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We hope you have enjoyed your visit to

Blenheim Park and Gardens.

If you do a drawing or a project on your visit then

do send it in to the Education Office.

His Grace, the Duke of Marlborough is always

pleased to see such work.

Contact us at:-

The Education Office

Blenheim Palace

Woodstock

Oxfordshire

OX20 1PX

Tel: 01993 810535

email: education@blenheimpalace.com

www.blenheimpalace.com

THE

SECRET GARDEN

GARDEN DETECTIVES

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THE SECRET GARDEN

1. Can you see the lady and gentleman at the entrance to the

Secret Garden – why do you think they are

there? Have they arranged a secret meeting,

or have they just bumped into each other ?

What do you think?

____________________________________

What are they made of?

____________________________________

2. Step into the Secret Garden. What can you hear? Can you

hear any birds singing or leaves rustling?

____________________________________________

3. Find a Knight from days of old rising up from the dark earth.

a) How do you think he got there?

____________________________________________

b) How can you tell he was a soldier?

____________________________________________

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THE ANSWERS……

1. The statues are made of terracotta.

3b He is wearing a helmet and armour.

4a The oak tree is about 500 years old. If 3 people can link arms

around a tree it indicates that the tree is ancient. Other ways in

which you can tell that it is very very old:-

Thick trunk

Height

Marks on lower trunk where young branches were.

5 The grasses differ in size and texture. You may also be visiting

at a time of year when the Pampas grass is displaying lots of

beautiful seed fronds.

6 Water

8a Staddle Stone

8b Staddle stones were used to support huts used for the storage

of grain. They kept the huts off the ground and their shape pre-

vented rats and mice from running up them and getting at the grain.

9a Arched

9b Wood

9c Koi carp (fish)

10a A wheel or a spider’s web.

10b 24

12a The Blue Cedar is in fact green.

12b Needles

12c Squirrels, Mice, Hedgehogs etc.

13 Lillies on the pond, Koi carp (fish) in the pond.

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c) I can just imagine a family of small, furry animals living in

the trunk of this tree. What animals do you think could live

there?

____________________________________________

13. Walk back towards the entrance – can you see the small pond

on your left?

a) what is in it and on it?

____________________________________________

14. Finally, once upon a time the Secret Garden was all overgrown

– so much so that it really was a secret! What would you call it

if it were your garden?

____________________________________________

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4. Look to your right and see if you can find the big oak tree.

a) How old do you think it might be?

____________________________________________

b) Suggest two ways that you can tell if a tree is old?

____________________________________________

Walk directly ahead until you reach the second bench.

5. Look to your left and find the giant Pampas

grass – look at the grass on the lawn – describe

2 ways in which the grasses differ.

___________________________________

____________________________________

Carry on walking until you come to the first water feature.

6. Can you find a lion roaring – what comes out of his mouth as

he roars?

____________________________________________

Can you roar like a lion?

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7. Walk on until you find a tree that looks as if it has tusks like

an elephant.

This is a Lawson Cypress Tree.

a) How many branches are there that are

low enough to sit on?

________________

Look at the sawn off branch. You can see

one ring for each year of its life.

8. Find a big, stone mushroom.

a) Do you know its special name?

___________________

b) What was it used for?

_______________________________

_______________________________________________

9. Can you hear/see the waterfall? Walk across the bridge.

a) What shape is the bridge’s handrail?

____________________________________________

b) What is the bridge made of?

____________________________________________

c) Can you see what is in the pond?

__________________________________________

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10. Find a shelter (pergola) where a Brass Band could play. Stand

in the middle of it and look up.

a) What does the shape of the ‘roof’ remind you of?

_______________________________________________

b) How many ‘beams’ can you see in the roof? _______________

Start walking back towards the bridge but take the first turning on

the right before you get there.

11. When His Grace comes walking in the Secret Garden, is there

somewhere nice for him to sit?

a) How many of you can sit on the bench at once?

____________________________________________

12. Find the giant Blue Cedar Tree behind

the bench.

a) What colour is the Cedar tree?

____________________________

b) What grows on its branches? Leaves or

needles?

_____________________________