12 minute read
SUMMER GUIDE
Things to do during the holidays. Please mention Primary Times Hampshire when booking activities. REMEMBER, things may change at short notice so make sure you check before you go.
Super Summer of fun planned at Hestercombe
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July 24 - September 5
There are so many ways for all the family to have fun at Hestercombe Gardens. Enjoy music and wildlife from the melodic tones of travelling ‘Popera House’, The Bluebirds, who will be performing The Empress and the Nightingale. Then have spidery fun with Creepy Crawlies with Exmoor Zoo and Wild Bug Hunts with Somerset Wildlife Trust.
For the fi rst time some feathered friends will be visiting the gardens with Somerset Birds of Prey Centre - go and get up close and personal with a range of cute (but deadly!) predators.
To keep fi t you can try some child-friendly yoga outside in the gardens and there are three garden trails to follow and explore the gardens in a new light: Mushroom Magic Trail, Story Stones, and Charcoal Creations. During the Mushroom Magic Trail there will also be the chance to win your own specially painted mushroom from amongst the beautifully designed toadstools decorating Rook Wood.
Step back in time and meet Miss Warre who will be strolling around the gardens in her Regency costume, taking in the Georgian garden design and regaling visitors with stories from her past. There will also be a day of Archery on the Orangery Lawn and model boats can be captained on the Mill Pond on selected dates. All must be booked.
July 10 - September 4
A summer of family fun at Somerset Rural Life Museum inspired by the Royal Bath and West Show. There will be a programme of family events and activities that capture the spirit of the Royal Bath and West Show. The Museum will come alive with craft demonstrations, ‘create and make’ activities and visiting animals. Special events include a craft fair, visiting shire horses, birds of prey and donkeys, and demonstrations in pottery, pole lathing and felt making. In the Museum’s Mapstone Gallery visitors can enjoy specially-commissioned contemporary fi lm and photography. Go to swheritage.org. uk or call 01458 831197 for details.
Family FUN
Splash
July 24 - September 5
Cool down in the summer sun at Crealy Adventure Park, Sidmouth Road, Exeter with a splash in the family water rides and attractions. Hurtle down the Tidal Wave log fl ume and three Vortex waterslides. Make a splash with your family and friends in the family Aqua Blaster bumper boats and don’t forget to take a trip to the Soak Zone water playground. As well as water attractions, cool off on all the outdoor rides and attractions. Young explorers can tackle the many obstacles in Crealy Wilderness. There will also be live shows to enjoy including the new ‘Pirates, The Curse of Mermaids Cove’ in the arena and entertainment from Buddy and Blossom on the Piazza stage. Details and bookings online.
Big Summer Scavenger Hunt
July 24 - August 7
Get outdoors, roam across Bath and the surrounding countryside get searching and fi nd the secret riddles to unlock the treasure with ‘Super Spies’, a trail for children of all ages. Along the way they will be tasked with fun, imaginative games and activities to help them learn about and explore the historic city. Code Breaker Trail is for adults and older teenagers (though younger children will enjoy the hunt), it’s the perfect opportunity to have fun for a good cause: Julian House in Bath. If you crack the code you will be entered into a prize draw. Go to www.julianhouse.org.uk for details and booking.
August 4 - 25 Wednesdays
Go to the Helicopter Museum in Westonsuper-Mare for a fun packed family day with different activities each Wednesday. Watch a live magic show, witness incredible balloon modelling, marvel at the slight of hand illusions. Climb into the pilots seat of some helicopters and try on a pilot’s helmet Details on 01934 635227.
The Bishop’s Code
July 27
Escape Room family fun at the Bishop’s Palace in Wells. It is 1953 and Bishop Bradfield is getting ready to leave for the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II. He has locked something very important in the Palace safe and cannot remember the code. Can your family crack the code? Drop in between 10.30am and 12.30pm or 1.30 and 3.30pm to have a go.
Our Green Heritage
August 18 & 25
Nature and Archaeology join together for a day of family fun exploring the things we throw into or dig out of the ground and whether today’s trash is tomorrow’s treasure (or not!). Join the team from Weston Museum (and other local organisations) for some hands on activities around sustainability, archaeological finds and the natural environment. Drop in between 10am and 3pm in the open at Ellenborough Park West, the section closest to the seafront, which is now a wellbeing park. Free to enter but some activities may have a small charge.
Dinosaur Mad
July 24 - September 5
Go to Wookey Hole and meet the animatronic dinosaurs. Walk among these giants and see how many you can name. The 4D cinema will be playing Return to the Lost World. Then tour the famous caves, meet the Witch of Wookey Hole and watch circus shows. There are over 20 attractions included in your ticket, both inside and outdoors for a fun day whatever the weather.
Race Towards Family Fun
July 24 - September 5
Go and join in the fun at Haynes International Motor Museum. With help from the museum team, you can uncover the fascinating stories, facts, and quirky characters behind the very first cars through to Formula 1. There will also be special activity days as part of the brand-new Williams F1 exhibition. If you are feeling competitive the onsite Karting at Haynes track (booked separately) is also open for a fun family race. Check the website for details.
Discover Exotic Animals
Go along to the Wild
Place Project
to discover exotic animals from around the world from the mischievous lemurs of Madagascar to magnificent European brown bears with seasonal themed trails. Unleash your own wild side with beautiful woodlands and natural play areas to explore in 50 acres.
Wild Place Project is just off junction 17 of the M5, near Cribbs Causeway, or a 20 minute drive from Bristol city centre. Go to wildplace. org.uk to book.
Experience the sights, smells and sounds of a working Victorian shipyard
Visitors to Brunel’s SS Great Britain in Bristol are promised more smells and sounds than ever before as they explore the historic ocean liner and two family-friendly museums.
The Dockyard Museum brings Victorian engineering to life with the interactive propeller lifting frame. While the Being Brunel museum brings the bumpy railway lines to life with the shaking broad gauge carriage that visitors can step aboard. Families can also see behind-the-scenes of a working shipyard for the first time with a new viewing area offering fascinating views of the harbour and the city’s historic dry dock.
Visitors can try out the bunks and cabins for size, wander among the sounds and smells imagining what a 60-day voyage would have been like, and spot rats scurrying about in the galley. Mr Brunel is welcoming visitors every day, along with a cast of Victorian characters. And they might even spot Izzy the ship’s cat in the dockyard.
Be sure to stop and talk to Mr Brunel and challenge him with your questions about the SS Great Britain or simply pose for a selfie with the great Victorian engineer. Tickets include free unlimited returns for one year. August 4 This year’s National Play Day theme is the Summer of Play. Due to current circumstances organisers are being asked to keep events small and local.
Frome Town Council are inviting young and old to join their free Playday activities at Victoria Park and the Mary Baily Playing fields from 12 to 4pm. It promises to be an afternoon of fun and games for all to take part in.
The day will include competitions and prizes with activities such as storytelling and playful poetry to slacklining, skateboarding, graffiti boards and creative crafts, not to mention an array of sports including basketball, Rubgytots, tennis, martial arts and much more.
Children’s Entertainment
Meet Peppa Pig
Saturday 7 Peppa and George will be making appearances on the platform at Cranmore Station at quarter past the hour from 11.15am to 3.15pm. There will also be a Peppa Pig trail and Punch and Judy to entertain you when Peppa takes a rest. You can ride the steam train on East Somerset Railway, as many times as you like and look around the Engine Shed and workshop. Adults £16, children £14, family £38, £50. Book online or on 01749 880417.
Andy and the Oddsocks
August 15 Stars of the TV show Andy & The Band with their live band promoting individuality and fun led by Andy Day from CBeebies. Sing, dance and play all say at Avon Valley Wildlife Park. From 10am to 4pm.
Kids fight climate change
Fancy saving the planet? Everyone can make a difference and it only needs two minutes of your time to help. Confused? Want to help? This new book by Martin Dorey published by Walker books will show you how with over 60 missions for you to carry out. From turning off lights to recycling, checking ingredients on the food you buy to taking up cycling. Each mission you undertake earns a certain amount of points which you add up as you go along and check a certain amount of points which you add up as you go along and check to see what kind of ‘#2minutesuperhero’ you are. You can also go to www.2minute.org to fi nd out more.
August 1 - 31
Kids Week is all about encouraging young people and their families experience the magic of live theatre in London. Over 30 shows are participating from hit musicals and plays to comedies and family favourites. A child aged 17 or under can go free to any participating show when accompanied by an adult paying full price and half price tickets for two additional children in the same group. They are unable to offer show linked activities this year, but will be running a special programme of free theatre-themed activities in partnership with the Mayor of London. Go to Offi cialLondonTheatre.com. to book.
GET Creative
The World of Martin Brown July 24 - October 31
See cartoons and art by Horrible Histories illustrator Martin Brown in the exhibition at the Museum of Somerset then follow the trail and join in workshops. Plus:
July 24 - Meet and draw with Martin Brown.
Every Wednesday there will be a chance to meet re-enactors from different eras of history. There is also a series of creative workshops, led by well-known children’s authors and illustrators including Steve Anthony (Mr Panda series) and Kristina Stephenson (Sir Charlie Stinky Socks series.) Go to swheritage.org.uk for details.
Museum of the Moon
Fun activities to go with the installation in Bristol Cathedral include:
August 12, 19 & 26 - A Grand Day Out
Make your own model of Aardman Animation’s Gromit, followed by a screening of the classic Wallace & Gromit fi lm A Grand Day Out. At 10am and 3pm, tickets £10.
August 13, 18 & 25 - Crafty Cathedral Friday
Under 11s can enjoy a morning of craft activities with a moon theme. Go to bristol-cathedral.co.uk for details and bookings.
Castaway Summer School August 9 - 13
Go to Westlands Entertainment in Yeovil and join Aladdin on his journey to fi nd his fortune. Rehearse a pantomime, learn lines, sing songs and perfect dance routines from 10am to 3pm. On the Friday there will be an opportunity to perform the show, Aladdin’s Quest, onstage for family and friends at 6pm. £125 includes 2 complimentary tickets to the performance. Must be booked. Plus:
Creative Performance Academy August 16 - 19
Exploring the theme of Around The World, 7 to 11 year olds will learn different cultural dances, produce and record music, take part in origami and mosaic workshops and create their own piece of theatre as well as explore different national foods. From 10am to 2.30pm, £74.
July 3 - September 18 Join the Wild World Heroes online and in your local library for this year’s Summer Reading Challenge and discover how you can make a difference to the environment as well. It is teamed up with WWF for a very special nature-themed Challenge that will inspire you to stand up for the planet. Pack your bags and head for Wilderville! It’s a pretty cool place, but there are lots of things that the Wild World Heroes can do to make their town even better for the people and animals that live there. Through taking part in the Challenge, with free packs from public libraries or online, you will be able to join six fi ctional characters - ‘wild heroes’ - to help solve some of these threats, learning about the importance of the environment while helping to restore nature levels in the neighbourhood of ‘Wilderville’. The challenge will feature amazing books, awesome rewards, and plenty of ideas for taking care of our environment. Go to www.summerreadingchallenge.org.uk and check out your local library for details.
THERE are other ways to enjoy reading this summer as well as joining the Wild World Heroes challenge. The Reading Agency has brought together over 20 organisations across the reading, literacy and cultural sectors to inspire families to share the love of reading for pleasure to build skills, increase confi dence, support educational attainment and improve wellbeing. It has organised a range of exciting events, resources and reading activities for families to enjoy.
Check out readingagency.org.uk for details.
Ultimate Fun
Ultimate Activity Camps provide
Ofsted-registered and Covid-Safe activity day camps for 4 to 14 year
olds at Queens College, Taunton and Prior Park College, Bath.
