Autumn in the grounds at Dorothy House – half term fun for the whole family!

This autumn half term there are loads of opportunities for family fun in the grounds at Winsley. With Moments of Light opening, our Interactive Nature Trail seasonal update, new Tree Trail, owl and bat boxes and our kids’ playground, there’s something for everyone to enjoy this autumn.

Moments of Light is live!

From October to December 2026, as evening settles over the valley, the Hospice grounds will come alive with a breath-taking new large-scale light installation by internationally renowned artist and Dorothy House Ambassador, Bruce Munro.

Visitors can wander among thousands of illuminated forms, each one glowing softly in the darkness, a constellation of light that seems to breathe with the landscape. Come and experience a moment of light in the darkness, an evening of quiet awe, reflection, and togetherness within the glow of Bruce Munro’s extraordinary vision.

Ros Gardiner, Dorothy House Creative Therapy Coordinator:
“Today the creative arts team took part in setting up the light installation at DH. It was a joy to be part of something so creative and the experience quite honestly, fed my soul. Sitting out in our stunning grounds and helping to put the individual lights together was quite a mindful experience and gave me a chance to appreciate where I work and why which I know will have an impact longer than today.”

A special thank you to the teams from H2 Creative, Wansbroughs LLP and Siemens Mobility for their generous support and enthusiasm throughout the installation. 

“We had a fantastic day at Dorothy House helping to set up the incredible Moments of Light installation. We had such a lot of fun and it was even better knowing we were helping out an incredible charity. We hit our target of 1,000 lights and managed to go the whole day without anyone falling over the fibre optics! We are very much looking forward to seeing the installation at night in all its glory.”  – David Cooper, Solicitor, Wansbroughs LLP. 

Tickets are booking up fast, make sure to get yours this autumn half term here!

New owl and bat boxes gifted to Dorothy House

A special thanks to Touchstone for their incredible support of our nature spaces this year. What started as a corporate volunteering day earlier this year evolved into a wider partnership with Touchstone and their affiliated company, PfP Thrive, an apprenticeship academy based in Derby. Carpentry apprentices were given the opportunity to make handcrafted owl and bat nest boxes as part of their project work. The boxes will be installed within Firefly Woods and the Nature Trail, encouraging local wildlife to thrive and helping to create safe habitats for generations of species to come.

“What started as a volunteering day quickly became something much bigger. Speaking with the team at Dorothy House helped us identify a simple but meaningful way we could support the Hospice further. By involving PfP Thrive apprentices, we were able to create a project that benefits both the local environment and the apprentices developing their skills.” Claire Woodhouse, Touchstone

New Woodland Tree Trail with Bath Urban Treescape

Touchstone further demonstrated its commitment to our nature spaces by sponsoring the trail maps and plaques produced by Bath Urban Treescape as part of the brand-new Tree Trail at Dorothy House in Winsley.

This project forms part of the wider Bath Urban Treescape initiative, which celebrates the value of trees across Bath and the surrounding area. Through interactive maps, walking routes and educational resources, the project encourages people to explore local green spaces and better understand the role trees play in supporting healthy, sustainable communities.

By hosting a trail on their amazing website and featuring on printed maps held at the RUH and 3SG venues, we’re not only helping to shine a light on the importance of protecting and celebrating our local natural heritage for future generations, but importantly we are also signposting our care to more people who may yet come into connection with the Hospice.

Nature Trail autumn half term update

The Interactive Nature Trail in Winsley is a perfect spot to take a pause and learn more about the incredibly bio-diverse species found in the calcareous rich grassland meadow. This autumn you can learn about the creepy crawlies and brilliant beasties that call the grounds of Dorothy House in Winsley their home. Collect pumpkin stamps and take selfies with the impish inhabitants of the Nature Trail through our virtual app.

Throughout the trail, on or off the interactive app, you will be able to dive deeper into nature’s weird and wonderful secrets. From amazing owl eyes, to how fireflies glow, there is plenty to discover no matter how old you are.

Half term family fun at Dorothy House

There’s so much to do in the Hospice grounds at Winsley this season, make sure you don’t miss out on free family fun this half term!