our natural spaces.

🌾 Guided Meadow Walks
Take a guided stroll through our beautiful chalk downland meadow. Learn about rare plants, insects, and habitats. Walks start at 11:30am and 3pm—meet at the Wild Amersham gazebo by Northolt Barn.

🐸 Pond Dipping
Get hands-on with the Bucks Amphibian and Reptile Group and explore the fascinating creatures living in our pond. Sessions start at 10:30am and 1pm at Northolt Pond.

🐦 Birds & Birdcalls
Find out which birds live on our site and learn to identify them by their calls in this engaging activity for all ages.

🐛 Bug Hunting
Go on a mini-beast safari with the Field Studies Centre. Discover beetles, butterflies, and bugs hiding in our wild spaces.

🦡 Mammal Tracking
Learn to spot signs of wild animals and identify local species with expert guidance from the Buckinghamshire Mammal Group.

🐝 Meet the Insects
Get up close with pollinators and other insects with help from BBOWT, the Bumblebee Conservation Trust and Upper Thames Butterfly Conservation.

👑 Make a Nature Crown
Create your own woodland-inspired masterpiece with the Watford Recycling Arts Project. Use natural and recycled materials to make a beautiful nature crown to take home!

🌳 Willow Sculpture Nature Trail
Follow our magical trail through the woodlands and spot the hand-crafted willow sculptures of birds and animals who make this space their home.

🔍 Wildlife Spotter Challenge
Pick up a spotter sheet and see how many species you can find across the site. Can you spot them all?

🌱 Gardening for Wildlife
Meet our gardener, David Ray, and discover the secret lives of creatures in our vegetable patch, Dig for Victory allotment, and compost heaps. Learn how you can garden in harmony with wildlife at home.

Activities are all subject to change due to weather conditions.