Abbotsbury Swannery 
A NEW ADVENTURE TO DISCOVER
Lancaster The Explorer
A new children’s trail at Abbotsbury Subtropical Gardens
Follow Lancaster The Explorer on a plant-filled adventure through Abbotsbury Subtropical Gardens.
Inspired by real-life plantsman Roy Lancaster, this new family trail invites children to journey through the Gardens in search of remarkable plants from around the world.
With an Activity Passport to complete, country stamps to collect, plant facts to discover and an Explorer’s Hut to visit, it is the perfect recipe for a memorable family adventure!
What to look out for
Follow the trail, collect your stamps and see what you can discover
Every young explorer begins their adventure with a Lancaster The Explorer Activity Passport.
As you make your journey through the Gardens, you’ll find plant fact posts, answer questions, collect country stamps and spot special features along the route.
There are six plant country stamps to collect in total, each linked to a different plant and part of the world. From giant timber bamboo and tree ferns to Gunnera, aloe and cacti, the trail helps children look more closely at the plants growing around them and understand how extraordinary the natural world can be!
Three things to do on the trail
Read the plant fact posts
Look out for Lancaster’s plant fact points as you tour the Gardens. Each one introduces a different plant and asks a question for young explorers to answer in their passport.
Collect all six country stamps
Stamp your passport as you travel through the Gardens, discovering plants connected to places such as Indonesia, China, Australia, Brazil, South Africa and Mexico.
Find Lancaster’s lost possessions
Head to Lancaster’s Explorer Hut and see how many of his misplaced travel items you can spot. Please leave everything where you find it, ready for the next explorer.
Meet Lancaster and Kevin
Your guides through the subtropical paradise
Lancaster is an intrepid explorer with a love of plants, travel and discovery. On his adventures, he takes notes, makes drawings and records the fascinating things he finds along the way.
By his side is Kevin the Kookaburra, his feathered companion and fellow adventurer.
Together, they guide younger visitors through the Gardens, helping them notice the plants, paths, views and hidden details that make Abbotsbury so special.
Did you know?
You can find a kookaburra in the gardens near the Sunken Lawn!
Inspired by Roy Lancaster
Celebrating a real-life plant explorer
Lancaster The Explorer is inspired by Roy Lancaster CBE, one of Britain’s most respected plantsmen, gardeners, authors and broadcasters.
Roy has spent decades travelling the world in search of plants and has a long association with Abbotsbury Subtropical Gardens. Over the years, he has offered advice and provided rare plants to the Gardens, making him a fitting inspiration for a trail designed to spark curiosity in the next generation of plant lovers.
The new trail was opened at Lancaster’s Hut with Roy, children and staff from Chesil Bank Pre-school and the Abbotsbury Subtropical Gardens team.
More to spot along the way
Bridges, ponds, viewpoints and hidden corners
As you follow the trail, there are plenty of other highlights to enjoy around the Gardens. Keep an eye out for the Rope Bridge, red bridges, lily ponds, Gardener’s Bothy and the Jurassic Coast Viewpoint, weather permitting.
The route gives families a great way to explore Abbotsbury Subtropical Gardens, with children following the passport and adults enjoying the planting, views and changing scenery along the way.
Things to know before you visit
- Lancaster The Explorer is included with entry to Abbotsbury Subtropical Gardens.
- The Gardens are open daily from 10 am until 5 pm, with last entry at 4 pm.
- Please do not pick or eat anything in the Gardens, as many plants can be poisonous.
- Lancaster’s Explorer Hut and some parts of the trail are not on the accessible route.
- Please be aware that there are no toilets in the gardens – the only toilets can be found at the Café.
Ready to explore?
Plan your visit to Abbotsbury Subtropical Gardens and enjoy a new family trail inspired by plants, travel and real-life discovery.
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