What‘s On 17-21 Feb – JUBILEE JETS HOLIDAY CLUB at Ark House, School Rd,
19 Feb Crocodiles of the World - meet a real zoo keeper and learn all about Britain’s only crocodile zoo. Handle a live crocodile and learn how the keepers care for, train and feed these fascinating but deadly creatures. Suitable for all ages with sessions throughout the day, £4.50 per person, must book; 20 Feb Family Wildlife Fun - drop in and enjoy some free outdoor family fun with wildlife related activities,11am-4pm; 22 Feb Dinoscovery - join in a selfguided trail and dinosaur themed crafts, 2pm-4pm, £1 per child.
Padworth Common, RG7 4JA, 0118 983 4018, www.jubileejets.co.uk Half-term holiday club set in beautiful West Berkshire countryside for 5-11yrs. A wide variety of indoor and outdoor activities from den building and quad biking to face painting and dance. 8am-6pm. Full or half days available. Book and pay online.
18 Feb – TOMTEN at South Street Arts Centre, 21 South Street, Reading, RG1 4QU, 0118 960 6060, www.readingarts.com Tomten has seen generations come and go on the farm. But from where do they come, and where do they go? A deep riddle plays on Tomten’s mind. One thing he knows for sure is that spring is coming; soon cows will be grazing in the fields and swallows singing in the trees again. Viktor Rydberg’s well-loved poem is brought to life in a new puppetry show for 3+yrs. 11.30am & 2pm. Tickets: £7.50. 18-21 Feb – HALF TERM ACTIVITIES at The Museum of English Rural Life, University of Reading, Redlands Rd, Reading, 0118 378 8660, RG1 5EX, www.reading.ac.uk/merl 18 Feb MERL Family Tours - join members of the MERL team of family tour guides for a fun, interactive 30 minute tour of the museum and hear stories about what it was once like to live and work in the countryside. Free drop-in event. 11am & 2.30pm; 19 Feb Clarice Cliff Ceramics - in this workshop inspired by MERL’s exhibition, paint your very own Clarice Cliff inspired ceramic plate to take home using her pieces and MERL’s garden to inspire you. With artist Julie Roberts. Family drop in for 4+yrs between 10am-12.30pm & 1.30-4pm, £3 per child; 20 Feb Metallic Marvels - explore the beautifully engraved metal work in MERL’s exhibition and create your very own piece of metal art to take home. 10am-11.30am, 11.30am-1pm & 2pm-3.30pm, 4+yrs, £3 per child, please book; 21 Feb Plaster Mice - become a sculptor for the day and make a plaster of paris mouse, inspired by the Robert ‘Mouseman’ Thompson stool in MERL’s exhibition. Drop in between 10am-12.30pm & 1.30pm-4pm, for early years and above, £2 per child. 18-21 Feb – HALF TERM ACTIVITIES at The River and Rowing Museum, Henley, RG9 1BF, 01491 415 605, www.rrm.co.uk 18 Feb Mod Roc Mammals - be inspired by the Museum’s riverside location and discover the mammals that live nearby; then create your very own mod roc mammals. 2pm-4pm, ages 7-11yrs, £8.50, please book;
20 Feb – WOW! THIS SHOW IS MAGIC at the Kenton Theatre,
New Street, Henley, RG9 2BP, www.kentontheatre.co.uk A live magic and illusion show for all the family with Doctor Bondini and JezO. 2pm & 6.30pm. Tickets: £12, child £10, family £40.
20 Feb – WILD ONES: BIRDS ARE BRILLIANT at Sandhurst Community
Hall, Sandhurst Memorial Park, Yorktown Rd, Sandhurst, GU47 9BJ, www.bracknell-forest.gov.uk/ parksandcountrysidevents Explore the hedgerows for winter birds and then make your own model birds using wallpaper, clay and paint. Come prepared for mess! 2pm-4pm, for all ages, £4 for materials.
Beale Park re-opens 11 Feb 18 Feb Mysterious Mole - find out what mole does underground and make a spring cleaning mole with dusters and a water bottle. 10.30am-12.30pm, ages 4-7yrs, £8.50, please book; 19 Feb Model Motor Money Box make a money box out of clay in the shape of your favourite car in the Frazer Nash exhibition. 10.30am-12.30pm, ages 7-11yrs, £10, please book; 21 Feb Vroomm Vroomm! - make, play and experiment with things that move in a fun-packed family day to accompany the Frazer Nash exhibition. Free with admission. 10.30am-4pm. 19 Feb – BLAST OFF! BY KID CARPET at The Corn Exchange,
Market Place, Newbury, RG14 5BD, 0845 5218 218, www.cornexchangenew.com A supersonic adventure that follows rock band The Noisy Animals around the rock ‘n’ roll universe as they blast off into space to find a new sound for their latest album. Enjoy lo-fi technological wizardry, laughter and live music as you watch them encounter cheesed-off planets, confused
nursery rhyme characters, shooting stars and even Shakespeare. For ages 4+yrs. 11am & 2pm. Tickets: £10, conc. £8. 19 Feb – WILD WEDNESDAY at Cliveden, Taplow, www.nationaltrust.org.uk/cliveden Drop in fun outdoor activity whatever the weather. See website for further details. 11am-3pm. 19-21 Feb – ‘CODES & COMMS’ HALF TERM ACTIVITIES at REME Museum of Technology, Isaac Newton Rd, Arborfield, Reading, RG2 9NH, 0118 976 3375, www.rememuseum.org.uk There will be activities throughout the museum, with a chance to explore some secret codes and communications. Plus REME’s popular Mini Assault Course will be open, run by real REME soldiers; a change of clothes might be needed! Suitable for 5-12yrs. 11am-3.30pm. 19-22 Feb – HALF TERM ACTIVITIES at The Nature Discovery Centre, Muddy Lane, Lower Way, Thatcham, RG19 3FU, 01635 874381, www.naturediscovery.org.uk
21 Feb – FREE CRAFT ACTIVITY at Whitley Library, Northumberland Ave, Reading, RG2 7PX, 0118 937 5115, www.reading.gov.uk/libraries/ Design your own scratch art bookmarks. Free craft activity for under 10s. Places limited, please book. Children under 8yrs must be accompanied. 10.30am-11.30am. 22 Feb – LIFE IN THE ANCIENT WORLD at the Ure Museum of
Greek Archaeology, University of Reading, Whiteknights, Reading RG6 6AA, 0118 378 6990, www.reading.ac.uk/Ure On the Battlefield. Listen to stories of some of the greatest battles of antiquity and to the inspiring acts of courage of the Greeks and the Egyptians on the battlefield. Follow a trail around the museum following in the footsteps of these heroes and make your own hoplite’s weapons to take home with you. 2pm-4pm, accompanied children 6+yrs, booking required, £3 per child.
23 Feb – HUGLESS DOUGLAS at the Kenton Theatre, New Street, Henley, RG9 2BP, www.kentontheatre.co.uk A show about a lovable young brown bear who wakes up one morning in need of a hug, told with a blend of music, puppetry, sing-along songs and audience participation. For 3-7yrs. 11am & 2pm. Tickets: £9, child £9, family £30.
Half term activities Join in the family fun
Join us for a family tour or take part in a workshop to paint a plate, try metal art or make a plaster mouse
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Thames Valley West
Contact us for details
0118 378 8660 merlevents@reading.ac.uk www.reading.ac.uk/merl
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2014