BlackbirdPie May 2024

May half-term 2024

30,000 copies across Cornwall and also on-line

BlackbirdPie

Vouchers & offers: NMMC, page 3

Paradise Park, page 4

Pendennis Castle, page 5

PK Porthcurno, page 7

Jungle Jacks, page 7

Kernow Adventure Park, page 8

Wheal Martyn, page 9

Bodmin & Wenford, page 11

Dairyland Farm Park, page 17

In this issue:

Page(s):

4 to 9

10 & 11

What’s on - community fun, outdoor adventures, amazing attractions, indoor play, something different!

Calendar of events for May & June

12 Get arty! From Op Art to Claymation and some South East Asian inspiration

13 Reach for the Sky! TECgirls’ fantastic future of flight festival for girls at Culdrose

14 to 16

Indoor & outdoor theatre shows & Get Creative at Hall for Cornwall

17 Literary festivals & courses, Morrab library poetry competition, amazing free services at Cornwall’s libraries

18 Goddesses, gods, giants, heroes & heroines book review

19 NHS information on HPV and Whooping Cough vaccinations

Dear Readers,

We were asked recently to explain more about BlackbirdPie: this magazine is a tiny, independent, Falmouth-based business that shares entertaining and quirky activities for children and families to do together. We enjoy ferreting out distinctly Cornish ventures, places & events of notable quality, and freebies! Please tell advertisers if you have read about them in the magazine, it is how we survive.

Many thanks to Evie Harvey for sending us a gorgeous picture of her daughter at a recent Hayle Heritage Centre’s Cornish Maids craft session (on page 8). Please email or Facebook message us with your pictures from events and places you found in BlackbirdPie. We love hearing from you (and it’s fun for children to see themselves in print!)

Have a lovely half-term, Simon, Vanessa, and the Blackbird p.s. Happy 50th Birthday to the wonderful Lappa Valley! Join in the celebrations on 14 to 16 June for a Steam Extravaganza.

We believe that all details are correct at the time of going to print but cannot accept any responsibility for mistakes or omissions. We try to ensure all events featured will be enjoyed by younger children but in some instances we cannot test this and have to rely on the opinions of the organisers.

Please mention us to advertisers

Contact us at: “ Blackbird Pie” , Flying Pig Publishing, 3 Basset Place, Falmouth, Cornwall. TR11 2SS

 post@blackbirdpie.co.uk

 01326 314242 www.blackbirdpie.co.uk

What’s on early summer

Please mention BlackbirdPie – that is how we keep going! See pages 14 to 16 for theatre shows.

Community Fun

& more events in the central calendar.

Launceston Steam & Vintage Rally, Five Lanes, Altarnun 25 to 27 May: fun for all the family, trailer rides behind tractors & steam engines, clowns, Punch & Judy, airsoft & laser tag, radio-controlled car racing, fairground rides & inflatables, food marquee, music, dog show, children’s tug of war, tractor racing, welly wanging, treasure hunt, & more! Adults £9, child £5 (5 to 16), family £25 (2 adults, 2 children). Free parking. launcestonsteamrally.com

Cornwall Wildlife Trust’s Wildlife Celebration Day at Trebah, Mawnan Smith, 28 May 10am to 4pm, activities from rockpooling and a minibeast safari, to bird-box creations. Free event for Cornwall Wildlife Trust members, contact Sam on 07825070612 or sam.lucock@cornwallwildlifetrust.org.uk and mention BlackbirdPie. Falmouth University’s Community Day, On 1 Jun we are all invited to the Woodlane Campus! Falmouth’s Vice Chancellor Professor Emma Hunt, said: ‘It’s a delight to welcome our local community onto campus. To see so many people enjoying our beautiful gardens, fantastic facilities and experiencing the amazing work of our graduating students is wonderful.’

There will be FREE activities for all ages - ‘exploding paint’ & chromatography printing workshops, children’s entertainment, & lawn games. For grown-ups: screen printing and life drawing, talks, exhibitions, garden tours and live music. There will be street food, and graduate exhibition art for sale, 10am to 4pm. Details on falmouth.ac.uk/events/community-day-2024

Royal Cornwall Show, Wadebridge, 6 to 8 June for the best of Cornwall’s agriculture, food and entertainment.

Newquay Orchard Fayre 15 Jun 10 am to 3pm, free event celebrating the Orchard’s community with free workshops and activities - music and spoken word from Sproutspoken and kids’ activities from Imagine Outdoors, food, community stalls, lawn games, exhibitions and arty fun with ALMA Artspace, willow weaving and foraging, bicycle repair workshops, horticulture activities, wellbeing drop-in sessions and lots more.

Children’s Day, Truro City Centre 6 July: family fun with lots of free entertainment and activities including spectacular mountain bike stunt shows and dance shows. Children can have-a-go at circus skills and a balance, pedal bike and obstacle course. Stalls, crafts, street entertainment, plus in-store activities and offers. Main activities 10am to 4pm. Truro BID event. Sponsored by Coodes Solicitors www.visittruro.org.uk

The Food Barn farmers’ markets, between Mylor & Flushing, Saturdays 9am to 1pm. Do your weekly shop, sit, chat & feast together inside or out, (editor recommendation: JB Gone Cooking’s seriously yum parathas). May brings the first summer vegetables from Soul Farm, and 1 Jun & 6 Jul: cooking demos with delicious free tasters. Enjoy shopping and support local and ecologically minded producers. free parking. www.facebook.com/foodbarn.tregew/

Outdoor Adventures

Pencarrow Estate, Bodmin, 27 May: bring a picnic & your bear for a Teddy Bears Picnic, 10am to 4.30pm. Enjoy storytelling in the gardens; follow the bear trail and find clues & bears hiding in the woods! This event is weather permitting. Dogs welcome, no need to book, under 16s free, but normal garden entry fees apply for adults (£8.75). www.pencarrow.co.uk

Lappa Valley near St Newlyn East. Take a nostalgic train ride through the beautiful countryside to a secret world of family adventure – discover the boating lake, little train rides, adventure golf course, musical trail, idyllic woodland walks, indoor multi-level soft play and the Engine Shed Café’s home-cooked food and drink. All activities are included in your admission price, including unlimited train rides - pay once and play all day! 14 to 16 June: Lappa Valley’s 50th Birthday Celebration

Steam Extravaganza featuring all available engines, miniature traction engines, the return of the first train Zebedee, and the unveiling of their first ever brand new mainline train City of Truro The annual passes offer exceptional value, with 12 months of unlimited entry for one low price. LappaValley.co.uk

Kernow Adventure Park outdoor activity centre near Falmouth, is set in a 21-acre site of a flooded quarry, a haven for nature and wildlife. Choose from four activities - get your adrenalin going bouncing around the aquapark (age 6+); enjoy a leisurely paddle board across the crystal-clear lake; swim in open water swim-lanes; navigate through buoys and obstacles in an E-boat adventure, (age 2+).

£25 per person includes shorty wetsuit hire and buoyancy aid, get 10% discount with the QR code on page 8. Perfect for fuss-free parties and discounted group bookings www.kernowadventurepark.com/

The Lost Gardens of Heligan, www.heligan.com under 5s go free. (Heligan Local’s Pass - pay once get in free for a year) 25 May to 2 Jun: Wild Week returns to The Lost Gardens and you’re invited to rediscover the wild, its importance, its beauty, and our place within it. Run free, connect with nature, leave the modern world at home, and give in to your wild sides! All free with entry.

Duchy of Cornwall Nursery, Lostwithiel Entry, activities and parking all free! Explore the play garden, (with traditional toys in the Cornish shepherd hut), the glasshouse, woodlands and learn about pollinators in the bumblebee garden. Get a buzz this half term - find hidden bees on The Bumblebee Trail, and on 25 & 29 May: Bug & Bee craft workshops, drop-in 10am to 2pm. The food looks fab too - breakfast, lunch or book for afternoon tea. www.duchyofcornwallnursery.co.uk

See website for opening hours and further information.

Education and Conservation in Action

Tel: 01726 860182

screechsanctuary@gmail.com

screechowlsanctuary.co.uk

Goss Moor, Near Indian Queens, TR9 6HP

Stithians Lake Activity Centre, Redruth,

(South West Lakes Trust) half term activities 27 May to 2 Jun: open seven days a week for watersports equipment hire, launch and bespoke tuition. Join a ‘have a go’ sailing or windsurfing session – a great way to try an activity for the first time. 28 May: Multi-Activity Day for 8 to 16-year-olds, land and water-based activities including sailing, windsurfing, kayaking, stand-up-paddleboarding and raft building, depending on the weather conditions on the day. There are also junior and adult sailing courses.

Book via www.swlakestrust.org.uk/activities 01209 860301

Incredible Attractions

National Maritime Museum Cornwall, Falmouth. 25 May to 2 Jun Rockpool Explorers: This May half term dive into The Rock Pool Project’s mobile rock pool and discover the curious creatures found on our Cornish coast, get creative in Make & Take and find hidden rock pool creatures on the Museum trail. The Rock Pool Project team will be around to show you the best ways to explore rock pools and identify the creatures you discover. Then jump aboard boats, climb the Lookout Tower, meet boat builders, go underwater in the Tidal Zone, uncover ocean adventures and survival stories, sail miniature boats, zoom in Skull Island Play Zone and revel in the Pirates exhibition. All FREE with admission (pay once and get in free for a year too!).

Newquay Zoo is magic! Join the rangers for family-friendly talks & fascinating facts, wildlife quizzes, animal-themed challenges, and fun games. Meet Midge, the Otter Star: the otterly adorable otter is back! Download the brand-new app and its interactive map will guide you seamlessly through the zoo, help you explore exhibits, find your favourite animals, and discover hidden corners; find the link on www.newquayzoo.org.uk

6

Pendennis Castle (English Heritage) 28 to 30 May Ahoy, me hearties! Get ready for a spectacular adventure on the high seas, see some of history’s most famous pirates fight it out at close quarters, and listen to them tell their tales of booty, bounty, & barnacles. Marvel at tales of scallywags and salty sea dogs at the storytelling, swordplay and interactive shows and learn the ropes, follow your nose to the cook’s tent, and sing shanties at the atmospheric pirate school. Book online and save 15% www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/whats-on/pendennis-castle

Paradise Park Wildlife Sanctuary, Hayle is known for amazing flying shows and close encounters; now they have a fabulous new interactive fundraising experience for their conservation projects. After the Free-flying Bird Show, go on the main stage and Billy, Rizzo or Rio (Roseate Cockatoos) will fly to your hand, collect your £2 coin, fly back to the presenter and place it in the collection tin!

Half-term special offer (25 May to 2 Jun): Book online and use code ‘BLACKBIRD’ to SAVE £1.50 pp on all single tickets. Enjoy Free-flying Scarlet Macaws, the amazing Eagles of Paradise Display, close encounters, the indoor JungleBarn Play Centre, daily feeding of cute otters & penguins, feed the little parrots or ride on Zebedee the Jungle Express Train. Great value Return Tickets just £6pp!

PK Porthcurno, Museum of Global Communications, 27 & 29

May: Pop-Up PK - Collage Through Time, inspire your imagination and storytelling & create unique artwork by blending together captivating images from the archive. All ages welcome, 1 to 3pm, free. Half-price voucher >>> Wheal Martyn Clay Works, St Austell, is a wonderful place to explore, from lush woodlands to atmospheric historic features. 18 May to 8 Jun: Fergus the Frog’s Fun Factsfollow Fergus’s family trail and find out why hundreds of baby frogs inhabit Wheal Martyn. 27 to 31 May: Froggy Fun activities - paint & sculpt air-dry clay, drop-in 11am to 3pm, £1 to £8 +admission fee (valid for a year); dress up, leap, run & swing along the activity trail; find the secret drum set, tunnel and hidden den. Looking for a birthday party with a difference? The historic grounds provide plenty of space for children to explore, let off steam and enjoy themselves followed by a tasty birthday tea in the café. 12 May: Off the Beaten Clay Trail - an exclusive walk to areas of the clay landscape not usually accessible to the public with amazing views over clay country and St Austell coast. Pre-order £8.50 a packed lunch via info@wheal-martyn.com or bring your own, 10.45am to 1.30pm, £10 adult/ £6 child.

Screech Owl Sanctuary & Animal Park, St Columb Major. Neighbouring the Goss Moor Nature Reserve, this award-winning Sanctuary cares for 70 owls from all around the world and 18 other species including storks, wallabies, raccoons, lemurs, meerkats, emus, and a fox. Get up close with majestic birds of prey at the twice daily flying displays and in regular educational feed and talk sessions. Free parking, children’s play area, tearoom and picnic area.

Helston Railway, Trevarno Farm, Prospidnick is like a trip back in time, with a charming old ticket office in a train carriage, & a vintage train to Truthall Halt. 15 & 16 Jun: Back to the 1940s with steam-hauled trains and period dress.

Get a buzz this May half-term at

FREE activities FREEentry

Find hidden bees on The Bumblebee Trail and receive a reward.

25 & 29 May: Bug & Bee children’s craft workshops, drop-in between 10am to 2pm.

Duchy of Cornwall Nursery, Cott Road, Lostwithiel, PL22 0HW www.duchyofcornwallnursery.co.uk

Bring your bear for a Teddy Bears’ Picnic Monday 27 May 2024 10am to 4pm (unless it rains, bears don’t like the rain)

- What's on - continued from page 7

Bodmin Keep’s half-term plans are themed around the momentous D-Day landings in the Second World War with military-themed craft drop-ins, and sharpening your strategy skills with code-breaking. There’ll be trails, the popular target practice shooting range and you can explore the newly re-opened Trench. Bodmin and Wenford Railway,

25 & 26 May: Branch Line Gala & Kids Travel Free ALL Weekend! Get up-close to locos, take photos, and step on the footplates; there will be three steam engines, The Beattie Well Tank on display, bubble car service, display locomotives, brake van rides workshop tours, and free Gala-specific activity sheets! Murder Mystery events will be running from May to Oct, as well as Steam Footplate rides and Driver Day Experiences.

Hayle Heritage Centre Come along to the fantastic free new exhibition Hayle Herstory; untold women’s stories at the heart of a Cornish town; and enjoy the new dedicated under 5s area and children’s trails. Open Wednesday to Friday.

29 May: free children’s art activities drop-in 11am to 12.30pm & 1.30 to 3pm.

hayleheritagecentre.org.uk 01736 757683

Cornwall Heritage Trust. www.cornwallheritagetrust.org

30 Jun: Tristan & Yseult at Indian Queens Pit - an open-air improvised retelling of one of Cornwall’s greatest legends, details page 14. Cornwall Heritage Trust is a small, completely independent charity and its work to protect what makes Cornwall special is made possible by its supporters. Families can join as members from £20 a year, benefits include free entry to English Heritage sites in Cornwall, discounted entry to Heritage Partner sites, a children’s activity book and more. Quote ‘BlackBirdPie’ for free Cornish sweets with your membership pack.

Royal Cornwall Museum, Truro. Until 6 Jul: Cabaret Mechanical Theatre’s entertaining, interactive, and whimsical show The Marvellous Mechanical Museum is a stunning blend of art, science and engineering - where you can explore automata created by Cornish artists, discover their inner workings at the push of a button or turn of a lever, and learn about the mechanics, engineering and art. Plus, this half term, make your own inventions, explore with the kids’ trail, and have fun at the make-and-take tables.

Indoor Play

Raze the Roof family entertainment centre, Penryn, you will be spoilt for choice with soft play, gel blasting, virtual reality, laser tag & parties! 01326 377481

8

Jungle Jack’s, Newquay let your little monkeys run wild on 1,700 square feet of challenging climbs, rope bridge, astra-glide slide, crafty crawl tubes and a baby and toddler area. Book online & use discount code BBP01OFF for £1 off, www.junglejacks.co.uk Free play & entry for under 1s, adult entry just £2. Winter / Spring 6-month pass £75 child (just £12.50 a month), + discounts for siblings. 01637 852890 for reception or email info@junglejacks.co.uk You’ll find ample seating, a well-stocked café and free WiFi.

Photo - Jon Hird

Something different

Deep Geothermal Power Project Family Open Days, United Downs Industrial Estate Redruth. 29 May, 15 Jun, 31 Jul at 10am & 11am, 45-minute slots, explore the fascinating world of geothermal power with interactive exhibits, guided tours, and hands-on activities for all ages; email tickets@geothermalengineering.co.uk Please mention BlackbirdPie

Secret Gardens of St Ives, 22 & 23 Jun: charity event adults £7.50, under 16s free, tickets from Colenso’s shop, 2 Gabriel Street; follow the map to secret, private gardens, discover a pond with very big fish, a quiz to spot things, a woodland trail, refreshments; 1 to 5pm.

Swamp Circus Summer Camp, Chyan Cultural Centre, near Penryn. 29 Aug to 1 Sept: Roll up roll up and join the circus! Family-friendly workshops & activities include aerial skills, acrobatics, juggling, tight wire, trampolining, learning to use a swinging trapeze, unicycles and more. There’s also rustic camping to enjoy, solar showers, sauna, spa, a stream and plenty of woodland to explore. The café serves locally sourced vegan food. www.chyan.org Enys Gardens, near Penryn.

What's on - continues on page 12 >>>>

Save the date:

University Centre Truro & Penwith

Meet Dean: From Bartender to fully qualified lecturer with the University Centre Truro & Penwith.

Dean chose to study for a Certificate in Education at the University Centre and graduated in 2023, winning the prestigious Education Award. Dean is now a Hospitality Lecturer at Penwith College.

Dean worked as a Bartender for eight years before becoming a Hospitality Assessor. However, he missed the food and beverage duties he loved - like making cocktails and putting smiles on customer’s faces - and decided to move into lecturing.

Dean said: ‘The course was incredibly flexible and being able to study part-time alongside working full-time helped me achieve my career ambitions. Becoming a Lecturer allowed me to interact with bartending again and use my industry qualifications to teach and influence the next generation.’

To find out more about taking your first steps into a career in Education, search ‘Truro and Penwith College Education’.

Dean (third from the right) and the Senara team collecting their College Restaurant of the Year 2023 Award

Book your party

Gel Blasters - Indoor Play - Parties - Virtual Reality - Laser Tag razetheroof.co.uk Penryn

Mons Minnows Tales, NMMC, Falmouth, term-time, drop-in 11 to 11.30am, stories, songs, and rhymes for under 5s, free, adults free with annual pass Tues I Wonder term-time sessions, The Box, Plymouth, free, exhibit-inspired, art & creative play for 1 to 4-year-olds Fris Storytelling, The Box, Plymouth, every Friday 10.30am, free admission www.theboxplymouth.com Sats Arty Afternoons, Penlee House, Penzance, 2.30 to 3.30pm, free entry & activities inspired by The Exceptional Harold Harvey exhibition, see page 17.

The Food Barn markets, Mylor /Flushing, 9am to 1pm. Wonderful local, sustainable food and yummy treats. Until 6 Jul

The Marvellous Mechanical Museum, Royal Cornwall Museum, Truro, Cabaret Mechanical Theatre’s interactive, and whimsical show of automata. Half term: make your own inventions, kids’ trail, and make-and-take tables.

8 May19 Jul Children’s poetry writing competition & events, Morrab Library, Penzance, see page 17 & https://morrablibrary.org.uk/childrenspoetryprize2024

11 May Monthly Make Club, Endelienta Arts, St Endellion Hall, paint brilliant portraits with Ness Harrison, 10am to 12pm, parents can join in, £5 per family; must book tickets@endelienta.org.uk

Callington MayFest, workshops, grand street festival with bands, choirs, horse displays, theatre, Morris teams, Flamenco, Urban Playground & belly dancers, poets, Forest school, circus workshop, Procession of Giants, town criers, Vikings, & more! https://callingtonmayfest.weebly.com/

12 May Off the Beaten Clay Trail, Wheal Martyn, St Austell, access to areas normally out of bounds, Pre-order an £8.50 packed-lunch via info@wheal-martyn.com, 10.45am to 2.30pm, £10 adult/ £6 child from 12 May All Boys Dance course, HfC Get Creative at AMATA Falmouth University, ages 5 to 9 & 10 to 13, book via email getcreative@hallforcornwall.org.uk

14 May, 11 Jun

Toddler Time, Hall for Cornwall event at Little Roos Café, 10am, crafts, music & games for 2 to 6 yrs, child £3 Toddle Tate, drop-in 10.30am to 12.30pm for stories & play, also 9 July

Free entry & new exhibition

New dedicated under 5s area and children’s trails.

Open Wednesday to Friday

29 May: free drop-in children’s art activities 11am to 12.30pm & 1.30 to 3pm.

Instagram @hayleheritage

Facebook Hayle Heritage Centre

15 to 19 The Wind in the Willows, Regal Theatre, Redruth, R.A.M.P.S. riotous family musical with comedy and thrills 16 to 19 May Bude Lit Fest, events for adults & children. 19 May: Sunday Funday - FREE Family Day, The Castle Lawn, dress-up, music, games, Character Treasure Hunt, www.budelitfest.co.uk

18 & 19 May Anansi & the Lost Sun, funny and inspiring West African tale with traditional live music & puppetry, for age 4+. 18 May 2pm: The Old Library, Bodmin, intobodmin.co.uk/events/ 19 May 3.30pm: Mount Pleasant Eco Park, St Agnes. www.carntocove.co.uk

18 May to 8 Jun Fergus the Frog’s Fun Facts, Wheal Martyn, St Austell, 50p off per person see page 9. Fergus’s trail: 100s of baby frogs inhabit Wheal Martyn, Why?! 27 to 31 May: Froggy Fun paint & sculpt air-dry clay, drop-in 11am to 3pm, £1 to £8 +entry (valid for a year)

18 & 19 May Spellbound Fairy and Goblin Arts Festival, Soapbox Children’s Theatre, Plymouth, storytelling, performances, arts & crafts. stiltskin.org.uk

19 May LostFest, Lostwithiel, free, family music festival, street performers & children’s entertainment

25 May The Adventures of Doctor Dolittle, Penlee Open Air Theatre, 7.30pm, Illyria production, 07816 285367

25 & 26 May Kids Travel FREE all Weekend: Branch Line Gala! Bodmin and Wenford Railway, get up-close to locos, step on the footplates, three steam engines, brake van rides, workshop tours, free Gala activity sheets

25 to 27 May

Launceston Steam Rally & Vintage Rally, tractor-trailer & steam engine trailer rides, clown entertainment, radio-controlled car racing, fairground rides, live music, fun dog show, children’s tug of war, tractor racing, welly wangin’ competition, children’s treasure hunt, vintage vehicles.

25 to 31 May Buzzy half-term, Duchy of Cornwall Nursery, Lostwithiel, find hidden bees on The Bumblebee Trail, 25 & 29 May: Bug & Bee craft workshops, drop-in 10am to 2pm. Entry, activities & parking all free! Mention BlackbirdPie

25 May to 1 Jun D-Day landings themed activities, Bodmin Keep, military-themed craft drop-ins, code-breaking, trails, target practice shooting range & the newly re-opened Trench

25 May to 2 Jun

Rockpool Explorers, NMMC, Falmouth, discover curious creatures in The Rock Pool Project’s mobile rock pool. Learn to identify finds & explore, Make & Take, museum trail. Free with entry (pay once & it’s free for a year!) Half-term Special Offer, Paradise Park Wildlife Sanctuary, Hayle, book online and use code ‘BLACKBIRD’ to SAVE £1.50pp on all single tickets, see page 4 Wild Week, The Lost Gardens of Heligan, rediscover the wild, its importance, its beauty, and our place within it. Run free & leave the modern world at home, all free with entry, under 5s free, & Heligan Local’s Pass Fun on the Farm, Dairyland Farm Park, use code BBP24 to save 15%per person online

National Trust half-term, activities vary by property, ranging from Tudor dressing-up, exploring gardens using all your senses, fallen-flower kebabs, falconry displays, pond-dipping etc.

Visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk and search events Cornwall

26 May to 2 Jun

Art Explorers! Tate St Ives, fun with Explorer Backpacks, Tate Shapes activities, sketchbook & Art Explorer cards. FREE with entry, Locals’ Pass, & Tate membership, ages 18 and under free entry

27 May Teddy Bears Picnic (weather permitting), Pencarrow Estate, Bodmin, bring a picnic & your bear, 10am to 4.30pm, storytelling, bear trail & bears hiding in the woods! Dogs welcome, under 16s free, adults £8.75 garden entry. www.pencarrow.co.uk

27 & 29 May:

27 May to 2 Jun

The Scottish Play, Minack, Porthcurno, 4pm, storyteller John Brolly narrates Shakespeare’s Macbeth in his quirky and comical style. For brave children & families. 01736 810181

Pop-Up PK - Collage Through Time, PK Porthcurno, create art by blending captivating images from the archive. All ages welcome, 1 to 3pm. Half-price family voucher see page 7

Half-term activities, Stithians Lake Activity Centre, Redruth, open daily, ‘have a go’ sailing or windsurfing sessions, junior sailing. 28 May: Multi-Activity Day for 8 to 16-year-olds, land & water-based activities, book via www.swlakestrust.org.uk/activities 01209 860301

28 May Cornwall Wildlife Trust’s Wildlife Celebration Day, Trebah, Mawnan Smith, 10am to 4pm, rock-pooling, minibeast safari, bird-box creations, free for CWT members, contact Sam on 07825 070612 or sam.lucock@cornwallwildlifetrust.org.uk & please mention BlackbirdPie

28 & 30 May

Story Adventurers & create Shadow Theatre, The Writers’ Block at Kresen Kernow, Redruth. 28 May: Story Adventurers for ages 6 to 8, 10am to 3pm, stories, making, & doing. 30 May: magical shadow theatre, poetry and storytelling for ages 9 to 11, 10am to 3pm. Tickets £20 (for bursaries email grace.davies@keap.org.uk)

HAVE A REALLY WILD TIME

Brilliant for kids’ parties, play groups, schools, fun days! Tel: 07761 810900 www.marks-ark.co.uk Look who’s over there?

28 to 30 May

28 to 30 May,

1 Jun

Ahoy, me hearties! Pendennis Castle, Falmouth, history’s famous pirates fight it out, tales of booty, bounty, & barnacles, swordplay, interactive shows & se shanties. Book online and save 15% www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/whats-on/pendennis-castle

Printing borders & Indian dance workshops, The Box, Plymouth, free entry, trails & activities 28 to 30 May: ‘Beautiful Borders’ inspired by beautiful South Asian miniature paintings – block-print & paint colourful frames, 10.30am to 12.30pm & 1.30 to 3.30pm. 1 Jun: Indian dance workshops for 7-16 years, 10.15am & 11.30am.

from 28 Love Riot, Miracle Theatre on tour across Cornwall, see pages 15 to 17, until 24 Aug

29 May Free half term children’s art activities, Hayle Heritage Centre, drop-in 11am to 12.30pm & 1.30 to 3pm, free entry, new exhibition Hayle Herstory; new under 5s area, children’s trails. 01736 757683

Pieces of Eight. The Poly, Falmouth, 11am, pirates, treasure, drawn swords … another zany, funny, interactive show from Swashbuckling Cornwall. Afterwards, meet the pirates & their weapons! 6+ 01326 319461 www.swashbucklingcornwall.com

29 & 31 Skillywidden, Minack, Porthcurno, 4pm, Squashbox’s puppets, storytelling & cabaret, age 5+ 01736 810181

29 May to 2 Jun

29 May,

15 Jun,

31 Jul

Bluey’s Big Play, Theatre Royal Plymouth, theatrical adaptation of the TV series, featuring puppets & music, 01752 267222

Deep Geothermal Power Free Family Open Days, United Downs Industrial Estate Redruth, 10am & 11am, 45-minute slots, interactive exhibits, guided tours, & hands-on activities, email tickets@geothermalengineering.co.uk, mention BlackbirdPie

30 May Claymation workshop, The Poly, Falmouth, with animator Hector K-B, make characters, props, animals & scenery; create a plasticine world together, 10.30am to 13.30pm, ages 5 to 13, £10. https://thepoly.org/ Old Time Sailors, Newquay Orchard, 7.30pm, seafaring music with The Motley Crew; eclectic instruments, clashing tankards, foot-stomping, dance & song! Wear fancy dress. https://newquayorchard.co.uk/whats-on

31 May The Grimm Sisters, Endelienta Arts, St Endellion Hall, Scratchworks Theatre’s joyful, interactive show, 11am & 2pm https://endelienta.org.uk/whats-on/

31/5-2/6 The Great Estate, Scorrier, Redruth, three-day family-friendly festival www.greatestatefestival.co.uk

31 May - 21 Jun

Hello Birds, on tour across Cornwall details page 15 & jasminecoleproductions.co.uk/whats-on, sensory, interactive story show for 0-3 yrs, a day in the life of the birds in our gardens.

1 Jun Falmouth University’s Community Day, Woodlane Campus, with free activities, chromatography printing workshops, children’s entertainment, lawn games, screen printing, talks, exhibitions, garden tours, live music. Street food & graduate art for sale, 10am to 4pm. falmouth.ac.uk/events/community-day-2024

2 Jun Caribbean Family Fun Day, Mount Edgcumbe Country Pk, Torpoint, book 07739 033476 mention BlackbirdPie

1 & 2 Jun Songs for Explorers, Minack, Porthcurno, 4pm, fun concert played on amazing instruments with comic songs from Squashbox shows, for all ages. 01736 810181

6 to 8 Royal Cornwall Show, Wadebridge, 01208 817010

8 & 15 Jun Bugalugs! Soapbox Children’s Theatre, Devonport Park, Plymouth, 11am & 1.30pm, enchanting puppets, original storytelling, immersive theatre for 1 1/2 to 7 yrs stiltskin.org.uk 07449724261

14 to 16 Jun 50th Birthday Celebration Steam Extravaganza, Lappa Valley near St Newlyn East, with all the engines, miniature traction engines, Zebedee, & the brand-new mainline train City of Truro LappaValley.co.uk

15 Jun Newquay Orchard Fayre, free event, workshops, & activities 10 am to 3pm – Sproutspoken, Imagine Outdoors, food, community stalls, lawn games, exhibitions and ALMA Artspace, willow weaving, foraging, gardening, Murdoch Day, Redruth, 10am to 4pm, heritage events & entertainment Curious Creatures, Coronation Park, Helston, free, outdoor event, 2.30pm, no booking required, Squashbox’s puppets, songs, storytelling. www.theoldcattlemarket.co.uk/coronation-park/

15 & 16 Jun

Back to the 1940s weekend, Helston Railway, Prospidnick with steam-hauled trains and 1940s dress Free family arts weekend, on the beach, Watergate Bay, live performances, stories, whale theatre, aerial performance, dance, music, creative workshops, & a 13-foot roaming puppet!

21 to 30 Golowan Festival, Penzance, traditional performing arts & music festival

22 Jun Monthly Make Club, Endelienta Arts, St Endellion Hall, explore Bridget Riley’s amazing optical art & play with patterns & colour, 10am to 12pm, parents can join in, £5 per family; must book tickets@endelienta.org.uk Indian Queens Pit Annual Fete, 2 to 4pm, free, live performances, stalls, enquiries@indianqueenspit.co.uk

22 & 23 Jun Secret Gardens of St Ives, 1-5pm, charity event, adults £7.50, under 16s free, tickets from Colenso, 2 Gabriel Street, follow the map to secret gardens, discover huge fish, a spotters’ quiz, a woodland trail, refreshments. St Merryn Steam & Vintage Rally, steam fair, digger-dancing, music & entertainment

23 to 29 Mevagissey Feast Week

23 Jun Peter Pan, Newquay Orchard, 2.30pm, Immersion Theatre’s production, catchy music, interaction, & lots of laughs, age 4+ https://newquayorchard.co.uk/whats-on

24 to 27 The Adventures of Doctor Dolittle, Minack, Porthcurno, 11am, 2.30 & 7pm, Illyria’s funny, family musical, 5+

26 to 28 Aladdin JR, The Poly, Falmouth, with children from Starlite Theatre Co, 7.30pm, 01326 319461

28 to 30 St Austell Festival of Children’s Literature, see pages 17 & 18

29 Jun Illogan Summer Fayre, Illogan School, 11am to 4pm, stalls, games, bands, crafts, demonstrations

30 Jun Tristan & Yseult, Indian Queens Pit, St Columb Major, 11am & 2.30pm, funny & sad, open-air improvised retelling of a great Cornish legend, age 8+. www.cornwallheritagetrust.org

6 Jul Children’s Day, Truro City Centre, free entertainment & activities - mountain bike stunt shows, dance shows, have-a-go at circus skills, balance, pedal bike & obstacle course, street entertainment, in-store activities & offers, 10am to 4pm. www.visittruro.org.uk Helifest 2024, Scorrier House, Redruth, Cornwall Air Ambulance’s Blue Light Festival, 11am to 8pm, 07948 410508/ 01637 889926 cornwallairambulancetrust.org/events/community-days/helifest-for-2024/ The Gondoliers, Penlee Open Air Theatre, 7.30pm, G & S operetta, Illyria, fun for all ages. 07816 285367

6 & 7 Jul Food Jam, Enys Gardens, near Penryn, graze a trail of world foods in the lovely gardens, activities, demos, live music, foraging walks 01326 377621

13 Jul Monthly Make Club, Endelienta Arts, St Endellion Hall, create an incredible inedible feast out of card & recycled materials. 10am to 12pm, parents can join in, £5 per family; must book tickets@endelienta.org.uk

From September this year Truro High School’s award-winning Early Years education is extending to welcome girls aged 3.

Winner of Muddy Stilettos’ “Most Creative Learning through Play” Award in 2023 and shortlisted for the Tes “EYFS Setting of the Year”, Truro High School has an excellent record for providing an exciting and dynamic start to girls’ education. Find out more about its brand new Early Years department and outdoor learning provision and discover the difference a Truro High education could make. With music, dance, swimming, sport, languages, science and an abundance of creative arts, it’s little wonder the school’s Early Years department is a national leader for excellence.

To find out more, contact Mrs Jo Norriss on 01872 242902 or email registrar@trurohigh.co.uk

What’s On - Get Arty!

The Box, Plymouth’s fabulous award-winning museum & art gallery has free admission. You can wonder at amazing artwork and fascinating objects, explore the galleries with free family trails and create something at Explore More tables.

28 to 30 May: ‘Beautiful Borders’ (left) drop-in family-friendly workshops inspired by beautiful South Asian miniature paintings - make frames with colourful block prints and paints;

10.30am to 12.30pm & 1.30 to 3.30pm. 1 Jun: fun, accessible Indian dance workshops for 7-16 years, 10.15am & 11.30am. Fridays 10.30am: Tell Me a Story for under 5s. Tuesday mornings in term-time: ‘I Wonder’ art sessions for 1-4 years. www.theboxplymouth.com

Penlee House Gallery & Museum, Penzance. Free Saturday Arty Afternoons 2.30 to 3.30pm, workshops inspired by The Exceptional Harold Harvey exhibition; 11 May: create mining landscapes with oil pastels. 18 May: create a mix-and-match book of hats, faces & clothes in the exhibition and muddle up what people are wearing!

25 May: paper flowers. 1 Jun: use tin ingot designs to create badges. 8 Jun: Pick your favourite bits of Harvey’s paintings to create new mini artworks. 15 Jun: make mini farms using card. 22 Jun: create room scenes with a mirror so you can be in your picture! 29 Jun: learn how to draw self-portraits and make a fancy, golden frame. penleehouse.org.uk or phone 01736 363625.

Tate St Ives 26 May to 2 Jun: Art Explorers! Have fun with Explorer Backpacks, Tate Shapes activities, sketchbook & Art Explorer cards. 14 May, 11 Jun, 9 Jul: Toddle Tate, drop-in 10.30am to 12.30pm for stories & play. All FREE with admission, Locals’ Pass and Tate membership, ages 18 and under free entry.

Mini Mess Makers messy play groups at The Holman Sports Club Camborne, Threemilestone Community Centre & Wesley Building Redruth, with different themes each week. Book on www.minimessmakers.co.uk and quote BLACKBIRD10 for a special discount.

Falmouth Art Gallery, free entry. For details on family creative workshops & activities see www.falmouthartgallery.com 01326 313863

Endelienta Arts, St Endellion Hall, Port Isaac. Monthly Make Club, explore, create and get messy with inspirational artists, 10am to 12pm, parents can join in, £5 per family; must book tickets@endelienta.org.uk www.endelienta.org.uk

11 May: paint brilliant portraits with Ness Harrison. 22 Jun: explore Bridget Riley’s amazing Op Art (optical art) & play with patterns and colour. 13 Jul: create an incredible inedible feast out of card & recycled materials.

The Poly, Falmouth, 30 May 10.30am to 13.30pm: Claymation workshop with animator Hector K-B, make characters, props, animals & scenery and create a plasticine world together. Expect games, creativity, and teamwork. Ages 5 to 13, £10.

https://thepoly.org/

TECGIRLS’ Amazing Aviation Festival 22 June at RNAS Culdrose

Do you have a young girl in your life who loves to imagine soaring amongst the stars as an astronaut, or piloting through the clouds? What about flying drones or designing her own rocket? Make those dreams take flight with TECgirls out-of-this-world festival, held in a real-life aircraft hangar at RNAS Culdrose. Reach for the Sky will be brimming with exploration and adventure with over 20 stalls, workshops, music, food trucks and live science shows. Created for girls aged 7 to 14, the festival will give them a chance to play and discover all the exciting areas within aviation and aerospace, with a focus on opportunities in the South West.

But that’s not all… girls can be inspired towards their future career by real pilots, engineers, and other professionals working in space and aviation throughout the festival. Come and hear their amazing tales of adventure and innovation, with talks throughout the day and stands from UK-wide aviation companies. There are hundreds of different careers in aviation and aerospace, the sky’s not the limit— it’s just the beginning.

Kids go free with a free lunch ticket for all children under 18. Visit tecgirls.co.uk/reach-for-the-sky-festival to grab your ticket, we’ll see you on the airfield!

Note: This festival has been created to inspire more girls to explore careers in aviation and aerospace. However, people are never turned away, anyone of any age or gender who identifies with this event and would like to attend are welcome.

Do

you have a passion for

performance?

Want to dance or act on the stage?

Then discover Hall for Cornwall Youth!

Work with industry professionals to explore creativity, collaboration and choreography in regular workshops, while working towards exciting projects and performances. You’ll even have the chance to perform on the Cornwall Playhouse stage during our end of term showcases!

‘I look forward all week to my Saturdays! Youth Theatre is my favourite club and I love it.’ Poppy, aged 8.

Our Youth Performance Companies are open to ages 6-18 and to performers of all backgrounds!

Youth Theatre (ages 6 to 18)

Youth Dance (ages 6 to 18)

All Boys Dance (ages 6 to 18)

If this sounds like something you’d like to be part of, join our workshops today.

Email getcreative@hallforcornwall.org.uk to find out more.

Hall for Cornwall, Truro

What’s On at Hall for Cornwall…

Have fun with your favourite characters at Hall for Cornwall!

David Walliams’ Awful Auntie leaps from page to stage. From the makers of Gansta Granny comes another classic.

27 to 30 June: Stella finds herself in the fight for her life in this action-packed tale – featuring a very large owl, a very small ghost and a very awful Auntie!

Planning ahead for summer?

27 to 29 Aug: Don’t miss the stunning stage adaptation of The Tiger Who Came to Tea, delightful family show packed with oodles of magic, sing-along songs and a tea-guzzling tiger of course! Purrfect family treat and you’re all invited.

The Very Hungry Caterpillar and his friends wiggle onto the stage from 21 to 22 Oct. This vibrant production features 75 lovable puppets fresh from the pages of Eric Carle’s exuberant, colourfully collaged picture book. Sounds fab.

And is it too early to talk about Christmas? Never! If you loved Peter Pan, get ready for this year’s GIANT Christmas spectacular Jack and The Beanstalk (6 to 31 Dec).

Discover something new this year at Hall for Cornwall, and let your imagination run free!

Theatre Shows and Pantomimes

Hello Birds on tour this summer! jasminecoleproductions.co.uk/whats-on

A sensory story show for 0-3 yrs with puppets, key-word signing and baby-safe props. The story follows a day in the life of the birds in our gardens. Bran the Gardener introduces a host of garden birds using sound, colour, texture and small puppets and the children help feed the birds, build soft nests and sing songs. 31 May: Penzance Lib, June dates: 1st Bude Climate Festival, 5th Camborne Lib, 6th St Austell Lib, 7th Saltash Lib, 11th Bodmin Lib, 12th Helston Museum, 13th Truro Lib, 18th Penlee Park, 21st Callington Lib. Regal Theatre https://redruth.merlincinemas.co.uk/regal-theatre 01209 216278

15 to 19 May 7.30pm, matinées Sat 2.30pm, Sun 1 & 5pm: The Wind in the Willows - Presented by R.A.M.P.S. Join Ratty, Badger, Mole and the impulsive Toad in this riotous musical for all the family. The show features a gloriously British score that will have your toes tapping.

Soapbox Children’s Theatre, Devonport Park, Plymouth stiltskin.org.uk 07449 724261

18 & 19 May: Spellbound Fairy and Goblin Arts Festival - storytelling, performances, arts & crafts.

8 & 15 Jun, 11am & 1.30pm: Bugalugs! enchanting puppetry, original storytelling, and immersive theatre, for ages 18 months to 7 years.

The Old Library, Bodmin. intobodmin.co.uk/events/

18 May 2pm: Swallow’s Wings Puppetry: Anansi & the Lost Sun. One day Darkness covers the face of the Land. Lion appeals for someone to save the World. Who will succeed? The Powerful Eagle? The Clever Monkey? Or Anansi the Spider? A funny and inspiring West African tale with traditional live music & puppetry, for age 4+.

Mount Pleasant Eco Park, St Agnes. www.carntocove.co.uk

19 May, 3.30pm: Anansi & the Lost Sun, see above.

The Poly, Falmouth, thepoly.org 01326 319461

29 May, 11am: Pieces of Eight. Two pirate crews have arranged a parlay to decide to whom the treasure belongs... but swords are drawn, pistols are waved, and chaos ensues. Another zany, funny, interactive show from Swashbuckling Cornwall. Afterwards, meet the pirates & their weapons! 6+ www.swashbucklingcornwall.com

26 - 28 June 7.30pm: Aladdin JR Starlite Theatre Co’s children perform the stage version of this Disney classic with well-known songs.

Theatre Royal Plymouth 01752 267222 www.theatreroyal.com

29 May to 2 Jun: Bluey’s Big Play, an adaptation of the TV series, featuring puppets & music.

Endelienta Arts, St Endellion Hall https://endelienta.org.uk/whats-on/

31 May 11am & 2pm: The Grimm Sisters award-winning Scratchworks Theatre’s joyful, mischievous, & interactive show. Expect twisted tales with a marvellous mix of comedy, singing and live music.

Outdoor theatre

Coronation Park, Helston www.theoldcattlemarket.co.uk/coronation-park/

15 Jun 2.30pm: Curious Creatures free event, no booking is required. Squashbox theatre - meet performing fleas, skateboarding snails and gymnastic gerbils to over-excited elephants, and a very intelligent orang-utan!

Penlee Park Open Air Theatre 07816 285367 boxoffice@penleeparktheatre.com

25 May 7.30pm: Illyria’s The Adventures of Doctor Dolittle (see Minack - page 16)

6 Jul at 7.30pm: Illyria’s The Gondoliers - Gilbert and Sullivan’s light-hearted operetta set in Venice, filled with blissful romance, barbed satire and comedic chaos; for all ages.

The Minack Theatre, Porthcurno, minack.com 01736 810181

27 May 4pm: The Scottish Play. A witch’s brew of murder and mayhem in the Scottish Highlands, as storyteller John Brolly narrates the tale of Shakespeare’s Macbeth in his own uniquely quirky and comical style. For brave children and their families.

29 & 31 May 4pm: Skillywidden, Squashbox Theatre’s distinctive mix of puppets, songs, storytelling and cabaret, with an environmental message. age 5+

1 & 2 Jun 4pm: Songs for Explorers. Squashbox have teamed up with musicians extraordinaire Ben Sutcliffe and Zaid Al-Rikabi for a fun concert played on accordion, violin, guitar, trombone, harmonica, ukulele, double bass and mandolin, exploring themes as diverse as bees, trees, evolution, mermaids, Greek Gods, famous scientists, and planets! For all ages.

24 to 27 Jun: 11am, 2.30 & 7pm: The Adventures of Doctor Dolittle from the books by Hugh Lofting & performed by Illyria. This funny, exciting new family musical about a kindly but very poor village doctor whose life is turned upside down when he discovers he can talk to animals!

For age 5+. Tickets from £10, Under 16s half-price.

Miracle Theatre on tour - Falmouth, Lostwithiel, Minack, Newquay, Morvah, Helston, Truro, Trebah, Tregony, Porthtowan, Redruth, Bodmin, Ladock, St Just, Isles of Scilly. https://miracletheatre.co.uk/

28 May to 24 Aug: Love Riot. Step into a world of etiquette, scandal and matchmaking, for an 18th-century rom-com. This vibrant reimagining of Hannah Cowley’s comedy of manners, The Belle’s Stratagem, is full of unexpected twists and hilarious turns with a zany Miracle spin. Age 7+.

Newquay Orchard https://newquayorchard.co.uk/whats-on

30 May 7.30 to 10pm: Old Time Sailors, sail back to the 19th century for traditional seafaring music with The Motley Crew and their plethora of traditional eclectic instruments, clashing tankards, foot stomping, dancing and singing! Fancy dress encouraged. Not for younger children.

23 Jun 2.30 to 4pm: Peter Pan. Embark on an awfully big adventure with mischievous Peter! Immersion Theatre’s production is filled with catchy music, audience interaction, and a laugh-a-minute scriptyou’ll be HOOKED! For ages 4+

Indian Queens Pit nr St Columb Major, Cornwall Heritage Trust

30 Jun 11am & 2.30pm: Tristan & Yseult An open-air improvised retelling of one of Cornwall’s greatest legends, from Smashed Window Community Theatre. It’s epic, energetic and you may alternate with tears of laughter and sorrow; age 8+. Adult ticketspay as you feel £10/ £12/ £15, under 17s £5.

www.cornwallheritagetrust.org

Exciting news at Sterts Arts & Environment Centre, Upton Cross! The theatre is being rebuilt to replace the fragile canvas structure with a more robust steel-framed building. The outdoor feel of the old theatre will be retained whilst extending the season and allowing a wider range of arts, heritage and environmental events. Experience the exciting new building for yourself this summer, with family shows like Sterts Theatre Company’s new musical, The Beast which runs from 21 to 24 Aug and 4 to 7 Sept. Be transported to the turn of the century with Mary, a motor-mouth go-getter, and Edward, a terrified hypochondriac, as they venture deep, deep into the wilds of Bodmin Moor. Perfect for fans of Horrible Histories, Ghosts and the play of John Buchan’s The 39 Steps www.sterts.co.uk or box office 01579 362382

Stories are Sensational, Books are Brilliant!!

There are so many FREE wonderful resources, activities and events at Cornwall Libraries from Rhyme Times to Lego clubs, free audiobooks and more. To keep up to date with what’s on, just follow Facebook: Cornwall Libraries - Instagram: cornwalllibraries or check online at www.cornwall.gov.uk/libraries to find out what’s going on at your local library. Joining is free and there are no fines. 0300 1234111

From 8 May to 19 Jul

The Morrab Library, Penzance, will be hosting children’s poetry events including poetry storytime, writing workshops, and The Patricia Eschen Children’s Poetry Writing Competition. The children’s competition is free to enter and there are no themes so young writers can let their imaginations run wild! Poems may be written in any form or style but must be original. There are two age categories, 4 to 11 and 12 to 17, with decent cash prizes. Copy deadline 19 July. https://morrablibrary.org.uk/childrenspoetryprize2024

Bude Lit Fest 16 to 19 May has over 70 events for adults and children culminating on 19 May: Sunday Funday - FREE Family Day on The Castle Lawn (or if it’s wet at The Ivor Potter Hall) with dressing up, music, games, book sales, raffle and a whimsical Character Treasure Hunt. Festival brochure on www.budelitfest.co.uk

The Writers’ Block at Kresen Kernow, Little Vauxhall, Redruth. 28 May: Story Adventurers for ages 6 to 8, 10am to 3pm, stories, making, & doing with Jo Lumber. 30 May: magical shadow theatre, poetry and storytelling for ages 9 to 11, 10am to 3pm, build shadow puppets, learn how to operate them, write a shadow puppet play. Tickets for each event £20 (bursary spaces available email grace.davies@keap.org.uk)

St Austell Festival of Children’s Literature - from 28 to 30 June Books and Authors will be taking over the centre of St Austell including White River Cinema & Unit 4 studio. The festival has over 25 children’s author events & illustrator workshops, including: Hannah Gold, Onjali Q. Rauf, and Louie Stowell; tickets £1 per event www.staustellfestivalofchildrensliterature.com/ For young readers, there will storytelling, picture book readings, draw-alongs, a cat disco (!) and crafting. For older children, authors’ talks and Q&As, write stories, comic strip workshop, and brilliant authors discussing nature writing & world-building. novelEnglish is a wonderfully different, educational enterprise in the heart of the Lizard providing a combination of English tuition, homestay and excursions. 29 Jul to 2 Aug: The Fantastic Worlds of C. S. Lewis for 8-12 yrs. 5 to 9 Aug: Pirates, Smugglers & Treasure - Robert Louis Stevenson’s Treasure Island for 8-12 yrs. 19 to 22 Aug: Science Fiction - H. G. Wells’ The Time Machine & The War of the Worlds (9-13 yrs) www.novelenglish.co.uk or email enquiries@novelenglish.co.uk

(above - A F Steadman meets a fan)

Blackbird Reads Gods, Giants and Heroes

by Deborah Wright

Here be Giants by Susannah Lloyd, illustrated by Paddy Donnelly published by Frances Lincoln

Written in faux medieval language, with lots of perchances, forsooths and egads, this is a hilarious tale of a hapless knight in search of a giant. He climbs up a beanstalk and finds a maiden to rescue, but where is the giant? Wonderfully silly. For 5+

Goddesses and Heroines: Meet More Than 80 Legendary Women from Around the World by Jean Menzies, illustrated by Katie Ponder published by DK

The title says it all. Packed with exciting stories of heroines, often with strange names like Tuonetar, Isolde and Konohana (there’s a pronounciation guide at the end). In the same series, there are Greek Myths, Norse Myths and Egyptian Myths: an absolute feast of myth retelling. Katie Ponder graduated from Falmouth University, and her illustrations are brightly coloured, bold and dramatic. For 7+

Gods and Monsters: Mythological Poems collected by Ana Sampson, illustrated by Chris Riddell published by Macmillan

An anthology of poems from Greek and Roman, Egyptian, Aztec, Norse, Celtic Inuit and Japanese myths. Every page is taken over with Riddell’s exuberant line drawings. There are poets like Benjamin Zephaniah, Tennyson and Lewis Carroll, Brian Moses and many more. A treasure trove of fabulous gods, monsters and heroes. For 8+

Who Let the Gods Out? by Maz Evans published by Chicken House

The first in a hilarious series of crazy stories about the Gods. It helps to know the well-known myths, and then the fun starts. Young Elliot is caught up in an adventure to find the death demon, with help from Virgo and Hermes (whose byline is ‘bosh!’ Lots more Gods join in the fun, as well as the late Queen. For 8+

Norse Myths: Tales of Odin, Thor and Loki by Kevin Crossley-Holland, illustrated by Jeffrey Alan Love published by Walker

Oh those Viking Gods! They were a tricky, bloodthirsty lot. Odin and Thor struggle for power against fearsome giants who hide from humans in Middle Earth. Crossley-Holland is a master storyteller and the wonderful atmospheric illustrations in black, yellow and red – evil red eyes peer out from silhouettes of giants and gods – enhance every page. Not for the fainthearted. For 9+

Any Greek-myth-loving child of 9+ who hasn’t come across Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson series, published by Puffin, is in for a treat.

At this time of year, your child may be getting ready to move from primary to secondary school, or you may have older children already there. For secondary school age children, the vaccination programme offers routine vaccinations including HPV (Human Papilloma Virus). The HPV vaccination programme is one of the most successful in the world and has dramatically lowered the rates of some cancers, such as cervical cancer in women and harmful infections in both women and men – preventing many serious illness and saving lives.

This vaccination is first offered to boys and girls aged 12 to 13, and the aim is to make sure children are immunised before they leave school in year 11. Previously this was given in two doses however, the latest evidence shows that one dose is as effective as two doses. So, if your child has already received one dose of the vaccination, they will be fully immunised and will not need another dose.

You will be told when your child is due their HPV vaccination. For all vaccinations you will need to complete a consent form and details are in the letter you receive via your child’s school or Elective Home Education Team. You can also find a list of FAQs on https://kernowhealthcic.org.uk/

The Kernow Health team are happy to answer your questions, and to fill in the consent form with you over the phone if you prefer. You can contact the team on kernowhealthcic.schoolimmunisation@nhs.net or 01872 221105.

How to protect new-born babies from whooping cough

Whooping cough rates have risen sharply recently - and babies who are too young to start their vaccinations are at risk. Young babies with whooping cough are often very unwell and most will be admitted to hospital because of their illness. When whooping cough is particularly severe, they can potentially die. However, getting vaccinated while you’re pregnant protects your baby from developing whooping cough in the first few weeks of their life.

The immunity you get from the vaccine passes to your baby through the placenta and protects them until they are old enough to be vaccinated against whooping cough at eight weeks old.

The best time for you to get vaccinated and protect your baby from whooping cough is from 16 weeks up to 32 weeks of pregnancy. This maximises the chance that your baby will be protected from birth, through the transfer of your antibodies before they are born.