SUMMER
It’s time to leave the sofa and get outside this summer, and there is something for everyone to enjoy in the locality, as our bumper guide proves...
SUMMER HIGHLIGHTS
NATURE 04
HISTORY 11
THEATRE 08
CHARITY EVENTS 07
FESTIVAL 17
Hello
SUMMER
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he sun is (hopefully) shining, the summer holidays are coming and our thoughts turn to taking a break. But you don’t need to deal with airport queues or worry about booking expensive apartments. We are all feeling the pinch just now, but you can still have a good time. There are so many free or affordable great things to do on your doorstep and in the neighbouring counties. Whether you want to take in a theatre performance, go hunting for bugs, show your competitive side, enjoy an exhibition or let the train take the strain, Pulse has heaps of smart ideas for family fun no matter what the weather!
Say HELLO to all the great things to do in and around the region this summer...
SPORT NATURE CHARITY THEATRE MUSIC PLAY DAYS OUT BOOKS HISTORY EXHIBITIONS ART ACTIVITIES FOOD FESTIVAL DRINK
Hello
SPORT
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Watch the girls get the goals!
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THE UEFA Women’s EURO 2022 comes to MK
ilton Keynes is playing its part in the biggest women’s European sports event in history when it hosts four matches as part of the UEFA Women’s EURO 2022. Stadium MK, which is of course home to the MK Dons, is one of nine host cities which have been hand-picked, and one of those matches playing out in the new city will be the semi-final. The fixtures will run as follows: Spain vs Finland – July 8 Denmark vs Finland – July 12 Finland vs Germany – July 16 Semi-final (TBC vs TBC) – July 27
Pic: Flickr
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> To make bookings visit uefa.com/womenseuro/ticketing/
Hello Summer! Your guide to what’s going on locally this summer | Created by Pulse Magazine www.pulsemagazine.co.uk
Visit Stanwick Lakes
We have lots to offer with a fantastic café, shop, large children’s play area, Heritage displays, an assault course, an adventure trail, walks, cycle paths and lots more. There is a varied and exciting public programme of events happening throughout the year so look at our website for more information.
www.stanwicklakes.org.uk
01933 625522
OUR new Brewers Fayre THE
WILLEN DRAGON th 4 OpenS July!!
We can’t wait to welcome you into our new pub. Come join us for great value food and drinks the whole family can enjoy. PLUS
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JOIN US AT OUR
FAMILY FUN DAY Sunday 10th July 12-4pm Plenty of fun for everyone including:
Kids Entertainment Live Music Kids Activities Great Food and Drinks And a special appearance from
The Great Ormond Street Bear!
Visit us at Brickhill Street, Willen Lake, Milton Keynes MK15 0DS or book now at www.brewersfayre.co.uk Your guide to what’s going on locally this summer | Created by Pulse Magazine www.pulsemagazine.co.uk | Hello Summer!
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Hello
NATURE I
f you fancy getting out and about in the country, Stanwick Lakes near Wellingborough is a no-brainer; a 750 acre attraction and nature reserve in the heart of the Nene Valley. Its extensive space is ripe for exploration and suitable for families, walkers, cyclists and nature lovers. Get busy with the adventure trail and playground, reach for the binoculars and enjoy a spot of bird watching or stretch your legs and fill your lungs with countryside air on a lakeside walk. A summer programme of events tailored for children will allow them to start enjoying nature in an engaging, educational and fun way: “Discover the underwater world at a pond dipping session, hunt for mini beasts in the undergrowth and build a magnificent den in our newly opened woodland,” is the call from the reserve. The visitor centre has been spruced up too, and now includes a fresh, modern cafe and gift shop, and a range of function rooms and spaces that will present a rolling programme of heritage and art exhibitions. Stanwick Lakes is the perfect spot for those looking to get away from it all, but still be home in time for tea!
The perfect ‘getaway’ on your doorstep
> Check stanwicklakes.org.uk for event details.
There is so much to do and discover at Stanwick Lakes
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Stanwick Lakes is rich in wildlife including bats, otters, stoats, rabbits, foxes and badgers. The meadows are home to shrews, voles, field and wood mice and Muntjac deer are a familiar sight. The lakes and reedbeds are protected and internationally important for nesting birds, harvest mice and many species of moth. Thousands of visitors every year come to see the birdlife, and there is lots; from Common Terns and Great Crested Grebe to Tufted Ducks and Wigeons. Aside from its wintering species, its green spaces and wetland areas are also home to Barn Owls and Tawny Owls and ducks, and the bramble and hedgerows often ‘chatter’ with some of our prettiest garden birds including Chaffinch, Goldfinch and Robin, and the less common Goldcrest, Long-tailed Tit and Bullfinch.
Hello Summer! Your guide to what’s going on locally this summer | Created by Pulse Magazine www.pulsemagazine.co.uk
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nything that gives youngsters a break from their technology and encourages them to enjoy the flora and fauna around them is a great thing. And one of the best ways to foster a love of the great outdoors and an appreciation of nature is to engage with some of the many events hosted in the green spaces of Milton Keynes by The Parks Trust. Throughout July and August they will be hosting a number of opportunities for little people to boost their learning. Love Nature Day (July 2) will explore different ways children can help nature at home, and they’ll be able to meet volunteers with a passion for moths, swifts and bats. Bug hunting and pond dipping experiences will also be hosted at the event at Howe Park Wood, which is home to more than 30 different species of butterfly and more than 200 plant species. Professional storyteller Terrie Howie has a passion for telling tales outside; Summer Stories in the Park will be sharing immersive local folk stories when she visits Great Linford Manor Park (July 25).
Flora, fauna and fun with The Parks Trust
Discover local flora and fauna with your ‘wild ones’
Pic: The Parks Trust
Pic: The Parks Trust
The stories will be told at the newly restored Doric Seat, an 18th century summer house folly that was once a feature in the Manor’s landscape garden – instant atmospherics! There are sessions at 2pm, 3pm and 4pm and the family friendly event is perfect for those with children aged between five and 12 years. A Discover Nature Session at Howe Park Wood (July 27) extends a welcome to eight to 11-year-olds, with five hours of foraging, hunting mini-beasts, habitat surveys and bird identification from 10am. A similar session for those aged 12 to 15 years old will run on August 10 at the same scenic site, and will also feature pond identification, and the unique adaptations of our feathered friends. If participants would like to, there will also be the chance to dissect some owl pellets. It’s up to twit-t-you! Story time with Terrie Howie
> For more details and booking information for these events, visit theparkstrust.com Your guide to what’s going on locally thisFor summer the latest | Created local news by visit Pulse www.mkpulse.co.uk Magazine www.pulsemagazine.co.uk | MK Pulse Magazine | Hello | Summer! July 2022
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1st prize £2,000!
2 nd prize £ 500 10 Runne r up prize s of £50 ea ch
Closing date for entries: 5th August 2022 Draw takes place: 11th August 2022 Chances of winning. 24,112 tickets were entered into our last Summer Draw (August 2021) with the option of winning 12 prizes. Only those aged 18 or over are eligible to enter or play. Winners will be notified by post within 7 days of the draw date. Promoter: Willen Hospice Ventures Ltd, Milton Road, Willen Village, Milton Keynes, MK15 9AB. Responsible Persons: L O’Gorman and M Rawlins. All net proceeds donated by deed of covenant to Willen Hospice (registered charity number 270194). Registered with the Gambling Commission (www.gamblingcommission.gov.uk) under the Gambling Act 2005, account number 4988. For full terms and conditions visit our website.
Registered charity number 270194
Gambling Commission Acc No. 4988
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Hello Summer! Your guide to what’s going on locally this summer | Created by Pulse Magazine www.pulsemagazine.co.uk
Hello
CHARITY W It could be moo! illen Hospice in Milton Keynes is hosting its summer fundraising spectacular - the Midnight Moo, a chance to limber up, get the blood pumping and have some fun with friends and family while swelling the coffers for the city’s celebrated care provider. You are too late to take part in the Midday Moo, but there are still two opportunities to pull on the sneakers and go pound the streets. The original Midnight Moo is booked for July 15, and participants will depart from the starting point of Midsummer Place for a five or 10 mile walk. This 13th annual event will see you boogie your way around the route, should you choose to. You might say it’s a chance to show off your mooves... The event is open to individuals and teams and, dare we say, the atmosphere will be udderly fantastic! On August 7, the Mini-Moo is back. This family-friendly event has been moved to the summer holidays in 2022, and kids can choose to walk, run or scoot around Willen Lake North. Or they could choose to complete their own mini-triathlon by tackling all three events! The run is at 10.30am (ages 4-11), the scoot is at 11.30am (ages 3-11) and the walk starts at 12.30pm (aged 3-11). It’s a great way to be part of something special, and after expending all that energy, little folks will sleep well! > To sign up and help to make a difference visit willen-hospice.org.uk
There are lots of fundraising events you can take part in to support Willen Hospice over the summer
A muddy great time for all! Race for Life Pretty Muddy Kids is coming to Northampton on Saturday, July 23. The muddy obstacle course – one of the events swelling the coffers for Cancer Research UK - is being held at Abington Park in the town, and costs £10 per child. Kids need to be at least 1.2m tall to compete, and they will tackle various obstacles, crawl through the mud pit and have lots of fun, while raising those valuable funds. Supervising adults go free. And you grown-ups can have fun too – by taking part in the 5k muddy obstacle course. A day later, Abington Park will welcome this year’s participants in the 3K, 5K or 10K Race For Life. > It’s not too late to enter, and all you need to know can be accessed at raceforlife.cancerresearchuk.org
Your guide to what’s going on locally this summer | Created by Pulse Magazine www.pulsemagazine.co.uk | Hello Summer!
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Hello
THEATRE R are Productions return to the stage of Stantonbury Theatre this July, with their summer delivery, Aladdin. When street rat Aladdin frees a genie from a lamp, he finds his wishes granted. But he quickly realises that evil has other plans for the lamp, and for Princess Jasmine too. Can Aladdin save the Princess and his love for her after she realises that he isn’t quite what he appears to be? A family favourite with plenty of show tunes, Aladdin is also a chance to show your appreciation of our rising talents – with local youngsters aged from eight to 21 years old making up the cast. Performances run between July 7 and July 9. > For times, prices and to make bookings click to stantonburytheatre.co.uk or call 01908 324466. David Walliams’ best-selling story Billionaire Boy has been given the stage treatment by the award-winning producers behind Gangsta Granny and Horrible Histories, and will be cheering audiences at Milton Keynes Theatre between June 30 and July 3. Spud is 12 years old and he’s the richest boy in the country. He has his own sports car, two pet crocodiles and £100,000 a week pocket money. But he doesn’t have any pals... > Visit atgtickets.com/miltonkeynes to book.
Granting wishes in theatre-land The Handlebards
Pic: Mark Douet
Open Stage will be back at Northampton’s Derngate Theatre on Sunday, July 17 with their entire performing arts school of children and adults delivering their own re-imagined works of well-known stories retold through some decidedly special footwork. This performance, cunningly called Reimagination, will involve a combination of ballet, tap, modern, classical Greek, jazz, acrobatic arts and musical theatre. > Want to watch? Tickets are on sale at royalandderngate.co.uk The Handlebards travel light for their bicyclepowered shows, and they are set to bring a laughout-loud production of The Bard’s Twelfth Night to Lyveden, as part of Oundle International Festival, on July 14. Or why not hop along to Lyveden on August 20 for Quantum Theatre with The Tales of Peter Rabbit and Benjamin Bunny? > Visit nationaltrust.org.uk/lyveden for bookings, and with the performances being hosted in the beautiful green surroundings, you’ll need to take a blanket or a seat, and don’t forget to pack a picnic. Songwriting sessions at the Stables
Hello
MUSIC
A different sort of chorus line!
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he Stables is tuning up to nurture musical minds this summer with songwriting sessions ready to unlock the potential of youngsters. Participants at one of the events will join with like minded music lovers to write and record a song in a day. The collaborative session will use games and music play to learn how a song can start, how to contribute ideas and work to record a brand new track that will be performed and recorded before the end of the day. 8
Ages 10-11 are invited to the workshop on July 27, with those aged 12-14 attending the following day. The sessions will run 10am-3pm. Organisers will hit the right note with an opportunity to work on those aforementioned songwriting skills on July 29. How do you start a song? How should you structure it? Are there rules, and if so, can they be broken? This is an opportunity to find out. Suitable for those aged 15-17 years old, it works for newcomers to the songwriting process, and for those who have already started on their journey. Finally, a three-day Summer Songwriting Workout (August 1-3) will offer a chance to explore and learn in a practical way what to do to get song ideas into shape, dealing with melody, harmony, chord progression, hooks, analysing songs and learning from different styles. If participants can sing, or play an instrument too, then so much the better. While the workout isn’t geared towards recording or production, there will be an insight into Digital Audio Workstations as part of the journey. This workshop is for ages 17-19. > For details call 01908 280800 or visit stables.org
Hello Summer! Your guide to what’s going on locally this summer | Created by Pulse Magazine www.pulsemagazine.co.uk
Hello
PLAY TIME
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ll too familiar circumstances led to a two year absence of the MK Playday, but the mammoth free event will return to Campbell Park on August 3. There will be accessible activities for all children, young people and their families during this day which celebrates children’s right to play, and highlights the importance of play in little lives. There will also be Parkland Play events in Oxley Park (August 23) and at Caldecotte Brook (August 30) with litter games, giant garden games and lots of sporting sessions; go batty for cricket, have fun with football or love tennis. Younger participants will enjoy the play house, colouring-in station and soft outdoor toys. > Head to theparkstrust.com for more details. Milton Keynes Council is following last year’s Summer of Play success by hosting the event again in 2022, with a wide range of sports, crafts, cookery and music and activities for toddlers to teens. The Summer of Play will run between August 1 and August 25, and all of the events – which will soon feature online at milton-keynes.gov.uk/HAF – are free to attend. In a further boost for struggling families, the events will also include free meals for youngsters.
On the right track
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Snout and about with the piggies
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ward-winning micro pig business Kew Little Pigs has more than a decade of curly-tailed breeding, and offers visitors to its family run farm in Amersham a perfectly piggy time! Ticket holders will join staff for a health and safety talk before enjoying a guided tour around the beautiful farm. Of course you’ll be able to meet all of the animals on site, because piggies aren’t the only residents at Kew Little Pigs; they also have gorgeous goats, clucky chickens and some simply adorable ducklings. Following the tour you will be given access to allocated petting pens where you can spend up to two hours with pigs of all ages – the piglets, their piggy parents and other mature pigs. You’ll be able to groom the friendly creatures and their individual personalities will shine through as you watch and play with them in their natural environment. After your oink-tastic experience, refuel with a snack in the onsite cafe and perhaps purchase a memento of your visit – from clothing to toys and kitchenware!
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he Marston Vale Line is celebrating its 175th anniversary in 2022, and hopping on the Bedford to Bletchley Line is a great way to explore the countryside, on one of the refurbished London Underground District Line trains. The trains run hourly Monday through to Saturday and offer plenty of options for some delightful days out. Children will love the adventure of a train The Marston Vale Line covers Bletchley, journey, and if you collect your free symbol Fenny Stratford, Bow Brickhill, Woburn spot pack (available from Bletchley and MK Sands, Aspley Guise, Ridgmont, Lidlington, Central Stations with a valid ticket), they will be Millbrook, Stewartby, Kempston Hardwick, rewarded with a booklet comprising a map and Bedford St Johns and Bedford. sticker guides for families, with lots of facts, Enjoy surprising days out that are (nearly) on figures and things for children aged five and your doorstep! over to look out for during the journey. Symbol Spot Discs are also located at each > Go online before you travel ‘on line’ at station including a whole set at Ridgmont marstonvalecommunityrail.org.uk Station Heritage Centre. Take a rubbing of each disc and present the completed book at the Heritage Centre for a special prize. Get up close to the pigs
DAYS OUT
at Kew Little Pigs
The centre is also offering School Holiday Activity Camps for youngsters who will get to spend a day at the farm learning what it takes to be a pig keeper, getting stuck in with farm tasks. Hands will get mucky though! Piggy playtime, a free piggy pack (containing soft toy, poster, floating pen, certificate and fact sheet) and ice-cream are included in the cost. Spaces are limited, so if you are interested visit kewlittlepigs.com > Kew Little Pigs is offering Pulse readers 20% off a family ticket (two adults and two children) on visits during the summer. Enter the code PULSE_SUM22 when booking. The offer is valid until 31.08.22 for the Piggy Pet & Play Experience only.
Your guide to what’s going on locally this summer | Created by Pulse Magazine www.pulsemagazine.co.uk | Hello Summer!
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Hello
BOOKS W
e said there is no need to go whizzing off to faraway climes, but whether you are looking for a new page-turner for your time on the beach, or just want to curl up on the sofa at home with a new read for some quiet time, Waterstones in Milton Keynes has recommendations aplenty. The bookstore also has some special events coming up, starting with leading real-life Criminologist David Wilson, who visits the store on Thursday, July 14 from 6pm. Wilson is Professor Emeritus of Criminology and the founding director of the Centre for Applied Criminology at Birmingham City University. His incredible career has brought him into contact with nearly every recent serial killer in the country, and he will be sharing those experiences. He will also concentrate on the case at the heart of his brand new book, A Plot To Kill which explores the shocking story of two victims who had been groomed, seduced and mentally tortured by a man in the community who used his position to target and exploit the elderly.
Tess Gerritsen visits Waterstones on July 23
Start a new chapter this summer Very little shocks David, but this case in the sleepy village of Maids Moreton, astounded him. The book will be available to purchase at what is certain to be a fascinating event. Something completely different follows a week later (July 21, from 6pm) with a Manga Extravaganza! Whether you are new to the genre or a longterm fan, there will be plenty for you. Visit the store and browse the many series they have to offer. Check out the games, figurines and products based on popular characters and then give your brain a manga workout with a themed quiz. Wear your best cosplay outfit if you want to – someone is going to win a prize on the day. And on Saturday, July 23, best-selling author Tess Gerritsen will be visiting to sign copies of her new Rizzoli & Isles thriller, Listen To Me.
Tess is also a physician and she brings firsthand knowledge of emergency and autopsy rooms to her work. This is the 13th book in the addictive series and her appearance is a chance for fans to get her squiggle on their copy of the book. On August 4, Bethany Clift will be in conversation talking about her second book, Love & Other Human Errors, an original novel about the chaos of love in all its forms. So something that we can all identify with! “We spend a huge amount of our lives looking for love, if we are lucky enough to find love it sets our world on fire and when we lose love it can literally break our hearts. Everything that I have ever written is about love and everything that I will ever write will have love in it. I wouldn’t want to live without it. Love really does make my world go round,” she told Pulse.
at its core – making use of their brilliant imaginations, of course! This year’s event – on Saturday, July 2 - includes sessions with authors Lauren Child (Clarence Bean: Scram) and Chris Smith (Frankie Best Hates Quests), a ‘Book Club for Super-Spies.’ Local authors will get a look in too – with half a dozen ready to spark creativity in youngsters. The Pollinator Parade looks like it will ‘bee’ brilliant; it’s a celebration of our buzzy pals, with fun facts, a giant bee-hive, and the aforementioned parade followed by educational craft workshops. Kids can even make their own pom-pom bees, while learning about the importance of the insects.
Or, how about spending some time with Professor Frost and his fantastical fleas. This is the biggest little show you’ll ever see, and if you miss the mini menagerie in play you’ll be hopping mad! Elsewhere, cast members from the enchanting new musical Hexwood School of Sorcery will perform songs, and you can meet the cast post-performance. Other things to get stuck into include live art and sand art, a nature quest and a free Gangsta Granny workshop, and Festive Road will bring their larger than life dragon Gwynhaff to the show.
> To purchase tickets for events, or for more details visit waterstones.com/events
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edford Bookfest is a children’s festival with a stellar line-up all ‘booked’ for July 9 & 10. Some of the biggest names in young fiction will be visiting the town to read excerpts from their page-turners. Book lovers of all ages will be able to enjoy Q&A sessions, creative writing workshops and sing-a-long sessions (yes, really!) with authors and illustrators. On Saturday, Jamie Littler (author of the bestselling series Frostheart), Sophie Deen (responsible for the Agent Asha series) and author and illustrator Laura Ellen Anderson will be in attendance. Sue Hendra and Paul Linnet – the duo responsible for the picture book series Supertato – visit on Sunday to give a peek into their new series – I Spy Island. Punk Rocker Doodle creator Laura Dockrill will pop in, and a Poetry Clinic will close the event. > The event is being hosted at The Place Theatre. Secure tickets by visiting booktastic.org.uk In Aylesbury, the family-friendly literary and arts festival WhizzFizzFest will take over the town centre. Originally inspired by Roald Dahl, the event has evolved and turned into a celebration of creative arts with children’s literature
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For the full programme and to see what’s happening where, head to whizzfizzfest.org.uk
Hello Summer! Your guide to what’s going on locally this summer | Created by Pulse Magazine www.pulsemagazine.co.uk
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HISTORY Visit the home of The Codebreakers this summer B letchley Park is a great place to visit during the summer: for adults and children alike! This local museum and heritage attraction provides much to see and do as you learn about the amazing people who were at Bletchley Park during World War Two, and how their remarkable work impacts us today. This summer, for the first time in Bletchley Park’s history, visitors can explore Block A, a newly restored wartime building at the heart of the historic World War Two codebreaking site. This Block houses the new permanent exhibition, The Intelligence Factory, telling the story of Bletchley Park at the peak of its operation. Visitors will learn more about Bletchley Park’s crucial work from 1942 to 1945, as its multi-skilled workforce rapidly increased to meet operational demands.
The site expanded hugely to become the world’s largest intelligence factory with a workforce of nearly 9,000, 75% of whom were women. The exhibition thrusts visitors into the action at the peak of the Bletchley Park operation and shines a spotlight on the personal stories of those who worked to keep the organisation running. From tracking positions of Allied and enemy vessels, to handling millions of items of data, to recruiting, feeding, and housing thousands of staff, the scale and complexity of Bletchley Park at its peak as surprising as it is remarkable. Hands-on interactive displays allow visitors to try their hand at real intelligence-management techniques used at Bletchley Park, and experience some of the daily challenges faced by managers in keeping the operation afloat under wartime conditions. There’s an interactive recreation of the Naval Plotting Room used by naval intelligence officers to track the movements of ships.
A close-up look at wartime machinery, explains more about the processes used to manage the enormous amount of data generated. Throughout the school summer holidays families will be able to enjoy free drop-in workshops to learn more about codebreaking, free children’s multimedia guides (with stories and puzzles) and a brand-new Top-Secret Mission Pack (available for £1), as well as an outdoor playground and lots of wide-open space for children to run around. With so many different areas to explore, go on an adventure and uncover some surprising stories! Children under 12 are admitted free and residents living with a 10-mile radius of Bletchley Park can enjoy 50% off standard admission prices all year round! Your ticket also is an annual pass so you can visit Bletchley Park again and again. With all this and more, you will surely have an astounding time at Bletchley Park this summer. > Please visit bletchleypark.org.uk for further information and to book your tickets
Now open
Bletchley Park’s largest ever exhibition 9,000 people, working around the clock, producing intelligence on an industrial scale, secretly helping to turn the tide of World War Two. Discover their story. Book tickets at bletchleypark.org.uk
Your guide to what’s going on locally this summer | Created by Pulse Magazine www.pulsemagazine.co.uk | Hello Summer!
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Hello
HISTORY T ake a visit to Delapré Abbey and experience 900 years of exciting and turbulent history in the heart of Northamptonshire, and there is plenty to captivate curious young minds this summer. Outdoor activities in the Walled Garden will run between July 28 and September 1 and include a medieval themed Knight Trail and battle archaeology. And every Thursday, history will come to life as you meet figures from the Abbey’s past inside the house. You can play, explore and touch the items in the historic rooms – try on a helmet, fire a bow and arrow and create a crest. Under 18s go free. The Abbey aside, there are 500 acres of parkland to explore and unwind in. Delapré is open every Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday, 11am to 4pm. Dates of interest include a new adaptation of Wind in the Willows which will air in the Walled Garden (performances Friday, July 8-Sunday, July 10 at 6pm), Funtopia
Step back in time (Saturday, August 13 & Sunday, August 14, 11am-5pm) with bouncy castles, an obstacle course, inflatable slide, bungee run and more, and Classics on the Lawn (Sunday, September 11, 11am-4pm) with more than 100 vintage, classic and specialist cars parked up in the grounds. > Visit delapreabbey.org for tickets and to learn more about their talks and tours.
Delapré Abbey has activities for youngsters this summer
Happy Birthday!
Join us to celebrate House to Haven's 1st Birthday We're delighted to invite you to House to Haven's 1st Birthday! Browse gorgeous home decor and unique gifts whilst enjoying a glass of bubbles, birthday cake, discounts, a competition, a mini Makers Market and free face painting for the kids. We'd love to see you!
Show this invite to receive a free goody bag.*
Save the Date!
Sunday 24th July, 11am to 3pm House to Haven ,130 High Street Cranfield, Beds, MK43 0BS @housetohavendecor www.housetohaven.co.uk
*whilst stocks last, purchase required.
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Hello Summer! Your guide to what’s going on locally this summer | Created by Pulse Magazine www.pulsemagazine.co.uk
The Biggest Entertainment Festival in the South of England!
Milton Keynes Museum offers lots of hands-on involvement for children and outdoor fun on the playground (below left)
Get hands-on at the history hub
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ilton Keynes Museum is open five days a week throughout summer, and the history hub really does have something for all ages – from toddlers to centenarians. Truly. A gem of the new city, the Museum has so much to see that you’ll want to return again and again, and you’ll be able to; tickets allow unlimited re-entry for 12 months. From sending morse code, to making and then enjoying hot buttered toast over the range in the traditional farmhouse kitchen, or dialling delight in the fun Connected Earth Gallery, there is much to take attention. Step back in time with a walk through the street of shops, or enjoy a school lesson the way things used to be in the Victorian school room. Without the cane, though, obviously! Young motoring enthusiasts will love the Hall of Transport, and before the television, parlour games were the entertainment choice - the Museum will offer you the chance to relive those days gone by. And the Museum’s hands-on policy will let you show off your skills on the ever-popular pianola, which can make anyone sound like an ace on the keys! When you feel a bit peckish, a quick visit to the Granary Cafe will do away with hunger pangs – the cafe stocks lots of affordable snacks and delicious home made cakes to tempt you. You can spend all day, every day on site if you wish, or pop in for a cup of coffee and a slice of cake, or simply enjoy a sunny day making use of the splendid outside space. > See more of what’s on offer at miltonkeynesmuseum.org.uk
13-14 August 2022
New Bury Farm, Mill Road, Slapton, Leighton Buzzard, LU7 9BT
www.newburysummerfestival.co.uk info@newburysummerfestival.co.uk 03333 660757 or 07984 400393 Or find us on Social Media! @newburyparkevents
Your guide to what’s going on locally this summer | Created by Pulse Magazine www.pulsemagazine.co.uk | Hello Summer!
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The force will be with you at Northampton Museum & Art Gallery
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EXHIBITIONS A bington Park Museum is currently hosting the exhibition It’s A Bug’s Life which takes a peek into the lives of the minibeasts and creepy crawlies that inhabit our gardens, fields and green spaces and explores just why they are so important. This is your opportunity to find out how beetles see and hear, how they defend themselves and how to make a beetle home in your garden. You’ll also go home understanding the differences between a butterfly and a moth, and what mud-puddling is. A range of children’s summer workshops are also planned. The Wonderful Wednesdays events include Viking purse making (July 27), a chance to explore the microscopic world with Look Closer (August 3), understanding how
The Tiger Who Came to Tea features in the Judith Kerr exhibition at Northampton Museum & Art Gallery
your garden grows (August 10), Fossil Fun (August 17) and Animal Magic (August 24). Meanwhile, Fantastic Fridays will include a Tiger Activity Workshop (July 29), Flower Painting (August 12) and the chance to Get Tactile with Textiles (August 19). At Northampton Museum & Art Gallery, a magnificent collection of vintage Star Wars toys and original posters spanning 1977 to 1984 are on display. This must-see show for all Star Wars devotees features toys that have never been exhibited previously, and it is the biggest version of the exhibition ever opened to the public. Entry is free, and the show continues until September 4. While we’re on the subject of Star Wars, on August 16 the Museum is holding a Bricks 4 Kidz Lego Builders Workshop, where youngsters aged five to 12 years old will get to build motorised models from Lego Technic. It’s a chance to bring some of their favourite characters to life, and other themed Lego activities will run simultaneously. May the creativity be with them! Another exhibition starting at the Museum on July 9 (and also continuing until September 4) shines a light on the life and work of one of this country’s best loved author-illustrators, Judith Kerr. Judith, who passed away in 2019, was responsible for the much-loved classic The Tiger Who Came to Tea. This show celebrates the 50th anniversary of that book, and will be an opportunity to view quality facsimiles of Judith’s illustrations from the Seven Stories archive. It will be roar-some. How could it be anything else with a tiger at the heart of the matter? > For full details of all events and workshops running throughout the summer visit www.northamptonmuseums.com
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It’s a bug’s life at Abington Park Museum
Hello Summer! Your guide to what’s going on locally this summer | Created by Pulse Magazine www.pulsemagazine.co.uk
A snapshot of the past
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ilton Keynes Gallery is currently hosting the exhibition, Vivian Maier: Anthology which explores the remarkable story of a mysterious Chicago based nanny who led a double life as one of the greatest street photographers of the 20th century. Incredibly prolific, this is the first time that Vivian’s work has been exhibited in the UK. During her lifetime she amassed hundreds of thousands of images, but they were kept hidden in a storage locker where they stayed undiscovered until 2007. The MK Gallery show features 140 black and white and colour images, together with film and audio. It is a fabulous look into the everyday life that was, and a true visual treat. The show continues until September 25.
Pic: Vivian Maier, New York, September 3, 1954 Copyright Estate of Vivian Maier, Courtesy of Maloof Collection and Howard Greenberg Gallery, NY
Explore the photography of Vivian Maier at Milton Keynes Gallery
Vivian Maier, September 18, 1962 Copyright Estate of Vivian Maier, Courtesy of Maloof Collection and Howard Greenberg Gallery, NY
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ART
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ilton Keynes Gallery is a family friendly space, and one which offers fun activities throughout the summer holidays. A live performance of the interactive musical Errol’s Garden (Sunday, July 10) will put catchy songs, humour and imagination at the fore. School’s Out (Saturday, July 23) is ready to celebrate the end of term in true rebel style with an afternoon of live music, a customisation station, zine and badge-making and mini skate school. There is plenty more to see school ages through the holidays; Those aged 11–15-years old can sign up and join the Monday sessions of Street Arts, and get involved in a range of activities from t-shirt printing to Parkour.
Pic: Janie Airey
All ages can enjoy art at Milton Keynes Gallery over the summer months
On Tuesdays, 14–18-year-olds can drop in to ARioT where they can experiment with different creative processes and materials in a welcoming and supportive environment. Amplify, is a series of workshops for people aged 16–25-years-old with something to say. It lets them voice their concerns around current social and political issues, with workshops including spoken word, poetry, zine making and more.
Pic: Janie Airey
> For details of these events, of Toddle Tours and Child Tours for children with additional needs, and a look at the programme of films on offer in the Sky Room Cinema visit mkgallery.org
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Hello
ACTIVITIES
Go karting to unleash the racing driver within
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hink back to the last time you lined up alongside another car at the traffic lights. Did you feel the urge to get away from the lights before the other car? Were you like a coiled spring, focused on the red light, anticipating the moment the lights turned green in the hope of leaving the other car to eat your dust? If the answer is yes, then read on to find out how you can unleash the racing driver within. We’re a nation of motorsport fans and the UK is known for producing amazing racing drivers, Formula 1 race winners and world champions, like Sir Lewis Hamilton, Jenson Button and Damon Hill. But high costs and limited access means that going racing is sadly a dream for most of us, which deprives your ‘racing driver within’ from what it craves most, competition, and speed. Fear not, there is an answer. Go-karting is the closest thing you can get to racing for real. In terms of the skills required and sensations experienced, there’s literally no difference. In karting, you sit inches from the floor in a machine built for one purpose, to race. After all, where do the great racing drivers start and learn their craft, in karting.
Up and down the UK you can find many indoor and outdoor go-kart circuits but there is one in Northamptonshire that stands out from the rest. A circuit that hosts British Championships and is often graced by visits from F1 drivers of the past, present and future. Whilton Mill Kart Circuit. Located near Daventry, Whilton Mill Karting & Outdoor Activities boasts a 1200m outdoor circuit that is one of the fastest and most challenging in the UK. It has also has a 450m outdoor circuit, ideal for juniors, plus a 120-seater ‘best-in-class’ restaurant, with views of the circuit. What’s more, Whilton Mill too has a quad bike course, archery range, clay shooting ground and acres of outdoor event space for family fun days.
Prices start at just £10 Karting is at the heart of the Whilton Mill offering with prices starting at just £10 for a junior arrive & drive session on the 450m outdoor circuit. For those aged 14+, £49 will get you a 30-minute practice session on the 960m National Circuit in Whilton Mill’s 390cc, 50mph, go-karts.
With all that Whilton Mill Karting & Outdoor Activities has to offer, it’s a great destination to spend the whole day out with friends and family. Many visitors will book a quad bike session followed by karting then food. With karting, quad biking, clay shooting, and archery available, it’s easy to build an action packed and adrenaline fuelled day out. Whilton Mill is also a popular choice for businesses wanting to reward employees or engage with customers. Group events, team building, and family fun days are available for 10 to 3000 guests. > For more information visit www.whiltonmill.co.uk, call 01327 843822 or email karting@whiltonmill.co.uk
INCLU T-SHIRT DES A MEDAL ND
INCLUD CAP ANES MEDALD
15TH JULY
7TH AUGUST
10PM, MidsuMMer Place Proudly sponsored by
Our iconic and original Moo is not to be missed! Dance along to the party vibe as you walk 5 or 10 miles through Milton Keynes, starting and finishing at Midsummer Place in Central MK.
10:30 aM, Willen lake Proudly sponsored by
The Mini-Moo is a family fundraising favourite! Children can choose to run, walk or scoot around Willen Lake North - or do their own mini-triathlon and take on all three!
Join the moovement and help raise vital funds! WWW.Willen-hosPice.org.uk/Moo 16
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FOOD
Mouth-watering menus at The Willen Dragon
Great food and summer drinks await you at The Willen Dragon
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asty pub grub and tipples await at the new Brewers Fayre, The Willen Dragon, which opens its doors on Monday, July 4. Situated right by Willen Lake the new hot spot promises great value menus with crowd-pleasing pub classics and a crafted selection of drinks to enjoy inside, or in the outside garden and bar – perfect for the summer. The Willen Dragon is celebrating its opening by inviting you to the ultimate family fun day on Sunday, July 10 between midday and 4pm. The afternoon will deliver live music, activities for the kids, and plenty of entertainment alongside a selection of summertime tipples. And it will be an opportunity to meet The Great Ormond Street Bear who is popping along to meet you all on the day. It’s free to attend and everyone is welcome.
Brewers Fayre pride themselves on delivering mouth-watering, all day dining menus at fantastic prices. Whether you desire a beefed-up breakfast or a lunchtime pitstop, there is a dish for all the family. Kickstart the day with an all-you-can-eat breakfast, while the all-day menu plays host to drool-worthy burgers, a selection of succulent grill dishes and homely comfort dishes. There are also plenty of vegetarian and vegan options featuring on the pub’s menu. The Sunday Carvery is the perfect place for a roast, with a range of succulent hard-carved meats to tempt you, with bottomless Yorkshire puddings, fluffy roasties and lashings of gravy to get your mouths salivating.
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> Keep up-to-date with opening news and exclusive offers by visiting brewersfayre.co.uk and sign up to the Brewers Fayre newsletter or follow @brewersfayre on the socials.
New Bury Festival will offer a fun-packed weekend which will include a BMX daredevil stunt team and the impressive horsemanship of the Devil’s Horsemen
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brand new event is making its debut this August, and the New Bury Summer Festival is promising a spectacular weekend of entertainment and displays that will thrill the whole family from its base on the outskirts of Leighton Buzzard. Children will have a wonderful time with inflatables, a land train and fairground rides, and they will be able to learn a little of the beauty of animals over at the petting farm. Alpacas and ducks will be around to meet and greet, too. If they need to get rid of some of that extra energy, you might like to accompany the little ‘uns to the stunt bike course, while grown-ups will enjoy Laser Clays and archery or can take to the air while staying firmly rooted on the ground, with a simulator plane ride. A chainsaw carver, glass blower and hedge layer will also be showing off their abilities, and wheelie great fun will come from the BMX daredevil stunt team.
Little mouths will be well catered for too, with a nutritious three-course kids menu, and at least two of their five a day in every main course. The Willen Dragon brings together the welcoming atmosphere of the pub, with modern design details, a range of seating options and BT Sports on the big screen. If you fancy dining al fresco, take a pew in one of the covered and heated areas and private beach-style huts, and let the youngsters loose to roam in the outside play area.
Ray Aliker’s falconry display will give you a bird’s eye view of the area, and the Devil’s Horsemen will be galloping in. You’ll be able to check out lots of lovely bodywork over at the vehicle show ground, with classics and cruisers parked up for inspection, alongside retro machinery and steam engines. It can be hungry work having so much fun, but there’s no need to pack a snack – the site will have plenty of artisan food stalls selling nibbles and bites. And don’t tell the designated driver, but those of a proper age who aren’t getting behind the wheel will be able to sup up – maybe a craft beer, a sweet cider or a cocktail? Aside from the food stalls, an interactive Food Theatre will welcome some ace chefs
from around the UK, and there’s even going to be a cookery school for kids. It’s a decidedly tasty event! Lots of shopping outlets will be vying for attention with small businesses from the surrounding areas on site. Saturday will deliver on the live music front, with artists playing all day long and if you want to make a weekend of it, the camp site will be open. Pitch up and party! The New Bury Summer Festival runs across August 13 & 14. > Get more details and book tickets at newburysummerfestival.co.uk
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