HEY! Magazine North East Somerset edition

FREE • NORTH EAST SOMERSET EDITION • ISSUE 57 • MAY 2017

Read more at www.familymatters-uk.co.uk

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WELCOME Director Tina Veater 07834 542955 | tina@ignyte-uk.co.uk Editorial Team Tina Veater info@ignyte-uk.co.uk Advertising Team Zoe Jenkins Theresa Saadeh Jane Groves 01761 410141 | info@ignyte-uk.co.uk Graphic Designer Pamela Evans Published by Ignyte Media Ltd Printed by Flying Colours Ltd, Weare, Somerset Business Address: Ignyte Media Ltd, Unit G5, Second Avenue, Westfield Industrial Estate, Radstock, BA3 4BH 01761 410141 info@ignyte-uk.co.uk While every care has been taken to ensure the data contained in the publication is accurate, neither the publisher nor its editorial contributors can accept, and hereby disclaim, any liability to any party for loss or damage caused by errors or omissions resulting from negligence, accident or any other cause.

Ignyte do not officially endorse any advertising material included within this publication. All right reserved.

No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in any retrieval system in any form without the prior permission of the publisher.

Distribution: We deliver to 7000 families through primary schools and other outlets in North East Somerset.

The next edition is in July & is filling fast.

Myself and the team hope you all had an amazing Easter and May Day break and enjoyed lots of fun and exciting things.

The sun has been trying it’s hardest to make an appearance and I am sure we are all looking forward to spending more time together outdoors. It will be time to make the most of enjoying trips to the seaside, fun days out, time at the park and BBQ’s. Read our feature about National BBQ Week and hints and tips about cooking up the perfect grill! No-one likes a burnt burger!

June 18th is Father's Day when we celebrate our Dads and all the wonderful things they do for us. Make sure you read the article with ways you can treat him for almost free.

We have some amazing prizes in this issue, so make sure you take time to enter at www.familymatters-uk.co.uk.

Camp Bestival are giving away a family camping ticket to this fantastic festival and we also have tickets to see Jess Glynne at Wincanton Racecourse.

You can also win tickets to Wookey Hole and Splashdown too.

As the sun gets higher in the sky, it also becomes stronger and it is vital we all make sure we apply sunscreen. Looking after your skin is as important as your teeth or health.

We have an article about keeping safe in the sun and also read our first aid kit feature to make sure you really are ready for summer.

We love to highlight what local schools have been up to and also the achievements of our readers, so please do make sure you get in contact with us if there is anything you would like to include in the magazine. You can do this via email, by phone or even leave us a message on our facebook page.

We would love to hear from you!

Have a great May half term, enjoy the better weather and most of all, have fun together!

Tina Hey Magazine

@hey_tweeter

www.familymatters-uk.co.uk

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A FOCUS ON THE CHEW VALLEY

T

he Chew Valley is named after the River Chew, which rises at Chewton Mendip, and joins the River Avon at Keynsham.

The River Chew was dammed in the 1950s to create Chew Valley Lake, which provides drinking water for surrounding areas. The lake is a prominent landscape feature of the valley and is a focus for recreation and nature conservation, because of the bird species, plants and insects. The valley is also home to fifteen of the sixteen bats found in England including a roost, at Compton Martin Ochre Mine, for greater horseshoe bats.

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The Chew Valley has a wealth of history. Many of the villages date back to the time of the Domesday Book and there is evidence of human occupation since the Stone Age. Other evidence of occupation from prehistoric times is provided by the henge monument at Stanton Drew, a long barrow at Chewton Mendip and Fairy Toot tumulus at Nempnett Thrubwell.

There is also evidence of Roman remains, in particular a villa and burial pits. There are historic parks and mansion houses, including Stowey House, Chew Court, Chew Magna Manor House and Sutton Court.

Back to modern times, Chew Magna was voted “The Best Village in Britain”, in a Sunday Times survey in 2011, and the village frequently wins regional categories in the Calor Gas ‘Village of the Year’ competition, and it is moving towards zero waste status, having been described as “probably the greenest parish in Britain”.

Chew Magna also has a Michelin star restaurant owned by the famous Josh Eggleton.

The local villages have great sport amenities including football pitches, children's play areas, Gyms, squash courts, badminton etc., and outdoor all-weather pitches are available at the Chew Valley Leisure Centre . There are a range of clubs and societies for young and old, including Scout groups, dance classes and the Women's Institute. The Bishop Sutton Tennis Club is the largest in the valley, and there is also a tennis club at East Harptree. Both Chew Valley Lake and Blagdon Lake provide extensive fishing under permit from Bristol Water. Chew Valley Sailing Club is situated on Chew Valley Lake and provides dinghy sailing at all levels and hosts national and international competitions.

The valley has a huge number of primary schools with the majority of villages having one located in each and the area is served by a secondary school with excellent facilities.

Businesses in the area are various and plentiful, from Estate Agents to Beauty Salons, Accountants to Childminders and Vets to Garages. There is also a Community Farm that is owned by 400 members who have a say in how the Farm operates.

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GET READY TO HIT THE BEACH W

ith some quick fixes and lifestyle changes, you can feel better about your beach body in just a couple of short weeks but remember not to strive for perfection. It doesn't exist, and you're probably far more focused on your flaws than anyone around you is. Have fun and be confident on the beach, and you're sure to impress no matter how your body looks.

AVOID CRASH DIETS

Yes, you can lose weight faster by eating even less food. But when you crash diet, much of the weight comes from muscle tissue. Your metabolism will also slow down, so you'll gain the weight back promptly once you stop dieting.

TRY A BRONZER

Here's one way to look slimmer and sleeker in a matter of minutes: sunless tanner. Spray or rub these products onto your skin, and a deep colour will develop over 4 to 8 hours.

LOW MAINTANENCE HAIR

You don’t want to worry about blow-drying your hair all holiday, so it’s worth thinking about an easy wash-and-go style.

FAB FEET

There’s no need to suffer with cracked heels or hard skin. By using an exfoliating file on dry feet and apply moisturiser daily, you feet and toes can look amazing. Add a splash of colour with a long lasting nail varnish and your ready to saunter on the sand

DIY WAX

Today’s home waxing strips are easy to use and not messy. If you can reach, you can wax it!

When waxing, the hair should be at least 1/8 in (5mm) long.

Rip off the strip in the opposite direction of hair growth, always removing in one quick, swift motion parallel to your skin and keeping skin taut to minimise any discomfort.

At Taylor Green Beauty Room we offer a wide range of treatments including: Elemis Face & Body Treatments • Reflexology • Hot Stone Massage • Lava Shell Massage • Indian Head Massage • Swedish Massage • Pregnancy Treatments • Manicures and Pedicures • Artistic Colour Gloss Gel Polish • Eye Enhancement • Waxing • Signature Treatments • Teen Treatments Gift vouchers available for our entire and varied range of treatments To view our on-line brochure visit WWW.TAYLORGREENBEAUTYROOM.CO.UK Visit and like our Facebook page for our latest news and Special Offers www.facebook.com/TaylorGreenBeautyRoom

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SUMMERTIME AT YOUR LOCAL LIBRARIES O

n July 15th Midsomer Norton and Radstock libraries launch their annual Summer Reading Challenge. This is a free national scheme for 4-11 year olds who can read up to six of their choice over the summer, collect stickers along the way and receive a certificate and medal when the challenge is completed.

The theme this year is Animal Agents, illustrated by Tony Ross, illustrator of the Horrid Henry series and children’s author. His illustrations for the Summer Reading Challenge will feature a variety of clever creatures, specially trained to use their skills and natural instincts to unravel mysteries.

The libraries will be running a ‘Design an Animal Agent’ competition in the lead up to the Challenge. Details of this and children’s events over the summer are still to be announced so call into the library in June or look on the website for details.

If you are interested in volunteering to help with the Summer Reading Challenge please contact your local library for more information. Volunteers play an important role in welcoming and encouraging children to finish the challenge.

Regular events for younger children will also continue over the summer - for children under 5 they hold regular weekly Story

and Rhyme sessions at both libraries, and monthly Baby Bounce and Rhyme for the under 3s. The libraries are also looking for volunteers to help deliver these sessions. Please contact your local library to find out more.

For adults details of all the After Hours evening events can be found on the website.

You do not need to be a library member to go to the events, but joining is free and only takes a few minutes and gives you access to online resources as well as books, talking books and DVDs. For more information about all events call in or visit their website or Facebook pages.

For more information and opening times go to: Facebook Bathnes Libraries Twitter @bathnes #bathneslibraries Email Councilconnect@bathnes.gov.uk Telephone 01225 394041 Web www.bathnes.gov.uk/libraries

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STAY SAFE IN THE SUN T

he weather is warming up, the days are longer and there's more time to be outside doing all kinds of fun things! But if you're going to be out in the sun, especially on a hot day, you need to stay safe. Let's find out how.

PRIME TIME

Always wear sunscreen and take frequent breaks from the sun by going indoors or moving into the shade. These steps are especially important between 10:00 in the morning and 4:00 in the afternoon, when the sun's rays are strongest. Put on sunscreen 15 to 20 minutes before going out in the sun. The letters SPF stand for sun protection factor, and the number rating tells you how much longer you can stay in the sun without getting sunburned. But this isn't always true, so reapply sunscreen at least every 2 hours, just to be safe. Be sure to put sunscreen all over your body. This includes some places you might not think of, like the tops of your ears, the back of your neck, the part in your hair, your face, and the tops of your feet.

Don't forget that your eyes need protection from ultraviolet rays, too. Always wear sunglasses in the bright sun, and make sure they have a label saying that they block UV rays.

DRINK UP!

When you're sweating, you lose water that your body needs to work properly. So drink up and don't wait until you're thirsty — drinking before you feel thirsty helps keep the water level in your body from dropping too low (dehydration) when it's hot or you're sweating a lot with exercise.

GOT THAT HOT FEELING?

If you're out in the hot sun or you're exercising on a hot day, it's easy to get heat exhaustion. Kids get heat exhaustion when their bodies can't cool themselves fast enough. A kid with heat exhaustion might feel overheated, tired, and weak. Heat stroke is a more serious heat-related illness and can cause someone to stop sweating; to have red, hot skin; and to have a high temperature. The person might become uncoordinated, confused, or even lose consciousness. It requires emergency medical attention.

The good news is that the sun doesn't have to be your enemy if you wear your sunscreen, drink your water, and take breaks when you start to feel too hot. And don't forget your sunglasses!

FATHER'S DAY 28th JUNE TEN WAYS TO SPOIL DAD

1. BREAKFAST IN BED

6. PUT ON A SHOW

It’s a classic treat but also a winner. Let him relax while you bring him his favourite morning meal.

Sing and dance for your dad! Perhaps choose a song about children and fathers, Will Smith’s ‘Just the two of us’ is one of the best!

2. PAINT HIS PORTRAIT Spend time with your dad by painting or drawing him, then presenting your masterpiece as a gift.

3. WRITE HIM A POEM

7. LET HIM WATCH WHAT HE WANTS ON THE TELLY! At least for an hour or so, then get out of the house.

Rather than buying a card, create a poem for him that describes what he means to you.

8. GO FOR A WALK

4. TAKE PHOTOS

10. INTERVIEW HIM

Enjoy a family photoshoot so you can look back on the day in years to come.

5. GIVE HIM HUGS Not just one, but lots all through the day.

Enjoy being outdoors, together.

Find out more about him... Ask him about his childhood, his passions in life and hopes. Perhaps write up your findings and give the article to your dad as a gift.

NATIONAL BBQ WEEK N

ational BBQ Week returns for a 20th time on May 29th.

It will once again be looking to encourage even more grill thrills and gastro grilling, by ensuring that as many people get involved and go for the grill. Here are our BBQ tips:

BE A GRILL MASTER

Start with a clean, oiled grill and well stoked coals that are already white hot by the time you start cooking. Avoid flipping meat fillets over and over, cook one side and then the other and then allow to rest – the juices will regroup for max flavour.

Keep an area aside for any vegetarians too. And, if possible, offer non-meat foods that benefit from your smoky grill like aubergine, courgettes, bell peppers, large mushrooms and halloumi cheese.

CHOOSE A THEME

Make your barbeque stand out with a theme. It could be Jamaican, Hawaiian, Aussie, French, oceanic, tropical, a foragers’ feast (think a lovely salad with edible flowers and the like) or a regional feast featuring local meats and cheeses. Choosing a theme might encourage your guests to both bring and sample new and interesting foods.

DECORATIONS MAKE THE DIFFERENCE

You don’t need to spend a lot to dress your barbeque up and either expand on your chosen theme or just add to the atmosphere.

Check out charity shops for interesting tableware, tablecloths

and candle holders. Dot citronella candles around the garden, although take care to put them beyond the reach of children.

GO LARGE WITH CONDIMENTS AND SIDE DISHES

Even if you decide to keep your offering to the classic burger, sausage and chicken combo, you can still pep things up with a selection of unusual condiments and tempting side dishes. Take a trip to your local farm shop and you’ll see there’s a wealth of chutneys and pickles out there. Many are inexpensive and might even be made in your local area.

Side dishes could include herbed couscous, potato salad with wild garlic, gazpacho, rustic bread, a selection of mezze or tapas – let your imagination go!

PREPARE A SIGNATURE DRINK

The food will be the centrepiece, but a tasty drink will be welcome too. You could prepare an old fashioned lemonade, a refreshing cocktail or sangria. It doesn’t have to be complicated and it could make for a nice change from soft drinks, beer and wine.

PLAY GAMES

If your barbeque is an all-dayer, will include lots of kids or you just want some non-foody fun, lay on some games. From traditional lawn games, to something like giant snakes and ladders or even an egg and spoon race, games can fill lulls in the day and keep kids occupied.

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CHARITY NO: 1092349

PUZZLES 1

Crossword

3

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Find the answers to the questions below and fill in the crossword.

ACROSS 3. The capital of Thailand 5. Lima is the capital of this country 6. The capital of this country is Helsinki 9. Chinas capital is?

11. Our capital is?

13. Capital of Eqypt?

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DOWN 1. Copenhagen is the capital of this country 2. What is the capital of Spain?

4. Havana is this country's capital 5. Capital of France?

7. The capital of Ireland?

8. The capital city of Germany?

10. Athens is the capital of this country 12. The capital of Keyna is?

9

Colo ur me in!

HEY! competitions WIN ONE OF THREE FAMILY TICKETS TO THE SOUTH WEST’S FAVOURITE WATERPARK ATTRACTION! With summer just around the corner Splashdown on Tower Park, Poole is open every day right round until the end of September with all the flumes flowing and the slides sliding. It’s a great place for some good old fashioned fun for the whole family. Take a spin and choose a tune on Infiinity, with its funky lights and disco sound effects. Plunge down the Grand Canyon or pick up speed on super-fast Velocity and don’t forget to say hello to our resident dragon in his lair!

With loads of other exciting flumes, toddlers pool with its 3D reef effect, interactive splash-zone and starter flume; it’s most definitely flume time. Book online www.splashdownwaterparks.co.uk or for opening times call 01202 716000.

For your chance to win a ticket for your family (up to 4 admissions) just answer this question.

Which ride at Splashdown may have a dragon living in it?

A) Cave of Dragons B) Dragon’s Lair C) Dragon’s Den

WIN A FAMILY TICKET TO WOOKEY HOLE! Deep in the heart of the Mendip Hills you will find Wookey Hole, the UK’s largest cave system. For centuries people have been marvelling at these astounding caves and their natural beauty. NEW for 2017 is Chamber 20. Recently blasted tunnels now give you access to this amazing chamber, which opens up previously unseen caverns and formations.

Visiting Wookey Hole Caves also includes over 20 fantastic attractions in the one ticket price! With access to Circus Shows, Kids Play Areas, Mirror Maze, Penny Arcade and much much more, Wookey Hole is a great day out, whatever the weather! Explore The Unexplored and visit Wookey Hole today!

For your chance to win a ticket for your family (up to 4 admissions) just answer this question What is Wookeys new caving experience called?

I N T E R N A T I O N A L

AIR DAY

2 for 1 Kids Offer *NAZF070

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A SPECTACULAR FAMILY DAY OUT!

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TICKET LINE 0330 100 3656

Advance Ticket Prices: Adult 16+ yrs £22 (£28), Child 5-15 yrs inc £7 (£10), Child U5 Free

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HEY! competitions Win a family camping ticket to

Camp Bestival From dressing up in this year’s theme, Pop Stars & Rock Stars, to cavorting with your nearest and dearest, the possibilities for creative play are everywhere at Camp Bestival’s tenth anniversary festi-holiday wonderland.

So, delve into the innovative and inspirational; get creative and be free this 27th - 30th July 2017.

This amazing four-day camping experience has super activities along with a fantastic line up. It really is the all round family festival.

From Dick and Dom, Mr Tumble and the Giant Bubble Show to Madness, All Saints, Sara Cox and Right said Fred, there really is something for everyone.

And keep the party going with a wonderland of attractions and destinations including The World's Biggest Bouncy Castle, Giant Kids’ Disco with The World’s Largest Disco Ball, Tudors On Tour, Bollywood, Dingly Dell, Dressing Up Area, Fancy Dress Parade, Pimp My Trolley & Beard and Moustache Competition, Face Painting Tent, Maypole Dancing, Morris Dancers, and the Soft Play Tent (Under 5s).

Keep checking www.campbestival.net and their Facebook and Twitter pages for all the latest info. Camp Bestival 2017 Weekend Tickets are on sale now via: Ticketline / 0844 888 4410. The prize is a camping ticket for 2 adults and up to 4 children.

27th - 30th July 2 adults and up to 4 childre n!

To win this amazing prize simply answer this question: Where is Camp Bestival held?

Win a family ticket to see Jess Glynne at Wincanton Racecourse Make sure you’re ‘Right Here’ on 1st July as The Jockey Club Live and Wincanton Racecourse are delighted to welcome Jess Glynne, one of the UK’s hottest chart stars, to the racing heart of the community. This open-air concert at Wincanton Racecourse offers an experience unlike any other this summer with a show-stopping headlining performance by one of the UK’s biggest artists. The racecourses have world-class customer facilities, featuring an array of award winning restaurants that cater for all tastes, be it Fine Dining through to delicious bistro food. The Jockey Club venues welcome over 2million people a year for some of the UKs biggest racing events so you can be sure a fantastic evening.

Tickets are also available at www.thejockeyclublive.co.uk and are priced at £35 adult /£20 child (under 18).

Please note child tickets are limited. All T&C’s are available on www.wincanton.thejockeyclub.co.uk. There will be hospitality packages available to suit all budgets. The prize is 6 tickets, for adults or children.

To win this amazing prize simply answer this question: Name another music act that are performing at The Jockey Club Live racecourses?

HOW TO ENTER

To be in with a chance of winning these fantastic prizes, simply visit www.familymatters-uk.co.uk and click on the Competitions button, complete the form and enter your answers. It couldn’t be easier!

Closing date for entries: 23rd June 2017 WINNERS FROM THE LAST ISSUE: Katie Green, Tomas Crabtree, Gertie Blewitt, Brooke Lepage

From the Doctor’s Surgery,

DON’T LET MAN’S BEST FRIEND GET UP YOUR NOSE I

n the UK, pets follow dust as the second largest cause of allergy within the home. Any animal with fur can be the cause of an allergic reaction but the worst offenders are cats and dogs.

It doesn’t matter if you have previously had a pet and were not allergic to it before, pet allergies can develop at any time.

Couldn’t be further from the truth. It often surprises people that pet allergies are not caused by an animal’s fur. The allergens are found in animals’ saliva, sweat and urine. Once the saliva dries, it becomes airborne easily. Saliva, urine and sweat dry easily on an animal’s fur and skin, which is then shed around the house, and onto clothing. Small rodents’ bedding quickly becomes saturated with urine and is stirred up when the animal moves around its cage, or the cage is cleaned out.

SYMPTOMS

Symptoms include frequent sneezing, a runny or blocked nose, itchy, red or watery eyes, irritated skin and a cough.

Other, less common symptoms are the loss of your sense of smell, facial pain caused by blocked sinuses, headaches and earache.

Patients who have eczema or asthma are more likely to suffer from allergies. If these patients find their allergies are being troublesome, often their chest or skin will flare up also.

Even if your symptoms are mild, they can still interfere with your work, your social life or your child’s activities at school. If you think you have a pet allergy, your first port of call should be a pharmacy.

In my experience as a GP, many cases can be controlled using simple over-the-counter medication. Antihistamines are available in both tablet and liquid form and can be used either as required or on a regular basis. Frequent sufferers may find regular treatment more beneficial to keep symptoms at bay.

For more severe cases, prescription-strength antihistamines may be prescribed by a GP. Eye drops and nasal sprays are also available over the counter and can be combined with antihistamines or taken on their own.

As with antihistamines, stronger prescription strength treatment could be made available by your GP for more troublesome symptoms.

CONTROL

You should also take steps to reduce sufferers’ exposure to allergens, especially young children.

The best measure is remove any pets from the house. However, as animals are often an integral part of the family, this might not be an option. Regular outdoor grooming of dogs (not by the sufferer) greatly reduces shedding of hair and should be done regularly.

Bathing a cat once or twice a week can reduce allergens in the home by up to 90%.

All animals should be kept out of bedrooms, especially at night.

Confining a cat or dog to one area of the house is unlikely to be 100% effective as allergens are still transferred on clothes and shoes, but it can reduce symptoms.

If you come into contact with animals outside the home, change your clothes, shoes and wash your hair when arriving home.

Wash animals and their bedding at least once a week.

Remove carpets from the rooms animals frequent or hoover regularly with a HEPA high-filtration vacuum-cleaner.

Open windows or use air filters to ventilate your house.

Don’t allow pets to lick your hands or face.

Wash hands after petting an animal, especially before eating or touching the face – use hand wipes if you’re out and about.

by Dr Alexandra Phelan

THE ESSENTIAL SUMMER FIRST AID KIT FOR FAMILIES S

chool’s out and that hopefully means lots of fun and adventures for children and adults alike. However, it’s also a good time to make sure you have an up-to-date first aid kit for any scrapes, bruises and minor injuries, whether you are at home or away this summer.

Below I’ve listed the 10 essential first aid items for families this summer.

1. PLASTERS: You need a variety of different sizes and shapes to cover cuts, and waterproof are the best if you’re out and about.

2. BANDAGES: Perfect for twists and simple sprains.

Pack triangular bandages and also crêpe rolled bandages. When applying a bandage, ensure it’s not too tight. A simple test is to press down on the skin, or a finger or toenail, below the area of the bandage. It will appear pale initially when you remove the pressure but the colour should return within a couple of seconds. If it doesn’t, the bandage is too tight and should be reapplied.

3. TOOLS: Don’t forget safety pins, scissors, tweezers (essential for taking out splinters and stings before they get infected) and sticky tape.

4. THERMOMETER: Preferably a digital one. Remember, the normal body temperature is 36.5 to 37.5 degrees Celsius.

Anything above this could indicate a fever.

5. CREAMS: It’s always a good idea to have a few simple creams on standby. A simple antiseptic ointment can be useful for minor cuts and grazes as well as a cream or spray to apply to insect bites or stings. A mild steroid cream, hydrocortisone, can be bought without prescription and can be useful for simple rashes.

A word of caution though, this should not be used on the delicate skin of the face and should always be used with caution when treating children.

6. PILLS: You will need painkillers such as paracetamol (or infant paracetamol for children), ibuprofen and maybe consider

travel sickness pills. Anti-histamine tablets (or liquid for children) are useful for mild allergic reactions, such as following an insect bite.

7. ANTISEPTIC SOLUTION: You’ll recognise these as well-known brands such as Dettol, TCP and Savlon, all of which contain germ killing agents for use on minor skin cuts and grazes, bites and stings.

8. RE-HYDRATION SOLUTION: Sachets of rehydration mixture, containing a blend of salts and sugars, can be mixed with water and drunk in cases of sickness and diarrhoea, and can be a great help in terms of getting people up and about again.

9. GLOVES: If you are giving someone first aid, be sure to protect yourself from infection via blood or vomit by wearing gloves. Some gloves contain latex, so if you are concerned that someone in your family may have a latex allergy, look for latexfree gloves instead.

10. FIRST AID MANUAL: Keep a manual handy of the most common injuries, such as burns, stings, cuts and breakages.

The Red Cross and the St. John’s Ambulance Service both provide apps you can download to your device so you have a handy guide to first aid on the go.

Have a great and safe holiday!

Dr Alexandra Phelan is a working NHS GP and Online Doctor with Pharmacy2U. For more information go to www.Pharmacy2U.co.uk.

May 20 - 21

What’s On

The Wizard of Oz Outdoor theatre production at Hawk Conservancy Trust from 6pm.

A wonderful evening of entertainment for all the family. Tickets £15.

May 21

Cheeki Monkeys Pre-Loved Sale at Chilcompton Village Hall Chilcompton from 10 am to 12 pm. Adults £1, children free.

June 2

Creepy Crawlies’ at The Bishop’s Palace, Wells Visit the Stable Yard Room for creative crafting of Wiggly Spiders, Wriggly Caterpillars and Funny Frogs.

June 3

May 27

Paw Patrol visit West Somerset Railway Minehead from 10am – 4pm. Come and see Chase & Marshall from PAW Patrol at Minehead Railway Station. There will be lots to do for the whole family.

May 27

Tractor Ted Bouncy Fun! At Farrington’s from 10am to 3pm. Tractor Ted and his Friends will be in Cowtastic Farm Park for a day of fun!

May 27 - 29

Home Farm Fest in Chilthorne Domer, Somerset School in a Bag with over 100 bands/artists and performers. Lots for the whole family.

May 27 - June 3

Father’s Day at Cholderton Charlie’s Farm Quote "Challenge Dad" on the door and Dad will receive FREE ENTRY onto the farm for the whole day!

May 29

Somerset Bugfest at RSPB Ham Wall, near Glastonbury 2pm – 4pm. Learn about everything that slithers, crawls and buzzes - go on a bug hunt and find out more about the hidden world of mini beasts.

Sing (U) at Midsomer Norton Town Hall from 2.30pm Tickets £5 for adults, £3 for children or £12 for Families (2 adults, 1 or 2 children).

Almost Summer BBQ Party at Farrington’s from 10am – 4pm Lots of summer salads, sauces, meat rubs, marinades, craft beers, ciders and much more.

Tractor Ted Big Machines Weekend, Bowood House & Gardens 11am – 5pm. This really is the perfect day out for all the family!

Total heaven for young children (and often for Dads too)!

Biaza Love Your Zoo Week at Noah’s Ark Zoo Farm Come and find all the hidden hearts in the animal enclosures for a chance to win an Animal Adoption.

Sheep Shearing Day at Cholderton Charlie’s Farm See the flock of Rare Breed sheep get their annual ‘hair cut’ throughout the day. There will also be face painting, wool spinning displays and BBQ too!

June 9

June 9 - 11 June 18 June 18

June 24

May 29

Open Day at HorseWorld from 10.30am to 4pm A great opportunity to see what goes on at HorseWorld's Welfare Department.

May 31 - June 3

Armed Forces Day, Wiltshire Armed Forces & Veterans Celebrations from 10 am to 4 pm at Trowbridge Town Park. A fun day for the whole family.

Nature Ninjas at The Bishop’s Palace, Wells Come along to the Community Garden for activities including pond dipping, minibeast hunting, seed sowing and a garden trail!

Royal Bath & West Show, Shepton Mallet Celebrate the very best of Great British Agriculture, Entertainment, Food and Drink and much, much more for the whole family.

June 2 - 4

June 24

July 1

Sky Hunters at Sunset, Hawks Conservancy Trust 6.45pm. An evening of flying demonstrations including falcons, vultures, owls and kites. Tickets £33.50, Adult and £19.95, Child.

Pirates and Princesses at Bowood House & Gardens 11am to 5pm. Dress up as a pirate or your favourite princess and join in all the fun and games.

To read more about these events or find out what else is on, visit

www.familymatters-uk.co.uk

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FESTIVAL OF NATURE: WILDLIFE SURVEY B

ath’s largest ever wildlife survey will take place as part of this year’s Festival of Nature two-week long event.

New drone footage that shows a ‘bat’s eye view’ of the River Avon will also be previewed during the Bath leg of the festival, which will feature bats as a key theme this year. The festival will illustrate why researchers at the University of Bath call the River Avon ‘bat superhighway’.

Dates for the festival, the UK’s biggest free celebration of the natural world, have also been announced. It kicks off on Thursday June 8 and runs until Sunday June 25, starting in Bristol before it winds down the River Avon through Keynsham and into Bath, uncovering secret wildlife spots along the way.

The festival’s first Bath-based BioBlitz, the largest ever wildlife survey to be held in the city, will take place at the National Trust’s Bushey Norwood site on June 23 and 24 and it is hoped that 1,000 different species can be found in 24 hours.

Bristol and Bath’s waterscapes are an important feature of the Festival of Nature and visitors will be able to learn all about stories of the River Avon via a ‘cinema in a campervan’ which will follow the festival down the River Avon. Fondly known as Lionel, the VW T25 campervan is decorated as an imaginary spaceship and festival-goers are invited to step on board and enjoy this unique cinema-going experience.

Walks from Bristol to Bath on the longest day of the year will form part of the programme, as will a brand new series of talks and workshops in Bath’s Guildhall. Parade Gardens in Bath will host an all-day free family wildlife party on June 25, with music on the bandstand, local caterers and a range of exhibits and drop-in workshops.

Savita Custead, festival director, said: “The Festival of Nature is a fantastic opportunity for people of all ages to see our city and waterscapes in a different way and better understand the natural world which surrounds us. It’s about informing and educating, inspiring people to take action for nature and, most importantly, having fun.

“There are so many interactive activities to take part in and we are particularly excited to be able to bring a special bats theme to the Bath part of the festival this year as well as our first ever Bioblitz for the city. This year’s event will in fact mark the largest ever festival programme across Keynsham, Bath and the river path in between.”

The BBC Natural History Unit celebrates its 60th anniversary in 2017 and will be at the festival offering visitors the chance to try out camera equipment, meet wildlife presenters and find out about the history and technology changes in the industry.

“We have already lined up some great activities and exhibitors, with much more to come,” said Savita. “We are looking forward to offering a packed programme which will appeal to everyone from pre-schoolers to grandparents.”

The Bristol celebration will be over the weekend of June 10 and 11 followed by a Keynsham event on June 17 and 18 before culminating in Bath for the festival finale on June 24 and 25.

A full festival programme will be released later this month (April) and people are encouraged to sign up to the Festival of Nature newsletter to keep up to date with all of the festival news and updates.

All events are free to enter, but some may require advance booking so visit www.festivalofnature.org.uk for a full listing and more information. You can also follow the festival on Twitter: @FestofNature and on Facebook: @BristolFON. Op en ing so on ...

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News and Reviews LATEST SCHOOL NEWS

EVENTS

DIARY DATES

YOUR SUCCESSES

EASTER CRAFT DAY AT CHEW STOKE

Sunday 21st May 10am - 12pm Chilcompton Village Hall Wells Road, Chilcompton BA3 4EX

PRE LOVED STALLS £10

www.cheekimonkeys.co.uk radstock.cheekimonkeys@gmail.com Cheeki Monkeys Radstock

You really know that Easter is here and that Spring has really and truly sprung, when the eggs are out and the tissue paper is rustling at Chew Stoke Church School. All this preparation was for the annual Easter Craft Day, which took place during the last week of school, before the Easter holidays began. Eggs were painted, cards were made and hats were decorated, not only by the children but by the parents and the staff as well. The Craft Day culminated in an ‘eggs-hibition’, of all the crafts and with each class’ exhibits judged, this year

by Reverend Charles Roberts. It was certainly a cracking day!

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PAULTON INFANT SCHOOL REACHES GOLD STANDARD FOR OUTDOOR PLAY Paulton Infant School has achieved the Gold Award for its Outdoor Play And Learning as awarded by National outdoor learning consultant, Michael Follett.

The Opal project is a mentor supported school improvement programme to develop the quality of our play and was initiated approximately 18 months ago at Paulton Infant School. As Head Teacher, Julie Hogan pointed out ‘Play makes up 20% of children’s time at school, therefore we believe playtimes should be happy times which contribute to the physical and emotional health and well-being of all of our children, ultimately leading to a better approach to learning and enjoyment in school!’

Since the start of the Opal project, the playground has been improved – providing social spaces, a ‘Mud Kitchen’ and ‘Jungle Zone’ and a new gravel pit alongside the introduction of Scrapstore materials to develop imaginative play. Parents have been contributing unwanted kitchen utensils, dressing up clothes, buckets and spades, diggers, cars and trucks, and natural materials such as logs for children to use.

Parents and carers are also invited into school to join their children during dedicated ‘Picnic and Play’ events which have been tremendously successful.

Mrs Hogan reports that there has been a reduction in

behavioural incidents during playtimes and a greater sense of fair play as the children become more engaged with each other and their environment.

Local celebrity Martin Roberts - renowned for his BBC TV show, ‘Homes Under the Hammer’ and I’m a Celebrity…get me out of here!’ was pleased to be invited to erect a number of specially commissioned signs for the playground in recognition of the school’s achievement. He said “It’s great to see the children with huge smiles, playing imaginatively at school”.

For more information about spaces available at Paulton Infant School or to arrange a visit please call 01761 412354 or visit www.paulton_inf@bathnes.gov.uk.

OPAL is a registered Community Interest Company dedicated to improving the quality of children's play opportunities especially in primary schools.

ST MARYS VISIT TO THE GLOBE THEATRE On March 29th, Year 5 went on our class trip to London. We left at 6.45am and headed for The Globe Theatre for a workshop based on a Midsummer Night's Dream, as it is our end of year performance this year. We also had a tour of the theatre itself which was amazing! It's all made of wood but was painted to look like marble and gold!

We then got back on the bus and went to Covent Garden for the matinee performance of The Lion King Musical. We loved the music and costumes and were very impressed with the acting especially the child actors who played Nala and Simba. We had such a fantastic day that lots of us fell asleep on the bus home! A great day had by all.

Miss Thorne, Year 5 teacher, St Mary's Primary School, Timsbury.

SPECIALIST TUTOR Sat 27th May

2.30pm - Sing (U) 7.30pm - La La Land (12A)

Sat 24th June

2:30pm - The Lego Batman Movie (U) 7:30pm - Lion (PG)

£5 Adults, £3 children, £12 family (2 adults, up to 2 children)

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ST MARY’S, WRITHLINGTON AWARDED PLATINUM FOR OUTDOOR PLAY AND LEARNING The whole school recently celebrated being presented with their award in a special assembly. Their provision for play in school has been transformed, with children playing on the field, in the trees and bushes, everyday – all children and staff have wellies in school! The beautiful grounds have been enhanced by willow structures, mowed circles, seating and digging areas. The school is continually seeking to improve its provision, and is soon to have an outdoor stage, shelters and a mud kitchen installed. Everyone is looking forward to a special fun playtime at the end of term, staff and children playing out together! The initiative also supports the current drive for us to be more active, and children considering acceptable risks for themselves.

SIX CHILDREN COMPLETE A TRIATHLON BETWEEN THEM TO RAISE MONEY FOR THEIR SCHOOL Jorge Perry, Ruby Young, Finn Davis, Winnie Vassiere, Harry Emery and Tilly Harris Weston completed a triathlon between them to raise money for Paulton Junior School, to thank them for their education as they are leaving the school in July! They raised £1083.50, well done kids!

WORLD AUTISM AWARENESS AT PSJ PRIMARY The children at Peasedown St John School celebrated World Autism Awareness Week where they learned what Autism means and what it is like to have Autism. The Monday of the week, they watched a video in assembley by a girl called Rosie, who told the children what it’s like for her living with Autism. In class, they also talked more about how they can support children with Autism.

On Thursday, the school had a staff bake off, to raise money for the National Autistic society. The staff made some amazing cakes, with Mrs Roughan winning first place for her colourful rainbow cake.

Sam in Y1 and Anthony in Y4 were lucky enough to be the judges, which of course involved tasting lots of them! They sold the cakes in the staffroom and after school in the playground and raised an amazing £288!

There are some wonderful child friendly videos online that help to explain Autism. If your child would like to watch the video that the children watched in assembly, it can be found on YouTube. It is called ‘My Autism and Me’ and was produced by the BBC for Newsround: www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/31425238

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WELTON SCHOOL BUILD ROCKET CARS

STEM FOCUS AT FARMBOROUGH

Four children from Welton Primary School visited the Bloodhound land speed record centre in Bristol yesterday to take part in an inter-school rocket car competition.

The children designed and made their own cars using kits and guidance from the Bloodhound group and then raced them along a track using rocket power and a BBC microbit computer to measure speed and acceleration. The winning car from Welton was created by Maddie who based her design on a cheetah, complete with spots! The children are photographed with their models in front of a full size Bloodhound car with head teacher Mr Snell. Bloodhound will hopefully be achieving a speed of over 1000mph in the South African desert later in the year.

Farmborough Primary School recently held another fantastic few weeks of Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths activities (STEM). A lot of visitors, many of whom were parents, came in to share their expertise with demonstrations, talks and fun tasks. A range of organisations were represented, including Dyson, The Royal Navy, Bath University Engineering Department, Rolls Royce, Shepton Mallet Vets and Wessex Water. As well as finding out a great deal about work in these fields, the children also learnt about areas such as 3-D printing and forensic science. It was all really enjoyable and inspiring and everyone was very grateful to all that gave up their time.

Kumon’s maths and English study programmes work to build your child’s confidence and inspire a passion for learning.

To unlock your child’s potential, contact your local Instructor for a free assessment.

Midsomer Norton Study Centre Jacqui Knowles 01761 411400 kumon.co.uk Fees vary. Please refer to your local study centre.

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WOW

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WHAT AN ACHIEVEMENT

High Littleton Key Stage 1 Star Reader Award went to Seb Haigh as well as the Key Stage 2 Star Reader Award to Grace Wyatt.These awards are in recognition of the fantastic progress that they have made in their reading.

Emily, Lucy, Zak, Archie, Issac and Elsie from St Vigor and St John's School recently took part in the Bath Half Marathon Family Fun Run. Wow, what a great achievement, well done!

Ellie Organ age 9 from Farmborough Church Primary entered the BBC Radio 2 500 word story writing competition. She has got through to the next round where only 5,000 go to the second round of judging.

Well done to Josh who was presented with the Headteacher's Award for Term 4 for hard work and impeccable manners in school.

Chloe Deacon, aged 6 from Clutton School, achieved her level 5 trampolining proficiency awards and stage 2 ASA swimming award.

Great work Chloe.

Archie Hunt aged 9 from Class 5 St Marys School Writhlington has passed Level 4 Swimming Certificate at MSN pool. Well done Archie.

Jack Thorne aged 5 from St Vigor & St John School, Chilcompton has achieved his stage 1 swimming certificate.

Great work Jack!

Josh Uhrmacher was awarded Player of the Year for the u9's at Midsomer Norton Rugby Club.

Fantastic Josh, well done!

Evie age 8 from Farrington Gurney School has won rosettes for pony jumping at Wellow Trekking Centre.

Well Done Evie!

Hattie age 9 from Farrington Gurney School has completed her Level 2 in gymnastics.

Keep up the good work Hattie.

Charlie age 8 from Farrington Gurney School has achieved his Stage 4 in swimming and Grade 3 in water skills. Wow Charlie, well done.

Archie age 8 from Farrington Gurney School has been awarded his 10m backstroke distance award. Well done Archie.

Bella age 5 from Farrington Gurney School has been awarded her 5m distance swimming certificate. Super swimming Bella.

Seb age 5 from Farrington Gurney School has completed his 10m backstroke distance award.

Fantastic work Seb.