FREE Guided Tours of Ratty's Refuge
11.30am on 10 July, 24 July, 7 August, 21 August, and 28 August

8 July 2009 : See a Chelsea medal-winning garden up close at the River & Rowing Museum. Ratty's Refuge is based on the garden the Museum displayed at RHS Chelsea in 2008 and is dedicated to encouraging water voles back to the banks of the River Thames. The garden is usually protected from visitors to allow wildlife to flourish but it's being opened for a series of guided tours in July and August.

Ratty's Refuge incorporates many of the plants used in the original Chelsea garden. The Museum has teamed up with Henley Wildlife Group to tell you the story of the garden and how it fits into the wider management of Mill Meadows.

The garden, which is situated at the far end of the Museum next to the terrace café, was officially opened by Alan Titchmarsh in May. At the launch, Mr Titchmarsh said: "The garden is a great place to be. It should hopefully inspire children to feel that the countryside is a fun place to be."

Christina Parker, Head of Education at the River & Rowing Museum said: "The garden is a wonderful place to see conservation in action. It's interesting to see how small changes in a garden can have an impact on an entire species. We'll use it as part of our education programme for both children and adults alike."

Sally Rankin from Henley Wildlife Group said: "Visitors to Ratty's Refuge can get great ideas as to how they can create important wildlife refuges in their own gardens."

Free 30 minute tours will take place on the following Fridays at 11.30am: 10 July, 24 July, 7 August, 21 August, and 28 August. Places must be booked in advance on 01491 415605. Or you can view Ratty's Refuge from the terrace café and collect a fact sheet on the garden and meadows from the Museum's Front Desk.

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Further information:

Amanda Dellor
01491 415642
amanda.dellor@rrm.co.uk

Pictures
The River & Rowing Museum media centre, with all press releases and a wide selection of images for download can be found at: http://www.kallaway.co.uk/rrm.htm


Notes to Editors
Since opening in 1998, the Museum has received numerous awards for its design and architecture, including the National Heritage/NPI Museum of the Year award. The River & Rowing Museum is part of the Thames Valley Museums Group (TVMG) Family Friendly initiative. It's a scheme that brings together 29 museums across Berkshire, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire, to promote their popular appeal to the whole family

• The Museum has four permanent galleries on: The River Thames, Rowing, Henley on Thames and The Wind in the Willows
  
  
• Address: The River & Rowing Museum, Mill Meadows, Henley on Thames, Oxfordshire, RG9 1BF. Tel. 01491 415600 Email. www.rrm.co.uk
  
  
• The Museum, terrace café and shop is open every day from 10am - 5.30pm in summer and 10am - 5pm in the winter
  
  
• Paid for tickets are valid for FREE re-entry to the museum for 12 months
  
  
• Admission: £7 for adults, £5 for children and £5 for senior citizens and concessions
  
  
• terrace café providing hot and cold meals
  
  
• Fantastic shop
  
  
• Free parking for visitors

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