News & Views

The Peter RabbitTM Garden Adventure a live immersive experience

In the appropriately historic surroundings of Blenheim Palace, Beatrix Potter’s Peter Rabbit is celebrating his 120th anniversary through a magical mix of storytelling, live performance, and puppetry, on a journey around the grounds of this beautiful location. Developed in association with Frederick Warne & Co. (brand owner and part of Penguin Random House Children’s), this is the first time Peter Rabbit has appeared in this way, and is also a first for World Heritage Site Blenheim Palace which has allowed unprecedented access for families trying to save Peter Rabbit from ending up in Mr. McGregor’s rabbit pie. This summer, young Beatrix Potter invites you to join her on an adventure to find her mischievous friend Peter Rabbit, as she leads guests through never-before-seen spots in the Palace’s walled garden. Moving from flower and vegetable gardens to greenhouses and potting sheds, you’ll get a glimpse of the estate no-one else has seen, whilst meeting friends Jemima Puddle-Duck, Squirrel Nutkin, Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle and Mr. Jeremy Fisher along the way. Watch out for many more surprises on your journey!

This 50 minute immersive adventure should be the star in the calendar of any child who loves to explore the great outdoors, any family who treasures spending time together in nature, and any fan of the most beloved rabbit in children’s literature which has sold over 250 million copies since he first appeared at the start of the 20th century. A must-visit summer attraction for all ages looking to combine history, adventure and education. www.PeterRabbitGardenAdventure.com

Explore a woodland adventure play area

Located in the heart of Witney, Cogges is a historic Cotswold farmstead with a beautiful 13th century Manor House, enchanting walled garden and 17 acres to enjoy. Children love meeting the animals, exploring the woodland adventure play area and discovering wildlife with a Cogges tracker pack. Under 3s are free and particularly enjoy the toddler play area with sandpit and ride-on tractors.

Hear stories from the past as you explore the child-friendly Manor House and look out for special activities during the school holidays. Hungry tummies can be refuelled in Cogges Kitchen café or bring a picnic.

Cogges also provide a range of events throughout the year ranging from outdoor theatre, a beer and cider festival, Apple Day, the Witch’s House and their popular Christmas programme.

Cogges is open every day from 9.30am – 4.30pm until 1st November 2022 then check the website for winter opening hours. It’s an easy ten-minute walk from the centre of Witney, or you can park in their free carpark (postcode OX28 3FR). Dogs are very welcome too if kept on a short lead and in control of an adult. Book tickets online at cogges.org.uk

2022 Summer Reading Challenge - Gadgeteers

The Summer Reading Challenge encourages children ages 4 to 11 to read six library books during the long summer holiday and collect rewards, such as stickers, on their way to receiving their challenge certificate and medal.

Children’s reading can decline during the holidays if they don’t have regular access to books or encouragement to read for pleasure.

This year’s science-themed challenge called ‘Gadgeteers’ will inspire children to discover the amazing science and innovation behind the world around you. The Challenge will launch in libraries in England on 9th July. More info:

www.summerreadingchallenge.org.uk

Take nature’s pulse in the Big Butterfly Count

The Big Butterfly Count (15th July to 7th August) is a UK-wide survey aimed at helping the Butterfly Conservation charity assess the health of the environment by counting the amount and type of butterflies. According to the Butterfly Conservation charity, counting butterflies is essential because they play a vital part of the ecosystem as both pollinators and components of the food chain. The data gathered by the public will be used to assess where conservation efforts should be targeted. Taking part in the Count is easy: just spend fifteen minutes counting the butterflies you see and then submit sightings online or via the free app. There’s also a handy free downloadable butterfly chart to use. More info: www.bigbutterflycount.org

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Embark on a journey with the Festival of Archaeology

The UK’s biggest archaeological event, the Festival of Archaeology runs from 16th to 31st July and this year’s theme is ‘journeys’

Through nationwide digital and on-site events, archaeological experts will help families discover how their local landscape has changed and shaped to become what it is now, as well as discover exciting stories about their local community.

Join educational guided walks, listen to talks, get involved with exciting archaeological excavations, or join digitally online through social media and discover more about your local area. More info:

festival.archaeologyuk.org

NURSERY’S JUBILEE PAGEANT ON THE FARM RIVALS NATIONWIDE CELEBRATIONS!

The Willow On The Farm Nursery, near Hook Norton, Oxon put on its very own Jubilee Pageant on Tuesday 7th June to celebrate the Queen’s 70 Years on the throne.

Replicating that of the nationwide pomp and ceremony the children, who are 2 ½– 5 years old, stunned their parents with a red, white and blue parade led by their own drum horse and rider, followed by the Queen in billowing yellow arriving on the school’s tractor and trailer, finalising with a full inspection by visiting Army Officer riding a Unicorn!

The children, who were all wearing their own handmade Ermin-trimmed Crowns, then performed to Queen’s ‘Don’t Stop Me Now’ and a rendition of ‘Crazy Little Thing Called Love’ before enjoying a multitude of Jubilee activities around the farm.

The day culminated with a quintessentially English tea with cakes and sandwiches and a beautiful flag waving performance of ‘God Save the Queen’! office@willowonthefarm.co.uk

One in ten parents ‘very likely’ to use food bank

Nearly one in ten parents are ‘very likely’ to use a food bank to feed their children over the next three months, a survey has found. It means that as many as 1.3 million parents are expecting to have to visit a food bank as families struggle to cope with rising costs of living, with eighty eight percent of those surveyed admitting their monthly food bill has increased in the past three months alone.

The Trussell Trust research, carried out with the food delivery company Deliveroo, also found that a third of parents skipped at least one meal to keep up with other costs and fifty eight percent said they had cut back on heating as a result. Reference: www.theguardian.co.uk

MENTAL HEALTH REFERRALS SURGE

Referrals to child mental health units from UK primary schools for pupils ages 11 and under have risen by nearly fifty percent in three years, according to data obtained by the BBC.

Replies to Freedom of Information (FOI) requests from forty six health trusts indicate they rose from 21,125 to 31,531.

Seven trusts said they had rejected an individual pupil for treatment at least five times over the last four years.

‘These figures are deeply worrying and build on evidence which shows emotional disorders in children have increased in recent years,’ said Dr Bernadka Dubicka, chairwoman of the child and adolescent faculty at the Royal College of Psychiatrists. ‘The government’s aim to provide mental health support in all schools within the next ten years will be too little, too late for many children who need that help now’ she added.

Sleep problems affect reading ability

New research published in the British Journal of Educational Psychology suggests that sleep problems may negatively affect children’s reading ability.

In the study published in the British Journal of Educational Psychology that included three hundred and thirty nine ages 4 to 14 years, parents were asked to complete questionnaires about their children’s sleep, while the children completed a test of word reading efficiency.

Children whose parents reported increased sleep-disordered breathing, daytime sleepiness and a short time for their children to fall asleep (which is generally associated with increased tiredness) had poorer performance on reading tasks.

‘Being a good reader is a strong predictor of academic success and improved life outcomes, so we recommend screening children with sleep problems for reading difficulties and children with reading difficulties for sleep problems,’ said corresponding author Anna Joyce, PhD, MSc, of Regent’s University London.

MASTER BUILDERS CLUB BRICK BUILDING WORKSHOPS FOR CHILDREN

Master Builders Club is a LEGO® & DUPLO® lover’s paradise! Their weekend and holiday workshops, after school clubs, birthday parties and nursery/ primary school events are designed to provide children with an exciting and captivating experience. Their fun workshops start with a short story which their Master Builders “bring to life” through the models they build. They provide 1000’s of LEGO® or DUPLO® bricks in a calm and supportive environment along with the imaginative stimulus to transform a room into a world of creativity. If you are passionate about providing engaging and stimulating play opportunities that nurture your child’s mind, then Master Builders Club is for you!

To book your brick building fan a place or to find out more about their events visit: www.masterbuildersclub.co.uk