PRESS RELEASE 19 March 2019

Hop on down to RHS Garden Harlow Carr for family fun with The Rhyming Rabbit this Easter

• Join the Rhyming Rabbit and friends for a great garden adventure • Illustrate favourite moments for a chance to win prizes • Meet and learn about real animals and enjoy themed crafts

Families are invited to hop on down to RHS Garden Harlow Carr in this Easter for a great garden adventure with The Rhyming Rabbit. The RHS has teamed up with publisher Macmillan Children’s Books for an exciting programme of family fun during the Easter Holidays, based on The Rhyming Rabbit, written by Julia Donaldson and illustrated by Lydia Monks. Each day, families can enjoy The Rhyming Rabbit Hop About Trail which will take them around and through a giant burrow, meeting the Rhyming Rabbit’s animal friends along the way (starts 30 March). If a hop around the garden leaves children feeling inspired, they can enter a competition to draw their favourite characters or illustrate their own garden adventure, with entries judged by award-winning illustrator, Lydia Monks. Youngsters can also nurture their imagination by creating their own Rhyming Rabbit-inspired verses to hang on a Rhyming Tree, enjoy storytelling and rhymes with the Garden Detectives, watch birds-of-prey demonstrations and enjoy Easter craft activities including the chance to make a rabbit hand puppet or sow-and-grow their own bunny tail plant to take home. Over the Easter weekend, visitors can meet real life versions of some of the book’s best-loved animals.

Running at the same time over the Easter weekend visitors can meet the Easter Bunny himself and from 30 March – 29 April families can also ‘guestimate’ the location of a giant golden carrot which has been buried in the garden, for a chance to win a giant £495 Bettys Easter Egg!

Liz Thwaite, Head of RHS Garden Harlow Carr says: “The Rhyming Rabbit is a delightful tale of exploring the world around us and making new friends in unlikely places, and we are thrilled to be bringing the story to life in the garden this Easter. Just like the character in the book, our visitors will discover all kinds of creatures and plants as they journey around the gardens, and we hope they’ll enjoy expressing themselves through poetry just as much as the Rhyming Rabbit does.” Alyx Price, Communications Director at Macmillan Children’s Books, adds: “We are delighted to be partnering with the RHS again in 2019. Together we can introduce The Rhyming Rabbit and his friends to a wide audience this Easter and the activities promise to be great fun for all ages.” The Rhyming Rabbit Hop About Trail starts on 30 March. The full programme of Easter activities runs from 13 – 29 April 2019. Activities vary daily so please check the website for details.

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Please contact Ali Aston, Marketing & PR Executive with any press queries on 01423 724693, email [email protected] or Sasha Jackson-Brown on 01423 724651, email [email protected].

Notes to Editors:

RHS Garden Harlow Carr Crag Lane, Beckwithshaw, Harrogate, North Yorkshire HG3 1QB SatNav: HG3 1UE www.rhs.org.uk/harlowcarr

Opening times Harlow Carr is open every day except for Christmas Day. 9.30am – 4pm November to February inclusive 9.30am – 6pm March to October inclusive Last admission is one hour before closing time.

2018 Admission prices RHS members enjoy free entry with a family guest (entitlements may vary according to membership type)

Non-members (excluding Gift Aid) Adult £11.80 Family (2 plus 2) £29.60 Children 5 – 16yrs £5.90 Children under 5 years Free Groups £9.50

About the RHS The Royal Horticultural Society, the world’s leading gardening charity, was founded in 1804 by Sir Joseph Banks and John Wedgwood. Our vision is to enrich everyone’s life through plants, and make the UK a greener and more beautiful place. This aspiration underpins all that we do, from inspirational gardens and shows, through our scientific research, to our education and community programmes such as Campaign for School Gardening and . We produce key publications, hold a world-class collection of horticultural books and botanical art, and sell the very best plants and gardening gifts.

The RHS is fundraising £40m to transform our gardens, outreach and education facilities, which includes redeveloping our flagship RHS Garden Wisley and opening a new garden, RHS Garden Bridgewater, in 2020. We are solely funded by our members, visitors and supporters. For more information visit www.rhs.org.uk.

RHS Registered Charity No. 222879/SC038262

About Pan Macmillan Pan Macmillan (www.panmacmillan.com) is the UK general book publishing arm of the Macmillan Group, which operates in over seventy countries. Its imprints include Macmillan, Mantle, Pan, Picador, Bluebird, Boxtree, Sidgwick & Jackson, Bello, Tor, Macmillan Children’s Books, Campbell Books, Kingfisher, Two Hoots and Macmillan Digital Audio. Pan Macmillan was named Publisher of the Year at The British Book Awards in May 2015, and again in May 2017.

About Julia Donaldson Julia Donaldson is the author of some of the world's best-loved children's books, including the modern classics The Gruffalo and The Gruffalo’s Child, which together have sold over 17 million copies worldwide, and the hugely successful What the Ladybird Heard adventures. Julia also writes fiction, including the Princess Mirror-Belle books illustrated by Lydia Monks, as well as poems, plays and songs - and her brilliant live shows are always in demand. She was the UK Children’s Laureate 2011- 13, is a fellow of the Royal Society of Literature, and was recognised in the New Year Honours list 2019 with a CBE for her services to Literature. Julia and her husband Malcolm divide their time between West Sussex and Edinburgh.

About Lydia Monks Lydia Monks is one of the most original and successful picture book artists working today. Lydia illustrates several bestselling series including the What the Ladybird Heard adventures and Princess Mirror-Belle, written by Julia Donaldson. Her distinctive use of colour and collage has won her critical acclaim and several awards, including the Royal Mail Scottish Children’s Book Award, the Stockport Children’s Book Award and multiple nominations for the Kate Greenaway Medal. She is also the author and illustrator of the Twit Twoo School picture books. Lydia lives in Sheffield.

Ali Aston Marketing & PR Executive [email protected] Tel: 01423 724693

My working days are Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday (8.30am – 4pm)

Royal Horticultural Society RHS Garden Harlow Carr Crag Lane Beckwithshaw Harrogate HG3 1QB rhs.org.uk

Reg charity no. 222879/SC038262