Sheffield’s Tinsley Marina will host a free family-friendly open day on Saturday 15 February (10am-3pm), inviting visitors to explore the Sheffield & Tinsley Canal and experience the benefits of being by the water.
 
Organised by the Canal & River Trust, the event will showcase a range of activities supported by People’s Postcode Lottery funding, including:
 
🌿 Arts & Crafts: Create your own canal scene and make duck food for younger visitors
 
🚶 Wellbeing Walk: A relaxing two-hour stroll along the canal towpath, spotting wildlife and meeting new people (booking recommended)
 
🛶 Canoeing Taster Sessions: Try a free instructor-led canoe session (ages 7+) throughout the day (limited drop-in spaces available, pre-booking advised via Eventbrite)
 
🛠️ Canal Conservation: Learn about the Trust’s ongoing repairs at Tinsley Lock 12, including lock gate replacements and brickwork restoration
 
🎨 Public Artwork: Visit The Looping Boat, a gravity-defying canal sculpture by Alex Chinneck, celebrating Sheffield’s industrial heritage
 
📍 Getting There: Due to limited parking, visitors are encouraged to use public transport. The nearest Supertram stop is Carbrook, or it's a 15-minute towpath walk from Meadowhall.
For more information and booking details, visit: Canal & River Trust
 

Event details

Families looking for outdoor fun and hands-on experiences this half-term can head to Chatsworth, where a packed schedule of exciting activities awaits from 15 – 23 February. With farmyard encounters, adventure playgrounds, and immersive woodland workshops, there's something for visitors of all ages to enjoy.
Meet the Animals & Explore the Farmyard


Open daily from 10.30am – 4.30pm, the Chatsworth Farmyard & Adventure Playground offers the chance to meet a variety of four-legged friends, including piglets, goats, and rare breeds like Suffolk Punch horses, Albion cattle, and Gloucestershire Old Spot pigs. Visitors may even be lucky enough to meet some newborn arrivals!

Animal lovers can take part in daily handling sessions in the Poultry House, getting up close with chicks, guinea pigs, and other small animals. For an extra treat, bags of animal food are available to purchase, so little ones can feed the animals during their visit.
Tractor Rides & Woodland Walks
For those who love to explore, tractor and trailer rides will be running each day from 11am – 1pm and 2pm – 3.30pm, offering a unique tour through Stand Wood and the estate’s picturesque landscape.

Woodland explorer walks will also take place at 11am and 1.30pm daily, giving families the chance to discover the fascinating habitats within Chatsworth’s historic woodlands.
Adventure Playground Fun


After a major refurbishment last year, the adventure playground is the perfect place to burn off some energy. Featuring a secret tunnel, climbing wall, zip wire, tall towers, and racing slides, it promises hours of fun for children of all ages. There’s also a coffee hut and picnic area for those in need of a break.
Free Woodland Lab Workshops (18 – 20 February)
For those interested in nature and science, Chatsworth’s Stickyard outdoor learning centre will be hosting freeWoodland Lab Workshops from 10.30am - 12pm and 1pm - 2.30pm on 18, 19, and 20 February.

Workshops include:

🔍 Exploring moss, lichen, and fungi up close with magnifying lenses
🌳 Discovering ‘zombie trees’ and the habitats they create
🎨 Woodland-inspired art activities
Springtime Adventures at Chatsworth
Emma Flack, Head of Visitor Experience at Chatsworth, said:
Plan Your Visit
For full details and to book tickets, visit: www.chatsworth.org/visit-chatsworth/book-tickets.

🌿🐷🚜 Get ready for a half-term packed with adventure at Chatsworth!

Event details