The Cut Visitor Centre

Our fantastic Wild Child Garden is a unique outdoor play area within the gardens of our visitor centre, With lots to explore children can get muddy and discover the joys of outdoor wild play in a completely safe environment. Make the muddiest mud pie, crawl through creepy tunnels and create a splash with our water wall. 

We have decided to only open the play area for pre booked groups (whilst Covid restrictions are in place). Current social distancing requirements mean that bookings must be no larger than 6 people (including children of all ages) or 2 households per booking.

Current availability is weekdays, 10-12 and 2-4, the space costs £10 per hour to hire.

Please call 01743 284 280 or ask at reception for further information and to book.

Fully accessible paths allow you to discover our small but diverse wildlife garden. The structure of the garden is formal, but in summer you will find plants spilling over the edges, running riot up woven arches, breaking and softening the straight lines of the flower beds. Once part of the Abbey the site is full of history, it is the perfect place to escape all year round. 

The site originally belonged to Shrewsbury Abbey until it succumbed to Henry VIII’s order for the dissolution of the monasteries in 1540. One of the three wings of the infirmary buildings still stands in the garden and old foundations can be seen.

In the 1860s, the land was bought up for the development of the Shrewsbury & North Wales Railway, replaced by sidings and platforms for a railway that opened in 1866 and went bankrupt by the end of the same year.

Between 1977 and 1994 Ellis Peters published a series of books based on Brother Cadfael, a detective monk from Shrewsbury Abbey. The site was developed into a visitor centre based on this character. The near-derelict site was restored; its grounds contaminated by decades of use as a British Rail engineering shed were made safe and a medieval herb garden was established.

Since then it has been Shropshire Wildlife Trust's headquarters, with staff offices based in the buildings. The Visitor Centre shop and gardens are available for the public to browse and enjoy and we often hold events here, The gardens are tended by a dedicated group of volunteers,

Are you looking for somewhere different for a child's birthday party? Our nature themed parties are packed full of fun activities and wild games!

Our parties are designed to give your child a birthday they will never forget - whilst keeping your day stress free. All equipment and materials for the parties are provided, so you just have to sit back and relax!

Our fantastically wild parties at The Cut, Shrewsbury are held within our safe visitor centre gardens.