Edentify Trail family activity

Directions: After the Visitor Centre take a moment to admire the view of the Biomes. Then take a left to the Wild Edge. First stop – the Korean Garden, the first of a series of exhibits taking shape along the ‘Wild Edge’ zone.

Family challenge: What do you think the two wooden figures at the entrance of the Korean Garden are for?

Directions: Continue your journey down the stone path, past the little oaks and around the corner. Turn a sharp left at the path junction. After you pass Plants for Changing Climate the path takes a sharp right. Continue on, pass the Myth and Folklore sign and after a few yards there in front of you, sheltered under a giant Dream Chamber you will find the Labyrinth.

Family challenge: Go on a journey to the centre of the labyrinth and back again - Go clockwise (‘deisul’, sunwise) around the labyrinth for good luck. Anticlockwise (‘widdershins’) ain’t so lucky.

This classic seven-ring Labyrinth is found worldwide. To sailors it was a good-luck token, ensuring safe return. It provided protection against wandering spirits who get lost in the curves (spirits can only travel in straight lines, allegedly). Pete Hill and Kate Munro created the beautiful structure around the labyrinth named the Dream Chamber.

Directions: Retrace your steps until you come to the big red and black sculpture, take the easy access route to your right. Walk down the path and across the road towards North American Prairie, carry on and after a few yards you will discover South African Veld.

Family challenge: Have a look at the sign, what do you think biodiversity means?

Directions: Follow the path to your left, below the ship wreck, keep walking until you see, the slope of lavender. Walk around to your right to get to the bottom of the slope.

Family challenge: Can you find the Roman in the bathtub? Why is he bathing in lavender?

Directions: Finally, before you head into the Biomes, take a look at the Biome’s structure from the outside. The Biomes are made of hexagons.

Family challenge: How many sides does a hexagon have? What things in nature are made of hexagons?

Directions: Walk past the water poster, and a few steps up the path you will come to the mosaic circle on the ground. 

Family challenge: There are lots of symbols in the mosaic. Can you find the one with two arrows? What do you think it means? 

Directions: Continue past the sweet peas, and to your left you will see three little streams of water flowing into a shallow pool, from our Invisible Worlds Fresh Water exhibit shelter.

Family challenge: In the shelter by the three streams discover pictures of a dozen delightful tiny creatures that live in fresh water. Which of these lives a very, very long time? 

Directions: Go past the pond on your left (it’s behind all those flowers!) and the Soil Root Dome on your right. As you approach the spiky-roofed Core building turn left on the path that leads behind the building. 

Family challenge: What shape is the giant butterfly’s tongue? 

Directions: Retrace your steps turning right at the junction. Continue up the hill with hedges on both sides, past a giant spider. Just after a little cob shelter, the path takes a steep left turn. On the right there is a timeline on the wall with some mosaics in it.

Family challenge: Look at the image of the mosaic. It shows the first plants that ever came onto land. What are they called?