A cornucopia of springtime activities enticed families into the fresh air at the Richard Jefferies Museum for a Magic Monday afternoon of games, crafts and gardening.

Despite spells of rain, spirits were not dampened as upwards of 60 youngsters and their parents joined the event at the Swindon museum.

No doubt Victorian writer (and former Adver journalist) Richard Jefferies would have been delighted to know so many youngsters were enjoying the natural world in his garden – he wrote a novel about the adventures of a boy called Bevis, who loves nature and wildlife and had all kinds of adventures around Coate.

With the guidance of Hilda Sheehan, children planted flowers and vegetables in the garden of Jefferies’ childhood home. Their blooms included petunias and begonias, and amongst the edibles were tomatoes and potatoes. The children also had an opportunity to meet the museum’s resident chickens.

Performers Jackie Bardwell and Robert Stredder led the entertainments, with Jackie transforming into a white rabbit and taking children in a hunt around the garden. The afternoon’s entertainments included clowning and story-telling, and youngsters enjoyed a chance to practise a range of circus skills, such as plate spinning, hula hoops, diablo spinning and juggling.

Inside the cottage, children engaged their imaginations in the making of a variety of spring-related creations, such as nests and birds made from paper and card.

“It was bonkers and it was fantastic!” said museum director Mike Pringle. “It was absolutely heaving! There must have been, at any one time, between 60 and 70 kids, with their parents.”

Hilda said: “It was very busy – but we coped! And we had some great feedback afterwards.”

This week’s Magic Monday event will be repeated every Monday throughout the summer holidays too, giving local youngsters a chance to play, learn and create in the beautiful environment of the museum and its garden.

Young people aged five and up will also be able to follow in the footsteps of Bevis to earn an Arts Award.

“The award is based around the adventures of Bevis, and you gain the qualification by learning about Richard Jefferies, going for a walk around Coate and sharing what you have learnt,” Hilda explained.

For more information about Magic Mondays, and other events at the Richard Jefferies Museum visit richardjefferies.org.