Mini-Museum Explorers: Falling Leaves & Forest Friends: An Autumn Adventure

Mini-Museum Explorers returns to the Portsmouth Natural History Museum on Friday 18 September with Falling Leaves & Forest Friends: An Autumn Adventure, a creative session for children under five and their parents or carers. It runs from 10.15am to 11.15am, and the whole thing takes place in the museum garden. The plan is to keep it outdoors, so it's worth keeping an eye on the weather, though they've got an indoor alternative ready if the rain rolls in.

As for what actually happens during the hour, it's built around learning through exploration. There's storytelling and songs, sensory activities, and arts and crafts, all tied together under the autumn theme. It's designed for the under-fives, so it's as much about the doing as the listening.

This is one of many sessions in the Mini-Museum Explorers programme, which runs throughout 2026 across Portsmouth's museums. The theme changes every month and moves between sites, so the focus shifts depending on where it's being held and what's in that particular collection. This time, the Natural History Museum is the host, and the garden is the setting.

The session is run by the Portsmouth Museum Service, part of Portsmouth City Council. It costs £3 per child, and it's free if you have a leisure card. You'll need to book your place in advance by calling 023 9283 4779.