Families Upon Avon Issue 20 May-June 2011

Issue 20 • May/June 2011 • www.familiesuponavon.co.uk

FR EE

upon Avon

PARTIES FEATURE! Bright ideas for their big day

Local News

The latest from your region

School Gardens Create an outside classroom oasis

What’s On

Your guide to local events, clubs and activities

The FREE Magazine for Families in Bath & North East Somerset, North Wiltshire & Bradford on Avon

FAMILIETSION COMPETI

WIN A FAMILY TICKET TO ATBRISTOL! To celebrate the launch of At-Bristol latest ‘All About Us’ exhibition At-Bristol is giving Families Upon Avon readers the chance to win a fun day out for all the family!

You can explore all about the human brain and body and discover just how amazing your nearest and dearest really are with All About Us! Get under the skin of what makes us so special with over 50 new exhibits. Carry out real experiments in Live Lab, get to see your own veins with Vein Viewer and explore the wonders of the human brain with our Real Human Brain exhibit.

As well as All About Us there are over 300 other interactive inspiring exhibits, Storytelling, science busking and live science shows to entertain and engross the whole family for hours! And you cannot finish off your visit without a trip to the stars in the amazing Planetarium.

So to win a fun day in At-Bristol, simply answer this question: What is the name of the new exhibition in At-Bristol?

Send your name, answer and contact details (address, telephone number) by Email to: competition@at-bristol. org.uk or by post to: Families upon Avon Competition, At-Bristol, Anchor Road, Harbourside, Bristol, BS1 5DB Terms and conditions: Competition closes 20 June 2011. Winner will be notified.

Prize is a family ticket to At-Bristol (max 2 adults).

Something Dad will never forget this Father’s day!

Gone are the days of chocolates or the latest DVD for dads this Father’s Day. A unique handcrafted dog tag, cuff links or key ring will be all the rage this year as Emma Morley and her Smallprint franchise takes fingerprint jewellery to the next level.

Why not make a mini work of art for dad? An existing drawing can be e-mailed or posted to Emma, who can imprint the drawing into the precious metal clay which is then fired into cuff links, a dog tag or key ring.

Emma said: “What could be better on Father’s Day to give your little artist the recognition he or she deserves by showcasing their masterpiece on a piece of fine silver jewellery for all to see, and make Dad proud.”

Log on to www.smallp.co.uk to see the exciting range of fine silver jewellery with a difference

What’s Inside?

2-5

Local News

6-7

Party Feature

8

Natural ways to strengthen the immune system

9

Do you breastfeed in public?

10-11 School gardens: an outdoor classroom oasis 12

It’s official: Volunteering is good for you!

13-15 What’s On

Cover image courtesy of Oscar & Rose Photography www.oscar-and-rose.co.uk, 07828 683129

Next Issue: July/August Issue 21 Copy Deadline: 17th June 2011 Distribution 1st Week of August 2011 13,500 copies of Families upon Avon are available through nurseries, schools, libraries, selected shops and other points throughout Bath and North East Somerset, North Wiltshire and Bradford on Avon. If you would like some free copies for your organisation please let us know.

Call 07921 257992 or email editor@familiesuponavon.co.uk Designed by: Mark Mayers: www.markmayers.co.uk Printed by: Bishops Printers: 023 9233 4900 www.bishops-printers.co.uk © Families upon Avon April 2011.

Disclaimer: Any original materials submitted for publication are sent at the owners own risk, whilst every care is taken neither Families upon Avon nor its agents accept liability for loss or damage. We take care preparing this magazine but the publishers and distributors cannot be held responsible for the claims of advertisers, nor the accuracy of the contents nor for any consequence.

Families Group: Families upon Avon is part of a group established in 1990 and headed by Families South West (London). All magazines in the Group are independently owned and operated under licence.

New photography studio for Oscar & Rose We love the work of Emma from Oscar & Rose Photography and that is the reason we ask her to provide the cover images for Families upon Avon. Emma has supplied this and our previous edition images and prides herself on capturing people and events in a relaxed and informal manner.

More of a ‘stylist with a camera’ than just a photographer, she brings a variety of props and fun to every session whether it be with children, families, hen parties or wedding shoots.

Emma has recently opened a small studio-room in the town centre of Corsham where clients can come and have a full hair and make-up makeover before having some gorgeous portrait and/or boudoir shots.

Emma will be at the French Market fair in Corsham on 25th June with a Seaside Theme pop-up studio, where anybody can come and get their photo taken along with props like bucket and spades, beach balls, deck-chairs etc.

Please visit the website: www.oscar-and-rose.co.uk to see her portfolio, or to keep bang-up to date, please visit her Facebook page: www.facebook.com/ oscarandrosephotography

DON’T FORGET FATHER’S DAY! 2

Families upon Avon

• May/June 2011

SUND 19TH JUAY NE

Local News Music centre signs first executive director Wiltshire’s world-class concert hall welcomes its first Executive Director, Clare Jack, who will take the Bradford-on-Avon venue into a new stage of development.

Clare has lived in Salisbury for 20 years and joins Wiltshire Music Centre from Salisbury Arts Festival where she worked as the Finance and Operations Manager.

She said: “The Centre is a unique venue because it’s the only purpose-built concert hall in the region. It offers a top quality programme of classical, world, folk and jazz music. As a keen concertgoer, I was delighted to take the opportunity to work at a venue which also offers one of the best sound experiences in the UK.” The Centre opened in 1998, built with funding from one of the first National Lottery grants. A staggering 21 world premieres have been staged at the centre.

The Centre’s Artistic Director, Keith Nimmo, will continue to develop the concert programme, attracting established and emerging talent to the 300-seat venue.

He will also take over the Centre’s work to nurture musical interest and ability in schools and communities across the whole county, which has so far run to more than 70 projects, involving 22,000 young people and more than 200 schools.

Full details of forthcoming concerts are available at www.wiltshiremusic.org.uk

London 2012 hopeful unveils breezy future for Wiltshire school Paralympic silver-medallist Ben Rushgrove officially launched the wind turbine at Marshfield Primary School, Chippenham last month.

The eco-conscious school, on Chippenham Road, installed a 12kW wind turbine in its grounds to generate electricity and help tackle climate change. It is anticipated that the turbine will generate 24,000 kWh of electricity every year – half of the school’s total needs. This will save the school over £2,000 in electricity bills and reduce its carbon emissions by around 14 tonnes a year.

The £52,098 cost of the renewable energy project was met thanks to £23,000 from the EDF Energy Green Fund, £26,048 from the Government’s Low Carbon Building’s Programme and £3,050 from the school’s own funds. Contributions were also made from M J Church, First Shipping Company, Rolls Royce and the school’s Parent Teacher Association. A live display monitor will show how much electricity the turbine is generating and any surplus energy will be sold back to the National Grid.

23-year-old Ben Rushgrove, from Bath has already collected an impressive number of medals, including silver in the T36 classification 100m at the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games.

In January he won silver and bronze at the IPC World Championships in New Zealand and his aim is to secure a medal at the London 2012 Paralympic Games.

NCT launches parenting iPhone app NCT, the UK’s largest parenting charity, has just launched the first interactive charity iPhone application for parents, ‘NCT Babychange’. It’s free to download and allows you to locate the nearest baby changing facility in the area, view its star rating, and then rate it for other parents to use.

The app already has over 5000 baby changing sites listed including supermarkets, train stations, shops, restaurants, libraries with the capacity to add more.

Using geo-location based features and Google Maps, you can pin point the nearest baby changing facilities. Selecting a particular facility will bring up its name and current ‘star’ hygiene rating. Places highlighted in green indicate a clean, hygiene level that’s recommended for use again.

As a guide to others, after visiting a changing station, you can confirm it is open and rate it on two sets of criteria depending on its hygiene condition: • How clean were the facilities, rate using 1-5 stars.

• Would you use the facilities again, rate with yes/no answer.

The charity is also calling on mums and dads to add new or unlisted baby changing sites to the app’s database, and rate them, so that even more parents can benefit.

Further details at www.nct.org.uk/babychanging

Bath junior choir sing for heroes Does your child like to sing? If so, then the Bath Bach Junior Choir would love to hear from you.

They are a group of children aged between 8 and 15 from schools in and around Bath that meet every Monday at the United Reformed Church at 6pm. They told us “We give performances of our own and also sing at the adult choir’s concerts a couple of times a year. We recently performed in Wootton Bassett at a concert organised to raise funds for the Afghan Heroes Charity. We sang the song Forever Young which we have also recorded on a CD for the charity.”

The choir sings a wide repertoire of music ranging from Classical to Gospel, Pop to Jazz and is a great way for young people to meet, make friends and sing together. Check out the website for more details including upcoming performances. www.bathbachchoir.org.uk

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Editorial inclusion in the local news pages is always FREE

Ever thought of setting up your own playgroup?

Liz Hearn of Bath shares her experience in opening a new local Toddler group.

Setting up a brand new Toddler group sounds easy when you first have the idea.

It has been a busy and exciting six month journey, from the initial idea to opening the doors at Oldfield Park Baptist Church for the first meeting of Noah’s Ark – Tiny Tots and Toddlers.

For me the timing was just right.

A reduced workload meant there was space in my life for a small project like this to get going.

I know how much I enjoyed the benefits of toddlers’ groups when my daughter was small.

The church has been looking for ways to help people in our local community and it has a great building in a great location and a great big warm welcome. What could be better than opening the doors to people looking after little ones for a friendly chat and a coffee, with lots of play?!

Noah’s Ark – Tiny Tots and Toddlers meet on Tuesdays from 10.00 – 12.00 during school term time at Oldfield Park Baptist Church, at the end of Moorland Road in the main church Building – entrance off Triangle East. For more details visit www. oldfieldparkbaptist.org.uk/noahs-ark. html. Or call Liz 01225 334621 or Sharon 01225 462737.

Five steps for starting a new group 1 Talk to lots of different people. Sure Start Children’s Centres are a good place to start. Talk to parents and carers and people who already run groups on different days to yours. Ask them what works well and what they like.

2 Do your research about which day of the week to meet and location, so as not to clash with existing events. Get your venue booked up with a realistic target start date.

3 Write a policy that describes exactly how your group works. Take inspiration from the great variety of styles in different existing groups. In particular think about ‘safeguarding’ – that is all the different things that impact health and safety of children, protecting them from dangers.

Writing a policy helps you get your head around all the details right from the start.

4 Don’t go buying up lots of brand new toys – let the word out that you are looking for good quality second hand stuff for a new toddler group. It really is surprising where it comes from, so you don’t need a huge budget to get going.

5 Get some support from a team of helpers – share the load.

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Families upon Avon

Dads take on 100 miles a day cycle challenge We met local Dads Craig Kirk and Tim Millsop as they set off on an 80 mile cycle ride as part of their training for their 900 mile journey from Land’s End to John O’Groats in May. Craig from Corsham and Tim from Chippenham, met through their local NCT ante-natal group 3 years ago and have both been inspired to take on the challenge to raise money for their respective charities.

The journey would normally take up to 15 days but Craig, along with his brother Mark are aiming to complete the journey in just 10 days and Tim in only 9!

Craig and Mark sadly lost their mother last July after a two year battle with bowel cancer. They will set off on 28th May to raise funds for Macmillan Cancer Support in recognition of the support their family received during the fortnight that preceded her death.

Craig told us “We cannot thank MacMillan Nurses enough for the invaluable support provided to our mother and father during that final fortnight; they provided much support, advice and assistance as and when it was required. They were simply doing their job, but rest assured, they made such a difference to all of our lives, especially our mum’s”.

Thanks go to Cycology Bikes of Chippenham for their support in providing windproof clothing and spares for the journey.

Tim is cycling for his 7 year old nephew Harry who in 2008 was diagnosed with Late Infantile NCL (a specific form of Batten’s disease) a regressive disorder, which through a series of seizures, has left Harry needing 24 hour specialist care. Harry’s life is a quiet, silent one having gradually lost his sight and control over his body and unable to express feeling or acknowledge if he can even hear anything. Harry’s condition is so rare that at the time he was diagnosed there were only 10 families in the UK that were diagnosed with this strain of Batten’s disease and so there is currently no cure for his condition.

Tim will set off on 21st May to raise funds for the BDFA (Batten’s Disease Family Association) who carry out research into this horrendous condition and also support families that have to live through the nightmare. You can follow Tim on his journey via http://supportharrymillsop.blogspot.com If you would like to help support Craig or Tim in any way, you can contact us at editor@familiesuponavon.co.uk or provide a donation online at: www.justgiving.com/craig-mark-kirk www.justgiving.com/ supportharrymillsop Any support is very much appreciated.

The East Somerset Railway ready for spring The new season has begun for East Somerset Railway. Volunteers have been very busy over the winter working on the engines, carriages and wagons preparing them for the coming year of heritage steam services.

During the winter months when the Railway is closed, a team also work along the line side cutting back the vegetation which left unchecked would encroach on the track. ESR Chairman Dick Masters said “This is a popular task amongst the volunteers giving the chance of working outside with some good exercise and doing a really worthwhile job.”

This year the ESR has a full programme of events including Wine & Dine services on the Mendip Belle. A new event ‘Models and Miniatures’ is also being planned in the summer. More information is available on the website www.eastsomersetrailway.com and tickets are also available online.

• May/June 2011

If you have some interesting news email: editor@familiesuponavon.co.uk

Longleat unveils new attractions for 2011

Longleat opened its doors for the 2011 season promising a series of exciting new attractions.

New Attractions: Visitors will be able to explore Jungle Kingdom, a new multi million pound attraction, with the UK’s first walkthrough meerkat enclosure. Other highlights will include hand feeding Rainbow Lorikeets in the Lorikeet Feeding Station and the chance to enjoy the antics of the miniature monkeys in Monkey Temple! A new Parkland Deer Feeding Experience launched this spring. An ever-popular feature

of the Safari Park, this new parkland ‘on foot’ experience allows visitors to get really close to our herd of fallow deer as they eat direct from your hand!

New Animals: Famous for its lions, Longleat Safari Park will open with new male lions. A group of wildebeest have also been introduced to the park along with two new white rhino that have joined the existing herd.

The Safari Park will become home to the fastest land animal, the cheetah, as it joins the Longleat Big Cats in the new Cheetah Kingdom (opens summer 2011).

Meanwhile… the Monkeys are Back!

Love them or hate them, the Longleat monkeys have always been one of the most memorable experiences of a Longleat visit! Now they’re back and ready to create monkey mayhem! (Open soon) New Shows: Visitors will be able to see a falcon stoop at over 100 mph, feel vultures swoop over your heads, marvel at a ‘carousel of kites’ and witness the sheer spectacle of the majestic eagle taking flight.

Experience the excitement of some of the world’s top predators as they take to the skies in ‘Hunters of the Sky’, daily shows brought to you by the Hawk Conservancy Trust… opens later this year! For full details visit www.longleat.co.uk

‘Nanny in a Book’ – The commonsense guide to childcare Nanny in a Book, which has been written in association with Norland College, is now available in bookshops.

A recent Government report suggested that many parents still need guidance on the basic principles of parenting. Nanny in a Book is based on a wealth of experience - a handbook for parents full of top tips and personal advice.

Nanny in a Book is a practical companion to childcare that will help parents with: • Setting up a nursery • Sleeping, weaning and potty training • Teaching children good manners and behaviour • Travelling with children • Nursing common ailments from sore tummies to measles • Organising a fabulous birthday party.

Nanny in a Book by Louise Heren & Susan McMillan.

Published by Vermilion and priced at £12.99.

Norland’s share of profits from the book will be donated to the Norland Benevolent Fund which was set up as a charitable trust in 1915 by Norland’s founder, Emily Ward.

Growing Needs grow upstairs April saw the much anticipated opening of Upstairs @ Growing Needs, a new space above the shop in Bradford on Avon offering a variety of different therapies and courses.

Rachel and Dean opened their shop in October 2009 and have been busy getting the space above ready as a continuation of the shop which now offers the following treatments; • Pregnancy massage • Full body holistic massage • Reflexology • Baby massage • Aromatherapy massage (coming soon) • Baby reflexology (coming soon) Upstairs @ Growing Needs will also offer many different training courses, workshops and classes all relating to pregnancy, birth, babies, children and family life.

For a full list of therapies and courses visit www.growing-needs. co.uk. For more information, booking places and times for individual therapies please ask in the shop, call 01225 867707 or email info@growing-needs.co.uk

Cabaret style concerts mark the opening of Museum’s new Swordfish Centre A series of cabaret-style concerts will mark the opening of the Fleet Air Arm Museum’s newly redeveloped Swordfish Centre.

The new development replaces the previous ‘Swordfish Centre’. Building work commenced last year The stylish new restaurant with a refit of the conference area where a new ceiling, lighting and flooring were added. Work on the restaurant commenced last November. It has been completely redesigned and refitted with a new entrance lobby and toilet area. Inside the café there is a new servery, flooring, lighting, tables, chairs and a stylish designer colour scheme.

The series of concerts will commence in May with a Big Band evening performed by two award winning bands; the Yeovilton Volunteer Band and Berties Big Band.

The summer concert will be an evening of rock music performed

by Somerset rock band Junk Male whose music is described as ‘Old Gold Retold’. Concert tickets are available online on www.fleetairarm.com Says Ursula Bell, the Museum’s head of Finance and Business Operations “It has been hard work raising funds for these improvements but our visitor experience is at the heart of everything we do and the new series of cabaret style concerts will give us the opportunity to celebrate the opening in style.”

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Bright ideas for birthdays From an original article by Robina Cowan

Did someone say party? Yes, I’m afraid so. One thing’s as sure as eggs is eggs - your child WILL have another birthday in the next year. We’ve put on our party hats to help you organise a successful birthday party that everyone will be talking about - until at least next year.

Seven to nine year-olds are ready for more concentration and involvement in the party entertainment. Most are now old enough and skilled enough for arts and crafts (making their own goodie bag filler at the same time, which is jolly handy). Alternatively, dancing, circus skills, drama or a team treasure hunt are good ways of harnessing energy - if you fail to plan they’re likely to fall back on that old favourite - “who can scream the loudest?”

Ages 10+ and this worldly-wise lot are unlikely to want Mummy and Daddy embarrassing them by donning a paper hat and insisting on joining in (save it for when they’re reaching their teens - it’ll be SO much more fun for you). They will want to do something special, such as bowling, karting, a mini disco in the living room, or a Glee style drama and singing workshop. Alternatively, a good bet is a jaw-dropping magic show, particularly when they can ‘help’. Hopefully too, by this age they won’t harangue the magician with “I know how you did that”, as I overheard recently.

Photo: Oscar & Rose Photography

Planning your party Crowd control: entertainers

Bubbles, puppets, drama, music, ‘make’ party or magician? A good entertainer will bring your party to life and keep the children enthralled while you enjoy the fun from a safe distance. While there are parents who think nothing of timetabling two hours of games, entertaining other people’s children is not a breeze, which is where expert help is well worth the investment.

TIP: Children’s entertainers generally have vast experience and contacts which you can tap into. Ask them about local venues for hire, a realistic timetable and suitable prizes as well as the entertainment itself.

Find out their preferred age group and the maximum number of children they will cope with - too many and you’ll not get the best out of them. Write down everything you’ve agreed together so there is no doubt on the day.

Take them out: venues

Before you start It’s worth bearing in mind the differing needs, interests and numbers of particular age groups. Don’t feel the party has to last all afternoon - around two hours is enough, before everyone gets tired and emotional (not least the host parents). As a guide: One and two year-olds aren’t yet ready for a big affair. Most parents opt for a family get-together or a not too big buffet with a handful of friends with similar aged children. Enjoy it while you can - it’s a doddle to organise and sociable for the adults (it has been known for babies to sleep right through while the grown ups catch up over nibbles) Three year-olds need planned activities. Name badge them on arrival then capture their imagination with simple ‘circle time’ singing and clapping games, or ‘dancing’ (i.e. jumping up and down to music). Balloons burst and it can all end in tears - hang them high as decorations rather than introducing them as playthings. The ideal guest list for this age is around 8-12 children in a venue where they feel familiar - usually your home (sorry about that!)

Four to six year-olds enjoy joining in with traditional party games, such as Simon Says, Musical Bumps, Pass the Parcel, What’s the Time Mr Wolf, and Musical Lions (a favourite with parents, as the children have to be quiet, and still!). Allow space and time too for simply zipping around for a burst of unstructured play (which is where you’ll be thankful you blew up all those balloons). Plenty of engaging games and giggles keep things rolling, and if you’re hiring help, puppeteers, music-makers or storytellers are a good bet. A maximum of 20 guests at this age is about right

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Families upon Avon

• May/June 2011

It might feel less imaginative than an organised bun fight at yours, but do you really have the time, energy and creativity to decorate your house as a fairy or superhero den, then clear it all up four hours later? Happily there are plenty of places where all you have to do is pay the per-head charge and the guests will be entertained and fed, leaving you to return to your quiet, tidy house afterwards. Try child-friendly restaurants, bowling alleys, go-karting, indoor play centres, sports clubs, the zoo, a pottery painting studio or cinema.

TIP: Book well ahead. There are only so many party groups venues can accommodate at any given time – you don’t want to be scratching around at the last minute and end up having to book ‘second best’.

Themed parties

A great idea when your child has a particular interest, themes can be explored in many different ways. How about a drama, musical, circus or magic party, a sports party; or get crafty making bags, jewellery or cookies, or print t-shirts to match the theme.

TIP: Take the theme throughout the party - print off related pictures from the web as wall decorations, ask the guests to dress up with a prize for the best home-made hat.

Top tips

• It’s all in the timing: For little children, 11am-1pm or 12-2pm are best.

Most of them have been up since six and they’re past their best by the afternoon. For older children a lunchtime slot or mid afternoon start will work • Liaise with parents whose children have birthdays around the same time.

If you both book the same day for a party, the guest list will be tricky.

Joining forces is a much better idea - you can share the costs and the hassle • Keep the food simple and don’t over cater. Most children are too excited to have a big appetite. Limit the junk food and remember some children maybe vegetarian or have a food intolerance • Sleepovers: come midnight, you’ll be regretting it... Planning ahead is KEY. Read our ‘been there, done that’ parent’s guide: go to www. familiesonline.co.uk and type ‘successful sleepovers’ into the search box.

From what I can tell, there are two simple options to choose from 1 You refuse to be out-done by any of the other parties that you have been invited to and so accept the fact that in order to secure yourself at the top of the birthday party pecking order, you vow that the party you have will be the most extravagant and include everyone your child has contact with. Despite the cost this will of course, ensure your child’s popularity as well as your own.

Birthday party politics

By the Editor

There was a time when children would come away from a birthday party sugar fuelled and happy with a take-away bag of soggy cake and napkin having spent a few hours of musical chairs, sausages on sticks and jelly & ice-cream. These days, in the minds of the children I suspect not much has changed – except maybe the addition of a games console but for the parents, there is so much more at stake.

If like us you are new to the game, then you will be debating the route you take but beware, once you have made your choice, it will take a strong will or a very fat wallet to make the move to the other side.

2 You refuse to fall foul of the party politics and set a strict budget, invite family and a few of your child’s close friends and send everyone away with a piece of cake, a balloon and whilst you are probably left with the clearing up, you also get to keep your dignity and your savings intact.

Despite this, it is believed the average family will spend up to £450 every year celebrating their children’s birthdays, with one in ten families admitting throwing a party simply to impress the other parents.

Don’t get me wrong, my children deserve the best and no expense will be spared to meet their expectation and to ensure they have a great day.

However, there will be no danger of you walking away with a party bag of goodies worth more than the present you probably arrived with and if that means I am not invited to the next big social event, then I will just have to cope with that.

But don’t forget, despite the outcome of the party politics this year please don’t take it out on the children. This is, after all, their big day, not yours.

Reducing party pressure • Encourage guests to RSVP – there is nothing more annoying than not knowing how many children will be attending, not to mention the expense of trying to add children’s meals at the last minute.

• Always have additional party bags/giveaways ready just in case someone brings their older or younger sibling without notice.

• Try not to open presents at the party as other children always like to get involved and this can upset the birthday boy/girl who wants to open their presents themselves and be the first to play with their new toy. Plus it helps you to keep track of who gave which present for the thank you notes.

• If you intend to host your party at home consider if you have enough room in your house for all your guests if the weather turns bad. Think about hiring a small marquee or play it safe and book a local hall.

• Make a party plan – it will help if you have an idea of when you want things to happen and ensure you keep organised and fit everything in. You can then enjoy the party too!

Partying with prudence From an original article by Susan Lightfoot

Here’s some other ideas on how to cut cost that involve a little extra effort on your part but without being a party pooper.

• Share your party and you will half the cost at least – but be aware, parties with flocks of children can be impersonal and a little unruly.

• For party bags use brown paper bags or even sandwich bags. The cake is the sweet treat.

Packs of books from www.thebookpeople. co.uk can cost less than £1 each. Car boot sale toys are always cheap. Give them a clean, wrap them up and put them in a lucky dip as they leave.

• Simplify your party menu. Pizza delivered to your party is a great idea and the kids love it and for drinks do squash rather than individual

juices. Jelly is cheaper and more amusing than lots of biscuits or fairy cakes.

• Party in the park or garden. If you’re lucky enough to have a spring or summer birthday then the park or garden is a must.

• Get creative with your entertainment Traditional games are more fun! A disco dancing competition. Make something together – save all your recycling and the children can have fun sticking and painting together like a giant collage. Paint a plant pot.

This doubles as an activity and a going home gift and you could add seeds like sunflowers.

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• May/June 2011 7

Natural ways to

strengthen the immune system From an original article by Penny Crowther, nutritionist

Most people know that the immune system defends the body against infections, viruses, cancer cells, fungi and other parasites. What is less realised is that an unhealthy immune system speeds up the ageing process and is a major factor in fatigue, chronic inflammation (e.g. asthma, eczema, rheumatoid arthritis) and allergies. A well functioning immune system is vitally important for overall health.

As we emerge from winter into spring, the seasonal change can often bring an increased vulnerability to infections and illness. I asked experienced complementary health practitioners with an integrated approach to health and in this article they share their knowledge with you on helping to strengthen the immune system.

Boost up your defences

Modern medicine is based on the theory that germs cause illness. But there are a significant number of experts, scientists amongst them, who believe that germs are not the primary cause of illness. If this were true, how can we explain the fact that out of three people exposed to a respiratory germ, only one will get pneumonia, the second person will get minor cold symptoms whilst the third person remains unaffected? This is because whether or not the germ becomes disease causing is dependent on your internal body environment. Even Louis Pasteur, the father of the germ theory, recognized this when he said “The germ is nothing, the terrain everything”.

There is much you can do to improve the ‘terrain’ and strengthen resistance. Two key areas to focus on are stimulating the flow of lymph and reducing the effects of stress.

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The lymphatic system transports the army of immune cells and acts as a drainage channel for wastes and toxins. Lymph nodes are concentrated in the neck, chest and groin and when there is a lot of immune activity going on, these areas will swell. The thymus gland (at the top of the breast bone), spleen and tonsils are important lymph organs.

Unlike the blood circulation which is constantly activated by the heart, the lymph has no pump. Lymph is dependent on physical movement for its flow. Treatments such as massage and reflexology are very helpful to stimulate the flow of lymph and the blood circulation.

Reflexologist Sara Wood explains “My focus is to help balance and support the vitality of the lymphatic system, working the lymph, the spleen and the thyroid by applying pressure to specific reflex points in the foot which connect to these organs”.

A lymphatic massage technique that reflects the movement of the lymph through the body can also be applied as well as working on the organs of elimination such as the kidneys, liver, colon and skin through the reflexes. This helps the body clear itself of toxins and waste, allowing the immune system to work better.

Massage therapist Clare Williams says “Massage increases the activity of white blood cells that target and destroy infectious agents and in immune deficiency it increases antibody production. With regular massage, the immune system is strengthened and it becomes more robust.”

In our 24 hour society it is hard to escape stress of one kind or another. Under immediate stress, such as, for example, having a row with your partner or children, the adrenal glands pump out adrenaline which prepares the body for what is in effect a ‘state of emergency’. Various physiological changes take place including increased heart rate and blood pressure. This is known as the ‘fight or flight’ response and if it is constantly stimulated, it has a ‘wear and tear’ effect on the immune system. With more prolonged stress, levels of cortisol start to rise which not only weakens the immune system but affects sleep and weight and contributes to bone loss and hormonal imbalance.

The field of psychoneuroimmunology is revealing links between the mind and the immune system. Worry, anxiety and negative thoughts will trigger a stress response in the same way as an actual threat. Anxiety has been shown to increase susceptibility to viral infection. Anxious people exposed to stress showed increases in infection rates from 74% to 90%, and clinical colds rose from 27% to 47%.

Massage and reflexology also help calm the nervous system. During a treatment the Reflexologist stimulates more than 7,000 nerves when touching the feet. A recent study concluded that after receiving reflexology, healthy people experienced a significant decrease in anxiety, tension and worry and an increase in wellbeing.

Finally, don’t forget the importance of good nutrition. Many people don’t realize that 70% of the immune system is in the gut which means that what you eat will have a powerful impact. Healthy bowel movements are essential to avoid a breeding ground of unhealthy bacteria caused by waste backing up in the intestine. Probiotics and fibre intake are important in this respect. Fibre should be the gentle soluble kind such as oats, brown rice, spelt rather than irritant wheat fibre. Too much sugar will help yeast organisms to flourish in the gut and it blocks the uptake of vitamin C, a key immune enhancing vitamin.

Nutritional therapist Penny Crowther advises “Make sure you are getting enough of the key immune nutrients that may be lacking in the average diet. Research has proved that deficiency of vitamin D, an important immune related vitamin is relatively common so make sure you eat oily fish, or take a supplement. Zinc is also vital, particularly for children and teenagers.

The production and function of immune cells are dependent on adequate zinc levels and very recent research found that this mineral helped reduce the duration of a cold. Meat such as lamb and seafood are the richest sources.

Lastly, check you are eating foods containing Omega 3 and 6 fats (oily fish, nuts and seeds). These fats are converted into substances which regulate immune function.”

MORE INFORMATION

Visit www.growing-needs.co.uk for a new range of local treatments or www.cloverhouse.org for their unique therapies for children.

Do you breastfeed in public?

From an original article by Joanna Parry

Of course. We all do, don’t we? Actually, no. For many of us just the thought of it makes us feel nervous and stressed. The truth is, most of us are just not comfortable breastfeeding in a public place.

Breastfeeding in public… and feeling relaxed about it

The easiest way to feel a little more relaxed in public is to ensure you wear clothing that is designed for easy access.

Take a look at some of the following websites:

Breastfeeding products: www.babybubu.co.uk www.MumsTheWord.com www.fayeandlou.co.uk www.freedombabe.co.uk www.momabib.co.uk www.hermama.com www.rootitooti.co.uk

Breastfeeding websites

www.breastfeedingnetwork.org.uk www.breastfeeding.nhs.uk www.laleche.org.uk When researching this article, I spoke to a friend who raised both of her children in Vienna. She was shocked by how prudish we are in the UK when it comes to breastfeeding.

While in many countries no one bats an eyelid, in Britain it seems to be a different story.

Officially, breast is best. Breastfeeding will give our children higher IQs, keep them free of ear infections and allergies, obesity, heart disease and diabetes. The World Health Organisation recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months of a child’s life but although other countries’ breastfeeding rates are on the up, the UK has one of the lowest in Europe. This may be to do with our confusion over what is best for our babies or a rebellion against over-zealous health visitors demanding we breastfeed on demand day and night but pro-breastfeeding groups, including the National Childbirth Trust, say that anxiety about being stopped in public is putting mothers off.

It’s not illegal to breastfeed in public (although a few of the women I interviewed believed it was, and certainly some of the men), but it was only last year that England clarified the law on breastfeeding: under the Sexual Discrimination Act a woman breastfeeding a child of any age may not be discriminated against when feeding in places such as restaurants, cafes, surgeries and libraries. If the child is under 6 months old the mother is also protected under the grounds of maternity discrimination.

Sadly this has not stopped some women being told to leave when breastfeeding in a public place. Even now that the law has been made clear, the NCT still reports that 63% of breastfeeding women had received ‘unsupportive comments or behaviour from other people’.

Although 84% of people are happy for

mothers to breastfeed in public, as long as it is discreet, there are still some for whom public breastfeeding is an unpleasant and unnecessary occupation: “I’m fed up of having to go for lunch and be greeted with middle class women who feel that everybody else should be ok with seeing them breastfeeding in public. Do I have to eat my lunch looking at that?” says Alec. “It just looks common and slatternly,” echoes Matthew. “It’s obscene, illegal and the equivalent of me exposing myself in Café Nero.” One gentleman goes as far as saying: “I would compare a breast-feeding mother to a flasher at the school gate. They both upset me equally and they both have the same motive, self-seeking exhibitionism.”

With these extreme opinions it is unsurprising that women end up feeding in cars or changing rooms, or choose to stay at home.

But there is hope. Some women are happy to feed in public: “I breastfed in public until a late age,” says Susie. “A lot of people are disapproving if your child is over a year, but this never bothered me.” “I have breastfed four babies and feeding in public allows me and my older children to have a busy, active and interesting life,” says Jessica.

“I have fed everywhere from the giraffe house at London Zoo to the London Eye, not to mention trains, parks, coffee shops, supermarkets and restaurants. I think people are very kind - the only negative thing I’ve found is that you can get trapped by well-meaning people who want to talk.”

But how do we do it without getting stressed and nervous? With so many cafes and public places devoid of nappy changing facilities and bottle-warming equipment, it’s not surprising so few places offer private, quiet places to feed. And even if they did, who wants to sit on their own while their non-feeding friends are happily enjoying their lattes? Surely breastfeeding in public can be as private as breastfeeding at home, and as relaxing.

Families upon Avon

• May/June 2011 9

School gardens:

an outdoor classroom oasis From the book How to plant a School Garden, published by Timber Press

Layout

“Children can chart the growth of plants or watch as a bee pollinates a flower.”

A school garden can be many things – a place of study, an opportunity for new experiences, an outdoor classroom or an oasis of calm. It can be an opportunity to teach children about our complex and fascinating ecosystem, provide on-site ‘field trip’ opportunities for students even in the most resource-deficient schools, and it can help children learn about food and nutrition by planting edible crops or about the local habitat by planting native plants. School gardens may be as small as raised boxes on the ground or planters on a rooftop or as large as an unused playing field turned into a mini-farm with chickens, goats and sheep. The common denominator of all school gardens is that it can be used as an outdoor classroom: children can chart the growth of plants or watch as a bee pollinates a flower. The present generation of school children is largely disconnected from agriculture and nutrition and in many cases from the natural world, and a school garden can teach them to care about ecology and environmental issues.

It’s no wonder that school gardens are becoming popular again.

The old adage ‘getting your hands in the dirt’ is literally what kids do in a school garden and once they are engaged in this simple act, worlds are opened up.

How to plant a school garden

A school garden can be planted anywhere – at the edge of the playground, behind the climbing frame or around the football goal.

Once you’ve chosen your spot, it’s probably an idea to throw all notions of aesthetic perfection away - rows of carrots will be imperfect, wheelbarrows will tip up and dirt will fly everywhere. Don’t forget to get the children involved: they can draw or describe what would be their perfect school garden – would it be a place to play or read, with fruit to pick? In addition to wanting a frog pond and plants for butterflies, they may ask to include a rocket launching pad, a pasture for horses and a swimming pool! Get them to paint signs for the garden and label the beds; the more kid-centered your garden is, the more they will be enthusiastic and excited. Whatever you do, don’t be stopped by lack of knowledge – within a group of parents and teachers there will be someone with a basic understanding of horticulture or gardening and if there are any landscape architects lurking out there, get them involved!

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• May/June 2011

When you’re deciding on the theme and structure of your garden, don’t forget to include a seating area where a class can gather. Seats can be made of inexpensive straw bales (which can then be used the following year to mulch the flower beds!) or tree rounds (find a variety that doesn’t exude sap). Your local tree care service will be useful in locating trees that are slated for removal, and might even cut the rounds for you. For moveable seating go for stackable plastic stools.

Benches of stone, wood or concrete add resting spots around the garden.

Include a shade structure or rain shelter in your design. This can be permanent or removable like a mini-marquee.

A centrally located table is a great place for children to do seed saving, cutting, or drawing and observing with hand-held lenses. It should be large enough that a class can gather around. If you have an electrical store nearby, the large wooden spools used to wrap electrical wire can be set on end and work as excellent (and free!) tables.

Take the time to design your garden with clearly laid out paths around beds, up a slope and to the tool shed. Go on a walk of the site and get a sense of how you move through the space. If you are going to have raised beds this will be easier than if you have in-ground planting areas.

Well-defined beds (where plants grow) and paths (where feet go) will go a long way to reduce trampling!

Planting beds

There are many ways to design and build beds in a garden. Urban schools are often pressed for space and container gardens are the easiest and most practical solution, while some schools may have ample space and are able to plant directly into the ground.

Containers - many school gardens begin as container gardens, a great way to pilot a project. Planter boxes shouldn’t be more than three feet wide so smaller kids can reach the middle of the box. Make sure boxes have a sturdy bottom and drainage holes. One difficulty with container gardens is that the plants are dependent upon their human caretakers for food and water and if they dry out or have insufficient nutrients in the soil they will die. Suggestions for containers are recycled plastic pots, livestock water troughs or terra cotta pots.

Raised beds – an advantage to raised beds is that they delineate garden space and help children understand the difference between planted and un-planted space. Build raised beds about 18–24 inches high and with a width of not more than three feet. If you are building raised beds on the ground, the bed needs no bottom. This allows you to plant deep-rooted plants and ensures proper drainage. Raised beds built from wood are expensive to build but you can use wattle (tubular netting filled with straw) which can be laid on the ground in any shape and backfilled with soil for planting. It has to be replaced every few years but is inexpensive. Urbanite, or chunks of broken up concrete can also be used and is considered a green building material.

Alternatively, in-ground planting gives a rural, farm-field feeling and requires few resources.

If you’re planting fruit or vegetables, don’t forget to plant enough to share with the inevitable critters that will take up residence and the little fingers that will pinch the strawberries when nobody is looking!

Products that should not be used in a school garden • Pressure treated wood, which contains chemicals unsuitable for food crops and for children to touch.

• Plastic lumber made with wood fiber, which can be from pressuretreated wood and will eventually break down in the soil.

• Train ties because of their creosote content.

• Old tires and products made from recycled tires as they may leach contaminants into the soil.

• Most plywood, which contains adhesives known to be carcinogenic in high concentrations.

• Recycled wood, if you don’t know the origin.

• Old bricks with paint on them to avoid possible lead contamination.

• Before accepting a donation of topsoil, ask where it came from.

Don’t accept soil that used to be around the base of old buildings that might have been painted with lead, or near busy roads with lead-heavy exhaust settling nearby.

School gardens are a great way on which to build community and a fantastic means of encouraging your children to learn and for parents to get involved. They are springing up everywhere, with each as different as the next. Good luck with yours!

RSPB Wildlife Action Awards

The RSPB Wildlife Action Award scheme is designed to help children, families and groups discover wildlife and do practical things to help. From pond dipping to planting trees, there are plenty of activities to inspire young people as they work their way towards different bronze, silver and gold awards.

Be a bug hunter

There are 33 activities to choose from including feeding birds, being environmentally friendly and writing to an MP. One activity you can take part in is to get close up to minibeasts.

Insects, bugs, creepy-crawlies and minibeasts are names used to describe a huge range of different creatures and insects. One of the best things about them is that they are everywhere and you can easily make your garden a great place for minibeasts.

Here are just a few suggestions

• Leave a long patch of grass, ideally in a sunny spot – good for butterflies, grasshoppers and crickets.

• Pile up leaves in a shady corner of the garden – good for worms, woodlice and slugs.

• Bind twigs together tightly with string and wedge it in a fork in a tree, or place it on the ground in an out-of-the-way spot – good for ladybirds and other beetles.

• Plant nectar-rich flowers like honeysuckle, lavender and marigolds – good for small tortoiseshells, hoverflies and honey bees.

Finding and catching minibeasts is the best way for you to get close to them.

Here are two ways you can do this: • Pitfall trapping. Pitfall traps are containers set into the ground to catch minibeasts that creep along.

• Pooter. A pooter is a special collecting tube that you use to catch insects by sucking through a tube. You can make your very own pitfall trap or pooter. You don’t need to buy any special equipment – you can make everything with things you can either find at home or buy cheaply.

SPECIAIELS FAMIL R OFFE

Readers can order ‘How to Grow a School Garden’ for the special price of £12.99 (rrp £17.99), plus free p&p in the UK mainland.

To order, contact Timber Press: 020 7372 1703 sales@timberpress.co.uk, quoting offer code FM411.

Offer ends 31 August 2011.

How do I make a pitfall trap?

1 Choose a site for your pitfall trap – try somewhere with plenty of plants, under a hedge or tree or in a flowerbed are good places.

2 Dig a hole the size of a margarine tub. Remove the lid of the tub and put the empty pot into the hole so that its rim is level with the ground.

3 Place some banana in the tub to attract the minibeasts.

4 Leave the pitfall trap overnight and check in the morning what creatures have been caught. You could put your catches into a pot or jar so you can have a closer look at them.

5 Don’t forget to release any creatures once you have identified them.

6 Only put a pitfall trap out on a dry night because minibeasts will drown if the trap fills with rainwater.

How do I make a pooter?

1 First punch two holes in the lid of a jar (or plastic pot).

The hole should be no bigger than the width of a straw.

2 Get two straws. Cover one end of one of the straws with cloth and fasten in place with a rubber band.

Take the lid off your pot and push the straw that has the cloth-covered end through the lid so that the cloth-covered end is in the jar.

3 Put the lid back on and then put a little piece of tape around the top of the straw that sticks out of the jar.

4 Push one end of the other piece of straw into the other hole in the jar.

5 To pick up a minibeast, place the straw that doesn’t have the coloured tape up against insects small enough to travel safely down the tubes.

Then suck on the tube with the cloth on the end that you have marked with the piece of tape. As you suck, the insect will be drawn into the jar and the cloth will stop you from sucking the insect up – yuk!

6 Only put the tube up against insects small enough to travel safely down the tubes.

7 Always put minibeasts back where they came from.

How do I get involved?

If you would like to find out about all the activities you can do, and how to take part in the awards, you can send off for a Wildlife action awards booklet. The booklet costs £3 and has all the information you need to achieve the awards. Every child that takes part receives a special certificate and stickers.

For further details, visit the RSPB youth website: www.rspb.org.uk/youth/

Families upon Avon

• May/June 2011 11

It’s official:

Volunteering is good for you!

From an original article by Sam Hannay

So why do people volunteer?

Social contact – many people use volunteering as a way of meeting people and developing a valuable social network. Volunteering promotes social support and interaction and can provide an opportunity to use skills in a different environment or simply get out of the house for some physical activity.

Feel-good factor – volunteering can offer us the feeling that we are a significant part of the world around us and that people notice, care about and value our existence. People see volunteering as an effective use of spare time, when they can contribute to their community and ‘give something back’ to society, particularly as society values volunteer roles. Volunteering is often seen as a way to help others – people or animals - less fortunate than ourselves which contributes to a feeling of self-worth.

“Never doubt Personal development – volunteering can be a that a small group fantastic way to acquire new skills and learning, of thoughtful whether someone is trying to gain experience citizens can change in a new field, demonstrate their commitment to a particular role or establish a route back into the world.” the workplace. Employers value volunteer work as highly as paid experience, particularly as it demonstrates commitment and motivation.

Personal satisfaction – volunteering offers an extensive choice of activities which can generally be fitted around people’s work and family lives. Some people use the experience of volunteering as a way to gain challenge and achievement which may be lacking in their paid roles. A volunteer role may also offer the opportunity to satisfy a life-long desire or work in a field that is unavailable to them in a paid capacity.

To share experience or skills - volunteer roles can provide people A systematic research review paper was published with the ability to share their experiences with others or pass along much needed skills, again promoting feelings of self-worth. Volunteer by the Lampeter University, Wales, which highlights management committees provide a platform for decision making, financial a number of health benefits linked to volunteering. responsibility, publicity and fundraising, event management and many other However, I don’t believe it takes a scientist to highly skilled, team roles.

So if you’re keen; be prepared not only to help but to tell people come to the conclusion that doing any form of what you are good at and what you want to get out of it. There are many volunteering can make us feel good, both in terms organisations in the region who would be really happy to hear from you. of our physical and emotional wellbeing.

If you need help getting started why not contact Call IT – Volunteer Centre Wiltshire (featured in Issue 18) on 0845 521 6224 or visit www.volunteercentrewiltshire.org.uk.

Margaret Mead, an American Anthropologist said “Never doubt that a And remember a good cause is just that, anything from helping small group of thoughtful citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only children to the elderly, animals and charities. And let’s not forget some of thing that ever has.” Volunteers can do anything! In various settings and the local attractions you may visit over the summer may also only be open circumstances around the world there are volunteer doctors, cleaners, due to the volunteers who help. cooks, lawyers, gardeners, engineers… the list is virtually endless.

For instance East Somerset Railway are looking for volunteers to Many organisations are entirely run by volunteers, or have volunteer help if you have the right skills to assist as Guards, Building Maintenance, management committees and it can be said that volunteers are the Chippies, Permanent Way and Events. They are guaranteeing joblifeblood of any charity organisation. satisfaction and a great social atmosphere!

One of their existing volunteers James is 21 years old. He has a fulltime job elsewhere and began as a trainee guard and is now working to become a loco Fireman. This takes around 3 years. James says “Working as Families upon Avon a part-time volunteer is fun. It gives you a unique social life, and is helping to is only made possible keep steam travel alive!” by the support of our

local advertisers.

Please let them know you heard about their product or service through Families upon Avon.

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Families upon Avon

• May/June 2011

Samantha Hannay has both trained volunteers and been one and now runs her own training and coaching company Making Sense of Parenthood, Samantha is also a postnatal leader for the NCT.

What’s On

THE ROMAN BATHS Stall Street, Bath, BA1 1LZ Tel: +44 (0)1225 477785 www.romanbaths.co.uk

Please always phone before setting out in case details have changed since our press deadline.

EVENTS & EXHIBITIONS AT BRISTOL Anchor Road, Harbourside, Bristol, BS1 5DB 0117 909 2000. www.at-bristol.org.uk‎ Live Lab! 11 March - 31 December Drop into our Live Lab area where you can take part in real experiments and watch dissections!

Spring Night Sky Planetarium Show 15 March - 20 June, 21 June - 19 September Embark upon an amazing journey around the Universe.

Toddler Takeover 6 May Come rain or shine! Toddlers take over At-Bristol in this fun-filled day for little ones!

Storytelling 7 & 8 May, 14 & 15 May, 21 & 22 May, 28 May - 5 June, 11 & 12 June, 18 & 19 June, 25 & 26 June Let yourself get swept up in a story! 11.30 am weekends and holidays

Toddler Time - includes storytelling!

9, 16 & 23 May, 6 June, 20 June, 27 June Get to meet other parents and carers in the fun and friendly surroundings of At-Bristol. Half price entry for parents and carers. Under fives go FREE The Bang and Boom Show!

7 & 8 May, 14 & 15 May, 21 & 22 May, 28 May - 5 Jun, 11 & 12 June, 18 & 19 June, 25 & 26 June Expect bangs and blasts in our brand new show about the science of chemistry! Usually 12.30 and 3.30 weekends and holidays (subject to availability) Festival of Ideas: Bjørn Lomborg 31 May Putting Global Warming into Perspective. Bjørn Lomborg believes that global warming is real, man-made and will have a serious impact on humans and the environment toward the end of this century.

Festival of Nature 18 & 19 June Investigate what life there is in the water of Bristol’s docks!

27 June

Love Your Museum Weekend!

Friday 29 April to Monday 2 May 10.00-1.00 & 2.00-4.00pm Bank holiday activities for all: meet costumed characters, make a laurel wreathe & Are You a Roman Citizen? Put your home onto our map to find out!

Regally Framed - Fashion Museum Sunday 1 May & Monday 2 May 10.30-12.30 & 1.30-3.30pm Create a majestic photo frame.

A Night at the Roman Baths Friday 13 May. 6.30-9.00pm Enjoy this evening torch-lit event and find out about Bath in 100 Objects.

Families upon Avon

• May/June 2011 13

LACOCK ABBEY, NEAR CHIPPENHAM The National Trust 01249 730459 www.nationaltrust.org.uk/lacock Tudor Falconry Sunday 22 May, 11 to 4pm Experience an elegant Tudor sport - falconry was one of the Tudor monarch’s favourite pastimes. Flying displays, informal chat and the possibility of handling a bird with falconer Jonathon Marshal in Tudor costume. Normal admission prices apply. National Trust members and under fives FREE. The Amazing Pinhole Camera Day! Monday 2 May, 11am to 4pm A day exploring this amazing photographic technique. Justin Quinnell, pinhole camera expert, will be hosting short workshops (timed tickets available at reception on the day). Mark Philpot will demonstrate his digital pinhole camera techniques. Photographers who work with handmade techniques are invited to book a portfolio review with Jesseca Ferguson and Roger Watson (please book an appointment in advance by contacting foxtalbotmuseum@ nationaltrust.org.uk). There will also be an impromptu exhibition of some of the handmade photographic prints brought in for review. Children can make a pinhole camera to take home with them. Normal admission prices apply. National Trust members and under fives FREE. Life in the Civil War Saturday 4 June, 11am to 4pm Lacock was occupied by a Royalist garrison during the Civil War. Meet the Marcher Stuarts Living History Group and find out about life for civilians in this turbulent time, and meet a musketeer or two. Not a battle. Normal admission prices apply. National Trust members and under fives FREE. BRUNEL’S SS GREAT BRITAIN BS1 6TY 01179260680 www.ssgreatbritain.org Visitors will arrive at the stunning new visitor centre, before stepping back in time to

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Families upon Avon

experience the hustle and bustle of a ship preparing to embark on a two-month voyage to Australia, with model animals in pens and crates, and passengers’ luggage.

Family Fun, Sea Hear 3 May & 7 June Join professional storyteller Sarah Mooney for adventures of the high seas. Stories are tailored especially for pre-school children aged 3 to 4 year olds, but younger siblings (and older during school holidays) are welcome too. The sessions take place at 11am on the first Tuesday of each month. Under 5’s are FREE, event included in admission and tickets give FREE return visits for a year.

Photo: Paul Blakemore

Our curators will be giving short talks on some of our special objects. There will also be a chance to watch the BBC’s Imagine Ben Hur programme. Last entry 8.00pm International and National event - Museums at night! For more general information visit: www.culture24. org.uk/places+to+go/museums+at+night Special event - Open days at St John’s Store, Locksbrook 27 & 28 May, 11.00-3.00pm Visit our museum store at St John’s on the corner of Locksbrook Road and Upper Bristol Road. Marvel at the range of historical spa equipment, read original Victorian spa visitors’ books and see furniture by local craftsmen.

Parking and wheelchair accessible. More info 01225 477779.

Top of the Pops Monday 30 May to Friday 3 June 10.00-1.00 & 2.00-4.00pm Vote for your favourite object in the museum and make a 3D model of the goddess Minerva!

Victorian Surgeon 28 & 29 May, 11am to 4pm Seek medical advice for indigestion! Introduce yourself to a leech named Isambard Mrs Beeton Bakes 30 May to 3 June, 11:30am, 1:30pm & 3pm Step back in time for cookery demonstrations in the ship’s galley.

Father’s Day Blast Off June 19, 11am to 3pm Build and launch a rocket Exhibitions Until 31December ‘The Incredible Journey’, a new exhibition. Turn back the clocks and listen to the memories of those who rescued the ship from the Falkland Islands and witnessed her return, and view the stunning new animated film.

STOURHEAD Stourton, Warminster, Wiltshire BA12 6QD Tel: 01747 842012 www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-stourhead Many exciting events, from climbing trees and guided walks to behind-the-scenes glimpses and fresh-air workouts. Please visit: www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-stourhead for full listings PRIOR PARK LANDSCAPE GARDEN Church Lane, Widcombe, Bath BA2 6BD 01225 833977 www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-priorpark Gorgeous Garlic 1st to 15th May, 11-4.30pm Enjoy the carpet of wild garlic that covers the garden at this time of year. We have teamed up with River Cottage in Bath for cooking demonstrations and tastings. Submit your favourite Wild Garlic recipe for a chance to win a meal for two and have your recipe cooked at River Cottage. A fortnight of celebrating this gorgeous plant.

• May/June 2011

National Garden Scheme (NGS) Day 8th May, 11am to 4.30pm Explore the garden carpeted in wild garlic at this time of year. All admission prices are donated to the NGS. Wild Flower Walk 14 May, 11.30am Enjoy a walk with the Head Gardener looking for and identifying wild flowers. No booking required.

The Lord Chamberlain’s Men present A Midsummer’s Nights Dream Sunday 29 May 29, 6.30-8.30pm Shakespeare’s most popular comedy has been delighting audiences for hundreds of years.

Booking essential.

Father’s Day Afternoon Tea 19 June While away the afternoon relaxing by the lakes whilst indulging in a cream tea.

Midsummer Picnic at Prior 25 June, 5.30pm – 9pm Pack a picnic and head down to Prior Park. Relax in the evening sun whilst being entertained by lazy jazz. £3 Adult, £1.50 Child BRISTOL ZOO GARDENS Clifton, Bristol, BS8 3HA www.bristolzoo.org.uk Gibbons: Probably the most endangered primates in the world. FREE talk Wednesday 4 May A look at the role of zoos in the fight to conserve gibbons in the wild and manage them in captivity with Vicky Melfi, Whitley Wildlife Conservation Trust.6pm at Bristol Museum. For further information contact 0117 922 3571 or visit www.bristol.gov.uk /museums Gorge-ous Geology Walk Tuesday 17th May Make the most of the Bridge Valley closure by exploring the geology of the Avon Gorge with Andrew Mathieson. 6.30 – 8.30pm,£4.00.

Please note this is a very strenuous walk which involves some steep paths and steps. Book with the Avon Gorge & Downs Wildlife Project on 0117 9030609 WOW! Biodiversity Week Saturday 14 – Sunday 22 May As part of Bristol Zoo’s commitment to UN International Day of Biological Diversity on May 22 they are putting on a series of special displays which will involve plants, fresh water ecology and insects. A mixture of unmanned displays will be present throughout the week from 10am – 4pm. Talks / interactive sessions will take place between 1pm and 3pm each day, which will include tours of our gardens.

To publicise your event in our What’s On pages email editor@familiesuponavon.co.uk

Photo: Bristol Zoo Gardens

Victorian Picnic Sunday 22nd May In 1861 an Act of Parliament was signed to protect the Downs for the people of Bristol.

To celebrate a special Victorian picnic is being planned. There will be a range of historic entertainment, children’s activities and guided tours too. Put the date in your diary and look out for further details closer to the time! Book with the Avon Gorge & Downs Wildlife Project on 0117 9030609 Historic tree gazing on the Downs (Walk) Thursday 26th May As part of the 150th celebrations join Tony Titchen for an evening stroll to explore the history of the trees on the Downs 6.30pm – 8.30pm, £4.00. On the Downs. Book with the Avon Gorge & Downs Wildlife Project on 0117 9030609 And that’s another story...

(Family walk) Saturday 28th May As part of the 150th celebrations, step back in time with ambling storyteller Martin Maudsley as he weaves together a host of historic tales and fabulous fables about the people and places of the Downs. 11.00am – 12.30pm £4.00 Suitable for families with children aged 6+ You may like to bring a picnic for after the walk!

Children must be accompanied by adults on both of these events. On the Downs. Book with the Avon Gorge & Downs Wildlife Project on 0117 9030609

National Family Week/Love your Zoo 30th May – 5th June Please check bristolzoo.org.uk for more information VICTORIA ART GALLERY Bridge Street, Bath, BA2 4AT Tel: 01225 477232 www.victoriagal.org.uk Peter Brown: Bath between the Snows Until 2 June Known as ‘Pete the Street’ for his habit of working outdoors in all weathers, Peter Brown makes a welcome return to the gallery with 90 new paintings, drawings and pastels celebrating Bath.

Tour of the exhibition with Peter Brown Friday 6 May, 1.00-1.45 FREE event, early arrival advised Architect in the gallery Saturday 7 May, 10.30-4.00 Will Lakin giving FREE design consultations (please pre-book via studio@willlakin.co.uk)

Museums at Night event with Peter Brown demonstration Saturday 14 May, 6.00-8.00, FREE event Party in the City live music: The James Lambeth Trio Friday 27 May, 6.00-8.00, FREE event Richard Allen in the ‘60s and ‘70s Until 5 June This exhibition, supported by Offer Waterman & Co, charts the early career of this artistic pioneer.

Art on Thursdays Thursdays, 10.30-12.00 FREE talks for blind and visually impaired people.

Behind the Scenes Tours Wednesdays 18 May, 22 June, 20 July All 12.00-12.45 Explore the Gallery’s stores and discover the full scope of our collections. FREE, but please book in advance on 01225 477232.

ACTIVITIES FOR CHILDREN Spots and Stripes Thursday 2 June, 10.30-12.00 and 1.30-3.00, (3 to 7 years). Enjoy our exhibition and create spotty and stripey art Art OPportunity Friday 3 June, 10.30-12.00 and 1.30-3.00, (6 to11 years). Find out about Op Art and create a piece of optical abstract art using a selection of materials. £3.75 per child, must book in advance. All children to be accompanied by an adult. Book on 01225 477244.

ANNUAL UPCOMING EXHIBITION IN BOTH GALLERIES: Bath Society of Artists 106th Summer Exhibition 11 June – 16 July This massive selling exhibition assembles the cream of regional artistic talent. Any artist aged 18 or over may submit work for possible selection and winning of one of the prizes (first prize £2,000).

Walk the Talk FREE Saturday tours, all 18 June, 2.30-3.15, A Sculptor’s Approach with Deborah van der Beek 25 June, A Painter’s Approach with Neil Murison 9 July, A Printmaker’s Approach with Peter Davies

THEATRE & FESTIVALS BATH FRINGE FESTIVAL The annual Spiegeltent Children’s Festival Tuesday 31 May - Saturday 4th June on Bath Recreation Ground.

There will be 3 shows a day from 12 noon – 4pm. The shows on Tues – Fri are suitable for under 8’s specifically whereas the shows on Saturday 4th are for all the family. Tickets for these events can be bought from Bath Box Office 01225 463362 / www.bathboxoffice. org.uk or will be available on the door. There will also be a circus skills and workshop drop at these times, suitable for 5 – 9 and 10+. Tickets on door Tickets for all events are £3.

Full info on all events for children and young people can be found at www.bathfringe.co.uk/ search10.php

SCHOOL FAYRES & OPEN DAYS KING EDWARD’S PRE-PREP SCHOOL, BATH Drop-in Open Morning Weds 4 May, 9am – 12 noon Please contact the School Secretary, Annie Fairlie on telephone 01225 421681 or by email pre-prep@kesbath.com for further details.

OLDFIELD PARK PRE-SCHOOL Oldfield Park Baptist Church, Moorland Road, Bath Family Fun Day Saturday 18th June, 10.30am - 1.30pm.

Bouncy castle, crafts, outdoor games, raffle, refreshments etc.

Oldfield Park Infants School Saturday 2nd July, 12pm - 2pm.

Oldfield Park Infants School, Dorset Close, Bath PTA Summer Fayre. Stalls and games, crafts, refreshments, fabulous raffle, tombola etc.

BY BROOK VALLEY COFE PRIMARY SCHOOL The Street, Yatton Keynell, Nr Chippenham Family Fun Day Friday 8th July 5pm -8pm QUEENS CRESCENT PRIMARY SCHOOL Windsor Close, Chippenham Summer Party Friday 1st July, 5.30pm – 8.30pm

SEMINARS SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS SEMINAR Tuesday 21st June DC Leisure Management Ltd At Castle Place Leisure Centre in Trowbridge.

Rebecca Lewis of DC Leisure will be hosting an evening seminar ‘Marketing for small businesses’. The seminar will be covering basic marketing knowledge with hints and tips for making the most of advertising and marketing budgets in order to create a useful marketing plan. The evening is FREE, however places are limited so call on 01225 762711 to book your place. Booking is required for this event.

Families upon Avon

• May/June 2011 15

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Families upon Avon

• May/June 2011