Kew Gardens Woodland Wonders Festival

Traditional woodland crafts and lore from England's past

• What: A celebration of woodland crafts, traditions and folklore
• When: Early May Bank Holiday weekend
• Where: The Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew
• Admission: Normal Kew ticket - Adults £12.95, children under 17 are free
• Website

May, with so many fragrant plants bursting into bloom, is a wonderful time to visit Kew Gardens. The annual Woodland Wonders festival makes the bank holiday weekend even more fun.

All kinds of traditional woodland skills are demonstrated, from bee-keeping and woodland survival techniques to archery with longbows. There's something happening all weekend long - birds of prey demonstrations, Morris dancing, working horses. For kids, there's a 70-metre zip wire to try, puppet shows in a traditional wooden round house and the Grand Travelling Insect Circus Museum.

There is also a rare public opening of Queen Charlotte's Cottage, an 18th century rustic royal folly, with costumed guides on hand to add to the atmosphere.