Great Days Out

Wed 8 Outdoor Adventure

Build a den, relax in a hammock, swing on a rope swing and enjoy a hot chocolate. Children must be accompanied by an adult. 1-3pm. £6. The Naze Centre, Old Hall Lane, Walton-on-the-Naze, CO14 8LE. www.essexwt.org.uk BE

Wed 8 Egg & Nest Discovery

Find out who makes which nest, and then make your own. Children must be accompanied. 1.30-3.30pm. £6. Fingringhoe Wick Visitor Centre, South Green Road, Fingringhoe, CO5 7DN. www.essexwt.org.uk BE

Thur 9 Family Magic & Variety Show

Magic for all the family. 10am. £10. Jobserve Community Stadium, United Way, Colchester, CO4 5UP. www.cu-fc.com

Thur 9 Dragon Discovery

Track down the hidden dragons and collect the dragon eggs. Age: 4-8 yrs, children must be accompanied by an adult. £6. Hanningfield Reservoir Visitor Centre, Hawkswood Road, Billericay, CM11 1WT. www.essexwt.org.uk BE

Fri 10 – Mon 13 Science Museum

Join staff from the London Science Museum for some fun-packed presentations. £3.50 + Castle admission. £2.50 Resident pass holders and members + Castle admission. Sessions available at 11am, 12pm, 2pm, 3pm. Colchester Castle, CO1 1TJ. https://colchester.cimuseums.org.uk/ events/sciencemuseum10/ BE

Fri 10 Birds of Prey Display

Eden Falconry will bring some of their birds of prey for an indoor talk and display. Children must be accompanied by an adult. 6.30-8pm. £8. The Naze Centre, Walton-on-the-Naze, CO14 8LE. www.essexwt.org.uk BE

KEY TO DIARY DATES: BE = Booking Essential Free Event = No charge To the best of our knowledge this information is correct at the time of going to press. We also obtain a lot of these listings online and highly recommend checking with the event holder before setting off to avoid disappointment.

Sun 12 Pygmy Goats & Chicks

Blackwater Alpacas will be bringing their little chicks and baby goats: hold the animals and find out more about them. £3. 10am-3pm. The Naze Centre, Old Hall Lane, Walton-on-the-Naze, CO14 8LE. www.essexwt.org.uk

Tue 14 Zoologist For The Day

We will pond dip, bug hunt, bird watch and record what we find - just like a real scientist. Please wear suitable clothing and bring packed lunch. 10am2pm. Age: 5-11yrs. £10. Abberton Reservoir Visitor Centre, Church Road, Colchester, CO2 0EU. www.essexwt.org.uk BE

Thur 16 Green Art Academy

Make art in the garden with artist/ educator Jevan Watkins Jones. Art materials provided. 10am - 1pm. Unaccompanied children £10 per session. Age 10yrs+. Wear old clothes and bring a snack. The Beth Chatto Gardens, CO7 7DB. www.bethchatto. co.uk/courses

Thur 16 Minibeast Madness

Look for bugs in the woods from 10am-12.30pm and pond dip from 1pm-3pm. Age: 4yrs+. Children must be accompanied. 10am-3pm. £3. Hanningfield Reservoir Visitor Centre, Hawkswood Road, Billericay, CM11 1WT. www.essexwt.org.uk

Fri 17 Spring Survival

Try your hand at shelter building and cooking a snack on the fire. Age 5+. £6 per child. Children must be accompanied. 1-2pm/2.30-3.30pm. Bedfords Park Visitor Centre, Romford, RM4 1QH. www.essexwt.org.uk/nature-reserves/ bedfords BE

Fri 17 Fantastic Fossils

Meet fossil experts from GeoSuffolk and find out more about fossils unearthed in this area. Bring your own fossils along and the experts can help you discover what they are. 10am12pm and 2-4pm. Suitable all ages. Natural History Museum, 66 High Street, Colchester, CO1 1DN. https:// colchester.cimuseums.org.uk/events/ fantasticfossils/ Free Entry

Sat 18 Dinosaur Trail

Follow a fun map around the park answering dinosaur related questions. 10.30am-3pm. £3. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Ingrebourne Valley Visitor Centre, Hornchurch Country Park, Hornchurch, RM12 6DF. www.essexwt.org.uk

Wed 22 Fairy Trail & Craft

Solve the fairy clues then create your own fairy crown. Children must be accompanied by an adult. 10am-2.30pm. £3. Ingrebourne Valley Visitor Centre, Hornchurch Country Park, Hornchurch, RM12 6DF. www. essexwt.org.uk

Fri 24 Forest School Froglets

Discover our beautiful wild garden with Forest School leader Zoe Laughton. 10am - 12pm. Accompanied Pre-school children £10; one adult per child free, additional adults £3. Discount offered when all 6 sessions booked together. The Beth Chatto Gardens, CO7 7DB. www.bethchatto. co.uk/courses

Sat 25 & Sun 26 Crank Up

Steam and vintage vehicle show plus vintage funfair, trade and craft stalls. 10am-5pm. Adults £6, children free. Carver Barracks, nr Saffron Walden. CB10 2YA. www.swcrankup.co.uk

Sun 26 Festival of Spring

Children’s activities and guided tours. 11.30am-5pm. Adults £4.50, children under 16 free. Gardens of Easton Lodge, Little Easton, Great Dunmow, CM6 2BB. www.eastonlodge.co.uk

Sat 4 - Sun 19

Easter Special Take a train into the woods to visit the Easter Bunny, receive a treat and meet his furry friends. Spot the fairies, elves, animals, nests and eggs throughout the Fairy and Elf Walk and Easter Trail and earn yourself an exclusive Easter gift. Finally, create your own Easter craft. Audley End Miniature Railway, Saffron Walden, CB11 4JB. 01799 510726. www.audleyend-railway.co.uk BE

Sat 4 – Sat 18

Easter Egg Hunt Follow the trail around the museum to claim your chocolate prize. Children must be accompanied by an adult. £2 per child. 11am-4pm. Suitable all ages. Epping Forest District Museum, 39-41 Sun Street, Waltham Abbey, EN9 1EL. www.visiteppingforest.org

Sat 4 – Mon 13

Easter Fun Follow the clues and find the lost Knights of Mountfitchet Castle who mysteriously disappeared on the trail of the legend of the Golden Egg! Suitable all ages. 10am-5pm. Adult: £12, Child: £10. Mountfitchet Castle, Stansted Mountfitchet, CM24 8SP. www.mountfitchetcastle.com

Mon 6

Easter Egg Weaving Make an Easter egg using ribbons and the weaving technique. £3.50. 10-11am/12-1pm/2-3pm. Poplar Nurseries, Coggeshall Road, Marks Tey, CO6 1HR. www.poplarnurseries.co.uk BE

Mon 6

Easter Eggstravaganza Easter themed bookable trail, crack the clues and earn your reward. 1-3pm. Trail sheets £5 per child. Hanningfield Reservoir Visitor Centre, Hawkswood Road, Downham, Billericay, CM11 1WT. www.essexwt.org.uk

Thur 9

Chocolate Egg Decorating Decorate your own chocolate Easter egg to take home. Children must be accompanied by an adult. 10am - 11am, 11am - 12pm, 1.30pm - 2.30pm, 2.30pm - 3.30pm. £8. Ingrebourne Valley Visitor Centre, Hornchurch Country Park, Hornchurch, RM12 6DF. www.essexwt.org.uk

Fri 10

Easter Treasure Hunt Through Layer-de-la-Haye Woods. 10am-2pm. £4.50 per child in advance; £6 per child on the day. Tickets can be purchased in advance from: www.ctzn. tk/layerhunt. Layer Village Hall, New Cut, Layer-de-la-Haye, CO2 0EH

Sat 11

Natural Egg Marbling Using natural materials, learn how to marble eggs. 11am-12pm. £6. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Please wear outdoor clothing. Fingringhoe Wick Visitor Centre, Fingringhoe, CO5 7DN. www.essexwt.org.uk

Sun 12 & Mon 13

Easter Joust The Knights Of Middle England return to the Norman Keep for a weekend of stunts and chivalry. Plus craft stalls, food and entertainment. 10am-5pm. £15/£10, Under 5s free. Hedingham Castle, Halstead, C09 3DJ. www. hedinghamcastle.co.uk/events/easterjoust-knights-of-middle-england/

Sun 12

Easter Trail Follow the trail, with a small prize at the end. 2-6pm. Adults: £5; Children 5-16 yrs: £1; under 5s free. £1 per child for trail. Gibberd Garden, Marsh Lane, Gilden Way, Harlow, CM17 0NA. www.thegibberdgarden.co.uk

Tue 14

Easter Eggsplorer Trail Follow in the Easter Bunny's footsteps and find the clues in the meadow, then return to the Centre for your chocolatey prize. 10am-4pm. £5. Grange Farm Centre, Grange Farm Lane, Chigwell, IG7 6DP. www.grangefarmcentre.co.uk/ BE

Wed 15

Fabulous Fish Weaving Create your own unique fish sculpture in willow incorporating beads and other natural materials. All materials provided. 10am - 3pm. Accompanied children £15. Age 10yrs+. One adult per child free, additional adults £3.The Beth Chatto Gardens, CO7 7DB. www.bethchatto. co.uk/courses

Thur 16 & Fri 17

Easter Biscuit Decorating Decorate homemade biscuits with melted chocolate, marshmallows and sweets. £4.25. 10-11am,12-1pm, 2-3pm. Poplar Nurseries, Coggeshall Road, Marks Tey, CO6 1HR. www.poplarnurseries.co.uk BE

May Warmer Days

Fri 1 Forest School Froglets

Discover our beautiful wild garden with Forest School leader Zoe Laughton. 10am - 12pm. Accompanied Pre-school children £10; one adult per child free, additional adults £3. Discount offered when all 6 sessions booked together. The Beth Chatto Gardens, CO7 7DB. www.bethchatto.co.uk/courses

Sat 2 & Sun 3 Town & Country Fair

Arena entertainment including horse displays, bottle feeding lambs, working dogs and birds of prey display, Mario Magic children’s entertainer and children’s fairground. Plus Fun Family Dog Show on Sunday. 10am-5pm. Adults: £6, Child (age 5-18): £3, under 5s free. Lower Castle Park, Colchester, CO1 1YG. www.oakleighfairs.co.uk

You can find more regularly updated listings online www.kidaround.biz

Sat 2 & Sun 3 Bluebells Bazaar

Enjoy the woodlands carpeted in bluebells. Plus open air bazaar with stalls showcasing local art, crafts and produce. 10am-5pm. Green Island Gardens, Park Road, Ardleigh, Colchester, CO7 7SP. www.greenislandgardens.co.uk

Sat 2 Petting Farm

Bring your young farmers along to feed, groom and hold a range of small farm animals, from Gemma’s Farm. 10am-12pm. Recommended age: 3-7yrs. St Margaret’s Prep School, Gosfield, CO9 1SE. 01787 273050.

Free Event BE Fri 8 – Sun 10 Country Park Show

Arena displays, dog shows, plus stalls. 10am-5pm. Adult £8, Child £3.50, Under 5's free. Weald Country Park, Brentwood, CM14 5QS. www.explore-essex.com

Mon 25 – Fri 29 Illuminated Letters

Head to the Scriptorium and take part in a fun illuminated letters workshop, using bright colours and metallic inks to create your own initial. Price included in Castle admission. Daily from 10.30am - 1pm, 2-4pm. Colchester Castle, CO1 1TJ. https://colchester.cimuseums.org.uk/ events/illuminatedletters/

Mon 25 – Fri 29 History Stinks

Get your senses working with our medieval smells tour of the Castle. Price included in Castle admission. Daily at 11am and 3pm. Suitable all ages. Colchester Castle, CO1 1TJ. https://colchester.cimuseums.org.uk/ events/historystinks/

Mon 25 – Fri 29 Mythical Beast Trail & Crafts

Follow our mythical beasts trail around the Castle then have a go at creating your own at the beastly craft table. Price included in Castle admission. Colchester Castle, CO1 1TJ. https://colchester.cimuseums.org. uk/events/mythicalbeasts/

Mon 25 & Tue 26 Knights & Dragons

A huge smoke-breathing Black Dragon puppet will be ready to thrill Castle visitors. Find out how a trebuchet works and have some fun with our Jester. 10.30am-4.30pm Price included in Castle admission. Colchester Castle, CO1 1TJ. https:// colchester.cimuseums.org.uk/events/ knightsanddragons26/

Wed 27 Juggling Jesters

Have you got the skills to be a champion juggling jester? 10am-1pm and 2-4pm. Hollytrees Museum, Colchester, CO1 1UG. https:// colchester.cimuseums.org.uk/events/ jugglingjesters/ Free Event

Wed 27 Juggling Jesters Craft Sessions

Write your own jokes and make a Jester’s hat. £5pp. 10.30am, 11.30am, 12.30pm, 2.30pm. Hollytrees Museum, Colchester, CO1 1UG. 01206 282941 https://colchester.cimuseums.org.uk/ events/jugglingjesters/ BE

Thur 28 Massive Megalodon Big Tooth Stories

Listen to entertaining tales about these huge shark-like creatures that swarmed the oceans millions of years ago. Sessions at 11am, 12pm and 2pm. Natural History Museum, Colchester, CO1 1DN. https:// colchester.cimuseums.org.uk/events/ massivemegalodon/ Free Entry

Thur 28 Green Art Academy

Make art in the garden with artist/ educator Jevan Watkins Jones. Art materials provided. 10am - 1pm. Unaccompanied children £10 per session. Age 10yrs+. Wear old clothes and bring a snack. The Beth Chatto Gardens, CO7 7DB. www.bethchatto. co.uk/courses

Fri 29 Fantastic Forest Fun

Build dens, try a forest craft and build your own elf fire! 10am - 12pm. Accompanied children £10. One adult per child free, additional adults £3. The Beth Chatto Gardens, CO7 7DB. www.bethchatto.co.uk/courses

Sun 31 Fossil Discovery Day

Fossil trail open all day and a fossil identification session every hour on the hour (11am-12pm/12-1pm/1- 2pm/2-3pm). £5. 11am-3pm. The Naze Centre, Old Hall Lane, Walton-on-theNaze, CO14 8LE. www.essexwt.org.uk BE

June Sunny Days

Sat 6 Storytelling Festival

Sessions will engage and entertain children, and encourage them to question and think, but most of all to laugh and be creative. 10am-5pm. Cressing Temple Barns, Nr. Witham, CM77 8PD. www. eastanglianstorytellingfestival.co.uk/

Free Event Sun 7 Mum2Mum Market

25 stalls of high quality, nearly new items and a selection of businesses offering goods and services of interest to parents. 2.30-4.30pm. £2 entry, kids go free. Harold Hill Community Centre, Gooshays Drive, Romford, RM3 9LB

Fri 12 Mini Seedlings

Secret summer outing. For preschool children. 12pm – 1pm. £5.50/ Child – £7.50/Adult. Poplar Nurseries, Coggeshall Road, Marks Tey, CO6 1HR. www.poplarnurseries.co.uk BE

Sun 14 Tudor Legacies

Come and chat to Henry VIII's wives and hear their side of the story! 11am-5pm. Adults: £9, Children: £5. Layer Marney Tower, Layer Marney, Colchester, CO5 9US. www.layermarneytower.co.uk

Sun 14 Family Fun Run

3k fun run, suitable all ages and abilities. £5; under 5s run for free. 9.45am. East Beach, 13A Rampart Terrace, Shoeburyness, SS3 9AE. www.visitsouthend.co.uk

KEY TO DIARY DATES: BE = Booking Essential Free Event = No charge To the best of our knowledge this information is correct at the time of going to press. We also obtain a lot of these listings online and highly recommend checking with the event holder before setting off to avoid disappointment.

Great Days Out 'making the most of family time' Spring is here so let's make the most of getting out and seeing what delights Essex has to offer. Here are some great ideas for you. Want to know more? Each advertiser has written a feature article online at www.kidaround.biz to give you more information with direct links through to their own site.

Cressing Chocolate Festival Following the success of the first Chocolate Festival in 2019, they’re back with a bigger and better event for 2020! Join them on Saturday 4th or Sunday 5th April 2020 for food, drink and craft stalls, a children’s trail and local entertainment. The event is open from 11am-4pm. This is a family friendly event. Car parking at Cressing Temple Barns is free of charge. Advance tickets are £7.50 for adults and £5.00 for under 16’s. Under 2’s are free and do not need to purchase a ticket. Under 18’s should be accompanied by an adult. For more information please visit website www.explore-essex.com

Long-eared fun and frolics at Redwings Ada Cole this Easter! If you’re looking for a fun way to entertain the whole family during the Easter holidays, why not take part in our We Love Donkeys activities at Redwings Ada Cole in Essex? From Friday 3rd April until Monday 20th April, you’ll have the chance to meet Adoption Star donkey Dotty and marvellous mule Marmite, find out how we groom our donkeys with special demonstrations and discover how we care for our donkeys in fascinating talks. After you’ve made a new longeared friend (or two!), there are plenty of other rescued residents who we know would love a cuddle too including our “Adoption Stars”; - Elvis, the rock and roll pony, Dolly who was rescued after being stuck in a ditch for three days, super-cute Shetland pony Tinkerbell and gorgeous Gelderlander horse Zippy! A year’s sponsorship of a Redwings Adoption Star costs just £15 for a whole year. Not only will you be giving towards the care of the charity’s rescued residents, but you’ll also be giving the gift of friendship. Once you’ve met our rescued residents you can head to ouron-site Nosebag Café for a nice hot cuppa and a tasty slice of cake, as well as take a browse of our gift shop. All proceeds go towards the 1,500 rescued horses, ponies, donkeys and mules in Redwings’ care nationwide. Situated near Harlow, Redwings Ada Cole is open every Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday, from 10am to 4pm. Entry and parking are free, and dogs on leads are welcome. https://www.redwings.org.uk/get-involved/visit/ada-cole-rescuecentre