Blackbird Pie February 2021

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BlackbirdPie Feb/Mar '21 for Families in Cornwall Giraffe by Lillian, Picture Competition Winner

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Seasalt Mother's Day Competition

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Editors' letter BlackbirdPie contents and information

Contents: (click 'Contents' (top left) for the drop-down menu):

Animal Picture Competition

Special Offers: 10% off fruit and veg boxes delivered by Falmouth-based FruutBox, and 20% off your first Vegucation Club box from Redruth’s Food Troops.

Congratulations to Lilian who is the winner of the Blackbird Pie and Mark’s Ark Animal Encounters competition. Her beautiful giraffe is on the front cover. She has won a visit from Mark and his extraordinary creatures.

What’s Off?!

Well, lots of course in lockdown BUT there are a surprising number of wonderful things to do and we even have a What’s On calendar of virtual events! There are indoor and outdoor activities, a peppering of science and cooking, and a seasoning of support with learning resources. The majority are free and we have offers – see above.

This issue is animal-themed, with wonderful animal books from Otter-Barry Books (don’t forget to enter your school for the competition) and suggestions from our book reviewer; Mark’s Ark Animal Encounters; and news from Newquay Zoo, Paradise Park and The Cornwall Seal Sanctuary.

Thank you very much to all the children who entered (and the parents and carers who helped organise and send in the entries). It was really hard to choose a winner from so many outstanding entries, so we have created a gallery to celebrate the top pictures and photos.

Lillian 5 (but nearly 6) with her winning picture

We have a lovely Owl - see the next page

As well as the new online format we will be doing more on facebook and Instagram, so please seek us out for regular activities, ideas and updates in between issues.

As well as our current Books for Your School Competition there are others coming and someone could win a very nice gift for Mother's Day.

Disclaimer, Privacy etc.

Quick guide to finding your way around the magazine

Vanessa, Simon and the Blackbird

01326 314242 post@blackbirdpie.co.uk Owl Collage by Alekzandra (9) >>>> For more lovely entries to the competition please see our Gallery at the end of the magazine.

To view previous issues of BlackbirdPie click on the cover

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Tate St Ives Explore Colour and Shape

Be inspired and make and create with Tate St Ives this half-term. It's time for some creativity to help keep your little ones busy. The Tate website has plenty of online activities to do at home, below are some suggestions inspired by the art and artists of St Ives. Explore and investigate colour and shape, and go on your own mini treasure hunt, inspired by artist Parick Heron. Make your own unique, Barbara Hepworth influenced necklace that you can wear and look through. Set sail with fisherman, turned artist, Alfred Wallis and create your own beach inspired artwork.

Sandra Blow Green and White 1969 © The estate of Sandra Blow • Jump into a world of bright colours and bold shapes, find out more about artist Patrick Heron and his artworks ARTWORKS Head on a colour walk around your neighbourhood or house and try to look for all the colours of the rainbow. Think of it like a treasure hunt, where the treasure is colour! COLOUR WALK

Explore how colour and shape is used to make art, and how artists use these to express themselves – COLOUR & SHAPE • Barbara Hepworth's sculptures were inspired by nature, find out more about this artist who lived in St Ives BARBARA HEPWORTH Try making your own trendy, unique necklace inspired by her sculptures! I SPY NECKLACE

Dame Barbara Hepworth Spring 1966 © Bowness. Image © Kirstin Prisk

• Find out more about the inspiring seaman and painter Alfred Wallis ALFRED WALLIS Be inspired by nature and use found objects to make your own unique paintings. Or grab some sand and create some art inspired by the seaside!

Create a wave painting WAVE PAINTING or make sand art SAND ART

Alfred Wallis The Blue Ship ?c.1934 © Tate

Feeling inspired? Head to Tate Kids online to find all these projects and much more including games, quizzes and videos about art. Kids can also share their own artwork with other children around the world. SHARE YOUR ART Tate St Ives are looking forward to welcoming you all back safely in the future.

Check our website for updates tate.org.uk/stives

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Fun things to do

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Calendar March 2021

Every Sunday: Circo Kernow family exercise circuit 11am -1pm at Chyan Community Field, Penryn with 10 stations and an outdoor exercise programme. Each bubble is separated by 10 minutes and lots of lovely countryside. Instruction sheets for each bubble of up to 5 persons costs £10. Stations include yoga, stilts, tight wire, acrobatics, balance, juggling, hula hoop, plate spinning, tea refreshment and basic trapeze.

Booking essential at www.circokernow.co.uk Every Monday & on Arty Afternoons: Penlee Inspired Challenges! Penlee House Gallery & Museum is open… online. Each Monday a new challenge is set, so get creative and submit your responses via social media. The favourites will be showcased the following Monday! Get creative with Arty Afternoon videos - craft activities that are perfect for families.

4 Mar: World Book Day 2021 -

make reading even more fun and interactive. Go on a wild adventure with Katherine Rundell, interactive storytelling from Tom Fletcher, and writing non-fiction with Jess French.

For more information follow this

a programme of free digital events, fun online learning opportunities, and a mass participation campaign.

From 1 Mar: Share a Story YouTube readings

link

8 Mar: Back to School??!

Read on for our February 2021 content.

3 to 5 Mar: Share a Story Live events on World Book Day YouTube. Each event is 20-25 minutes and available for long-term viewing.

Available now: The Authors and Illustrators Academy – fun and fascinating tutorial videos from World Book Day’s £1 Book authors and illustrators, online-masterclasses Exciting challenges and activities to

Welcome to the Dream Shop!

PaddleBoat Theatre Company’s interactive story with science. Available to watch on demand between 12 - 21 February 2021.

Children will be encouraged to join in with the story with moments of interaction throughout. This includes making noises, hand movements and a simple science experiment.

The film includes some BSL and sign supported English and there is an audio description link so that those with visual impairments can enjoy the story too.

Photo credit: Matt Austin

Join PaddleBoat Theatre Company for a magical story and discover the joy of being a Dream Maker. Discover the mysteries of Dream Making and to share the secrets of mixing the perfect dream.

Length: 45 minutes Recommended for: ages 4+ Ticket price Pay What You Decide Book on www.ticketsource.co.uk

It’s important work - thousands of dreams are dreamt every single night, and they all have to be made just right.

More >>>

Until to 28 Feb: Planet Earth Games Get Active. Learn. Help the Planet and Win Prizes. A month of sustainable, virtual challenges, suitable for all ages and abilities. AND IT’S ALL FREE! EVERY DAY! Just sign up and you will be emailed a challenge video every day through. You will have one week to complete each challenge and upload your evidence on the website to be eligible to win a prize.

Mondays at 11.30am: ‘Museum Makes’ live on facebook; create items inspired by Helston’s Museum of Cornish Life collection, from things you have at home.

8 Feb – design and make a fan.

Wednesdays at 11.30am: Collection Tours on facebook, take a closer look at items in the Museum of Cornish Life in Helston.

10 Feb – Costume Collection

Half -term 12 to 19 Feb: Discover the Aliens of the Deep with National Maritime Museum Cornwall. From Friday 12 Feb: watch science demonstrations, explore short films, stories and photos about aliens and deep space.

Mon 15 to Thurs 18 Feb 11am: daily live crafting sessions on Facebook with Sophie, the Museum’s Learning Officer. theNMMC A list of what you will need is on science-of-the-sea-at-home Monday: Pompom Aliens, Tuesday: Crafty Aliens, Wednesday: Paint Splat Aliens, Thursday: Alien Slime (be careful with food colouring it can stain)

15 to 19 Feb: ‘Animate Helston’ 2021: the annual animation take-over will now be online with events,

screenings, animations and daily FaceBook Live workshops at 11.30am whats-on

Friday 19 Feb 11am: Free live NMMC online show: Join the team from Explorer Dome for a fun interactive Space themed show and Q&A. Sign-up

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Outdoor fun

Want to add variety to your daily outdoor exercise?

Here are a few ideas to make things more entertaining.

Go on a sensory walk. What can you see, hear, smell, or feel? Does all bark feel rough? What is really green and what is greenish brown or greenish grey? Do all birds sound the same? We are trying to guess what snouted animal has left behind the rootling marks we found – maybe a wild pig, a badger? can you find signs of animals? newquayzoo.org.uk

Dark outside? Play hide and seek with flashlights (little ones will need an adult partner). Alternatively make your own light show – uplight your face, highlight branches from below, use your beams for ‘laser’ swords, make silhouette stories. The Spruce light games

Make and fly your own kites Instructables Kite

Play Follow the Leader with toddlers link How far you can walk in 5, 10, 15 mins? How far can you hop?

Make mud pies and stick creatures in your garden.

Rubber gloves on top of woolly gloves will keep hands a bit warmer and are easy to wash. Who can make the fanciest creation?

Scavenge for stones, seeds, leaves and make a mandala Thank you very much to Tabitha and pupils from Kingsley School, Bideford for their beautiful mandalas made from items foraged in their school woods and ordered and arranged the items into their own circular designs.

Collect seaweed and press it to make cards, bookmarks and pictures

Sing as loudly then as quietly as you can (not near other people).

Build paper airplanes. Who can fly the furthest?

Mandala means circle. They are spiritual symbols representing the universe in Hinduism and Buddhism and used as a form of meditation. Just create your mandala and focus on what you wish to bring into your life while gazing at the design.

Take a few minutes to breathe, think and gradually you should feel a little more relaxed. Result: untangled brain!

Circo Kernow family exercise circuit every Sunday 11am -1pm at Chyan Community Field, Penryn with 10 stations and an outdoor exercise programme. Each bubble is separated by 10 minutes and lots of lovely countryside. Instruction sheets for each bubble of up to 5 persons costs £10. Stations include yoga, stilts, tight wire, acrobatics, balance, juggling, hula hoop, plate spinning, tea refreshment and basic trapeze.

Booking essential at circokernow.co.uk There is also an allotment gardening group for exercise at distance.

Cornwall Wildlife Trust have lots of lovely ideas for looking after yourself and nature during the latest national lockdown. Including: Making hedgehog houses, bird feeders, garden wigwams, butterfly feeders, bird hides, hidey holes and how to go pond dipping. cornwallwildlifetrust.org.uk

Cornwall Wildlife Trust also have some fantastic videos of the outdoors to see CWT

Treasure Trails turn local walks into an outdoor educational adventure. These themed, self-guided trail booklets (£9.99 each) are full of engaging and lockdown-friendly outdoor family activities. The Trails take explorers on a circular outdoor walking route of approximately two miles. En route solve clues to crack a puzzling Detective Mystery, Treasure Hunt, or Spy Mission. The clues are found on local landmarks, signs, statues, monuments, and other eye-catching features. Order the trail online at treasuretrails.co.uk

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Indoor Ideas Collage the Cow from Penlee House Get Crafty, Cornwall Kidz Yoga and Explore History

The first Kids Yogi Boxes from Kids Yoga Cornwall

This was a great way to keep us active and save our sanity. However, they felt a big part of the lovely sessions was missing – the creative activities they bring to each class. Kids Yogi Box brings you easy to read yoga cards and creative activities. So now you can join the virtual class, practice using the yoga cards and enjoy some Yogi craft.

There’s a bubble wand included to help you slow things down.

Move Yoga Pose Cards. All the yoga poses in the Love Box are “Heart Opening” poses. Each pose comes with colour-in instructions.

Heart Opening Pose Quiz. Test your yoga knowledge with a fun quiz. Can you identify the poses?

Yoga Adventure. Use the poses you have learnt to build your own story.

Make

What’s in this box?

Breathe

Why Kids Yogi Box? Breathe, Move, Make During the first lockdown in 2020 Shuni and Kaan delivered three FREE live online kids yoga sessions each week.

VIDEO

There are 2 breathing exercises to use.

Elephant Breath. Use this to wake up and get energised. Elephants can shower themselves with their own trunks. Shower yourself with love, bravery or strength…You choose!

Worry Bubbles. Use this breath to calm yourself and blow away your worries….

There are 3 little crafty activities in this box, which develop fine motor skills, encourage focus and concentration.

Weave a friendship bracelet Love Bug bookmark Mandala colour sheet

Relax There are 3 themed guided relaxations in this box.

Grab a blanket, a pillow and get cosy. Let your imagination take you on a journey to a restful place.

Arty stuff

the Penlee Inspired Challenge! A new challenge is set each Monday. Get creative and submit your responses via social media. They'll showcase their favourites the following Monday!

Tate Kids – a great selection of Arty games and makes on link. The robot one reminded us of Cornwall’s Man Engine who might be back to greet the G7 this summer… make-robot

Indoor ‘Out’ Stuck inside? Forestry England can bring the trees to you!

Make a wish bird with Jane Ray We love Jane Ray’s picture books (see above) and have recommended lots of them in our book reviews. Jane has designed a wish bird for you to make. We know what we are wishing for…

Wish Bird

Penlee House Gallery & Museum is open online!

Get creative with Arty Afternoon videos - craft activities that are perfect for families, or take part in

forestryengland.uk There are seven free activities you can do indoors. Download Tree Trumps game to get to know the different trees; play nature bingo; draw or paint your own view - stick it up and add trees and animals every day; have an indoor picnic; forest themed colouring sheets; Become an outdoor sound collector; draw a tree from memory – this video has some good tips If you don’t live near a wood, forest or park then

Forestry England have a rather delightful and ingenious guide to virtual forest bathing…. ‘How to bring the wellbeing benefits of forests into your home’ wellbeing

Eden’s postcard from the tropics While you're locked down at home, here's a little glimpse into our lush rainforest, brimming with more than 1,000 plant varieties, including cacao, coffee, bananas, giant waterlilies and lots more…youtube

Missing Trebah?

Make a recycled hanging bird - transform an ugly old plastic milk carton into an intriguing hanging bird.

(Children might need help cutting the plastic.) You could make a whole mobile, to hang inside or out, using these step-by-step instructions

Head Gardener Darren shares what's been happening in the garden during January. This is not designed particularly for children but is gentle and many will enjoy it. Trebah Video For more updates sign up to their newsletter There are Heligan crosswords and other lockdown activities which have just been released

– see Heligan

Fun things to do

Articulate >>>>

History at Home >>>>

There are more amazing Bird art project cards available to download and print on www.articulatecollective.com/words-on-the-wing sustainable celebratory arts collective ARTiculate Collective’s Words On The Wing project helps people feel less isolated. They send out free, personal artworks to people! Poetry, painting, print, drawing... a work will be produced and posted to you to help your spirits soar up high with the swallows and swifts.

Want to create your own bird inspired art to share with others in turn? Articulate will provide you with FREE cards and stamps for you to pass on the love!

Resources are limited, but whilst the funding and stocks last they can send up to 3 art cards and stamps in each pack.

To take part, just email your postal address and contact details to contact@articulatecollective.com

Children and adults alike are invited to write, perform and share their bird themed shadow tales. What birds do you see or hear in your garden, by the sea, in the woods, at your window?

information, and a ready-made magpie shadow tale for you. There are instructions on how to upload your videos and share on Facebook #articulatecollective @articulatecollective (fb) contact@articulatecollective.com

Thanks to Feast and Cornwall Community Foundation for their support

Do you know a Bird tale or want to tell your own bird story?

There are FREE online shadow-puppetry workshops for all ages at words-on-the-wing with techniques, tips,

History at Home English Heritage There is a treasure trove of historical goodies on English Heritage’s website.

Explore history with videos and podcasts, oldfashioned recipes and historical ‘how-to’s and discover the best stories from England’s past. There are teaching resources, quizzes and creative things to make and do like colouring in a Roman street scene, or designing your own coat of arms; and templates to build a model roundhouse or Dover Castle, download.pdf

Meet the porter at St Mawes Castle - CASTLE Serve up a slice of history with delicious recipes from the past. Whip up a batch of Queen drop biscuits, make a grand medieval pie, and find out from a Tudor cook what marchpane is.

Travel back in time with English Heritage videos for an interview with Henry VIII and put your Roman knowledge to the test with Rattus Rattus. Join TV's Ben Shires live-streamed history lessons, covering topics like Castles, Tudors, Romans.

Bodmin Keep and The Museum of Conish Life Click on the link above to go to our information on Bodmin Keep and the Museum of Cornish Life, Helston. You will find more historical video content and much more.

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NMMC Activities to do at home

National Maritime Museum Cornwall is coming to you with fabulous, FREE, Aliens activities!

Aliens of the Deep with Explorer Dome Become an astronaut and rocket into outer space.

Along with Explorer Dome discover whether aliens really exist and the fascinating links between space and our deep seas. With space-themed crafting too, we’re bringing the Museum to you. So get comfy from your sofa, and watch this space!

Discover the Aliens of the Deep Follow the FREE online trail

Explore short films, stories and photos about aliens and deep space. Find out interesting facts, watch science demonstrations and unearth the incredible links between space and our oceans.

FREE SCIENCE OF THE SEA online trail

Read our terms and conditions and privacy information.

Make and Take at Home Make and Take some great objects and designs with Sophie, our Learning Officer. Our Make and Takes are available to view on the National Maritime Museum Cornwall’s Facebook page. theNMMC

Here’s what Sophie has been creating: Pompom Aliens You will need: • Ball of Wool • Scissors • Glue • Wobbly eyes (or you could draw your own) • Decorations of your choice, these could be pipe cleaners, pompoms, beads, tin foil, paper, card, scrap materials etc.

Watercolour paint • A straw • A pen • Scissors • Glue • Apron

Crafty Aliens You will need: • Paper or Card • Glue • Scissors • Wobbly eyes (or you could draw your own) • Decorations of your choice, these could be pipe cleaners, pompoms, beads, tin foil, paper, card, lolly pop sticks, scrap materials etc.

Paint Splat Aliens You will need: • White paper or card • Drawing ink or a watered-down paint e.g.

Alien Slime You will need: • 1 cup of flour • ¼ cup of salt • ½ cup of warm water • 2 tbsp oil • Food colouring • Mixing bowl and spoon • Decorations of your choice, these could be pipe cleaners, pompoms, beads, tin foil, paper, card, lolly pop sticks, scrap materials etc.

• Apron Children should be supervised when completing these activities and things can get messy!

These activities are FREE.

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Education resources and World Book Day

Education support resources and lots of free audio stories We have researched lots of different kinds of fun, entertaining support materials and videos most of which are free.

Free notes for lessons, colouring sheets, counting and craft activities from leading independent publisher, Otter-Barry Books

skills eBook library for children aged 3–11 including Oxford Reading Tree and the excellent Read Write Inc., as well as stories from the Read with Oxford range. The very useful maths section has games, activity sheets, and videos for ages 3 to 11. The games and activity sheets are really good. The videos are fine but not as engaging. home.oxfordowl.co.uk

Oxford Owl is a brilliant website with lots and lots of very useful free stuff, usefully broken down into age groups, school years and topic (eg fractions) so you can choose which one suits you best. The main focus is on maths and literacy – reading, handwriting and spelling. There are also activities and storytelling videos which are useful for breaks and a FREE reading

We particularly liked these phonic card games from Got It Games (pictured at the top of this section) designed by an experienced specialist teacher and a severe dyslexic. Got it games are an ideal resource to learn to read and spell. Every game is quick to learn and exciting to play. Each game can be played with 2-4 players and takes 5 – 10 minutes. Perfect to use with small groups or one to one. The pictures combine phonics with whole words so children can recognise the shapes of the words as well as the phonic construction. Seeing a word many times over is key to recognition and these games do that in fun way. gotitlearning.co.uk Cornwall Libraries always have something to read or listen to for FREE from a massive library of eBooks and eAudiobooks with BorrowBox. Try my all-time

favourite The House at Pooh Corner read by Bernard Cribbens or maybe the children's classic Charlotte's Web, read by E.B. White himself. More information on BorrowBox

historic film clips. Bodmin Keep

Create Eden wherever you are with the Eden Project’s free resources and ideas for everyone at home. Eden Project AimHi is nature-based, free, live, interactive, online lessons for ages 8+. Topics include re-wilding, climate change, and even the science of hugs.

The Museum of Cornish Life in Helston have online family activities on facebook ‘Museum Makes’ Mondays at 11.30am and Collection Tours Wednesdays at 11.30am. 15 to 19 February ‘Animate Helston’ 2021: the annual animation take-over will be online with events, screenings, animations and daily live workshops at 11.30am museumofcornishlife.co.uk In true war-time spirit Bodmin Keep will help you get to brighter times! 'Keep Kids’ is a free learning resource of 8 issues around topics like Dunkirk, Rationing, The Battle of Britain and The Blitz and stuffed with interesting facts, activities and links to

Book Trust have lots of lovely FREE interactive books to read along with a narrator online or watch with signing. There are classic stories including Hairy Maclary from Donaldson's Dairy by Lynley Dodd. You can also watch the storytime playlist on YouTube read by Ore Oduba, Adam Buxton, Fearne Cotton and many more. Plus, free, fun kids' games to enjoy online Book Trust Audible has loads of free children’s and teens’ audio stories to download from Audible

Cornwall’s amazing Little Story Seekers is a weekly story, song, movement & craft session for very young children and their grown-ups, created by The Writers' Block. Little Story Seekers

BBC Bitesize has lots of educational activities and games for children aged 3-11 link. There are also arts and craft ideas to enjoy as a family link.

World Book Day A programme of free digital events, fun online learning opportunities, and a mass participation campaign, on 4 March.

Share a Story Live events, 3 to 5 March on World Book Day YouTube. Each event is 25-20 minutes and available for long-term viewing.

The Authors and Illustrators Academy from 1 February – fun and fascinating tutorial videos from World Book Day’s £1 Book authors and illustrators A programme of ‘Share a Story’ YouTube readings, from 1 March.

2021 exclusive new £1 books and how to access them World Book Day single-use digital tokens, a lockdownfriendly way for schools to distribute tokens to families.

Booksellers will honour the tokens beyond 28 March (while stocks last) and there will be World Book Day events later in spring. worldbookday.com | @WorldBookDayUK | #WorldBookDay

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Planet Earth Games

Planet Earth Games Get Active. Learn. Help the Planet and Win Prizes A month of sustainable, virtual challenges, suitable for all ages and abilities. AND IT’S ALL FREE! EVERY DAY! planetearthgames.org

Olympic athletes, professional footballers, leading sustainable brands and activists have joined forces to host daily fitness, wellness and sustainability challenges throughout February. For February’s Winter Games, Olympic sailing champion Hannah Mills, trailblazing Forest Green Rovers, organic vegetable box delivery company Riverford, Youth Sport Trust, Kids Against Plastic and plastic reduction company Bambuu Brushes are setting you challenges and providing one-of-a-kind prizes for lucky participants.

Challenges range from physical activity challenges in nature, including running, cycling and swimming to

vegan cookery, recycling and plogging (picking up litter and jogging).

Just sign up and you will be emailed a challenge video every day through to 28 February. You will have one week to complete each challenge and

upload your evidence on the website to be eligible to win a prize. Complete ten challenges across the month and you will win a special sustainable Planet Earth Games medal. planetearthgames.org/plant-based-recipes/

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Cooking with Philleigh Way Cookery School, Food Troops and Fruut Box

There are also take-away pop-ups in Cornwall and you can book for post-lockdown cookery lessons.

Details on philleighway.co.uk

Mini pizzas Philleigh Way Cookery School on the Roseland Peninsula, are running online courses with head tutor and owner Rupert Cooper during lockdown.

Fully interactive digital classes, recipe card and prep sheet (shopping list, equipment needed), so you are ready to go when you log into Zoom.

Dough 350 g self-raising flour, plus extra for dusting olive oil 250 g natural yoghurt Tomato base 2 cloves of garlic 1 x 400 g tin of quality plum tomatoes ½ a bunch of fresh basil (15g) 1 tsp sugar ANY TOPPINGS YOU LIKE 1. Peel and finely slice the garlic and place in a medium pan on a medium heat with 1 tablespoon of oil. Cook for 1 minute, then pour in the tomatoes. Use a potato masher to squash everything down to make a lovely smooth sauce. Cook for 10 minutes, or until thickened, then tear in most of the basil, add the sugar and season to perfection and set aside.

2. Meanwhile, for the dough, pile the flour into a bowl.

Add the yogurt, mixing until it comes together as a smooth, elastic dough. You want it to be pliable. Then form into a rough round.

3. Preheat a frying pan and turn on the grill 4. Place the dough in the pan and – being careful not to touch the hot pan – use your fingertips to stretch out the dough to cover the base.

5. Spoon the topping back over the pizza, spreading it out. Add you chosen toppings!

6. Turn the heat back up to medium-high and cook for 3 to 5 minutes, or until the base has started to crisp up. Transfer to the grill until golden, puffed up and sizzling. Serve with a nice salad, if you like.

Cornish-based Food Troops have had to put their children’s cookery lessons on hold, BUT instead they have launched Vegucation Club kids’ cookery boxes!

flexitarian, this box suits all. All packaging is biodegradable, re-cyclable or re-usable. A monthly subscription is £11.50 and as a non-profit organisation, all profits go towards social aims, targeting waste & waistlines.

20% off your first box if you sign up to a monthly subscription, just quote 'BLACKBIRDPIE'

The boxes are aimed at improving children's perceptions of vegetables & healthy, home cooking; with easy-to-follow recipes & nature activities to enjoy with your child.

The boxes are full of veggie-filled recipes, ideas on interacting with & consuming more veg, foodie fun, delicious ingredients, games, competitions, Cornish produce and more. The boxes are suitable for ages 2 to 10 years. Whether you are vegan, meat-eater or

What's in the box?

Recipe Cards - 3 easy to follow vegan, sugar-free recipes in every box.

Ingredients - vegan-friendly dried or fresh ingredients to accompany your healthy recipes. These are organic where possible, with no refined sugars, artificial colours and preservatives. (you will need to purchase fresh ingredients).

Food Troops intends on reducing food waste by distributing surplus produce along with healthy recipes to those families in the Redruth area struggling with food poverty.

To find out more, to support or get involved visit www.foodtroops.org facebook.com/foodtroops Instagram @FoodTroopsUK

For information on Fruut Boxes read Indoor and outdoor activities, tasks & games for children of all ages. Free gifts in every box.

on

>>>>

10% off

at Fruut Box Discount code BLACKBIRD

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BIG Science Questions

What would life be like without electricity?

different age ranges. We liked experiments to do in your kitchen. Though some we would do outside… especially the Fizzy Fountain! kitchen-science Ear Gongs for KS1 investigates how sound travels, using a kind of gong made from a coat hanger and some string. ear-gongs

With electricity playing such an important role in our everyday lives, it’s easy to take it for granted. But have you ever stopped to wonder what your life would be like if you had no access to electricity?

The Science Museum has created a video to help explore electricity and make creative links between science, history, literacy and design. It is one of ‘7 questions to explore before you leave primary school’, a series of short films designed to inspire thinking across subjects.

7 questions to explore before you leave primary school.

Big questions encourage curiosity, creative thinking and problem-solving skills. What are these BIG questions?

1. What would life be like without electricity?

2: What does sound look like?

3: Do you see what I see?

4: What is in the clouds?

5: Where does the sun go at night?

6: Where can you find patterns?

7: Can you lift something heavier than yourself?

See all seven films on youtube These short films get you thinking and if you want to delve in more, there are loads of brilliant educational resources from the Science Museum for

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Adoption Helping Cornish Care Leavers

Bridging the accommodation gap to independence for Cornish care leavers.

Could you provide accommodation and support for a young Cornish care leaver? Right now, the Cornwall Council 16+ Team is looking to recruit at least 15 new supported lodgings landlords to provide support to 16/17 year old young people leaving the care of the Local Authority during their transition to adulthood and independence. As a 16+ Supported Lodgings provider you would be helping all of these young people prepare for the transition to full independent living.

All Local Authorities have a duty of care to 16/17 year old care leavers and Cornwall Council is committed to supporting all Cornish care leavers to live in safe and suitable accommodation. The 16+ Supported Lodgings Scheme is a fundamental aspect of this commitment so that young people leaving care have the opportunity to develop their self-care and independence skills with the support of a caring landlord.

A 16+ Supported Lodgings provider is expected to offer the young person their own bedroom, 12 hours a week of support and one main meal a day. Supported Lodgings providers need to be young person friendly, be able to work in partnership with the Local Authority, be caring, have a sense of humour and be

prepared to have a listening ear. In return you would receive free training, support from the 16+ Supported Lodgings team and a weekly payment for each young person lodging with you.

One care leaver living in lodgings commented that he ‘gets a lot of support, like with cooking, I have learnt how to not burn eggs and beans’ also that the provider is ‘there if you need to talk to them’. He felt lodgings was different to foster care ‘Yes, it’s a lot more independent with more responsibility…I have to do things for myself…I have become more confident’.

The Cornwall Council 16+ Team work in partnership with Carefree, an independent Cornish charity to improve the life chances of young people living in and leaving Local Authority care in Cornwall. Nicola Penfold, Cornwall Council’s 16 Plus Supported Lodgings Manager, said: “Supported Lodgings are a fantastic way of offering young people that bridge between being in care and going on to live independently. The team that surrounds them can offer help and advice on a number of vital issues, such as employment, education, relationships, health and practical skills as needed by each particular individual.

Our landlords offer advice and guidance too but it’s a much lighter touch than foster care and the young person is very much in control of the support they access.”

If you think you could support young people leaving care in Cornwall, contact the 16+ Supported Lodgings Scheme by phoning 01872 326700 or emailing 16+SLSenquiries@cornwall.gov.uk

Link

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Animal Magic Mark's Ark, Otter-Barry Books, Newquay Zoo, Seal Sanctuary, Paradise Park

Have a ‘really wild’ time with Mark’s Ark animal encounters!

Sessions are tailored for different age groups and finish with the extremely popular ‘hands-on’ part of the show (Covid restrictions permitting) when children can hold, stroke, or touch the animals (do take photos!).

A visit from Mark’s Ark wildlife encounters is an amazing opportunity to get close-up to giant bird-eating spiders, snakes, lizards and birds of prey. In these safe, interactive, hands-on sessions for all ages Mark covers a wide variety of topics including Rain forests, mini-beasts, habitats, nocturnal animals, and predators.

Mark has 25 years of experience and is PLI checked.

For more details call Mark on 07761810900 marks-ark.co.uk FB: MarksArkAnimals

Otter-Barry Books

A wide range of free resources and videos can be found on otterbarrybooks.com and You Tube

Otter-Barry Books is a small independent publisher which was shortlisted for the British Book Awards, Small Press of the Year 2020. It was founded in 2015 by Janetta Otter-Barry with a focus on culturally diverse and inclusive illustrated books, as well as a strong collection of poetry titles. They publish high quality illustrated books for babies, toddlers and new and older readers. Many of the books have won or been shortlisted for major book awards.

Link to buy books: shop

Janetta has always loved animals especially dogs. Lottie, the Labradoodle makes sure that Janetta keeps fit by taking her on at least one long walk a day however busy Janetta thinks she may be!

We have had a fantastic response St Petroc's and Luxulyan Schools have won wonderful animal-themed books.

St Petroc's had the most comments and won £100 worth of gorgeous children’s books from leading independent publisher, Otter-Barry Books, and Luxulyan won the other prize of £60 worth of books with a HUGE percentage response compared to the number pupils.

Red Alert is reviewed in this issue's Book Review.

Click

here

to visit the

review.

These are just some of the books that can be won in the competition.

Lockdown continues and everything is closed, but animals still need feeding and caring for.

Newquay Zoo, Paradise Park and The Seal Sanctuary are all charities who rely on ticket sales and donations. However, without this main source of income they are in vital need of your help now more than ever.

support, Paradise Park would be extremely grateful. paradisepark You can choose from different species like otters, Archie the bald eagle or Newton the Kea Parrot (watch how mischievous and fussy he is with his food) �� FB: ParadiseParkCornwall

example, by donating just £10 you could feed one of the great white pelicans for the week.

By supporting The Cornish Seal Sanctuary, you are helping them to continue vital seal pup rescue and rehabilitation work and to look after animals that need life-long care.

Paradise Park Red Panda If you have an animal, you will know that food and vet bills add up and that keeping animals clean and happy is hard work.

Imagine you had 1,200 birds and animals like Paradise Park!

Nick, a Paradise Park director, went live on Facebook to shave his head to raise funds for Paradise Park. But was it a Mohican or Reverse Mohican?! Want to know what the voters decided? Check it out on Facebook If you would like to donate to help

Can you help to care for the residents of Newquay Zoo... If you can, please donate £10 by texting NZOO to 70085 - it's very easy to do! All donations will go directly towards the care of the animals from food to vet bills. For

See next page for Newquay Zoo videos >>>

Take a virtual tour of the 3D Virtual Sanctuary Shop from the comfort of your own home, browse the full collection of items for sale and email your order to slcgweek@sealifetrust.com or call 01326 221361.

Click here for a video link

Animal adoptions make the perfect present whatever the occasion!

A Seal Sanctuary animal adoption includes: 2 free entries, 20% voucher for the cafe or shop, certificate of adoption, a gift, photograph and profile of your adopted animal and a presentation folder. adoptions

Baby Red Panda

Hoffman's sloth

Newquay Zoo

Seal Sanctuary

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Kernow Health Think 111 First

Think 111 First Since the 4th July, the health and care system in Cornwall has been trialing a new way to provide key services to patients who are over 4 years old. The idea of ‘Think 111 First’ is that anyone requiring urgent / on-the-day care (ie who would normally attend MIU, urgent care centres or A&E) will call 111 first (or, for people aged 5 and over, go online at www.111.nhs.uk ).

First provide your details to a Call Handler, then answer an important set of questions to see if you require an emergency response. The Call Handler

will pass your information to a Clinical Team based in Truro, who will call you back. These experienced senior clinicians will know what resources are nearest to you and will either offer you robust clinical advice or make an appointment for you at an appropriate clinic.

- The nearest Emergency Department This applies to Cornwall residents and to visitors to the area.

If people go direct to urgent and emergency care units without an appointment, they will not be turned away but may have to wait longer than someone who has booked through 111.

The benefits:

This new approach allows appointments to be booked for you, at a wider range of services providing high quality urgent care including: - Local Urgent Treatment Centres - Local Minor Injury Units - Local Out-of-Hours GP Treatment Centres - Pharmacies

1) You can speak to a senior clinician earlier, sometimes via a video consultation 2) If you need an urgent face-to-face appointment, this can be arranged without any further delay. You will know exactly where to go, and when.

3) It reduces waiting times for all patients 4) It avoids queues and significantly reduces the risk of coronavirus transmission 5) people are more likely to get the right treatment, first time

Arrangements will not change for people with serious or life-threatening illnesses or injuries.

Please continue to dial 999.

Keep Safe!

Mark Woolcock, Chief Executive, NHS Cornwall 111

The new system reflects the reduced capacity for seeing patients in A&E and other treatment centres.

The pandemic means we need to preserve socialdistancing, segregate people with and without Covid infection, and decontaminate premises. For example, now only seven people can wait at A&E at the Royal Cornwall Hospital, where normally up to 40 people could wait.

Keep safe and well!

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Blackbird Reads Animal Books by Deborah Wright

BlackbirdReads: Animal Books

Mole Hill

by Alex Latimer. published by Oxford

by Deborah Wright

Animal Miscellany There are animals cropping up all through this issue including some wonderful books to win, sponsored by one of my favourite publishers, OtterBarry Books. So, I thought I’d bring you an assortment of animal books.

Animal Scramble

by Lucy Volpin, published by Templar This is a sort of Where’s Wally with animals. Every page is packed with penguins, or camels or sharks etc, with challenges to find penguin chicks, or sharks in diving goggles, or count camels. A fun book and great for developing observation. For 2+

Mole and his family wake to the sound of diggers.

A Dozer, an Excavator and a Loader are advancing on their hill. Can one small mole save his home?

With catchy rhyming couplets and cheerful illustrations, Mole’s secret weapon is the dinosaur

bones under his mound. Diggers, dinos and a cute mole with rosy cheeks, children of 3+ will love this book.

children to the concepts of empowerment, negotiation, compromise and how the smallest actions by the weakest can make huge changes. For 3+

The Song of the Nightingale

by Tanya Landman, illustrated by Laura Carlin, published by Walker

One Little Bird

by Sheryl Webster, illustrated by Helen Shoesmith, published by Oxford A little bird loses her home when her tree is chopped down and she decides to act. Rosa gets all the animals in the world to make a stand and stop people destroying their homes. Suddenly there are lemurs in the loos and bears in the beds and lions in the laundries. But everyone is angry and Rosa, as birdy arbitrator, gets people and animals together to start thinking about how we can all live in harmony.

A punchy story which cleverly introduces young

When the earth was young there was colour everywhere – except for the animals. They were dull and drab. So the painter rolled up her sleeves, got out

her paintbrush, and painted them in all sorts of wonderful colours and patterns. All except the nightingale, who waited patiently till the evening.

But the paints had all gone, except for a tiny drop of gold on the tip of the painter’s brush. And that’s why the nightingale is a dull brown but has a golden voice. This book, with its echoes of the Just So Stories, and its soft watercolour illustrations is a beautiful fable of how the incredible animal kingdom came to be. For 4+

Red Alert: 15 Endangered Animals Fighting to Survive

by Catherine Barr, illustrated by Anne Wilson, published by Otter-Barry The ‘Red List’ is a database of species known to be at risk – and there are a shocking 70,000 creatures on it.

This book highlights just 15 of them, inspiring children to be part of the solution and get involved themselves. We are all in the race to save endangered species and the part played by scientists and conservationists is highlighted in this brightly coloured, engaging book For 5+

The Not Bad Animals

by Sophie Corrigan, published by Frances Lincoln

Why do we dislike some animals? My husband always called squirrels ‘rats with bushy tails’, and they didn’t seem nearly so cute and cuddly then.

And as for jellyfish – is there any point in them at

all? And do dung beetles really just eat dung? How disgusting! This book dispels many myths and provides lots of facts about why we should love and appreciate nearly forty different animals that have a bad name. (but I’m still not convinced about rats…). Any age

fascinating book traces the evolution of species.

Tracing paper pages cleverly reveal the layers of history and flaps can be lifted to put flesh on ancient skeletons. Bestard’s beautiful, delicate illustrations compare the animals of prehistoric times with the fossils they left behind. For 9+

How Life on Earth Began

by Aina Bestard, published by Thames and Hudson From single cell life forms, through the age of the dinosaur, and on to the first human beings, this

Ludo's Book Club >>>>

Why Do Dogs Sniff Bottoms

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Gallery Rooks William 10 We have had some brilliant entries in our animal art and picture competition

Great Tit Laurie 5 Dinosaur Caleb 4 Puffa Fish Aria 4 Fluffy Bella 10

Max and Great Big Hoo Tiger Sasha 6

Leopard Aimee 2

Owl Esme 7

Flamingos Amelia 6

Beatrice 7

Alligator Sonny 6

Beast of Bodmin and Wild Ponies Lilly 12

Fox Skylar 9

Spider Lola 9

Photo sent in by Isla-Rose 10

Logan and Jinx

Animal Map of Africa Jack 5

Indica and Frankie

Lizard Analise 6

Beast of Bodmin and Our Cat Dexter 8

Manatee Poppy 12

Owl Sofia 11

Hercules Beetle Alfie 10

Scorpion Tamlyn 9

Koala and Snake Ethan 9

Emma (?)

Ferret Jack 9

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Please revisit for updated information

BlackbirdPie Cornwall's What's On for families post@blackbirdpie.co.uk

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