NTTheFirs

During the Summer Holidays at The Firs we will be holding some facilitated family activities based on 50 things to do before you are 11 and 3/4 ☀️

Activities include making a home for wildlife, helping a plant to grow and much more!

They will take place every Monday at 11.30am-12.30pm from the 22 July until the 26 August.

Find out more on our website (link in bio)

Have you ever wondered what it's like to volunteer with the National Trust? Come along to Greyfriars and learn about the variety of volunteering roles available at some of your local National Trust places in Worcestershire!

Find out how you can get involved here at Greyfriars, NT Croome, NTTheFirs or NT Hanbury Hall, and the many ways volunteers help us look after these special places for future generations.

This is a free event. No booking required – just pop by the garden at Greyfriars, where all in one place you can meet and chat to the teams from each property!

📆 Wednesday 14 August, 10.30am - 3pm.
📍 The garden at Greyfriars

📣 Summer Job Vacancy over at NT Croome 📣

Looking for a summer job full of fun and play in a stunning location?

We are hiring 2 x Programming Assistants to help in the delivery of a programme of activities and events during our exciting Summer of Play offer at Croome.

Do you have an enthusiasm for bringing engaging stories to life? If so, this could be the role for you.

Find out more and apply via nationaltrustjobs.org.uk, ref no. IRC153577

This week is National Volunteers’ Week, celebrating the amazing contribution of all volunteers. Please join us in saying a huge thank you to the team of volunteers who help us to care for The Firs.

From the cottage to the gardens, stocking up the bookshop, providing talks and welcoming visitors, volunteers at The Firs create a fantastic experience for visitors. Our volunteers do such important work and enable us to look after this special place, sharing the life and legacy of Sir Edward Elgar and his music.

From all of us – thank you!

On this day in 1857 Edward William Elgar was born in this little cottage in Lower Broadheath.

Elgar’s sister, Lucy, recalled his birth and said “How well I remember the day he was born! The air was sweet with the perfume of flowers, bees were humming and all the earth was lovely…”

Just like when Elgar was born it is a beautiful day today, to make your visit extra special come and listen to a talk on Elgar at 12pm and 2pm.

The Firs is open Friday-Monday 10am-5pm.

Join the team from West Midlands Butterfly Conservation to uncover moth traps in the orchard at Croome. Discover more about the beautiful insects which usually fly at night and what we can do to help their survival.
£15 per person - includes a hot drink and a breakfast roll.
9.30am - 11am
Visit our website for more information and to book.

https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/worcestershire-herefordshire/croome/events/c583254d-e8b1-4686-b295-204c6ff6f704

What's the collective noun for lots of lovely lupins?! 🤔

A lusciousness of lupins?
A legion of lupins?
A loveliness of lupins?

Whatever it is we've got it in the cottage garden 😍

Visit us Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays from 10am until 5pm to see these luminous beauties for yourself!

📷 NT/ Katherine Alker

Are you planning to visit The Firs this Sunday?

If so, Elgar biographer and author Richard Westwood-Brookes will be making a special appearance to give his popular “insight” talks - which give a background to Elgar’s works in a light hearted and down to earth style that everyone can enjoy.

Talks start at 12pm and 2pm and feature a wide range of Elgar’s music - some of whom you may not have heard before. We hope to see you then!

The Firs is open Friday-Monday 10am-5pm.

Have you spotted this fantastic colourful mural by artist Rob Draper near the University of Worcester building on Hylton Road?

It's an inspiring quote from Sir Edward Elgar 'The music is in the air, take as much as you want' 🎶

📷 Katherine Alker

Thank you to everyone who visited over our blossom weekend and stuck a blossom on our tree 🌸🌸

We are hoping to continue to run this activity until the tree is completely full so if visiting please don’t forget to take part.

The Firs is open Friday - Monday, 10am-5pm

Today is the start of our blossom weekend 🌸

Until the 22 April we will be running activities such as making your own frame so you can capture a beautiful view. In our visitor centre you can add blossom to our tree to make it bloom.

Our gardener will be holding talks at 11.30am & 2.30pm on the 19, 20 & 22 April.

The Firs is open Fridays to Mondays from 10am-5pm.

We look forward to welcoming you

For our blossom weekend our gardener will be holding talks on all things blossom. Come along at 11.30am & 2.30pm on the 19, 20 & 22 April.

Find out what varieties of apples, pears and native blossoms we have. Our gardener will be happy to answer any questions you have.

See you then!

📸 Hels Viviers

It's a lovely sunny morning. There are clouds of blossom in the garden and orchard 🌸😍

We're looking forward to our weekend 19th to 22nd April. Come along for tours and talks, blossom origami and more!

Normal admission applies. We're open Fridays to Mondays 10am to 5pm.

📷 Katherine Alker

One more weekend of the toddler friendly Easter trail at The Firs... Pick up a trail sheet and let the kids hop, skip and jump their way around the pretty cottage garden. They can even show Elgar their best bunny moves.

29 March to 8 April on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, and Mondays between 10 am and 5 pm (with last entry at 4:30 pm).

£3 per trail which includes an Easter trail sheet, bunny ears and dairy or vegan and Free From chocolate egg (normal National Trust admission applies).

Happy Easter from all of us at The Firs!

Remember our Easter Trail is running on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays up until the 8th April.

£3 per trail which includes an Easter Trail sheet, bunny ears and dairy or vegan and free from chocolate egg.

Are you looking for a quieter toddler friendly Easter trail? You'll find just that in the pretty cottage garden at The Firs, Elgar's birthplace cottage.

Surrounded by pretty spring flowers, the Easter trail at The Firs is placed across a quaint cottage garden, with some indoor activities too.

There's an egg and spoon race, pin the tail on the bunny, an Easter wishing tree, help build a nest for the golden egg and much more.

Easter Trail at The Firs - 29 March - 8 April on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays between 10am and 5pm (last entry at 4.30pm). £3 per trail which includes an Easter trail sheet, bunny ears and dairy or vegan and Free From* chocolate egg.

Find out more at nationaltrust.org.uk/the-firs

📸Image credit: National Trust|Ellen Cooper

Woohoo! 🎉 Well done Little Al’s at The Firs 👏🏼

Another 5!
That’s a full house so far across our cafes. 💪
*photo description… Alex and Anne looking slightly manic after receiving EHO inspection mid lunch rush 😆

Panorama Tower on Croome estate, Worcestershire is normally closed to the public, but starting on 21 March 2024 it will be open to visit once a month until November.

With fantastic panoramic views across the surrounding countryside from the top of the tower, you'll understand why James Wyatt chose this location to build it for the 6th Earl of Coventry in 1801.

The first open day is on Thursday 21 March 2024 between 12noon and 2.30pm, and you can choose either a self-led or guided walk from the visitor centre.

Self led walk from the visitor centre (normal admission applies).
Guided walk from the visitor centre starting at 11am - £7.50 per person (booking essential/normal admission applies).

Plan your visit https://bit.ly/3HtCYwx

Visit the newly opened Little Al's café at The Firs on Mothering Sunday - 10 March. There's FREE ENTRY for National Lottery players to Elgar's cottage and cottage garden too. Simply show a National Lottery ticket or scratch card to the welcome team when you arrive, or if you’re a National Trust member, why not use the National Lottery free entry to bring someone along with you?

Take a stroll through the beautiful garden and admire the spring flowers, explore Elgar's quaint birthplace cottage and visit Little Al's café for fair-trade coffee, refreshing teas, and a selection of brunch favourites, including hearty soups, slow-cooked ham sandwiches, and not to forget cracking sponge cakes.

Little Al's aim to cater to everyone and offer a selection of alternative goods, such as gluten-free options, milk alternatives, and vegan choices.

Above all, they stand for serving ethically and responsibly sourced food and drink. It’s important to them to work with local and ethical suppliers to serve you scrummy, comforting, and quality goods.

Find out more at nationaltrust.org.uk/the-firs

You can find out all the terms and conditions for National Lottery Open Week on the National Lottery website: www.nationallotteryopenweek.com.

📸National Trust / Nina Leonard



National Trust in the Midlands

Just three weeks until Easter at The Firs begins. 🐣🐰🐥

Pick up a trail sheet and let the kids hop, skip and jump their way around pretty cottage garden in our toddler friendly Easter trail and try out lots of activities including:

🐣 Hop like a bunny and show off their best bunny moves to the life-size Elgar statue
🐣 Create their own eco-friendly plant pot and sow a sunflower seed inspired by the cottage garden that Elgar loved
🐣 Add family wishes to the Easter Wishing Tree
🐣 Test their balance with an egg and spoon race
🐣 Explore their inner composer with the outdoor musical instruments

29 March to 8 April on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, and Mondays between 10 am and 5 pm (with last entry at 4:30 pm).

£3 per trail which includes an Easter trail sheet, bunny ears and dairy or vegan and Free From chocolate egg (normal National Trust admission applies).

📸 image credits: National Trust Images/James Dobson

Today we are remembering 90 years since Sir Edward Elgar passed away.

Elgar wished to be remembered here, after his death. His daughter, Carice, made sure this happened and the Elgar Birthplace Museum was opened.

We are open every Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday from 10am-5pm.

“I don’t expect much from the nation, but if they ever think it worthwhile, I wish they would buy this cottage. It’s the only wish I’ve got about the nation and me.” Edward Elgar

We're so pleased to be open again! 🥳

We're now open every Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday from 10am until 5pm.

We look forward to seeing you soon!

A week today we are playing two SOLD OUT ‘stories set to music’ family concerts at NTTheFirs. The story we are performing is Wind in the Willows with music by Elgar. To perform his music at his birthplace is a real honour and we can’t wait!

www.toscanastrings.co.uk

For one weekend in December (15-18 December), Father Christmas is visiting The Firs along with some of his elves. His best elf will help you to make a toy before you head to the idyllic cottage to meet Father Christmas and receive a small gift.

Tickets are selling fast! Saturday and Sunday are sold out but there's still tickets for Friday and Monday. Find out more and book your tickets on our website: nationaltrust.org.uk/the-firs

📸 National Trust / Nina Leonard

Don't miss this FREE CONCERT at The Firs on Sunday 29 October (normal admission applies: free to National Trust members and £9.50 per adult for non members).

Listen to baritone Matthew Clark accompanied by pianist Richard Lennox, showcase songs from Elgar's career along with commentary from resident Elgar expert Richard Westwood-Brookes.

Reserve your free ticket at nationaltrust.org.uk/the-firs

This event is sponsored by the Elgar Society.

📸Elgar Family

Reserve your tickets for this free event (normal membership/admission applies).

Listen to baritone Matthew Clark accompanied by pianist Richard Lennox, showcase songs from Elgar's career along with commentary from resident Elgar expert Richard Westwood-Brookes.

Find out more by searching 'The Firs events' on our website nationaltrust.org.uk/the-firs

This event is sponsored by the Elgar Society.

📸Elgar Family