HALF TERM FUN

Things to do during the holidays. Please mention Primary Times Somerset when booking activities. REMEMBER, things may change at short notice so make sure you check before you go.

If you want to try something new this holiday, Northgate Yard in the heart of Bridgwater is opening on Friday 21 in time for half term. The brand-new leisure development will first open the new cinema complex, operated by Scott Cinemas, with a capacity for over 700 people and seven screens featuring a variety of cutting-edge cinema technology and reclining seats. It will offer special screenings for a kid’s club on Saturday mornings and seniors on Wednesdays. The expanded and updated facility will also screen live National Theatre, ballet and opera performances. Brewery Field will open the same day creating a town-centre green space including a large children’s play area, parkland, and an urban wetland. All Stars Sports Bowl and four restaurants will open over the coming months. Go to northgateyard.co.uk for more information and cinema listings.

22 30 October

Half Term Leafing through history

Monday 24 - Friday 28 Explore how the Romans used natural elements at the Roman Baths in Bath. For all ages from 10am to 4pm. Free with normal admission, no need to book. Wednesday 26 - Lighting up the Great Bath Explore the Roman Baths by torchlight and celebrate the Festival of Lights with candlelight boats floating in the water. See the Roman Baths in a new light. Explore the torchlit Great Bath and make a mini light. From 6.30 to 9pm.

New entertainment destination in Bridgwater

Activities Nature

Awesome Owls

Wednesday 26

8 to 12 year olds can have lots of fun finding out about owls with the Avon Gorge & Downs Wildlife Project. Discover the wonderful world of wild owls with an expert. Investigate how they live and hunt in this hands-on workshop, then create your own owl from natural materials to take home. Drop off children at 10am and pick them up at 3.30pm at Bristol Zoo Gardens Conservation Education Centre on Guthrie Road. £15, book online or on 0117 4285300.

Horse Power

Join in the horsey fun at Somerset

Rural Life Museum. Saturday 22 & Thursday 27 - Shire Horses

Meet the visiting heavy horses who were bred to be a working animal doing hard tasks such as plowing and other farm labour.

Sunday 23 - Suffolk Punch Horses

These heavy horses were also bred for farm work. However, as agriculture became increasingly mechanised, the breed fell out of favour and almost disappeared completely.

Tuesday 25 & Saturday 29 - ‘Giddy Up’ Games

Try your hand at traditional and modern games. Take part in the human gymkhana and make yourself a rosette to wear.

Wednesday 26 - Artist Workshop

Join artist Jacky Oliver for some art and craft activities. Use colour, collage, stamps and sculpture to create your own artwork inspired by the story of horses in Somerset.

Friday 28 - Pony Rides

From 10.30am to 3pm, £2 per child.

Sunday 30 - Hobby Horse Making

Make your own hobby horse, take it for a gallop and take it home. From 10am to 4pm, visit www. swheritage.org.uk/events for details.

Half Term

Get Creative

Myths and Monsters

Drop in to the Museum of Somerset, Taunton Castle, to discover Somerset’s myths and legends. See the exhibition of artworks by children’s book illustrators and join in the related activities:

Tuesday 25 - Roman Gods

Meet a real-life Roman. Find out about some of the Roman Gods, the legends that surround them, and how the people of this empire worshiped. Make a Roman ornament from clay and play Roman games.

Wednesday 26 - King Arthur and Excalibur

In Arthurian legend Excalibur is King Arthur’s magical sword. Have a go at making your own legendary Excalibur sword and journey forth on a quest around the Museum to find the Holy Grail.

Thursday 27 -King Alfred

and the Cakes

Discover the story of the burning of the cakes and how from Athelney in Somerset the legend of ‘King Alfred the Great’ was born. Strike your own Saxon coin and play Saxon games.

Friday 28 - Drawing Dragons

Join illustrator Conor Busittil for a fun drawing session as part of October’s The Big Draw festival. Experiment with pens and pencils to create your very own dragon – scary, silly, or friendly, anything goes. Drop in between 10am and 5pm, £2 per child. Go to www.swheritage. org.uk/events for details.

Play With Clay

Tuesday 25 - Woodland Animal Hanging Mobile

Celebrate our adorable British woodland animals at the Brick and Tile Museum, Bridgwater. Make your own hanging mobile or wind chime from clay then follow snuffling hedgehogs and fluffy tailed squirrels on a trail around the museum as animals prepare for their winter hibernation.

Thursday 27 - Archeaology Day

Be inspired by the world of the Romans and join in lots of fun and interesting activities all about archaeology. Listen to a story set in Roman times to learn all about archaeological finds and then make a clay animal inspired by the story. Clay items will be fired and ready for collection approximately 4 weeks after you make them. Or, you can take them home, unfired, on the day. Must be booked at swheritage.org.uk, £4 per child.

Young People’s Puppetry Workshop

Sunday 30

Workshop introducing you to basic puppetry techniques. You will learn how to bring an inanimate object to life and make it talk. You will begin to learn how to move your body to facilitate the puppet. Newspaper and tape will be used so you can recreate the puppet at home. At 2pm for accompanied 5 to 7 year olds. At the Brewhouse Taunton. £16.for one child and accompanying adult.

Treasure Hunt Trail

Friday 21 - Sunday 30

Discover the treasures of the Bishops Palace Gardens, Wells as you explore the 14 acres of RHS partner gardens with the family trail. Trails can be collected at the Ticket Office and a small prize is available on completion. Don’t miss the newly refurbished Dragon’s Lair play area. From 9.30am to 5.30pm. Plus:

Tuesday 25 - Family Story Telling

Join storyteller Michael Loader in a rip roaring adventure of Bishops and beasts, witches, wells of wondrous water, monsters and martial arts. Then make a superhero or super-baddie in the post-story play shop. At 11am and 1.30pm.

Thursday 27 - God’s Eye Weaving

Go to the gardens to weave your own God’s Eye. Known in Spanish as Ojo de Dios, these colourful and spiritual symbols are popular in Latin American countries and can be made by all the family. At 11am and 3pm. Details on 01749 988111, no need to book, all free with normal admission.

Family Activities

Join in a variety of craft activities at

Glastonbury Abbey:

Tuesday 25 - Felt Leaf Bookmark and Pinecone Hedgehog

Thursday 27 - Autumn Gnomes

Both from 11am to 1pm, children must be accompanied. Details on 01458 832267.

The Colour Monster

Friday 28 One day, Colour Monster wakes up feeling very confused. His emotions are all over the place. He feels angry, happy, calm, sad and scared all at once! To help him, a little girl shows him what each feeling means through colour. Join the Colour Monster in this family workshop at Somerset Skills & Learning, 15 Palmer Street, Frome. From 10.30am to 12.30pm for accompanied 3 year olds and over. Go to www.sslcourses.co.uk/courses/course/creativity-andstorytelling-the-colour-monster/ for details.

The Art of Medieval Falconry

Saturday 29 & Sunday 30

Glastonbury Abbey’s grounds play host to a recreation of the art of Medieval falconry in a unique fusion of history, folklore and nature. Join specialist falconers as they reveal how the high Middle Ages saw English falconry reach its pinnacle and take its place among the fine arts. The Medieval Hawk Mews open for viewing at 10am and closes at 4pm. There will be displays at 11.15am, 2 and 3.35pm and facts and stories told from the tent at 12.45pm.

Family FUN

Science Tricks and Treats

Monday 24 - Wednesday 26

A collection of fun, unexpected and surprising science demonstrations and experiments at the Fleet Air Arm Museum, RNAS Yeovilton to get everyone involved and get to grips with some big underlying scientific principles. Shows at 11am and 1pm, free with valid museum ticket. Details on 01935 840565.

Big Dig

Wednesday 26 & Thursday 27

Dig for fossils in fun interactive sessions for families at Weston Museum, Westonsuper-Mare. Pretend to be a Palaeontologist and identify fossils and dinosaurs, then make your own trace fossil to take home. In the Courtyard space, you can also meet some almost life size dinosaurs. At 10.30, 11.30am and 1pm. £6 per child. Pre-booking recommended.

Fun and Games

Saturday 22 - Sunday 30

Go to Montacute House and enjoy plenty of games under the old stable coach house. Includes Soft Archery, giant Jenga, Quoits, building blocks, connect 4 and much more. Free with normal admission from 10 to 4.30pm.