Families Surrey East July/Aug 2017

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For 0-12 year olds

July-August 2017 familiesonline.co.uk

Packed with ideas for Summer fun!

BE GOOD AT BEING YOURSELF

Singing, dancing and acting classes for 4 - 18 year olds COULSDON & CATERHAM 0345 078 0805 stagecoach.co.uk/coulsdon DORKING & REIGATE 0800 007 5482 stagecoach.co.uk/dorking stagecoach.co.uk/reigate LEATHERHEAD 020 8394 2244 stagecoach.co.uk/leatherhead OXTED 0808 208 5134 stagecoach.co.uk/oxted

™

Creative Courage For Life

®

Issue 59 July/Aug 2017

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REDHILL 020 8686 0141 stagecoach.co.uk/redhill

Stagecoach Theatre Arts Schools are operated under franchise and are independently owned by their Principals.

Stagecoach is a registered trademark of Stagecoach Theatre Arts Ltd.

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Families Surrey East 2

Issue 59 July-August 2017

IN THIS ISSUE

Page 2 News

As I’m writing this, it’s looking set to be the hottest June we’ve had for ages and long may it continue - cos let’s face it, life’s easier when the kids are outside! The next 23 pages are packed with ideas for Summer family fun – we’ve got days out galore, tips for the best beaches, tons of holiday camps and ideas for the inevitable rainy days.

Page 15 Let’s Dance

Page 6 Baby & Toddler Page 16 Holiday Clubs Page 8 Beaverbrook Page 19 Back to School Review Page 21 What’s On Page 10 Summer Fun Families Surrey East is part of the national network of Families magazines.

See www.familiesonline.co.uk/local/surrey-east for more features and competitions.

You might have also noticed our little rebrand, so we hope you like our new updated look. Would love to hear your thoughts. Our next issue in Sept/Oct is a Clubs and Classes special, so if you run (or attend) a local group, please drop us a line about how to get involved and reach over 40,000 local readers.

NEXT ISSUE – Sept/Oct 2017, out 6th September.

Send your news and upcoming events by 4th August for FREE INCLUSION.

Have a wonderful Summer and enjoy the sunshine!

AD BOOKING AND COPY DEADLINE FOR SEPT/ OCT ISSUE IS 4TH AUGUST. Please send ad artwork by 11TH AUGUST.

Hannah Grogan, Editor editor@familiessurreyeast.co.uk 22,500 copies of FAMILIES SURREY EAST are distributed free of charge to schools, nurseries, playgroups, clubs & classes, NCT groups, baby clinics, good children’s shops, libraries, theatres & sports centres.

Distributed to venues in Leatherhead and Dorking, Reigate and Redhill, Godstone, Oxted and Lingfield, Warlingham and Caterham and down to Horley and the Surrey/Sussex border in the south. To obtain copies for your venue call 07769 222347 or email editor@familiessurreyeast.co.uk. Families Surrey East, 37 Springcopse Road, Reigate, Surrey RH2 7HH Tel: 07769 222347 Web: familiesonline.co.uk/local/surrey-east. Annual subscription £15. Email: editor@familiessurreyeast.co.uk Families Surrey East is part of Families Magazines Ltd, a franchise company. All franchised magazines in the group are independently owned and operated under licence. Families® is a registered trademark

PROMOTE YOUR BUSINESS and reach families throughout East Surrey with DISPLAY ADS or ask about SPONSORED NEWS from £60.

of Families Magazines Ltd, Remenham House, Regatta Place, Marlow Road, Bourne End, Bucks SL8 5TD. The contents of Families Surrey East are fully protected by copyright and none of the editorial or photographic matter may be reproduced in any form without prior consent of the publisher. We take every care when preparing this magazine but the publishers and distributors cannot be held responsible for the claims of advertisers, nor for the accuracy of the contents nor for any consequence.

Design: Andrews Design & Marketing, The Studio, 29A Bell St, Reigate, Surrey RH2 7AD Tel: 01737 224340 Email: phil.andrews1@btinternet.com. Print: Printmates, 84 Holmethorpe Ave, Redhill, Surrey RH1 2NL. Tel: 01737 773755.

A summer of wonderful woodland adventures 24 July – 3 September

Weekly woodland events and wonderful play spaces For details visit kew.org/wakehurstkids

2 Families Surrey East

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News Tudor Towers

Take a Trip to Tudor Towers A visit to Hever Castle is a Summer staple in the Families household, so we can’t wait to check out the Tudor Towers, the new 9-metre tall castle in Hever’s adventure playground.

Bigger than a 4-bed house and with three slides, two poles and lots of interactive elements split into three houses - Hawk, Bull and Squirrel, the new build is suitable for kids aged 7-14yrs.

With sound effects (think crackling fires, archers and knights) and a cargo net to fox even the most determined foes, Tudor Towers will also have musical instruments to play and a roof maze to solve. The courtyard of the castle features shields designed by children from three local schools, alongside the coats of arms of some of the previous owners of Hever Castle.

For more info about Hever Castle and Gardens visit hevercastle.co.uk

Have a Higgledy Time!

Fishers Farm in Wisborough Green has launched Higgledy Village an indoor play barn for younger visitors.

Inspired by Sussex woodland, they have created a space that brings the outside in!

Kids can enjoy a musical and sensory adventure featuring giant musical toadstools, lily jumping pillows, bubble tubes and sensory equipment, based round a treehouse playframe. They’ve also built 3 new party rooms for those special occasions.

They’ve also got a full summer of events planned, like Bouncy Weekend (29-20 Jul), Water Party (5-6 Aug) and Princesses and Pirates (12-13 Aug).

For more info and to book visit fishersfarmpark.co.uk

Splash Play at Priory Park It’s divided option with local parents, but the new splash play area at Priory Park is due to open in early July – just in time for the Summer hols. Gone is the sand and the slippy stones, replaced with a wet pour rubber floor made up of two colours to depict sand and water, making the pirate ship look close to the beach. Families is hoping that the toilets might be next in line for a refurb!

For more ideas of waterparks in the East Surrey area, visit our website familiesonline.co.uk/ local/surrey-east

Celebrating 30 years since the Great Storm The National Trust planning to mark the 30th anniversary of the Great Storm of 1988 this autumn with a photographic exhibition showing the damage caused at Leith Hill. This Surrey beauty spot was devastated by the hurricane-force winds which resulted in the loss of hundreds of trees.

Ranger Sophie Parker is curating a collection of photographs from the Great Storm, so if you have any local memorabilia or personal imagery you’d like to share, please get in touch at surreyhills@nationaltrust.org.uk.

The exhibition will run 6-29th October at Leith Hill Place.

The Look Out Discovery Centre Science and discovery fun over 90 activities.

The BIG Dinosaur Show 22 July 2017 - 3 Sept 2017

Bring this advert to get one free child with one full paying adult*.

Valid until 2/09/17 *Terms and conditions apply.

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Shows run at weekends and school holidays. Age 3+

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Nine Mile Ride, Bracknell, Berkshire, RG12 7QW

Tel: 01344 354400 www.facebook.com/thelookoutdiscovery

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Families Surrey East 3

News

Help save £3 million a year

Did you know that recycling your food waste through your collection service rather than putting it in your rubbish bin will help save over £3 million a year?

That’s because it costs less than half to recycle food waste through anaerobic digestion than it does to dispose of it.

So putting all your food waste in your caddy every week means you’re helping to protect other council services like social care, libraries and schools.

While most Surrey residents use their caddy there’s more we can all do to help make the savings. Surrey’s councils will be working with residents this autumn to encourage them to recycle all of their food waste every week. But to start making a difference today, visit recycleforsurrey.org. uk where you can find out more about your food waste collection, and how to order replacement indoor kitchen caddies and outside food waste bins if yours are missing or damaged.

To make it cleaner and easier to recycle your food waste, you can line your caddy with a plastic bag or liner. Using plastic bags or liners is the cleanest and easiest way to deal with your food waste – you can use them to line your kitchen caddy and minimise drips, or put smelly food in a bag, tie it up and put it straight into your outside food waste bin. All types of plastic bags can be used, including old shopping bags, pedal bin liners, or bread, cereal, fruit or vegetable bags, but please don’t use black bin bags.

Use your food waste caddy and cut disposal costs in half

The food is taken to an anaerobic digestion plant where it’s used to generate green electricity and fertiliser used in farming.

Mike Goodman, Surrey County Council’s Cabinet Member for Environment and Planning, said: “Putting food waste in your caddy for collection is clean and easy when you use plastic bags instead of the old compostable liners, which cost more and could easily leak or tear.

If everybody put their food waste in their “ caddy, your councils would have more money to spend on the services you value most. ” The Recycle for Surrey website also has tips on how you can reduce the amount of food you throw away – which can save the average family £60 a month. Simple things like storing your food correctly and not being tempted by offers at the supermarket can make a surprising difference to how much food you waste. recycleforsurrey.org.uk

Find out how you can help protect council services at

recycleforsurrey.org.uk

4 Families Surrey East

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News New playgrounds for Caterham & Leatherhead Caterham families will be pleased to hear that the new playground at Stafford Road will be ready for the Summer holidays. The new facilities replace the outdate equipment removed in 2015 and include a swings, seesaw and springy animals for the littlies. There’ll also be an outdoor gym aimed at ages 13+. The whole site will be protected by CCTV to deter vandalism.

In Leatherhead, residents are asked to vote on the favourite of 3 designs for the new Fortyfoot playground. To register your vote visit molevalley.gov.uk/fortyfoot

Narnia comes to Banstead No wardrobes required this Summer, when you can visit the exciting new Narnia-themed nature trail at Banstead Woods and Chipstead Downs Nature Reserve. Created by Reigate & Banstead Greenspaces team, the trail includes wooden sculptures of Aslan the lion, Lucy at the iconic lamppost and the infamous wardrobe which children will be able to walk through. Great free fun for the summer holidays!

Dementia-Friendly Cinema Going to the cinema as a family can become more difficult as parents and grandparents become confused or suffer from signs of dementia, which is why The Harlequin Cinema in Redhill is launching monthly Dementia Friendly Screenings on Tuesdays at 10.30am.

The screenings are enhanced to suit the needs of people living with dementia: the lights are left on low, there are no adverts or trailers and the audience can move around or even sing along. Free tea, coffee and biscuits are served and a representative from The Alzheimer’s Society is on hand for people to speak to if they wish. Forthcoming films include Singing in the Rain (11/7), Carousel (15/8) & Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (12/9). To book visit harlequin.co.uk

Give a Little Gift

Little Gifts is a local Horley charity providing free children’s toys, clothes and shoes and equipment to those in need of a helping hand. They hold swap shops and take donations at St John’s Hall in Massetts Road on the 3rd Saturday of the month from 2-4pm. For more information email littlegifts@mail.com

British Wildlife Centre

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Chiddingstone Castle

Over 40 different native wild animal species l l l l l l l

Free-range red squirrels Deer park Badger sett Otter ponds Owl display Fox families Wildcats & more

Open at weekends and daily during school hols

Summer holiday: Sat 22 July - Sun 3 Sept

Pine Marten

1 child FREE with this advert - save £8.50

Valid to Sun 3 September 2017 with one full paying adult - No cash alternative One voucher per party - No photocopies - Not to be used with other offers (FSE 07-17)

We’re on the A22, Newchapel, nr Lingfield, Surrey RH7 6LF

01342 834658 www.britishwildlifecentre.co.uk familiesonline.co.uk

Ancient Egyptian Day Sunday 13th August

Visit award-winning Chiddingstone Castle, a memorable day out for all the family!

Chiddingstone, Edenbridge, Kent TN8 7AD chiddingstonecastle.org.uk

Families Surrey East 5

Baby and Toddler Creation Station Inspires 1000s

The Nest sets up in Redhill The Nest - a new pregnancy, birth and breastfeeding support centre has opened in Oakdene Road, Redhill. Run by Alexis Ozmen, a qualified and experienced Hypnobirthing Teacher, Breastfeeding Counsellor and Birth Doula, the centre has a packed timetable of helpful courses for new (and recent) parents.

The support services on offer include pregnancy relaxation, hypnobirthing and baby massage – as well as practical advice on weaning and breastfeeding. All courses are held in the safe and cosy HQ with like-minded parents.

The Nest has also started hosting Jo Jingles and Hartbeeps courses for babies and toddlers and are running some useful courses over the Summer, including the What’s for Dinner? weaning course.

For more info visit thenest.support

Little Street Gets Closer The ever-popular children’s play facility Little Street has opened its third site, in West Byfleet - an easy 20 min drive from Leatherhead. The new centre has been funded by NatWest and is run by Sara and Rob Howe.

“Having visited Little Street in Frimley, we were inspired to create a similar centre locally. We are parents of young children ourselves and so could see the appeal and potential of such a facility in this area instantly.

“Little Street is unique in that we create play facilities that encourage children to interact with each other and mimic real-life situations.”

The centre has been built in the style of a miniature town, with areas replicating a construction site, supermarket, stables, medical centre, school, theatre and train. They run 4 sessions a day, as well as parties. Surely an East Surrey site will be next..?

Lisa Tye, mum of two and owner of The Creation Station Reigate, has been awarded the prestigious award of ‘Inspiring over 1000 children 2016/17’ at the national Creation Station franchise awards held at the 15th annual ‘Creation Station Inspiring Imaginations’ Conference.

Lisa, who has run her local classes for just 2 years said “I am so delighted to have won the award. I feel very privileged to have met and inspired so many children.

It is a real treat to see their eyes sparkle as their imaginations shine through their art. I am very much looking forward to what the next year brings.”

Founder and MD of the franchise Sarah Crassall says “Our Creation Station family make such positive contributions to their local community and really help children and families to be creative and have fun together, plus our new adult creative crafters is proving to be a great hit with grown ups too’.

The award-winning Creation Station has 124 franchisees nationwide, inspiring imaginations through fun, educational and safe tried and tested creative art and crafts experiences - from newborn to 99!

Lisa is running Family Fun sessions in Nutfield on Aug 1st, 15th and 22nd August, so get signed up now!

Call 01737 731169 or email lisatye@ thecreationstation.co.uk

For more info visit little-street.co.uk

Surrey Branch - Established 1991 Committed to outstanding service

Tel: 020 3637 4040 www.buttonsnannyagency.com Every Buttons Nanny: ● Is carefully interviewed by Buttons ● Has minimum two checked references ● Holds childcare qualifications ● Holds an Ofsted First Aid Certificate ● Receives an enhanced DBS check or is Ofsted registered

6 Families Surrey East

info@buttonsnannyagency.com

Fully trained, full time, part time and temporary Buttons nannies are available throughout Surrey.

Online registration and jobs.

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Baby and Toddler Teletubbies on Tour You might not believe this, but after 20 years in showbiz, the worldfamous Teletubbies have never been on tour – until now! This year they are set to star in their first ever live theatre show, “Big Hugs,” created especially for the youngest audience.

explore the magical world of Teletubbyland. Kids can join in with brand new songs by BAFTA award-winning composer, Mani Svavarsson.

Teletubbies Live has been created and adapted for the stage by Richard Lewis, who has also been involved with the Peppa Pig Live shows. It features full-sized Teletubbies characters, bright colours, puppetry, movement, songs and actions. The tour starts in Manchester in Nov before embarking on a nationwide tour.

For more info visit teletubbieslive.com AS SEEN ON

MAKE YOUR CHILD’S DEVELOPMENT MORE FUN!

DISCOVER RUGBYTOTS

Join Tinky Winky, Dipsy, Laa-Laa and Po in a stage show full of love, laughter, music and “Big Hugs,” as they

Our dynamic weekly play sessions enable boys and girls aged 2–7 to develop their social and physical skills in a fun, positive environment.

For more details, just call or email:

Come for CAKE! Redhill, Reigate & Horley NCT group has just launched a support group for new mums called CAKE. The weekly group aims to provide and enable women with confidence, appreciation, kindness and energy with their new babies. At (what can be) an overwhelming time, CAKE welcomes you to come along, meet other mums and local practitioners for free advice.

0345 313 3242

enquiries@rugbytots.co.uk

rugbytots.co.uk

The world’s favourite rugby play programme

Visit from 11am-1pm on Tuesdays at the Scout Hall, St Josephs, Redhill. It’s free and everyone’s welcome.

For more info visit nct.org.uk/branches/redhill-reigate-horley

Be Inspired in Horley After the success of January’s event, the Be Inspired baby & toddler show is back at Horley Methodist Church on July 22nd, from 2-4pm.

If you want to know more about What’s On in Horley and surrounding areas for little ones, this is your one stop shop for finding out about local classes, playgroups, childcare and activities. There’ll be stallholders from local charities and businesses ready to inspire you!

Entry is free and refreshments will be available.

For more info visit ‘Be Inspired Horley’ on Facebook.

NORTHPARKFARM.CO.UK

activity toys for all your outdoor fun

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WALTON ON THE HILL, DORKING, BOCKETTS FARM, ASHTEAD, OXSHOTT & EPSOM E: leatherhead.dorking@monkeymusic.co.uk T: 020 8432 0811

Group discounts for NCT members when 3+ people join together at the same time.

‘Classes in the Reigate and surrounding areas from September’

For Further information and class availability email enquiries@athletixkidz.com *Please quote ‘Families’ to get 10% off your 1st term of classes

Climbing Frames • Swings • Slides • Trampolines Table Tennis • Playhouses • Ride-on Cars Tractors • Go-Karts • Sandpits Paddling Pools • Sledges • Goals Basketball • Netball

Try before you buy • Nationwide delivery • Assembly service www.northparkfarm.co.uk Tel: 01273 833643 North Park Farm, Church Lane, Albourne, West Sussex BN6 9BY

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• The ONLY Athletics Play Programme for 21/2 - 7yr olds • • Running, Jumping, Throwing • • Social, Physical and Psychological Skills • • Weekly Classes - Parties - After School Clubs • • Fun & Games •

Families Surrey East 7

NORTHPARKFARM.CO.UK

Holidays Nestled in the beautiful rolling countryside between Leatherhead and Headley lies a new luxury country house hotel which is as gearedup for kids as it is for the Kensington jet set.

Beaverbrook, a privatelyowned estate set amidst 400 acres of meadows, woodland and golf courses is undergoing a refurb, with the first project, The Garden House, now open to guests. This is a unique 11-bedroomed property with some adjoining family rooms, the biggest squashiest beds you’ve ever slept in, more complimentary bits & bobs than you can shake your strawberries at and an army of stylishly-dressed, friendly staff whose number one priority is to make you feel at home.

From the quirky cottagey décor, to family-friendly touches like kid’s books, board games, bike hire and welly boots, The Garden House is the perfect place for a weekend treat, a family party or special occasion. Guests are encouraged to enjoy the wildflower meadow, walk the Kitchen Garden among the wealth of fresh fruit and veg or play a game of Petanque, before settling down for a feast in the Garden House restaurant.

When we say feast, we mean feast. The food is simply delicious.

Head chef Kaz Suzuki has created an Anglo-Italian inspired menu using locally sourced ingredients and organic produce. Much of the

Fun & Games at Family Friendly Beaverbrook fruit and veg is grown on site in the Kitchen Garden and there’s something on the menu to suit all palettes – even fussy 4 year olds.

When the Families Surrey East tribe visited, the boys chose the Sliders with fries (because given the option of a burger they won’t even look at the rest of the menu), but there were some other great kids dishes on offer, including risotto, pasta, grilled chicken and fish.

The adults started with lovely fat sprigs of home-grown asparagus finished with a gooey poached egg, and a crispy duck salad, complimented by a lovely Sipsmith rosé from local Albury Vineyard. I took our hosts recommendation of gnoccillini stuffed with goats cheese and finished with crumbly pistachios for mains, and Mr Families had the Suckling Pig. Both were devine – even the two wriggly kids couldn’t put us off our stride! Staying overnight at The Garden House will make quite a dent in your bank balance, but I was pleased to see that the bill for dining was great value for money and no pricier than a posh pub lunch – but make sure you book in advance, this little secret won’t stay secret for long.

Rosemary (all rooms are named after garden herbs grown in the Kitchen Garden) to enjoy the facilities. Much to the children’s delight, a plate of gooey brownies, strawberries and biscotti awaited us on arrival - while we were more delighted by the bottle of champagne, which we enjoyed on the balcony while the kids watched Scooby Doo via AppleTV in the bedroom.

The bathrooms are pretty impressive – dark green tiles, huge walk in showers and a bath you could dive into, coupled with gorgeous toiletries make it all feel very luxurious. They’ve even got mini bathrobes and slippers for the kids – it was all too cute! Fed, watered and spoilt to death on fab food and fun, we slept like logs.

The highlight of the trip for the kids was the Sharky & George kids club, which is on option for all paying guests at the hotel. If you’ve never heard of Sharky & George before, Sharky & George kids club

We didn’t make it to pudding before our two crashed out and we decided to head upstairs to Loveage and 8 Families Surrey East

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Easter they’re a top-notch kids entertainment company used by celebs like Holly Willoughby and Edith Bowman. Manned by incredibly enthusiastic folk who love leading tribes of rowdy kids on treasure hunts and spy missions, the sessions run twice a day and will keep your kids occupied for hours.

The lovely Becky and Will took my two rascals out for garden games, campfire fun and den building – and brought them back happy, mucky and exhausted.

Beaverbrook feels like a place that has really thought of families. This is probably because the owners (including confectionary heir Joel Cadbury) spend time there with their own family and friends. It is a home from home. There are two outdoor play areas for kids – the Hideout for under 5s which is a multi-level fort with slides, secret passages and swings and the magical Treehouse in the woods for older kids. There’s also a wealth of other family attractions on the doorstep, from Bocketts Farm and Denbies, to Polesden Lacey and Surrey Wildlife Trust’s Nower Wood just up the road.

The development of the rest of the estate, formerly owned by press baron and owner of Express Newspapers, Lord Max Beaverbrook, is still undergoing, with The House set to be open by the end of the Summer. Steeped in history, with previous visitors including Winston Churchill, it will have 18 bedrooms, a library, screening room and spa. All of this is being overseen by Beaverbrook’s newly appointed Hotel HEV-Jousting-Families-87x130-AW.indd Manager Andrew Spearman, who joins from Domaine de Manville, Provence, where he was General Manager.

We loved The Garden House and already have it marked down as one to return to for big birthdays and anniversary trips. We loved the nostalgic charm of the interiors and the attention to detail – and it is so nice to find an upmarket, boutique style hotel that is so family-friendly. Even though we might not take them next time we go!

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30/05/2017 10:26

GO ON A GARDEN ADVENTURE 22 JULY – 3 SEPT

Rooms at The Garden House start from £240 a night.

For more information and to book visit beaverbrook.co.uk. To find out more about Sharky & George visit sharkyandgeorge.com.

With thanks to Quintessentially for our stay.

A summer celebrating the 75th Anniversary of Enid Blyton’s Famous Five.

Buy garden tickets at rhs.org.uk/wisley and save 10%. RHS Members go free.

The Famous Five® and Enid Blyton® © Hodder and Stoughton Limited. All rights reserved. Illustration by Laura Ellan Anderson.

RHS Registered Charity No. 222879 / SC038262.

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Families Surrey East 9

Summer Reading The Summer Reading Challenge 2017 The annual Summer Reading Challenge has launched!

During the holidays kids are encouraged to read six or more books of their choice - fact books, joke books, picture books or audio books – it doesn’t matter, just as long as they are borrowed from the library. There are collectable incentives and rewards for every child who completes the Challenge, which is run by independent charity The Reading Agency. Children can sign up at their local library and all materials are absolutely free.

This year's theme is Animal Agents, introducing young readers to a variety of clever creatures, specially trained to use their skills and natural instincts to unravel

Gatwick Fun Saturday 16th September 10am - 4pm

mysteries. Animal Agents is illustrated by Tony Ross, illustrator of the hugely popular Horrid Henry series and is published all over the world.

The Challenge is open to all primary school children and is designed for all reading abilities.

Why not head to your local library during the summer holidays and enroll? It's completely free and any child can take part. Visit summerreadingchallenge.org.uk

Here’s our recommendations for new animal-themed books for the Summer

Grumpy Frog by Ed Vere A brand new, funny picture book from the NYT best- selling author and illustrator Ed Vere. Grumpy Frog is not grumpy. He loves green, and he loves to hop, and he loves winning. But what happens when Grumpy Frog doesn't win, or encounters - horror of horrors - a Pink Rabbit? Grumpy Frog subtly teaches the importance of being kind to all. Age 3+, Puffin £6.99

The Detective Dog

by Julia Donaldson,

illustrated by Sara Ogilvie

This is a firm favourite in the Families household. Join Nell the detective dog with an amazing sense of smell as she tracks down the book thief. Wonderfully illustrated by Sara Ogilvie (of The Worst Princess – also hilarious), this rhyming story is funny and easy to read. Age 4+, Macmillan £6.99

The Racehorse Who Wouldn’t Gallop Join us for a day of Gatwick Fun featuring exciting demonstrations, activities for all the family plus our friends from Sussex Police, Gatwick Fire Service, Airfield Teams and more!

Gatwick Aviation Museum, Vallance By-Ways, Lowfield Heath Rd, Charlwood RH6 0BT Admission: Adults £10, children £2.50, Family £20 Free parking

Supporting our local community

Sign up today

www.gatwickairport.com/ communitynewsletter

10 Families Surrey East

by Clare Balding

A funny and warm-hearted story about a racehorse, a young girl and her eccentric family. When ten-yearold horse-mad Charlie accidentally manages to buy a racehorse, she is beyond thrilled – but this is one lazy horse. How can Charlie motivate him? The new novel from tv sports presenter Clare Balding. Age 8+, Puffin £6.99

National Young Writer of the Year Announced You might remember our recent call for entries for the National Young Writer of the Year competition. We’re pleased to report that the winning entry – selected from over 10,000 – is Dagenham school boy David Williams.

The winning story was selected by tv adventurer Steve Backshall who was blown away by the standard of writing.

You can read David’s winning story at explorelearning.co.uk familiesonline.co.uk

Summer Fun!

The Best Beaches on Your Doorstep

Want to feel the sand between your toes?

The coast is not as far away as you might think. Here’s our pick of the best.

Summer FAmILY FuN!

West Sussex

Rainbow Wednesdays In association with The Rainbow Trust www.rainbowtrust.org.uk

The nearest bit of coastline to us, with a stretch of great beaches both sandy and pebbley. The best (and less busy) are Littlehampton, Worthing and The Witterings. You can of course train it easily to Brighton, but why not try somewhere new?

Littlehampton might conjure up images of blue rinses,

but it's a great spot for smaller kids. With a long promenade for scooting and playing fields backing onto the beach, as well as a small funfair, you certainly won't get bored. Don't expect crab shacks - it's more of a chips by the sea kinda place, but the kids love it. Drive time: 1.10hrs from Dorking.

Worthing is Brighton's calmer, tidier relation. It's a town on the up with trendy eateries and shops springing up everywhere. There's a new kids play area off the seafront with great equipment and sand play, as well as a pebbley beach for the obligatory stone throwing and a pier. And don’t miss Worthing’s smaller neighbor, Ferring. There’s sand and shallow rockpools when the tide’s out and the super Bluebird Café for all your ice cream and toastie needs. Travel time: 1.05hrs from Dorking.

West Wittering (the posh one) and East Wittering

(the pebbley one) are both great. West Wittering is a huge expanse of sandy beach which is superb for sand castles and kids can run for miles and miles. But, it does get busy, so arrive early on a sunny day. East Wittering is a more wild and pebbley affair, great for watersports and a bikes.

Travel time: 1.40hr from Dorking.

Kent The pretty town of

Broadstairs,

just along the coast from Margate is steeped in history.

From Charles Dickens to the battle of Waterloo, it has blue plaques galore and a lovely sandy Blue Flag beach. It still has an Olde Worlde charm and a Folk Festival every August. Also check out the gardens and authentic gelato shops on upper promenade.

Travel time: 1.30hrs from Godstone.

Craft activities available every Wednesday 11am - 3pm ranging from £1.50 per craft

Wednesday 26 July - Teddy Bears Train Ride & Story Telling 10am, 11am, 12noon & 2pm. £7.50 per child incl. sweet treat / £3 per adult incl. hot drink.

Wednesday 16 August - Creation Station - Summer Arty Party 11am & 2pm. £7.50 per child / adults free.

Wednesday 26 July - Henfold Birds of Prey 11am until 3pm with a main display at 12.30pm. Free admission.

Wednesday 16 August - Henfold Birds of Prey 11am until 3pm with a main display at 12.30pm.

Free admission.

Wednesday 2 August - Teddy Bears Summer Disco 11am & 2pm, £7.50 per child incl. sweet treat & soft drink / adults Free

Wednesday 23 August - Tropical Rainforest Roadshow See and learn about exciting and exotic creatures.

11am & 2pm, £7.50 per child / adults free

Wednesday 9 August - Punch & Judy Traditional Family Fun, 10.30am, 12noon & 2pm Free admission

Wednesday 30 Aug - Teddy Bears Train Ride & Story Telling 10am, 11am, 12noon & 2pm. £7.50 per child incl. sweet treat / £3 per adult incl. hot drink

Wednesday 9 August - Henfold Birds of Prey 11am until 3pm with a main display at 12.30pm. Free admission.

Wednesday 30 August - Henfold Birds of Prey 11am until 3pm with a main display at 12.30pm. Free admission.

DENBIES WINE ESTATE

London Road, Dorking, Surrey RH5 6AA T: 01306 876616 RESERvATIoNS online at: www.denbies.co.uk

summer festival 12 June - 12 August 2017

Make the most of your summer in Guildford

East Sussex Bexhill-on Sea

feels like the sort of place that's been stopped in time.

It's a quaint hybrid of Brighton and Eastbourne - it's got great facilities like the famous De La Warr pavilion with fab kids splash fountains and a spanking new play area in Egerton Park, but lacks the eateries and shops of some of its neighbours. For a quite day at the seaside, it has all you need - from bucket'n'spade stands to ice cream parlours.

Travel time: 1.30hr from Oxted.

Sponsors

www.guildfordsummerfestival.co.uk GSF17 Booklet.indd 1

familiesonline.co.uk

Including

GSF17 Generic A6 Portrait Ad aw.indd 1

12/04/2017 16:57

Families Surrey 13/04/2017 East 11

09:52

Summer Days Out Medieval Jousting at Hever Castle & Gardens

Edenbridge & Oxted Agricultural Show There’s no shortage of fun with The Shetland Pony Grand National, tunnelracing between children and ferrets and world-class BMX stunt displays at this year’s Edenbridge and Oxted Agricultural Show on 27-28th August. Children visit for free at the annual Bank Holiday weekend show in Lingfield where you can learn rural skills including Coppicing and watch Blacksmiths at work.

If you dare, hold giant snakes, hissing scorpions and hairy spiders and visit the amusing Meerkat Enclosure. Animals are at the heart of the 180th community Show - meet dozens of species including alpacas, bats, Bearded Dragons, bees, cattle, chinchillas dogs, donkeys, falcons, ferrets, guinea pigs, hawks, llama, meerkats, ponies, rabbits, scorpions, sheep, snakes and spiders!

The livestock section includes the largest display of cattle in southern Britain, featured in the recent BBC 1 series “The Farmers’ Country Showdown”.

Have a go at archery, fly fishing, clay shooting, the giant wheel, the climbing wall and the funfair.

See historic vehicles, falconry and gundog demonstrations, get advice on gardening, visit the horticultural, ‘Keep it Local’ crafts, regional foods and WI marquees and watch the Dog Show & Terrier Racing (Mon).

Reduced price advance tickets are available at

edenbridge-show.co.uk

12 Families Surrey East

The Knights of Royal England will once again delight crowds at Hever Castle this year, with the annual Summer Jousting Tournament beginning on 15 & 16th July.

Throughout the summer spectators will be treated to exciting displays of action, stunts, falls and fights in an authentic arena complete with Royal Box. Battling it out in the saddle and on foot in one-to-one combat, the valiant knights will compete for points to find this season’s ultimate champion.

Join the procession from the Castle forecourt as Henry VIII, Anne Boleyn and the Knights of Royal England make their way to the Jousting arena – not before stopping for plenty of photos of course!

Surrounded by awardwinning gardens and dating back to the 13th century, historic Hever Castle provides a picturesque setting for a fantastic day of jousting. Take a blanket or watch the joust in style from the medieval spectator stands, available for a small cost on a first-come, firstserved basis. Then choose which knights you support and cheer them to glory.

Jousting tournaments take place throughout the summer at Hever Castle on July 15 & 16th ; 22nd & 23rd; 29 & 30th, August 12 & 13th; 19 & 20th; 25-28th

hevercastle.co.uk

Wild Kids at Wakehurst Visit Wakehurst near Haywards Heath this summer for a variety of wonderful woodland adventures to spark children's imaginations and set them free in the great outdoors.

Ancient Egyptian Day at Chiddingstone Castle for a summer of outdoor discovery. Activities change each week and include woodland mammal safaris, art and photography, firelighting and bushcraft, butterfly encounters and wild cooking.

Explore the adventurous journeys play spaces including mammoth log trail Treetrunk Trek. Get mucky in the mega mud kitchen, diggable veggie patch and potting shed in the Children's Heritage Garden. Experience the new Woodland Trail to uncover some magical woodland secrets.

Learn to climb a Wakehurst tree with the friendly team of skilled instructors from the Big Tree Climbing Company an enjoy immersive outdoor theatre that will bring to life two enchanting shows set in the backdrop of Wakehurst's beautiful landscape. Shows include Wind in the Willows and Adventures in Bubble Wood (advance booking necessary).

Pick up a kids’ map and activity leaflet from the Visitor Centre for full details and to collect stamps for each visit. Become a Friend of Wakehurst from only £25 to visit Wakehurst as often as you like this summer and for the whole year. Children 16 and under go free of charge.

Events run 24th July-3rd Sept. Visit the website or see the team at Wakehurst Visitor Centre for details.

kew.org/wakehurst

There’s loads of great days coming up this Summer at award-winning Chiddingstone Castle, near Edenbridge.

Open every Sunday to Wednesday from April to the end of October, with special events such as the Ancient Egyptian Day on Sunday 13th August and the Country Fair on Sunday 10th September.

Ancient Egyptian Day will include family-friendly talks by Egyptologists, the opportunity to handle bona fide 3,000 year old objects and take part in a workshop to make a clay mummy with Kentish artist Brenda Burgess. Don't forget to visit ‘The Fields of Eternity’ the Castle's unique, awardwinning Ancient Egyptianthemed conceptual grass maze too!

With Tudor origins and Victorian rooms with hands-on activities, the Castle houses the museum collections of its former owner, the antiquarian and collector Denys Bower - fascinating art and antiquities from Japan and Ancient Egypt, as well as Buddhist, Stuart and Jacobite artefacts.

There are 35 acres of beautiful, informal grounds to explore, a delightful Tea Room (serving light lunches and traditional cream teas) and the unique Well Tower Gift Shop.

For more info visit chiddingstonecastle.org.uk

Head down to a beautiful woodland shelter in Pearcelands Wood, Wakehurst familiesonline.co.uk

Summer Days Out Row Your Boat at Earlswood Lakes The recently rejuvenated Earlswood Lakes is a great place for a family day out – especially in the sunshine.

Ever popular with dog walkers and a great place for bike riding, the woodland and lakes are home to the Lakes Café which serves yummy toasties, pies and locally produced ice-cream.

It’s open 8.30am-6pm throughout the Summer (9am at weekends) and has outside seating.

The Families tribe recently hired a boat from the top lake, which was a great novelty and certainly gave my biceps a work out! You can hire pedalos and rowing

boats from £12 a family for a 30 mins spin around the lake. Kids and nonswimmers are kitted out in lifejackets, so it ticks all the boxes for health & safety.

Guildford Festival Take a 20-minute drive round the M25 for Guildford’s amazing annual festival season. Running June-12th August, there are loads of family-friendly events taking place around the city.

It’s suprisingly peaceful on the water, and a great chance for the kids to get closer to the wildlife.

Half an hour is just about perfect for entertaining the little people – especially when they insist on ‘helping’ with the rowing!

Boats are open 9am5pm during the hols and require a £10 holding deposit. Check them out on Facebook.

“Take the plunge.”

Children’s weekly lessons from £26.25 a month Summer swimming crash courses booking now!

24 - 28 July 31 July - 4 Aug

The programme includes outdoor cinema at the Lido (see What’s On), live kids theatre at G Live and the popular Loxwood Joust, complete with falconry and wandering minstrels!

Can we just give a quick shout out to

Guildford Lido, a recent

gem of a discovery. If you want to feel like you’re on holiday without stepping on a plane, this is the place to go. Kids splash area, giant pool, water slides and burrito bar – what more could you want!?

Guildfordlido.co.uk

The finale is the Weyfest festival in Farnham on 1820th Aug, with headliners Alison Moyet and Jools Holland, which even has a dedicated Kidzone. For all the festival action, please visit guildfordsummerfestival.co.uk

Come and join our 2017

Summer Nature Club at

FSC Juniper Hall

for 5-9 year olds

Early and late sessions.

Discounts for earlybird and multiple bookings.

24-28 July 31 July-04 August Mickleham, Dorking

01306 734501

www.field-studies-council.org/snc 9TH/10TH

SEP 2017 10AM-5PM

A fascinating journey for parents, grandparents and kids of all ages into the amazing world of trees. Discover the wonders of nature and a day of adventure that will open your eyes to the ways in which we can play, work, learn and explore in the woods. Plus, enjoy delicious local food and drink in the stunning Sussex location.

www.placesforpeopleleisure.org Operated by Places for People Leisure Ltd in partnership with Mole Valley District Council

Dorking Sports Centre enquiries@dorkingsportscentre.co.uk 01306 870185 Contact us today familiesonline.co.uk

Terms and conditions apply.

Our

WWW.INTO-THE-TREES.CO.UK

PIPPINGFORD PARK. NUTLEY. EAST SUSSEX

Families Surrey East 13

Rainy Day Ideas It’s great value family tickets, with the option to book activity tickets up to 2 weeks in advance and free parking means it’s affordable too. All activities are subject to availability so it’s advisable to take up that advance booking option.

For more information and to book tickets for all of Spectrum’s activities visit guildfordspectrum.co.uk.

What’s on at the flicks?

If all else fails, a trip to the cinema is a safe bet for rainy day. It seems to be a Summer of sequels and revivals, so what’s on?

The Look Out Discovery Centre The Look Out is a fantastic place to visit as there is plenty to do whatever the weather! Inside, there are over 90 hands-on science and discovery activities, aimed at toddlers to under 12’s. Build an unfinished house with ride-on diggers, test your speed with Batak or leave your shadow on the wall.

This Summer the Dinosaurs arrive! The Big Dinosaur Show is a fun interactive show, where the children help solve some scientific puzzles to help keep the herd of dino’s alive. Running from 22nd July-3rd Sept – it’s so rexciting! Shows can be booked on the day.

Should the weather look kindly on you, then the centre is set in woodland with three adventure play areas, including a train and a ship, so a great place to burn off some energy. Don’t forget the coffee shop for a snack to keep you going.

Pirates of the Caribbean 6 – Jack Sparrow and his crew are back with their 6th installment of the swashbuckling series Dead Men Tell No Tales.

With Johnny Depp, Orlando Bloom and Javier Bardem, it should’t be too much of a hardship to take the kids to the cinema (mums)!

Cars 3 -

It’s been a while since we heard from Lightning McQueen and the gang, but they’re back this Summer and the hot-rod has something to prove.

Check out bracknell-forest.gov.uk/ thelookoutdiscoverycentre for more details.

Guildford Spectrum Finding activities that everyone can enjoy over the school holidays can be a challenge, but with ice skating, ten pin bowling, four pools including a leisure pool, a soft play area, indoor climbing wall, scalextric track, gym, sports arena and aerobics studio all under one roof, Guildford Spectrum is the perfect solution. Phew! If all that activity makes you hungry, enjoy one of the four family friendly catering outlets on site.

Despicable Me 3 - Gru and his minions take on a

new nemesis in this hits kids franchise, starring the voices of comedy duo Steve Carell and Kristen Wiig.

My Life as a Courgette – a heartfelt stop-motion

animation about an orphan coming to terms with the loss of his mother. It is both innocent and uplifting.

Boss Baby – this

animated comedy was out earlier this year and is released on DVD in July.

14 Families Surrey East

familiesonline.co.uk

Dance

6 Things children learn in dance class (that aren’t dancing!)

Many parents may feel like they spend their childrens’ dance careers writing endless cheques, taxiing to-and-from lessons and shelling out for shoes and leotards - but the reality is that children get so much more from attending dance lessons other than just the technical skills, so parents are paying for far more than they initially think!

Dancewear provider, Dancewear Central spoke to dance experts across East Surrey to discover the biggest benefits of dancing, and why there’s more to classes than meets the eye.

Patience

Children aren’t the most patient creatures in the world – any parent can attest to that. Bur dancers, both professional and amateur, constantly have to wait their turn, whether they’re moving across a stage, freestyling or demonstrating an individual move.

The sooner children learn when to take their turn, the sooner they’ll learn to interact better with others.

Conflicts will be reduced and their social skills will blossom.

Inspire Academy of Dance holds classes in Reigate and Dorking, with a timetable that includes Pre-Primary Ballet and Ballet Babes, to get them started young! (inspireacademyofdance.co.uk)

Confidence

As children learn to dance, hone their technique and take a performance from start to finish, their confidence grows. Add that to gaining a better sense of their bodies and feeling more comfortable in their own skin, and their self-esteem will skyrocket.

They’ll learn how to express themselves, which is really what dancing is all about.

It gives kids a physical outlet for their emotions, a place to be themselves, and they’re encouraged to be proud of that.

Reigate-based Star Steppers boost children's confidence and give them performance opportunities which allows them to explore and play creatively and in front of an audience. They want to create positive and fun dance, drama and singing experiences for their students that FOX Stretch will inspire, challenge and empower them (star-steppers.com).

The way the body works

Kids are curious creatures, and they love to learn about the world around them. Put them in a class where their body does wonderful things like moving to music, and they’ll be eager to learn more about how they actually do it. And this can stand them in good stead for later life.

Limousines

Limousine hire for Children's Birthdays, School Proms, Tours White, Pink, Black Limousines Soft drinks and balloons for children's parties

T: 020 8406 3758 or 0844 856 5466

www.foxlimousines.co.uk info@foxlimousines.co.uk

Reigate Dorking Horsham Copthorne Ardingly Lindfield

Isla Selley of Boom Arts

Academy, who runs a range of classes, like B-Boy boy’s street dance and cheerleading says “dancing can allow a child to isolate body parts and keep the joints mobile and healthy. This is No1 in keeping our children at the best standard” (boomartsacademy.com).

FREE TRIAL CLASS 07783138348

jo@inspireacademyofdance.co.uk

(Continued overleaf)

www.BoomArtsAcademy.com

R ALL!!!

CLASSES FO L CL AS S FR EE TR IA

Principals:

Miss C Walford CDE - AISTD (Dip)

Miss C Taylor

(Dip Dance Performers Course) Accredited

by Council for Dance Education & Training in UK

www.facebook.com/ candcdanceschool

t: 01737

763391

Ballet, Modern, Street & Funky Jazz, Tap, Musical Theatre, Mother & Toddler, Mini Movers, Drama, Tread the Boards & Adult classes.

e: misswalford@aol.com w:

candcdanceschool.co.uk

Boom Arts Academy specialised school in street dance.

Other classes also offered: Cheerleading, ISTD Ballet, Tap, Modern, Acting and Musical Theatre.

JOIN US TO BOOK ON FOR A FREE TRIAL CLASS: CALL 07951892056 or 07916329468 EMAIL: BOOMARTSACADEMY@HOTMAIL.COM Twitter: Arts_Boom

familiesonline.co.uk

Instagram: Boom Arts Academy

Families Surrey East 15

Dance (Continued from page 15)

Improved social skills

Dancing isn’t all about the individual – even in more solo disciplines such as ballet or tap. As part of their class, children will be asked to communicate and cooperate with their fellow students, both in pairs and in groups. For shy children, in particular, dancing can be a really big help and encourage them to come out of their shell as they talk to others and make new friends.

‘Dance is a great way of meeting new people and improving social skills, as although it’s very technical

to learn how to dance, you also have to work in a team a lot of the time, especially when working on shows and performances.’ Lucy Pocock of Reigate Dance studio (reigatedancestudio.com)

Friendship

Improved social skills are just one branch of dance, and dancing often requires children to work together. Making friends comes easy to children – they seem to be able to talk to anyone and at any time! So place them in a room full of similarly aged children where their only job is to move to music, and they’re bound to interact and before you know it they’ve formed a bond.

C&C Dance School who hold classes in Nutfield, Reigate and Brockham encourage their students to enjoy dancing in a happy, friendly and safe environment. They set high standards, but the ethos is always that students should have a fun and rewarding class (candcdanceschool.co.uk)

A healthy body

Children weren’t made to sit still, but watching television or playing video games can turn from an occasional treat into a daily habit. Dancing gets them out of the house on a regular basis, and while you may not be looking for your kids to lose weight, it helps to keep their heart, and brain, healthy.

Giving children the confidence and encouragement to move while they’re young will give them a taste for physical activity that they carry with them into later life. Whether they become a professional dancer or not, it doesn’t matter as long as they move! It doesn’t have to be classical dance – Reigate School of Ballet run more commercial classes like hip-hop and musical theatre for kids with more edge (reigateschoolofballet.com).

For all your dancewear needs visit dancewearcentral.co.uk

Performance Elite for Kids

If you’ve got a 9-16 year old who excels at sports and needs to keep their fitness levels up over the summer holidays, book them into the Performance Elite camp at Old Reigatians Rugby Club.

Aimed at developing sports performance and conditioning during the Summer break the classes work on strength, agility, speed and power and will run for 2-hour sessions on Wednesdays & Fridays from 17th July-25th Aug. PE-Kids-Summer-Camp-87-x-85.pdf 1 14/06/2017 10:22:07

Maintain and improve fitness levels during the long break and make into the first team in the new term! Classes can be booked in blocks of 6 or 12 sessions from £150 performanceelite.co.uk

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KIDS FITNESS CAMP SPORTS PERFORMANCE 6 WEEK SUMMER CAMP | AGES 9-16 EVERY WEDNESDAY & FRIDAY FROM 9:30AM - 11:30AM STARTING 17TH JULY - 25TH AUGUST

COURSES FOR ACTIVITIES AND THE SCHOOL CHILDREN DURINGYS HOLIDA

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CHOOSE FROM

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16 Families Surrey East

FAMILIES17

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familiesonline.co.uk

Holiday Clubs

Learn to Code this Summer With just 1 in 4 IT jobs in the UK being performed by a female, there is a massive opportunity for girls to get involved with STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) subjects. Whilst the industry is making huge strides in gender equality, there is still much more work to be done.

As we enter an increasingly tech-driven economy, it’s vital that we ensure kids, and girls in particular are able be creative and get hands on with tech, as opposed to simply being passive consumers. Jill Hodges founded Fire Tech Camp in response to the need to enrich and support the tech-orientated interests of her own daughter, so talking about the importance of getting more girls into STEM comes straight from the heart.

One of the key points to consider when encouraging girls to actively enjoy and choose to partake in STEM subjects is communication.

" We need to educate girls and inform them that tech isn’t just about coding and programming, it’s increasingly becoming a bigger part of every career, from special effects for movies to being a doctor."

Tech will soon be the backbone of every industry and to have an understanding of it will ultimately help their career goals no matter what they are.

Another element to consider is that often kids don’t understand the capabilities of tech and that they can use and engage with tech in a way that is interesting for them.

We need to provide girls with the opportunity to explore their own interests and problem solve. Fire Tech campers have done everything from coding their own robots to inventing door alarms to stop their siblings from sneaking into their rooms! The capabilities are endless and showing girls that they can invent fun, useful and exciting creations is the perfect way to inspire them and get them engaged with STEM subjects.

Sign up for a Fire Tech Camp this Summer in Leatherhead, offering a range of cool techy subjects like coding, app design and video game design. Quote FS25 to get £25 off your booking at FireTechCamp.com

Fancy a head start at coding?

Check out this fab book, written by Girls Who Code founder Reshma Saujani and endorsed by inspirational women like Malala Yousafzai and Facebook CEO Sheryl Sandberg.

Girls Who Code is out this August from Virgin Books, £12.99.

familiesonline.co.uk

Featured Holiday Club Providers SPORT If you want to give your child's swimming a boost, then a one-week crash course may be the answer. Lessons from pre-school through to Stage 4 are running at Dorking Sports Centre from 24th-28th July and from 31st July-4th August. To book, call 01306 870185 or visit dorkingsportscentre.co.uk 5-12 year olds can also enjoy a range of activities in a great holiday activity programme run by The Fit for Sport team. They’re Ofsted registered and run by trained, DBS-checked activity professionals. All the team are committed to a common goal: to provide childcare in a safe, supportive learning environment where children can try new, fun ways to get moving and discover the benefits of leading a healthy active life.

Call 0845 456 3233 or visit fitforsport.co.uk

CRAFT

Blooming Crafts in Redhill is holding a big calendar of workshops this Summer hols, including mosaic, scrapbooking, themed arts and crafts, mobile making, mother and daughter craft pamper days.

Book onto a class between 23rd July-1st Sept and get creative! facebook.com/ bloomingcraftsredhill

OUTDOOR Juniper Hall, home of the Field Studies Council in Dorking, is running a Summer Nature Club for 5-9 year olds, from 24th July-4th Aug. Kids can take part in activities including bushcraft & natural arts, animals, landscapes and conservation, as well as pond dipping and shelter building in the woods. Sessions run 9am4pm and cost £42. To book call 01306 734501 field-studies-council.org

Wild Explorers

Holiday Club August 2017

Nower Wood Nature Reserve, Leatherhead

Den building, minibeasts, campfire, crafts & much more!

Book online at

surreywildlifetrust.org/holiday-club

Families Surrey East 17

Holiday Clubs

Camp Glide

A-Z of Holiday Club providers Many other local clubs hold holiday activities and workshops. Contact your nearest dance, gymnastics or sports club for latest news.

Agon Sports Caterham & Whyteleafe. Multisports (511yrs) and football coaching courses (8-11yrs). Tel: 0208 6513319 agonsports.co.uk Belfry Centre, Redhill. Free family activities every Friday throughout the holidays. redhillbelfry.co.uk Blooming Crafts, Redhill.

Range of craft workshops throughout the Summer. 23rd July-1st Sept.

Tel: 01737 218328 Camp Glide, Wray Common Sch, Reigate. Multi-activity camp including swimming, dance, gymnastics and games.

Tel: 07449 532326 camp-glide.co.uk Camp Beaumont, Dunottar School, Reigate, RH2 7EL. Multiactivity for 3-16yrs. Tel: 01603 851000 Campbeaumont.co.uk

Ezeesport holiday Clubs, Leatherhead Leisure Centre.

Multisports. Tel: 07862 220857 ezeesport.com DASH holiday camps at Tandridge Leisure Centre, Oxted & DeStafford Sport Centre, Caterham. Theatre, cookery, craft and sports camps. Prices and dates vary, please call for details.

Tel: 01883 716717 tandridgetrust.co.uk Field Studies Council, Juniper Hall, Dorking. Summer Nature Camp. Tel: 01306 734501 field-studies-council.org Fire Tech Camps, Leatherhead. Science, Technology, Engineering & IT. Tel: 020 71934002 firetechcamp.com Fit for Sport, Dorking Sports Centre, RH4 1SW. Multisports.

Tel: 0845 4563233 fitforsport.co.uk.

Futsal Focus Academy, South Croydon. Football.

Tel: 0844 3181700 futsalfa.com

Day Camp Kids Holiday Ages 4 - 12 e.co.uk www.CampGlid 26 07449 5323 Reigate

GO WILD

this SUMMER

Easter, Summer and Half Terms

Wild Learning holiday clubs ● Fire

lighting building ● Nature walks ● Tracking ● Games ● Bushcraft ● Wild adventures Ages 5-12 10.15–4.00 ● Den

Farnham, Esher, Godalming, Guildford, Great Bookham, Farnham, Esher, Guildford Sheen, Reigate and Wimbledon Dorking, Wimbledon, Sheen and Godalming www.wild-learning.net or call 400 www.wild-learning.net call01483 01483424 424 400 18 Families Surrey East

Summer HT ad.indd 1

1/4/14 11:19:56

Girls Attack! Oxted. Netball.

Tel: 07896 902371 pitchero. com/clubs/girlsattack Inspire Academy of Dance, Reigate, RH3 7DJ. Trolls-themed performing arts courses. 7-11th August. Tel: 07783 138348 inspireacademyofdance.co.uk Mega Days at Hawthorns, Hawthorns School, Bletchingley, RH1 4QJ. Multiactivity. Tel: 01883 743377 hawthorns.com.

Mini Crickets, Leatherhead, Reigate & Banstead. Cricket skills camp for ages 3-8yrs. Tel: 01737 814399 minicrickets.com Perform Holiday Workshops, Esher & Wimbledon. Beauty and the Beast dance and drama workshops for kids aged 4-7yrs.

Tel: 0207 2559120 perform. org.uk/classes-courses/ holiday-courses Premier Sport, Tadworth Primary School, KT20 5RR. Multi-activity. sport.premiereducation.com/ SCL, Reigate, Banstead & Epsom sites. Multi-activity. Tel: 0845 6445747 wearescl.co.uk Sharp Sparks Science, Effingham. Science & IT. Tel: 07966 867775 sharp-spark.com Sports Focus UK, Reigate & Tadworth. Multisports.

Tel: 0844 3181700 sportsfocusuk.com Sporting Steps, Hillcroft School, Caterham.

Multisports. Tel: 0203 6051302 sportingsteps.com.

Stagecoach Coulsdon, The Ugly Duckling workshop for 4-6yr olds, £85 / Aladdin Jnr for 7-18yrs olds, £150. 31st Jul4th Aug. Tel: 0345 078 0805 stagecoach.co.uk/Coulsdon Stagecoach Dorking, Little Performers 4-6yr olds, £120 / 7-16yr olds, £160.

31st July-4th Aug Stagecoach.co.uk/Dorking

Stagecoach Leatherhead, Summer holiday workshop, 4-6 yr olds, £120 / 6-18 yr olds, £175. 24-28th Jul Stagecoach.co.uk/ leatherhead Stagecoach Reigate, Little Performers 4-6yr olds, £120 / 7-16yr olds, £160. 7-11th Aug Stagecoach.co.uk/Reigate Stagecoach Redhill, Circus Circus workshop for 4-6yr olds, £100 / Hairspray Jnr for 7-16yr olds, £150. 24-28th July Stagecoach.co.uk/Redhill Star Steppers, Reigate. Sing, dance and act in holiday workshops 8-10th August (6yrs+). School of Rock 2-hr workshop, 14th Aug star-steppers.com Super Camps, Sutton and South Croydon. Multiactivity. Tel: 01235 467300 supercamps.co.uk.

Tilgate Park Wildlife Rangers, Crawley. Forest School during school hols.

Tel: 07771 375254.

Wacky Wickets, Merstham Scout Hut, RH1 3LH. Cricket.

Tel: 07896 114068 facebook. com/WackyWickets/ Wet’n’Wild at Aquasports Merstham. Watersports for 8-13yr olds. Tel: 01737 644288 aquasports.co.uk Wild Explorers, Nower Wood, Leatherhead. Outdoor nature learning for ages 5-12yrs.

7-11th & 14-18th Aug, nonmembers £40 a day.

Tel: 01372 379509 surreywildlifetrust.org Wild Learning, Reigate, Dorking, Godalming and Guildford. Forest school outdoor activity camps.

Tel: 01483 424400 wild-learning.net YMCA, Redhill & Banstead.

Multi-activity. Tel: 01737 779979 or 01737 362058 ymcaeastsurrey.org.uk familiesonline.co.uk

Back to School No more lost clothes withLabels4Kids Get all set for the new school year with name tags from Labels4Kids - a family business with an awardwinning range of name labels.

Since 2004, Labels4Kids has helped thousands of families in the UK to bypass the lost and found box and get back lost belongings quickly.

In 2015, the company also started to sell name labels via John Lewis.

Labels4Kids range contains many different types of name labels - there are woven sew on labels, easy to use iron on labels, click on labels (tags that you simply click on with an applicator) or even stick on name labels that just go on the care label of the garment.

Get some peace of mind this summer with Labels4Kids Because kids lose stuff!

Independent School Open Mornings

For prospective parents - Autumn Term 2017 Open events require advance booking, so please call the school to check.

Aberdour School Burgh Heath KT20 6AJ. Boys & girls, 2-13 yrs.

Tel: 01737 354119

Essendene Lodge School

Micklefield School Reigate RH2 9DU.

Caterham CR3 5PB Girls & boys, 2.5-11 yrs. Tel: 01883 348349

micklefieldschool.co.uk 1st Nov

Boys & girls, 3-11 yrs. Tel: 01737 224212

aberdourschool.co.uk 6th Oct

essendenelodge.co.uk

Banstead Prep Banstead, SM7 3RA

The Hawthorns School

New co-ed independent for 2-11yrs.

Call for latest dates on 01737 363601. Bansteadprep.com

Bletchingley RH1 4QJ Boys & girls, 2-13 yrs. Call to visit on 01883 743048

Caterham Preparatory School

Hazelwood School Limpsfield, Oxted RH8 OQH Boys and girls, 4-13 yrs. Call 01883 733841

Oakhyrst Grange School Caterham

caterhamprepschool.co.uk

hazelwoodschool.co.uk 13th Oct

oakhyrstgrangeschool.co.uk

Chinthurst School Tadworth

Lingfield Notre Dame School

RH2 7RN Girls and boys, 3-11 yrs. Tel: 01737 244880 reigatestmarys.org

Harestone Valley Rd, CR3 6YB. Boys & girls, 3-11 yrs. Call Registrar on 01883 335046 to book.

KT20 5AP. Boys & girls 2-11 yrs.

Call to visit on 01737 812011

chinthurstschool.co.uk Downsend School Pre-Preps Leatherhead, Ashtead & Epsom.

Boys & girls, 2-6 yrs. Tel: 01372 372311 downsend.co.uk

Boys & girls 2-6 yrs - 2-6th Oct Boys & girls 6-13 yrs - 7th Oct Dunottar School Reigate, RH2

7EL Boyis and girls, 11-18yrs.

Tel: 01737 761945

dunottarschool.com 20th Sept

10% FAMILIES discount Visit labels4kids.com today to personalise yours. You can now get 10% off your first order with discount code FAM.

If the shoe fits…

hawthorns.com

Lingfield RH7 6PH. Co-educational Inter-denominational, 2½ -18 years.

Tel: 01342 838153 (Admissions)

lingfieldnd.co.uk Yr 8 – 26th Sept 2017 Prep School – 17 March 2018 Manor House School & Nursery Bookham KT23 4EN Girls 2-16 yrs.

Tel: 01372 457077

manorhouseschool.org 7th Oct Moor House Hurst Green, Oxted, RH8 9AQ. A specialist school for pupils with speech and language difficulties. Tel: 01883 712217 moorhouseschool.co.uk 3rd Nov; 19th Jan

Moon Hall College & Bury’s Court Leigh, RH2 8RE Boys and girls, 2.5-16 yrs. Call 01306 611372 or visit

buryscourtschool.co.uk and moonhallcollege.co.uk CR3 6AF Boys & girls, 3-11 yrs.

Call 01883 343344.

Reigate St Mary’s Chart Lane, Reigate Royal Alexandra & Albert School Reigate RH2 0TD Boys & girls, 7-18 yrs.

Tel: 01737 649000 raa-school.co.uk

23rd Sept St John’s Leatherhead, KT22 8SP

Girls & boys, 11-18 yrs. New Lower School. Tel: 01372 373000

stjohnsleatherhead.co.uk 29th & 30th Sept Warlingham Park School Nursery, Pre-school & Prep, Chelsham Common, Warlingham CR6 9PB. Boys & girls, 2-11 yrs. Tel: 01883 626844

warlinghamparkschool.com

Shopping

whatever weather the

The Belfry Shopping Centre in the heart of Redhill with a great mix of stores all under one roof.

Poorly fitting school shoes can cause painful problems, which your children could carry with them into later life. Your child’s feet will continue to grow and develop until they reach their teens, so getting it right now is vital.

Love keeping up to date at the Belfry? Follow us on social media!

It’s important to get their feet measured by a trained, professional shoe fitter in a shoe shop every 2 months. You can check the fit of your child’s shoes in between fittings yourself. There should be roughly a thumbnail’s length between the end of the shoe and your child’s toes.

US PLNewo,ved

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Where can I get my child’s feet measured locally?

Clarks – Dorking & Redhill clarks.co.uk Jones Bookmaker – Reigate & Crawley jonesbootmaker.com The Shoe Tree – Redhill theshoetree.co.uk JJs – Oxted Tel: 01883 715262 Strides – Caterham and Oxted stridesshoes.co.uk Bananalana – Sanderstead Tel: 020 8657 8888

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The cheapest parking in Redhill ‘like’ us on Facebook follow us on Twitter @BelfryShopping

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Families Surrey East 19

Back to School

Seize the summer with Explore Learning!

At Explore Learning we are encouraging families to seize the summer! To help you do this we have put together a jam-packed summer programme with creative ideas on how to keep your child’s brain active over the holidays, so they are ready to settle back into the new school year confidently!

Start a blog

Learn some new skills, as a family, by creating a blog together. Give your child a little note book to jot ideas down whilst you are out and about, then write up what you’ve done. Take lots of pictures as these are a great tool to help children who find writing tricky. Encourage them to describe what is happening in the picture to get their creativity flowing.

Have a movie night

Research carried out by Explore Learning highlighted watching TV/ films is the number one thing children wanted to do over the summer. Use this to motivate your child to read.

Find a book that has been made into a film that your child wants to watch.

Then plan a movie night far enough in advance so you can read the book together before enjoying the film.

Send a postcard

Let your friends and family know what you’ve been up to with a postcard.

They’re only short so are a wonderful way to get a bit of writing going during the holidays. If your child is reluctant to write, then why not try a postcard app like By Post? They can take their own pictures to make into postcards and type their message.

Read, read and read some more A study by Oxford University Press showed that just 10mins of shared reading a day can have a huge impact on children’s progress. Pop a book in your bag so you can use any opportunity to get your daily 10 mins in. We will be uploading weekly activities that you can complete with your child to help keep them engaged with what they are reading. Visit explorelearning. co.uk/summer to find out more and download your first activity!

Play some games

There are bound to be some rainy days this summer, so use this as a chance to get out some board games. These are great for so many reasons, from developing language to improving

memory skills. Needs some new games? Have a scavenger hunt in local charity shops to see who in the family can find the best game.

Tuition

To keep your children progressing over the summer, a tuition centre is a great option.

Prevent the battle ground of getting children to do work at home and get them along to a centre where there are lots of other children getting involved. Explore Learning runs maths and English sessions as well as a whole range of interactive workshops throughout the holidays to keep your child’s brain active. The best thing is you can go along and try one of these for free, so get in touch today!

Sign up for a FREE TRIAL at your local Explore Learning Centre in Crawley and Epsom now at www.explorelearning.co.uk

EducationInvestor

Awards 2016

20 Families Surrey East

familiesonline.co.uk

For more What's On visit familiesonline.co.uk

WHAT’S ON Theatre

The Emperor’s New Clothes The Hawth Theatre, Crawley, RH10 6YZ. Retelling on the classic fairytale, with largerthan-life characters and lots of audience participation. For ages 5+yrs. 5 Aug hawth.co.uk

What's On Guide FREE Punch & Judy Shows Denbies Wine Estate, Dorking RH5 6AA.Traditional children’s shows at 10.30am, 12pm & 2pm. 9 August denbies.co.uk

Please tell advertisers you saw them in Families Surrey East!

Outdoor Theatre, Cinema & Music We’re Going on a Bear Hunt Dorking Halls, Dorking, RH4 1SG. Michael Rosen’s awardwinning book is brought vividly and noisily to the stage. For ages 3+. 22 & 23 July dorkinghalls.co.uk Dogs Don’t Do Ballet The Harlequin Theatre, Redhill, RH1 1NN Meet Biff, the moonlighting ballet dancing dog. 8 July harlequintheatre.co.uk Westside Story The Barn Theatre, Oxted RH8 0AA. Oxted Junior Operatic Society is performing Sondheim’s West Side Story. 19-22 July barntheatreoxted.co.uk

Lazy Jazz Sundays Polesden Lacey, Great Bookham RH5 6BD Listen to live jazz on the South Lawn. Every Sunday in July and Aug, 2-4pm nationaltrust. org.uk/polesden-lacey Twelfth Night Polesden Lacey, Great Bookham RH5 6BD. Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night performed in the open air. Bring a picnic blanket!

8 & 9 July. Tickets from dorkinghalls.co.uk Hobgoblin Children’s Theatre Denbies Wine Estate, Dorking RH5 6AA. Dedicated kids’ performance in the Vineyard. £7.50 per child. 2 Aug, 11am & 2pm denbies.co.uk

The Girl and The Giraffe The Leatherhead Theatre, Leatherhead KT22 8DN Beautiful storytelling in this sensitive show about wellbeing and friendship, told from a child's perspective.

Ages 3-6yrs. 26 July theleatherheadtheatre.org Big Wow Small Wonder The Hawth Theatre, Crawley, RH10 6YZ. With humour, poetry & original music, this is a tall story about the wonders of being small. For ages 4-9yrs.

5 Aug hawth.co.uk familiesonline.co.uk

Guildford Lido Open Air Cinema Stoke Rd, GU1 1HB. Family friendly film screenings Shrek (14 Jul); Top Gun (15 Jul); Jungle Book (18 Aug); Footloose (19 Aug); Pirates of the Caribbean (20 Aug). guildfordlido.co.uk Dotty the Dragon Reigate Priory Park.

Fantastic outdoor theatre for all the family is coming to Reigate’s Priory Park this summer!

Dotty the Dragon is a funny, heartwarming tale with magical songs and exquisite puppetry, by acclaimed Blunderbus Theatre. A perfect treat for 3-7 year olds and their grown-ups, on Tuesday 22 August, 2.30 or 5.30pm. Book now at harlequintheatre.co.uk

Redhill & Reigate Artistic Roller Skating Club SKATING PARTIES / FUN SESSIONS Sundays 11.30am-1.25pm at Reigate College Sports Hall, Rushworth Road

LAST SATURDAY OF THE MONTH:

ROLLER DISCOS 6-8pm for all ages

at Hawthorns School, Bletchingley For more details please call Barry on

01293 776266 bbridger@lineone.net

Peter Pan Leith Hill Place, Dorking Visit Neverland with Chapterhouse Theatre and follow the adventures of Peter Pan. 2 Aug, 2pm & 6pm nationaltrust.org.uk Open Air Theatre at Hatchlands Park East Clandon GU4 7RT. Programme for the Summer includes Dogs Don’t Do Ballet (3 Aug); Comedy of Errors (6 Aug); Wind in the Willows (9 & 10 Aug) and Northanger Abbey (30 Aug). Nationaltrust.org. uk/hatchlands

Boats open daily 10am - 5pm during school holidays and weekends, weather permitting. Cafe open 7 days a week. @earlswoodboats Earlswood Lakes Cafe & Boats

WoodHatCH Road, REigatE SuRREy RH2 7QH Families Surrey East 21

What's On Guide Outdoor and nature Wild Tots Sessions Nower Wood Nature Reserve, Leatherhead KT22 8QA. Forest School-inspired adventures for kids aged 2-6, with an adult.

Friday 7, 14, 21 July, 10:30am12:30pm. Booking essential surreywildlifetrust.org Nower Wood Summer Open Day Nower Wood Nature Reserve, Leatherhead KT22 8QA. Visit the new education centre and take part in free activities such as pond dipping and minibeast hunts.

Booking essential. 15 July, 11am & 2pm surreywildlifetrust.org

Butterflies of Norbury Park Young Street car park, off A246 nr Leatherhead.

Explore the chalk grasslands and wander through woodland on the lookout for butterflies.

Family (2 Adults + 3 Kids) £20. 17 Jul, 6-7pm surreywildlifetrust.org Henfold Birds of Prey Denbies Wine Estate, Dorking RH5 6AA. Come and see the magnificent birds between 11am-3pm.

FREE display at 12.30pm.

26 July & 9, 16 & 30 Aug denbies.co.uk

British Wildlife Centre See over 40 species of native wildlife in the barn, hedgerow, noctursl ares and badge set. See stunning foxes and red quirrels in their enclosures and enjoy keep talks. Open everyday throughout the Summer hols. Family of 4 £37. 22 July-3 Sept, 10am-5pm britishwildlifecentre.co.uk Minibeasts and Microscopes Nower Wood Nature Reserve, Leatherhead KT22 8QA.Collect creatures from the woodland and ponds and see them under our video-microscope.

Booking essential. 26 July, 11am surreywildlifetrust.org Outlaw Survival at Gatton Park Reigate RH2 0TW. Have fun learning survival skills in the woods and parkland. A self-guided trail with activities. Picnics welcome.

Booking essential. 27 July, 123.30pm gattonpark.com Pond Dipping Gatton Park, Reigate RH2 0TW. Explore the animal life in the hidden depths of Gatton’s ponds. 31 July, 10am & 1.30pm gattonpark.com

Summer Fun From colourful open-air theatre to messing about by the river, there's something to make you smile at a National Trust property near you this summer: Claremont Landscape Garden, Hatchlands Park, Morden Hall Park, Polesden Lacey, River Wey and Winkworth Arboretum.

Call 0344 800 1985 for details nationaltrust.org.uk #nationaltrust

When you visit, donate, volunteer or join the National Trust, your support helps us to look after special places in Surrey for ever, for everyone.

© National Trust 2017. The National Trust is an independent registered charity, number 205846. Photography © National Trust Images\NTI/Paul Harris.

22 Families Surrey East

Pony Magic Hatchlands Park, East Clandon.

3-5min pony rides for children.

For 2-11yrs. NAA + £3 per ride.

Dates throughout Aug. nationaltrust.org.uk/ hatchlands-park Wild Explorers Day Camp Bay Pond, Godstone RH9 8LT Engage your child in den building, campfire cooking & firelighting! For ages 7-11. 1 August, 10am-3.30pm. Booking essential surreywildlifetrust.org Bat walks Polesden Lacey, Great Bookham RH5 6BD.Use bat detectors to try and find nocturnal residents in Polesden’s gardens and estate.

Various dates throughout Aug. Call to book nationaltrust.org. uk/polesden-lacey

Birds of Prey RHS Wisley Gardens, Woking GU23 6BQ. Meet wonderful birds of prey up close and learn all about them during this weekend. Watch the birds in daily agility displays. 5-6 Aug, 11am & 2pm rhs.org.uk Star Gazing Dapdune Wharf, Guildford If the weather’s fine, count shooting stars with Guildford Astronomical Society. Perseids should be at their most visible tonight. 12 Aug, 8.30pm. nationaltrust.org.uk Summer Nature Trail Train Ride Denbies Wine Estate, Dorking RH5 6AA.Bring your teddy for a train ride to find out about the vineyard’s wildlife. 16 & 30 Aug, 10am, 11am & 2pm denbies.co.uk Tropical Rainforest Roadshow Denbies Wine Estate, Dorking RH5 6AA. Mini all manner of mini beatss, incl. snakes, lizards & frogs. £7.50 per child. 23 Aug, 11am & 2pm denbies.co.uk

Arts and crafts Arts Fest RHS Wisley Gardens, Woking GU23 6BQ. Live music, performances, a programme of poetry and craft stalls and demos from the Surrey Guild of Craftsmen. Take part in a sand sculpture workshop in the beautiful surroundings of the garden. 15-16 July rhs.org.uk Reigate Crafter’s Market Reigate Priory School, Reigate. Stalls of handmade clothes, jewellery, furniture and homeware. 16 July, 2pm.

Go Wild summer crafts Polesden Lacey, Great Bookham RH5 6BD. Pick up a bag full of craft activities and games and explore the woods.

Weekdays only. 22 Jul-3 Sept nationaltrust.org.uk/ polesden-lacey

familiesonline.co.uk

What's On Guide

For more What's On visit familiesonline.co.uk

Worth Park Wednesdays Worth Park, Crawley RH10 3DH. Free craft activities, games and trails to help you enjoy the park. Free, no need to book. Every Weds in the holidays.

Rainbow Trust Summer Crafts Denbies Wine Estate, Dorking RH5 6AA. Craft Wednesdays all through the Summer hols, from £1.40. 113pm. denbies.co.uk Meet the Millers Shalford Mill, Guildford GU4 8BS. Join Maggie from Imbham’s Farm Granary for making and baking picnic pizzas. Ages 6+. Wed 9 Aug 11am-4pm nationaltrust. org.uk/shalford-mill Have A Go Archery Hatchlands Park, East Clandon. Think you're the next Robin Hood? Exciting, safe archery classes for ages 6+. NAA +£2 for 6 arrows. 28 August, 11am3pm nationaltrust.org.uk/ hatchlands-park

Festivals & fetes Limetree School Summer Fayre Battlebridge Lane, Merstham RH1 3LH.Food, games inflatables and refreshments.

8 July, 11-2pm Dormansland Carnival Disney-themed carnival day. Stalls, silent auction, dog show and more. 8 July, 1.30pm dormanslandcarnival.org Crawley Down Summer Fair Crawley Down C of E School, RH10 4XA. BBQ, Pimms bar and inflatable assault course.

8 July, 11.30am-3pm crawleydownvillage.co.uk/ diary.php RSPCA Family Fun Day RSPCA South Godstone, RH9 8JB. Family fun day for families and their 4-legged friends! Dog show, music, games, stalls and facepainting. 9 July, 11am-4pm. familiesonline.co.uk

Burstow School Hawaiian Fair Smallfield, RH6 9PT. Surf simulator, live music, fancy dress, BBQ and lots of family fun. 15 Jul, 12-3pm

Outwood Horticultural Show Lloyd Hall, Outwood Annual horticultural show; annual country show has been postponed this year. 2 Sept.

Chipstead Flower Show Elmore, High Rd, Chipstead Annual competitive flower show. 15 July, 12.30-5pm chipsteadvilllage.org

Donkey Derby Polesden Lacey, Great Bookham RH5 6BD. Enjoy a family funday full of donkey races, dog shows and fayre games in support of the Leatherhead Lions. 3 Sept nationaltrust.org.uk/ polesden-lacey

Reigate Skatepark Jam Priory Park, Reigate. BMX, skate, comps and live music.

15 July. See Facebook for more info.

Brockham Victorian Fair Brockham Green, Nr Dorking. Fun fair, full programme of family events, fete, dog shows, magician and live music. Finale is the Brockham Duck Race from Borough Bridge on Sun 16th at 3pm. Tickets for the ducks can be bought on Sat 15th from the Brockham Green Nursery stall at the Victorian Fair. Prizes range from £10025. 14-16 July brockham.org Hartsfield Manor Family Fun Day Betchworth, RH3 7AA Bouncy castle, BBQ, face painting & games. 16 Jul, 124pm hartsfieldmanor.co.uk EAT fest Priory Park, Reigate. Local food, music and festival fun.

Pizza Express hosts a live stage. 22-23 July eatfoodfest. co.uk Priory Fields Festival Priory Park, Reigate. Move Revolution sponsors summer family festival, with music from Boogie Monsters. 26 July.

South Park Sports Association Fun Day Whitehall Lane, Reigate, RH2 Inflatables, kids races, BBQ & tombola. 5 Aug, 12-5pm Godstone Fete & Donkey Derby Godstone Green, Godstone Punch & Judy, donkey derby races, stalls and traditional family fun. 28 Aug, 11am-5pm godstonefete.co.uk

Days out Oxted Model Railway Exhibition Oxted School, Oxted RH8 0AB Around 20 model railway layouts in a variety of scales from tiny Z gauge to O Gauge.

Layouts include Midsummer End, 1940's steam railway with model aircraft flying above and Volks Railway, based on the railway on Brighton sea front.

9th Jul, 10am-4.30pm Jousting at Hever Castle Hever Castle, Edenbridge TN8 7NG. The Knights of Royal England return to battle it out at the annual Jousting Tournament. A thrilling display of action, stunts, falls and fights in an authentic arena complete with Royal Box. July 15 & 16; 22 & 23; 29 & 30 July and 12 & 13; 19 & 20; 25-28 August. Hevercastle.co.uk

Victorian Picnic Worth Park, Crawley RH10 3DH. Victorian picnic with live music, arts and crafts, food and drink for sale. 16 July, 11-3.30pm crawley.gov.uk Jane Austen Day Painshill, Cobham KT11 1JE Celebrate the author’s bicentenary with historic games, archery, fancy dress and horse-drawn carriage rides across the grounds. 16 July Painshill.co.uk The Famous Five on a Garden Adventure RHS Wisley Gardens, Woking GU23 6BQ. Celebrate the 75th anniversary of Enid Blyton’s Famous Five this summer. Children are invited to follow a self-guided trail & help Uncle Quentin to uncover more about the mysterious Robo Bees.

Crafts, den building, garden games & storytelling. On 11 August you can celebrate Enid Blyton’s birthday with a delightful themed picnic party. 22 July-3 September rhs.org.uk Thomas the Tank at KESR Tenterden TN30 6HE. Meet your favourite engine and his friends at the Kent & East Sussex Railway. 22-24 July kesr.org.uk

SUNDAY 27th & MONDAY 28th AUGUST LINGFIELD, SURREY RH7 6LL (6 MILES SOUTH OF J6, M25) Under 16s FREE with an adult ticket holder  Shetland Pony Grand National  BMX Stunts  Meet the Meerkats  Huge Livestock section  Advice on Gardening, Poultry & Bees  Archery  Fly fishing  Flower and Dog Shows  Craft & Regional Food Marquees  Top Showjumping

FAST TRACK ENTRY, REDUCED PRICE ADVANCE TICKETS and MEMBERSHIP PACKAGES with entry to exclusive Members’ Enclosure.

www.edenbridge-show.co.uk REGISTERED CHARITY NO. 1102127

Families Surrey East 23

For more What's On visit familiesonline.co.uk

Tudor Tales Hever Castle, Edenbridge TN8 7NG. Discover what life was like when English archers ruled the battlefield, learn about the history of the bow and its use in Tudor times. 22-23 July hevercastle.co.uk Summer Fun on the Farm Bocketts Farm, Leatherhead KT22 9BS. Enjoy a full programme of activities at Bocketts this Summer. Kids will enjoy the Animal Passport Trail as they collect stamps from around the farm. Other activities include pony rides, tractor rides, gold panning, animal handling, goat milking & the famous pig racing. Don’t miss the brilliant Water Wars Splash Zone, the 2 large indoor play barns, trampolines, young driver’s area, sandpits and 2 giant jumping pillows! 22 July-3 Sept bockettsfarm.co.uk Knights & Princesses School Hever Castle, Edenbridge TN8 7NG. Experience what it was like to grow up and serve in a royal household in medieval times. Kids are encouraged to get into the spirit by coming in costume. Take part in a fun sword practise and receive a Knight School. From 22 July hevercastle.co.uk Animal Antics Godstone Farm, Godstone RH9 8LX. A full Summer of animal antics including The Hog’stacle Course Pig Racing, Ferret Agility, Pony Grooming, Animal Handling, Guinea Pig Brushing, Runner Duck Racing, Big Pig and Piglet Feeding. As well as the usual tractor rides, dino trail, adventure playgrounds and indoor soft play area. 22 Jul-3 Sept godstonefarm.co.uk

Trails and Tales at Gatton Park Redhill RH2 0TW. Enjoy a story and craft activity, for ages 2-4yrs. Weds & Fri throughout the Summer hols. Stories including The Gruffalo, Where the Wild Things Are and Zog. Booking essential. 26 Jul-1 Sept Gattonpark.com Day out with Thomas Watercress Line, New Alresford, Hant SO24 9JG.Meet Thomas the Tank Engine and his friends. Ride a steam engine, shake hands with The Fat Controller and enjoy Thomas themed activities. 5- 13 Aug. watercressline.co.uk Castle Canines Hever Castle, Edenbridge TN8 7NG. Enjoy a weekend dedicated to our canine friends with informative displays, entertainment and a fun dog show. 5-6 Aug hevercastle.co.uk Paw Patrol at Hop Farm Paddock Wood TN12 6PY.Meet Chase & Marshall and enjoy bumper boats, Zorbs, 4D cinema & bouncy castles on 9 & 23 Aug thehopfarm.co.uk Big Wednesdays at Horniman Museum Horniman Museum, Forest Hill SE23 3PQ. Storytelling, performances, arts and craft, dance & films. Part of the Indian Summer event. 9, 16, 23, 30 Aug horniman.ac.uk Reigate Caves Open Day Tunnel Road, Reigate.

Visit Tunnel caves and Barons Cave between 10am-4pm. Kids under 5 go FREE. 12th Aug reigatecaves.com

Egyptian Day Chiddingstone Castle, Teddy Bears Picnic Edenbridge TN8 7AD. Family& Train Ride friendly talks by Egyptologists, Denbies Wine Estate, Dorking RH5 the opportunity to handle 6AA. Bring your teddy for a train 3,000 year old objects and ride around the estate. £7.50 per lots more included in the child. 26 July, 10am, 11am & 2pm. usual admission price! 13 Aug Chiddingstonecastle.org.uk Inside Clandon Nr Guildford GU4 7RQ Visit Teddy Trips on Spa Clandon to learn more about Valley Railway how the Trust’s largest restoration Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN2 5QY. project in a generation is Take Teddy out for the day on progressing. 26 Jul-29 Oct the Spa Valley Railway. 12-13 Aug (Wed-Sun & bank hols) spavalleyrailway.co.uk 24 Families Surrey East

What's On Guide Out of town If you fancy travelling a bit further

this Summer, all of these events are within an hour’s drive of the East Surrey area.

Proud Country House Festival Stanmer Park, Brighton BN1 9QA. Tree climbing and circus skills workshops, treasure hunts, craft, forest school and a Big Fish Little Fish family rave – there’s a packed calendar of events this Summer at Stanmer. 1 Jul-10 Sept stanmerhouse.co.uk Brogdale Collection Cherry Fair Faversham, Kent ME13 8XZ Visit the National Fruit Collection for cherrythemed entertainment including the legendary cherry pip spit, cherry pie eating competition, live music and displays. 16 July brogdalecollections.org

Kew Gardens Science Festival Richmond TW9 3AE. Discover DNA, microscopic gardens and identify exotic plant species. Activities, workshops and tours, celebrating the incredible discoveries and pioneering work of Kew scientists.

4-6 Aug Kew.org England’s Medieval Festival Herstmonceaux Castle, East Sussex. Music, dancing, jousting, reenactment and medieval family activities at the 25th anniversary of medieval life. Camping available.

26-28 Aug englands medievalfestival.com

Lingfield Races Family Fun Day Lingfield Park, Lingfield RH7 6PQ. Pirates and Princesses themed family race day with 7 flat races. 21 Aug, 12-5pm lingfieldpark.co.uk Wings & Wheels Dunsfold Aerodrome, nr Guildford. Lancasters, Spitfires and the Red Arrows Typhoon display team lead the line-up at this annual airshow. 26-27th Aug, 9am-9pm wingsandwheels.net Edenbridge and Oxted Agricultural Show Ardenrun Showground, Edenbridge RH7 6LL.Massive two-day countryside event including animal handling, country sports and dog shows. Kids go FREE! 27-28 August edenbridge-show.co.uk

Surrey SME Open Day Mill Lane, Leatherhead Take a picnic and enjoy the model trains. £9 for 5 rides. 28 Aug, 11am-4pm ssme.co.uk

One for the diary!

Gatwick Fun Day Gatwick Aviation Museum, Lowfield Heath Rd, Charlwood RH6 0BT. In a first of its kind, Gatwick Aviation Museum, in association with Gatwick Airport, is hosting a special family fun day. Come and enjoy demonstrations, activities and refreshments at the Museum, with visits from the Sussex Police, Gatwick Fire Service, Airfield teams and many more.

16 Sept, 10am-4pm.

Nearly New Sales Redhill, Reigate & Horley NCT 8 July. Holy Family Church, Reigate RH2 9HF nct.org.uk Dorking NCT 30 Sept, 10.15am. North Holmwood Village Hall, Dorking, RH5 4JP nct.org.uk Mum2mum Market 15 July, 11am-1pm. St Mark’s Church, Alma Rd, Reigate RH2 0DA Mums2mumsmarket.co.uk

Bumps2Babies Nearly New Sales 2nd Sept, 2-4pm. PNL Centre, St Joseph’s Redhill, RH1 1LF bumps2babiessales.com familiesonline.co.uk