Wakefield Museum

26/05/2026

Yes, that really is a giant worm hanging around by the museum! 🪱

26/05/2026

Pop in and pop up with us today!

Join us from 10am to create Hidden nature worlds from paper! 🦊

- Get crafty making your own paper pop-up nature reserve
- Make animals and plants to live in your nature reserve
- Use different pop-up techniques to bring your creation to life

Whilst you're here, discover the story of Waterton's Wall, the first nature reserve in the world!

🕙 10am to 3pm; free and drop-in

23/05/2026

May half term starts today! We've got something for all the family across our sites.

Plan your next adventure with our handy half term guide: https://museumsandcastles.wakefield.gov.uk/discover/news-and-blog/school-holidays-guide/

Featuring:
🔍 Pontefract pollinators trail at Pontefract Castle (official)
🌍 Hidden nature worlds and Eco arts (ages 6 to 11) here at Wakefield Museum
🏺 Roman games and pastimes at Castleford Museum
🧩 Puzzling Pontefract at Pontefract Museum

Tag and share with your fellow adventure seekers and thrifty families!

18/05/2026

In a week's time we'll be getting ready for our half-term activities! This May, you can:

- Create pop up nature reserves in Hidden nature worlds 🦊
Tuesday 26 May | 10am to 3pm | Free and drop-in

- Make a kokedama moss ball to take home in Kokedama moss kingdoms (ages 12-16) 🌱
Thursday 28 May, 11am and 1:30pm | £3 per teen, booking required

- Experiment using flowers and leaves as artist tools in Eco arts (ages 6 to 11) 🌸
Friday 29 May, 10:30am and 1pm | £3 per child, booking required

More info on our website: https://wmandc.co/home

Video description: A pop up card opening and closing in front of the A World of Good display at Wakefield Museum. As the card is opened, a natural landscape is visible, with a heron, a fox and some pink flowers popping up. Bird song plays in the background.


Experience Wakefield Wakefield Libraries Yorkshire Tots to Teens Wakefield Mumbler

14/05/2026

Calling all teens with a green thumb: come along to Kokedama moss kingdoms (ages 12-16) this May half-term! 🌱

- Discover how ageing stones can host hidden nature kingdoms
- Find out how moss can support ecosystems
- Make your own kokedama moss ball to take home

Get stuck into nature in the place that boasts the world's first nature reserve!

📅 Thursday 28 May, 11am and 1:30pm
🎫 £3 per teen (ages 12 to 16), accompanying adults free (but not required)
Book online at: https://www.ticketsource.com/wakefield-museums-castles/e-dlmerq

14/05/2026

Waterton's Wall and are national news!

Check out this article in The Guardian with our curator John Whitaker: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/may/13/yorkshire-wallfest-wall-world-first-nature-reserve-charles-waterton

Wakefield Council Waterton Park Hotel & Spa Friends of Waterton's Wall

Pioneering environmentalist Charles Waterton enclosed his parkland and lake near Wakefield in the 1820s

12/05/2026

Fancy getting arty with an environmental twist this half-term? 🌸

Come along to our Eco arts (ages 6 to 11) sessions!

- Discover the influence of plants and flowers on designs from bricks to shoes
- Experiment with using flowers and leaves to print, sketch and paint
- Turn your designs into a gift card or stationery set

Fun for all the family to get creative with nature!

📅 Friday 29 May, 10:30am and 1pm
🎫 Booking required: £3 per child, accompanying adults free
Book online at: https://www.ticketsource.com/wakefield-museums-castles/e-vrrzay

11/05/2026

Thinking about taking part in Heritage Open Days? Join this free Information Session and get inspired to bring your heritage stories to life!

📍 West Yorkshire History Centre, Wakefield
📅 Thursday 21 May
⏰ 6-8pm

Heritage Open Days is England’s largest community-led heritage festival, and this September, it could include you.

Whether you’re an experienced organiser or just starting out, this session will be packed with ideas, advice, and support to help you get involved.

Hear from the national Heritage Open Days Programme Manager and brilliant local organisations, and connect with other HODs organisers from across the district.

Perfect if you're planning an event for 2026 or looking to build on an existing one.

Free event – booking required: https://www.ticketsource.com/wakefield-council-heritage/heritage-open-days-information-session/e-yzykaz

08/05/2026

Happy 100th birthday to Sir David Attenborough! 🥳💚🌍

In this clip from the early 2000s recorded for us, Sir David Attenborough talks about Waterton's life and legacy. Sir David is a life-long admirer of Waterton's work.

Charles Waterton (1782 - 1865) was a Victorian naturalist, explorer and taxidermist. He created the world's first nature reserve at his home, Walton Hall, here in Wakefield. Waterton was also an early environmental campaigner.

Hear Sir David talking about Waterton's life and legacy in this video. Explore in more detail in our A World of Good gallery at Wakefield Museum and on our website.

08/05/2026

Happy birthday to Sir David Attenborough! 🥳💚

Sir David officially opened the new museum at Wakefield One in 2023 - here's some lovely throwback photos 👇

05/05/2026

We're diving into the natural world this May half-term with fun for all the family!

Hidden nature worlds | Tues 26 May, 10am to 3pm 🦊
- Discover the story of Waterton's Wall
- Get crafty and make a pop-up nature reserve
- Make animals and plants to live in your hidden nature world

Kokedama moss kingdoms (ages 12-16) | Thurs 28 May, 11am and 1:30pm* 🌱
- Discover how ageing stones can host hidden nature kingdoms
- Find our how moss can support ecosystems
- Make your own kokedama moss ball to take away

Eco arts (ages 6 to 11) | Fri 29 May, 10:30am and 1pm* 🌸
- Get creative with nature
- Use flowers and leaves to print, sketch and paint
- Make useful decorative art items to take away

*Booking required - £3 per teen/child, accompanying adults free.
Find out more on our website: https://wmandc.co/school-holidays