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07
Jul
Parents are being invited to take their children back to the workhouse, as a new pogramme of summer activities is unveiled by Ripon Museums.
The announcement marks a new phase for the city's three museums, following the introduction of a new management team, led by the recently appointed director of museums, Alexa Vernon and new chair, Robert Ling.
Ripon Museums aims to educate and inspire visitors by providing engaging and informative experiences that bring history to life.
Ms Vernon, who formerly worked for the National Trust, has begun assembling a strong team dedicated to delivering programmes aligned with the museum's vision of ‘Inspiring others to seek a fairer society.’
A summer trail marks the beginning of the new visitor engagement programme under her direction.
Mr Ling said:
We are delighted Alexa is leading our new team and we welcome this new phase of development and growth for the museum.
Our summer trail invites local and visiting families to the museums for fun, educational and thought-provoking activities offering a value day out. We are looking forward to seeing many happy new faces this summer.
The summer trail, which has been made possible through funding from Arts Council England, will run across the three heritage museums: Workhouse & Gardens, Courthouse and Prison & Police.
In addition to dressing up, costumed guides, baking and crafting, children of all ages will have the opportunity to take part in six herb-themed challenges, discovering more about life in Victorian Yorkshire.
Starting on the July 20 and running throughout the school holidays (until September 2), the trail is included with the purchase price of a standard museum ticket and the museums will be open seven days a week.
The herb theme is deigned to connect visitors with nature and history and stems from Ripon Workhouse's own Victorian kitchen garden which has been painstakingly restored by a dedicated team of volunteers.
Ms Vernon, pointed out:
As one of the country's finest working Victorian gardens, the secret gem is nestled away to the rear of the Workhouse and provides a magical environment for families to run around, relax and learn about herbs and gardening.
The trail connects many aspects of the museum with learning about the medicinal benefits of herbs, gardening tips and sustainable practices used to maintain Victorian heritage species.
Further information on the Ripon Museums Summer Trail and other upcoming events is available from www.riponmuseums.co.uk
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