Egg-cellent fun in Swindon this bank holiday

At Lydiard there is fun for all the family when the park’s popular Easter trail makes its return. With clues hidden around the park and lake, participants will search for hidden eggs to uncover a special word to win a prize.

The trail will take place between 11am and 3pm on Sunday (31 March), and is open to all ages. Trail sheets can be obtained from the Coach House Tea Rooms.

Tickets cost £5 per child and no booking is required. However, children must be accompanied by an adult.

And, if visitors to Lydiard get peckish, the park’s hotel has a variety of food offerings to take advantage of including:

• a hog roast (Free range pork, with homemade coleslaw, applesauce and stuffing) served by Lydiard’s Executive Chef on Friday (29 March) and Sunday (31 March)⁠⁠
• a braised lamb special of the renowned Sunday Lunch⁠
• a hot crossed bun and hot drink deal for £5⁠

A brand new exhibition is in store when Lydiard House Museum reopens its doors on Saturday (30 March). ‘Lest We Forget’ explores the Black Contribution to the World Wars in Wiltshire.

In 1943 the American 101st Airborne division constructed a military hospital in the grounds of Lydiard Park and troops were stationed there, including African American GIs. Lest We Forget respectfully tells some of the stories and experiences of the Black community living and working in the Armed Forces in Wiltshire during that time.

The exhibition at Lydiard House Museum has been developed by the Wessex Museums Partnership. On display is fascinating archive material from the Wiltshire and Swindon History Centre and the National Archives, and a poignant memorial wreath from Wiltshire Museum.

Objects and artwork from the collection at Museum & Art Swindon form a key part of the exhibition, including a painting of Regent Circus in 1945 by local artist Harold Dearden and a wooden cross from the grave of an unknown Wiltshire soldier.

Younger visitors to Lydiard House Museum will be able to take part in a related activity; Signals and Cyphers on Thursday 4 and Thursday 11 April, the activity is free with museum entry.

Swindon Borough Council’s other country parks are also open throughout the Easter weekend. Residents can spend time walking around the lake at Coate Water or in the woodlands at Stanton Park. There are also various parks across Swindon that people can take advantage of including Town Gardens, Queens Park, GWR Park, St Mark’s Recreation Ground, Seven Fields and Mouldon Hill Park.

At STEAM – Museum of the Great Western Railway, visitors can ‘Meet the Railway Workers’ on Saturday (30 March) to find out what life was like inside Swindon’s famous railway works, while the special exhibitions ‘Locomotives Through the Lens’ and ‘In a Man’s World’ have been extended to enable more visitors to enjoy them.

Then, during the Easter holidays on Wednesday 3 and Wednesday 10 April, younger visitors to the museum can take part in the Bridge Builders Event where they can learn how to build bridges using Polydron and the museum’s own bespoke wooden models of Isambard Kingdom Brunel’s bridges – free with museum entry.

Frances Yeo, Swindon Museums Manager, said: “We’ve got so much going on across our museums and country parks throughout Easter and the school holidays.

“Whether you’re interested in the history of Swindon, wanting to entertain the kids, or you’re just looking for a nature walk, there’s something for the whole family.

“The Easter holidays also marks the reopening of Lydiard House Museum, so why not drop in for a visit and learn about its amazing heritage, including how it came to be one of Swindon’s most iconic landmarks as well as experiencing our new exhibition ‘Lest We Forget’.”