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Do you have someone aged 8 to 13 in your life who you’re looking to share a new experience with this spring? We might have just the thing…
Earlier in March, author of the New York Times bestselling Inkheart series, Cornelia Funke, published her latest middle-grade adventure, The Green Kingdom. This enchanting book brings to life the magic of the botanical world through a series of riddles, with accompanying illustrations by Mellisa Castrillón…
About the Book
Caspia’s summer is transformed when she discovers a bundle of letters containing ten riddles in this enchanting adventure. Twelve-year-old Caspia hates big cities, especially one as busy as New York. So, she isn’t thrilled by the news that her parents are taking her to stay in Brooklyn. But everything changes when Caspia discovers a bundle of letters, hidden in an old chest of drawers. Each letter contains a ‘green’ riddle, with clues leading to a different plant.
“Enchanting, joyful, full of light and warmth, and glittering with real-world magic” – Sophie Anderson
Working with Dorling Kindersley publishing, and inspired by Caspia’s story, we’re inviting young visitors to embark on their own adventures as they unravel a series of riddles to discover new plants and explore our own magical botanical kingdom here at Winterbourne.
The Green Kingdom: Garden Trail is available for Winterbourne House and Garden visitors throughout April and May, offering an escape from the hustle and bustle of the city. Visitors can pick up a Garden Trail on reception, which will feature 10 plant-riddles for you to solve, leading you around the beautiful grounds of Winterbourne as you search for the plants. Part of our Wonders of Winterbourne event series, the trail will lead you to discover the weird and wonderful plant life around the Garden, some of which you may not have noticed before.
Fostering local connections, we’re delighted to be partnering with Bear Bookshop in Bearwood, Sandwell, where Cornelia Funke fans can receive a free child ticket for Winterbourne House and Garden when they purchase a copy of The Green Kingdom (must be accompanied by an adult. Child tickets are valid from 1 April-31 May 2025 only, excluding 25 May). Publishers Dorling Kindersley have also partnered with The Reading Agency to help get copies of The Green Kingdom into local public libraries and schools, giving more children access to the enchanting world Cornelia has created. Local libraries and schools including the University of Birmingham School, King Edwards VI Lordswood School for Girls, and Abbey Catholic Primary School will all have copies of The Green Kingdom for students to read and enjoy.
The Green Kingdom: Garden Trail will be available at Winterbourne House and Garden from 1 April to 31 May. Standard admission prices apply. No pre-booking is required.
Prize Draw:
Get your practice in and solve our very own Winterbourne riddle for the chance to win a free Family Admission ticket and a copy of the book…
My flowers may be purple, lilac or sometimes white
They bloom and droop in masses with a scent of pure delight
My Japanese twines clockwise my Chinese counter so
In Germany I’m Glyzinie, in case you didn’t know
You’ll see me in the springtime, in winter I’m quite bare
At Winterbourne you’ll view me from a Terrace chair
I brighten the pergola and like to climb up high
So have you guessed my name yet, pray, who am I?
Submit your answer by emailing [email protected] by 11:59pm on Monday 31 March. Please use the subject line ‘The Green Kingdom Giveaway’, and make sure to clearly state your answer to the riddle, full name, and a contact email and phone number in the body of the email.
One winner will be selected at random from all correct submissions on 1 April 2025. The winner will be contacted via email or phone and will receive a copy of Cornelia Funke’s The Green Kingdom, and one Family Admission ticket to Winterbourne House and Garden, valid until 31 May 2025 (excluding 25 May 2025). Prizes are non-negotiable, non-transferable and non-refundable. No cash alternative is available.
Entries must be submitted by someone over the age of 18 and are only open to residents of Great Britain (excluding Northern Ireland).
This comptetition is being run by Winterbourne House and Garden, University of Birmingham, and is not directly affiliated with Cornelia Funke or Dorling Kindersley Ltd.
Keep your eyes on our Instagram and Facebook throughout April, where we’ll be running an exciting competition, giving four expert young riddle-writers the chance to win a copy of the book, as well as a top prize of a bespoke print from the Winterbourne Press.
