Things to do in Dorchester, England: The Best Nature & Parks

Beautiful 26 acre Sculpture Park & Gardens, with Gallery cafe. Due to deep water NO CHILDREN UNDER 14 years of age (including babies) and NO DOGS are allowed. Open Wednesday to Sunday 10am to 5pm, hut bookings are from 10am to 4.45pm. Entry is £12.50 per person. The Gallery Cafe is now open serving tea, coffee, light meals, delicious cakes, cream tea's, ice creams etc., visitors can choose to eat inside, outside (at the newly created seating area), or take it out into the Sculpture Park using one of the picnic baskets provided, complete with rug. Visitors are able to enjoy the Gallery & Gallery Cafe without entry to the Sculpture Park. Described as one of the most beautiful & unique sculpture parks in the United Kingdom, Sculpture by the Lakes marries the soft beauty of nature's wild river landscape with the more formal presentation of monumental outdoor sculpture. It is that combination of art and landscape that inspires Sculpture by the Lakes.

We are a bird of prey collection with over 100 birds in the collection ranging from owls, hawk, falcons to vultures and eagles. We have two daily shows free flying some of the team and a tea room for you to relax and enjoy the quiet and tranquility of the site. Come and see conservation in action in our butterfly garden or bring a picnic.

Athelhampton House is one of England's finest Tudor Manor Houses. Dating from 1485, the Great Hall is a fine example of domestic Tudor architecture, the house has many interesting rooms, filled with antique furnishings and art. The Gardens remodelled in 1891 surround the House, with many 'compartments' built with Ham stone, each with a different style or theme, each with a water feature of a pond or fountain. The Great Court features the 12 world famous giant yew tree pyramids. The House and Gardens are protected by a Grade 1 listing, and are well maintained to protect for future generations. An excellent visitor centre with restaurant, tea room, gift shop and plant sales area complete the attraction. Enjoy a great Lunch or afternoon tea. See our website for special offers.

Owned and managed by the Dorset Council's Countryside team, this magical pocket of mixed woodland and heath is home to a great diversity of trees including mature Oaks, Sweet Chestnut and Beech. The woodland gives way to Black Heath, an area of heather and gorse with its own herd of Dartmoor ponies. Rushy Pond is a small watering hole for many birds, mammals,damselflies and dragonflies. Running through the site is a well preserved Roman road, which is designated as an Scheduled Ancient Monument.

The Walled Garden is a beautiful five-acre landscaped formal garden situated in Moreton, Dorset.A wide variety of perennial plants sit in the boarders, which have been styled in original Georgian and Victorian designs. For the past 4 years, these have been planted and cared for by our Head Gardener Tim and his team. Also, set in the Walled Garden, The Dovecote Café is open 7 days a week all year round (excluding Christmas period), serving breakfasts, brunch, lunch, tea and coffee and cakes.