Secret Garden comes to life as estate runs special day for children

Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal was used as a location for the 1993 film of The Secret Garden, which brought Frances Hodgson Burnett's novel to the big screen. Now a family event dedicated to the book and film is being held at the North Yorkshire estate. Children will take part in activities themed around The Secret Garden on Wednesday next week, including a discovery trail which features locations used in the 1993 film.

There will also be storytelling, games and face painting in the ruins throughout the afternoon.

Visitors are encouraged to take a picnic for a theatre production of The Secret Garden which will be staged on the abbey's West Green in the evening.

Thee book was first published in full in 1911.

The story follows the central character of Mary Lennox who, after the death of her parents, is brought back from India to live in her uncle's lonely house on the moors. She then discovers the key to a secret garden which brings a magical new element to her life. Tickets for the theatre production of The Secret Garden cost 12 for adults and 10 for children from the box office on 0844 249 1895.