Family activity trails & discovery maps
We work closely with learning teams to create illustrated activity trails for children and families looking to explore and engage
with museum collections, heritage sites and visitor attractions.
• Bold designs, inspiring text and family-friendly illustrations bring stories of the past to life
• Interactive picture maps take families on a pathway of discovery through museum galleries and around outdoor sites
• Trails feature an exciting mix of activities to make finding out fun
• Imaginative, folded-paper formats for professional printing, self-printing or digital download
• Meaningful trail rewards including: character stickers, badges, souvenir postcards, colouring papercraft sheets
• We are happy to work with clients both near and far!
Fold-out activity trail booklets with picture maps
Tudor and Civil War history trail for schools with fill-in activities and story timeline
From Riches to Ruins Hampshire Cultural Trust: Basing House
Local museum family trail with town heritage map, plus trail reward postcards
People and Places of St Albans' Past St Albans Museums
"Working with Jane and Steph from Blackbird Publishing has been a wonderful experience. They are not simply designers and illustrators fulfilling our brief; they consistently bring their creativity and generosity to the table, sharing their thoughts and ideas honestly and constructively. This has ensured we have created new resources together that are meticulously detailed and truely thoughtful. Together we have entirely revamped and reworked our trails for schools and families at both museums in St Albans; in one case securing sponsorship thanks to the high calibre of the illustrations and copy writing. Long may our professional relationship and friendship continue!"
The Learning and Interpretation Officer St Albans Museums
Castle history family trail map with fill-in activities and outdoor games
Fortress, Palace, Prison and Pleasure Gardens Wakefield Museums: Pontefract Castle
Tudor and WWII gunners activity trail and family spotter's map
Pendennis Castle Through the Ages English Heritage: Pendennis Castle
Victorian steam-powered sewage pumping station family trail with discovery map
Crossness Pumping Station Activity Trail Crossness Engines Trust
Family spotters' town heritage trail with fold-out picture map
The Dewsbury Beeline Heritage Trail Dewsbury Townscape Heritage Initiative
Roman museum activity trail and parkland map for schools and families
Discovering Roman Verulamium St Albans Museums
Medieval fortress game booklet with clue map and badge rewards
Story Scramble: Unrest at the Tower Historic Royal Palaces: Tower of London
Historic battlefield spotter's map and colouring activity trail
Battlefield 1066: Know the Normans & Spot the Saxons English Heritage: Battle Abbey & Battlefield
Medieval priory and castle activity trail with village map
Follow in the Footsteps of Medieval Monks English Heritage: Castle Acre Priory
Historic market place family spotters' town trail
Take a Stroll through Pontefract's Past Pontefract Townscape Heritage Initiative
Commemorative logbook and explorer map for family visitors to the Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red ceramic poppy installation
Soldier's Small Book: Remembering the First World War Historic Royal Palaces: Tower of London
Children's activity trails in exciting smaller formats
Family explorers' museum guide and fill-in activity trail
Tiny Homes, Huts and Shelters Rural Life Living Museum
"I cannot recommend Jane and Steph highly enough. They both have a real passion for bringing our heritage to life, which shows throughout all parts of their creative process, from thought-provoking site visits, meticulous research and detailed plans to their beautifully illustrated final products. I have enjoyed working with them and hope to do so again in the future."
The Learning and Community Engagement Officer Rural Life Living Museum
Fill-in transport-themed activity trail and family explorers' museum guide
On the Move Rural Life Living Museum
Police-themed fill-in activity trail investigating the people of Petersfield's past
History Detectives Petersfield Museum
Outdoor activity trail presenting maths puzzles and challenges on a coal-mining theme
Maths for Miners National Mining Museum Scotland
Hands-on fortune teller game for families to predict the fates of Tudor women prisoners held at the Tower
Fates & Fortunes Historic Royal Palaces: Tower of London
Visitor friendly picture map of permanent and temporary museum and gallery spaces
Museum Map Salford Museum & Art Gallery
Prison escape plan challenge for family visitors with success or failure reward stickers
Escape from the Tower Historic Royal Palaces: Tower of London
Local heritage site explorer map and stamp collection booklet for hands-on activities
Dunfermline Heritage Quarter Explorer Past-port Historic Environment Scotland: Dunfermline Abbey Nave & Palace,
Abbey Church of Dunfermline, Andrew Carnegie Birthplace Museum, Dunfermline Carnegie Library & Galleries
A fill-in activity trail and map for family explorers
Carved Stone Treasures & Sacred Art Southwell Minster
A pencil-and-paper activity trail and map for young explorers with character trail reward badges
Discover the Stories of Selby Abbey Selby Abbey
Local history fill-in activity trail
From Mighty Giants to Golden Treasures Royal Cornwall Museum
World War-themed family activity game with lift-the-flap clues
The Tower at War Historic Royal Palaces: Tower of London
Roman museum exhibit hunt
Tessa Wheeler's Top Ten Verulamium Treasures St Albans Museums
Tower family explorer map following the story of famous prisoners
Walter Raleigh at the Tower Historic Royal Palaces: Tower of London
Museum timeline of key exhibits and family activity trail
Timeline of the Extraordinary Wakefield Museums
"My children really enjoyed looking for the objects. It provided entertainment for at least an hour as they were spotting other things they found interesting that they may not have otherwise seen."
Family visitors to Wakefield Museum
An interactive family quest to train to be a medieval knight
Knight of the Tower Historic Royal Palaces: Tower of London
KS2 schools resources: children's fill-in activity leaflets with accompanying teacher's background information cards
History hunt and Frame it! St Albans Museum & Gallery
Fill-in activity cards with spotting challenges and an invitation to design your own royal outfit
Fashion Rules & Palace Explorers Historic Royal Palaces: Kensington Palace
Georgian medical mission activity booklet, plus a fun Kill or Cure? card quiz game
The Royal Physician's Notebook Historic Royal Palaces: Hampton Court Palace
Family-friendly activity resources for print and digital download
High street renovation community consultation pack comprising activity sheets for children and adults
to feedback responses and share local stories and memories
Eldon Street Heritage Action Zone Community Consultation Pack Barnsley Museums
