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Issue 27 July/August 2012 www.familiesuponavon.co.uk

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Summer Camps Feature

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

What’s Inside? 2

Local News and Information

Summer Feature – Take the family challenge

Making the move to secondary school

Vitamin D and walking bare feet in the Summer

Summer camps

Free Range Kids

National Trust

Competitions

What’s On

Next Issue: September/October 2012 – Issue 28. Copy Deadline: 17th August 2012. Distribution: 1st Week of September 2012

Editor’s letter... Hello and welcome to the July/August issue packed with loads of useful information to help you through the school holidays. The What’s On section has plenty of options for the family come rain or shine! For even more events/activities please visit our website www.familiesuponavon.co.uk, which is continuously updated. Our feature sections Take the family challenge, Summer Camps and National Trust will also update you with lots of things to do this Summer. Don’t forget Kids Go Free at Westonbirt, The National Arboretum from 20 July to 31 August. Also, in this issue we have some great competitions! Courtesy of AtBristol, Metanium, Menus4Mums and of course, our front cover photo competition courtesy of Oscar and Rose Photography. Plus, take part in our online survey (page 3) for the chance to win one of five fantastic family games bundles from Mattel worth over £100, each prize is bursting with brilliant board games (including Pictionary, Uno, Angry Birds board game, Scrabble and Chameleon Crunch. If you would like to advertise your club/classes or workshops in the September/October ‘back to school’ issue then please do get in touch. The booking deadline is Friday 10th August. Have a lovely summer! Sharon Hamilton, Editor

13,500 copies of Families upon Avon are available through nurseries, schools, libraries, selected shops and other points throughout Bath and North East Somerset, North Wiltshire and Bradford on Avon. If you would like some free copies for your organisation please let us know.

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Designed and Printed by: Ridgeway Press Ltd. 01256 300420. © Families upon Avon July 2012.

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

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

ACT THE SUMMER AWAY WITH THE THEATRE ROYAL BATH

Based in Bath and London, we specialise in finding household and childcare staff for families throughout the UK and overseas. We can give you helpful, professional advice about employing any of the following: Daily/Live-In Nannies • Maternity Nurses Nanny/Housekeepers • Nanny/Grooms Couples • Cooks • Drivers/Handymen PA’s & Virtual PA’s • Gardeners/Estate Staff ALL our candidates are personally interviewed and their qualifications and references carefully checked. Please call us on

0845 128 4279 or visit our websites:

www.eden-nannies.co.uk www.edenprivatestaff.com

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Storm on the Lawn is the Theatre Royal Baths prestigious summer school for young actors aged 12 – 21 and backstage crew aged 16 – 21 at Prior Park College. Taking place over three weeks the summer school culminates in seven public performances in the beautiful 18th Century Ball Court. This year’s production directed by National Youth Director Amy Leach is Peter Pan the classic heart-warming tale of adventure and friendship which has delighted and thrilled generations of theatre goers with is wonderful dream-like locations and charming characters for years. Storm on the Lawn runs from Monday 6th – Sunday 26th August with performance daily at 8pm from Wednesday 22nd – Sunday 26th August The egg theatre is grateful to Prior Park College for their support of this production. For younger children aged 5 – 12 the Theatre Royals award winning children and young people’s theatre the egg has a host of week-long drama summer schools from Monday 30th July – Friday 17th August. Working with a host of talented local directors you will spend the week creating your own show to be performed at the end of the week to an invited audience of friends and family. For more information on Storm on the Lawn or summer schools at the egg email egg.reception@theatreroyal.org.uk Families upon Avon is only made possible by the support of our local advertisers. Please let them know you heard about their product or services through Families upon Avon.

Visit www.familiesuponavon.co.uk for lots more news, features and local info.

News and Info TREASURE TROVE HIDDEN IN THE MILKING PARLOUR The beauty of Wiltshire Wood Recycling is that we never know what stock is going to arrive and we are constantly amazed at the ideas our customers come up with. We often hear cries of delight coming from deep within our woodstore when a customer has found just exactly what they need. As a Social Enterprise we have a variety of volunteers who spend time with us, perhaps to give them experience of work or just to get them out of the house doing something different and interesting. Our Volunteer of the Year, Phil, particularly enjoys attending events and giving out leaflets which gives him a chance to chat to the ladies! The rest of the week he can be found hard at work in the yard de-nailing wood ready for it to be reused. Along with wood lengths and offcuts we sell a range of standard garden products that can be made for you such as bird tables, obelisks, garden benches and tables. We are also able to make items to your own specifications such as these items we made for Redlands Childrens Centre (photo) who chose us specifically because of who we are and what we stand for. Recently we have acquired a selection of second-hand furniture, some of which would make ideal restoration projects for those of you who want to experiment. Our complete price list can be found on our website www.wiltshirewoodrecycling.org.uk under the Wood Shop tab. Do come along and visit us – you never know what you will find.

Children at St Margaret’s Preparatory School in Calne stepped back in time by more than 300 years to help learn an important safety message which can save lives in the 21st century. Pupils aged six and seven re-enacted the Great Fire of London with the help of a safety officer from Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service; they were then taught about the importance of smoke alarms in modern homes. Year 2 teacher Johanna Talbot said: ‘The children had already been learning about the Great Fire of London and the fire safety officer built on that and asked them to imagine the houses all built very close together and the fire spreading quickly. They pretended to be flames engulfing the buildings. Safety officer Debra Lowe asked the children to go home and speak to their parents about smoke alarms and to make sure they are checked every week. The children also had the chance to try on modern protective uniforms worn by fire fighters in Wiltshire. For further information on fire safety in the home visit website: www.direct.gov.uk/en/HomeAndCommunity/I nYourHome/FireSafety

YOUR CHANCE TO WIN A £100 WORTH OF TOYS! Here at Families magazine we’d like to know what you think of us! So just answer some easy questions about our magazine and you will get automatically entered in to a prize draw to win £100 of Mattel toys. We get lots of feedback about how useful our magazine and website are, but we’d like to know a bit more. So if you can spare two minutes (it really only takes that long!) please go to www.surveymonkey.com/s/7JSTGQB - and if you enter your email address at the end you will be entered into a prize draw to win one of 5 family games bundles from Mattel worth over £100! Please remember to put that you read the Avon edition of Families - there are Families magazines all over the country and this survey is for all of them! Want to reach over 30,000 readers an issue? Advertise in

Photo: © Giles Keyte for Company Pictures/ Channel 4/ HBO

HAVE YOU CHECKED YOUR SMOKE ALARM RECENTLY?

JUBILEE: DRESSING THE MONARCHY ON STAGE AND SCREEN The commemoration of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee year is set to continue with a special exhibition organised by Bath & North East Somerset Council. “Jubilee: Dressing the Monarchy on Stage and Screen” will run from 17 July to 2 September 2012 at the Ball Room in Bath’s Assembly Rooms. The exhibition traces the progression of the British monarchy since King Edgar was crowned in Bath Abbey in 973 until the present day and the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II. Exhibiting over 50 costumes from theatre, TV and film productions, it will illustrate how the styles of Royal dress have changed and led fashion, and often been integral to the interpretation of Royal characters.” Councillor Cherry Beath (Lib-Dem, Combe Down), Cabinet Member for Sustainable Development, said: “Bath & North East Somerset Council is proud to stage this exhibition as part of its celebrations in the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee year. “The exhibition follows the timeline of the succession of the monarchy – from the Saxon Kings to the present day. It will illustrate how Britain’s monarchs have been portrayed; through the narrative of nursery rhymes, plays, portraits, poems and films, many of them stylised to please the audience of a later era. “The crowning glory will be the great Tudor dynasty portrayed by actors like Keith Michell, Jonathan Rhys-Meyers and Dame Helen Mirren as Elizabeth I. Accompanied by the story of royal lineage and right royal nursery rhymes of the 1930s, the exhibition promises to hold something for the whole family.”

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News and Info New for this summer in At-Bristol is Our World – no more waste. Funded by the SITA Trust, this brand new exhibition explores all the amazing ways in which nothing in the natural world goes to waste, and everything around us is recycled into something new – however different it might be from the original! Volcanoes made the air we breathe, oceans make sand from rocks, and plants are made from gases we breathe out. Using At-Bristol’s trademark hands-on exhibits, you can track real-time weather around the world with the interactive globe, change the way water moves, trigger a mini volcanic eruption, and present a weather forecast in the future. Not to be missed is the Living Timeline, an exhibit of epic – and completely to-scale – proportions, outlining the changes in the Earth from 460 million years ago through to the present day. Pioneering technology invites you to play with virtual critters from the Jurassic period: encourage a prehistoric spider to scuttle up your arm, tickle a trilobite, or just watch the ancient fish swimming along. Built-in ‘splattability’ means you can even squish the tiny dinosaurs that roam around the valley landscape! If you can’t wait until the exhibition is launched on the 20 July, drop into the Live Lab area where, up until the 26 July, At-Bristol’s expert Live Science team will help bring the wonders of our world to life with a host of hands-on activities. Test your nerve as you discover why volcanic eruptions are so difficult to predict, grow an edible seed head, and make a cast to investigate how fossils are formed. From the 27 July, the Live Lab activities will change as At-Bristol celebrates a summer of sport with a range of athletic challenges designed to test even the sportiest amongst us! Please visit www.at-bristol.org.uk for further details

THE DALEKS ARE COMING! Security guards at RNAS Yeovilton have been put on a high state of alert as they have it on good authority that the largest gathering of Daleks will invade the Fleet Air Arm Museum on August 18 & 19. Terror will give way to panic as the army of Daleks will be accompanied by their evil accomplices including Davros, Miss Hartigan, Cybermen, Ice Warriors, Pig Slave, Screaming Angel and many more. To add to the fun and terror of the day, children are encouraged to wear Sci- Fi Fancy Dress. Throughout the day there will be a variety of family activities plus a short stage play, entitled “The Master Strikes Back” , an obstacle race and an Audience with the Daleks. In addition, Dr Who traders and celebrities will add to the occasion. The day will finish with the March of the Daleks when the army of Daleks and their evil friends will parade through the museum ending under Concorde for a giant photo opportunity. Doors will open to the public from 10.00am and normal museum entry prices will apply. To avoid queuing on the day, tickets will be available in advance on the museum website www.fleetairarm.com and from the Museum Shop, telephone 01935 840565.

Photo: Rob Cousins

AT-BRISTOL LAUNCH NEW EXHIBITION: OUR WORLD – NO MORE WASTE

WESTONBIRT ARBORETUM OFFERS FREE SUMMER FUN FOR FAMILIES! The Forestry Commission’s National Arboretum at Westonbirt is coming to the rescue of parents and grandparents this summer, with free entry for kids and free activities and trails. Kids go free at the arboretum from 20 July to 31 August and Westonbirt’s learning team have tree-discovering activities planned to keep children entertained. Young (and old) visitors can also enjoy the new areas of Westonbirt’s play trail in Silk Wood. Clamber over giant tree roots or balance your way along the length of the tallest tree in the arboretum. Pick up a free play trail map from the Great Oak Hall information point between 10am - 4pm. To help plan your summer, see the What’s On section page 13 for a list of Westonbirt Arboretum’s events and activities throughout July and August. Find out more about Westonbirt Arboretum and Treefest at www.forestry.gov.uk/westonbirt.

New Twist on labelling kids’ clothes pics With new school uniform being purchased over the holidays for the new school year , we try out a new labelling system from ‘Attach-a-Tag’ which promises to label your kids’ clothes quickly and easily without the use of a needle or iron. Attach-a-Tag is a labelling system which uses a ‘dolphin’ shaped applicator to attach a small button to clothing. Your child’s name is permanently etched onto the button and once it’s attached, it’s there until you chose to remove it (with the integral removal tool) and use it elsewhere. My son who loses at least two items a term was the perfect candidate for trying out the tags. The instructions were clear and easy to follow. The button fits in the top of the dolphin’s ‘mouth’, the retainer in the bottom. The gadget is pressed together like a stapler and a small handle is twisted. The button is attached either to the clothing label or seam of a garment. I was anxious to know whether the button would cause any discomfort but I was assured by my son that he couldn’t feel them at all. You could label anything soft really – sleeping bags, pillows, wash bags – and they wash and tumble dry perfectly as well as withstanding heat from an iron. What’s great about the system is that I can re-use the button (I’ll just need new retainers which can be bought separately) so they’re perfect for temporary labelling like this. Also as he outgrows his school uniform, we can remove the buttons and use them in his new clothes; and, best of all, HE can do it himself! Attach-a-Tag can be purchased from good uniform shops and at www.attachatag.com

NEW LOTTERY FUNDING SECURED FOR BATH CITY FARM Bath City Farm has been successful in its application to the Big Lottery’s Reaching Communities programme. The £234,000 received has secured the farm’s future for the next 3 years and will enable it to expand its adult volunteer programme. The Farm will also be offering accredited courses in food growing, animal care and conservation as well as one day courses and family workshops. Matt Smail, Farm Manager said,. ‘The benefits of outdoor practical work on mental and physical health cannot be underestimated - Bath City Farm is a great place to come and learn new skills and make new friends.’ For further details contact Matt Smail 01225 481269 or matt@bathcityfarm.org.uk

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Advertising deadline for the September/October issue, 10 August

Editorial inclusion in the local news pages is always FREE

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News and Info

JACK STEPHENS, CHILDREN’S ENTERTAINER Jack is a Magic Circle children’s entertainer and he supports his magic with his unique presentations of puppetry, balloon modelling, singing to his own guitar accompaniment and games, with lots and lots of audience participation. Children are enthralled by this diverse combination of entertainment which has kept him in constant demand all around the local area for private parties, playgroups, schools, shopping centres, corporate functions, fetes, parks, hotels, restaurants, weddings, libraries, carnivals, etc.

Given the continuing huge demand for places at UK boarding schools from overseas, Bright World Guardianships, a Sussex based company, is predicting yet another increase in the number of students who will be joining schools in the UK in September this year. Bright World Guardianships is a long established Guardianship company charged with offering care to international students in UK boarding schools whose parents are not living here. These bright and brave young students are full boarders at schools but need host family accommodation when schools close for short breaks such as Half terms and exeat weekends. With so many excellent independent schools in the Bath and Wiltshire area, it is likely that an increase in demand will be evident here. Hosting international students is a very fulfilling and rewarding role. Bright World do, of course, pay a generous nightly rate to cover expenses for visiting children which can offer a valuable extra income to families. More than this though, hosting a young international student can make their entire experience in the UK a happy one. If you welcome them into your home they will actually look forward to exeats and half terms and it will enhance their overall experience and impression of the UK. Your children will also benefit from the exposure to sharing their home with an international student and will learn about new cultures and countries think of it as a geography lesson at your breakfast table. So becoming a Bright World host family can not only help pay for that annual holiday but will help to educate your own children to new cultures and at the same time make a young international student's life so much better. For more information on becoming a host family for Bright World Guardianships, please contact: Lana Foster, Managing Director on lana@brightworld.co.uk www.brightworld.co.uk

Fleet Tutors: Holiday Revision to Go! Boost your 11+, GCSE or A- results with intensive, small group courses in various subjects. Our students experience fast paced and focused progress with the vast majority achieving an increase of at least 1 grade. Students share the invaluable resource of an expert subject tutor and the benefit of having questions answered immediately, yet course fees are considerably less than most one-to-one sessions.

Fleet Tutors: Live Online Tuition! Fleet Tutors offers a Live Online Tutoring service delivered by the highest performing tutors across the country with established track records of tutoring online. The service is “gimmick free” and enables students anywhere in the world to have access to the UK’s leading private tutors, bringing the British education system and the National Curriculum to students anywhere. For information and bookings call 0845 644 5452 or email Clientsupport@fleet-tutors.co.uk

SPECIAL FAMILY EVENT! HORRIBLE HISTORIES WORKSHOP Terrible Tudor Tortures - August 15th 2.30pm, Tea Room, Assembly Rooms, Bath. Adults £5, Child £3.00. The Birmingham Stage Company presents a special HORRIBLE HISTORIES workshop featuring the Terrible Tudors! Come and discover the crimes and punishments of Tudor times! Could you be the judge? Will you be charged with a crime? What verdict will the jury deliver? And most terrifying of all, how will you be punished? Prepare yourself for a truly horrible workshop with HORRIBLE HISTORIES! Not for the squeamish, age from 7. Tickets from Bath Box Office, (01225)463362 www.bathboxoffice.org.uk Email: boxoffice@bathfestivals.org.uk

To advertise, call 0117 3309640 or email editor@familiesuponavon.co.uk

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Summer Feature

Take the family challenge Summer 2012 is going to be all about active fun (it is the Olympics, after all) and getting out and about in the UK (which is, for all of us cash-strapped families, a lot cheaper than going abroad). So what are the best activities to enjoy en famille? Joanna Moorhead investigates

Somerset Railway have steam trains running most days throughout July and August for timetable visit www.eastsomersetrailway.com. Or see www.steamrailwaylines.co.uk for the lines across the UK 4. Take an underground walk There’s something strangely thrilling about taking a walk through a cave, into the very inside of the earth – the atmosphere is quite different from anywhere else you’ll ever go and the memories of what you see and experience stay with you for a long time. And, of course, every child needs to

Photo: Go Ape

1. Swing through the forest A tree-top adventure makes for an adrenalin-charged day out with the children – and while you’re up there, you get some brilliant views as well! Personally, I’ve never been so happy to be back on solid ground

as when I got down from the terrifying heights of the forest course I tried out with my kids...but on the upside, at least I did make it down, and relying on them to help me through the most white-knuckle parts of the course went a long way in terms of family bonding! Until recently Go Ape! has been restricted to over-10s, but there’s now a new course at Moors Valley Country Park near Bournemouth! Courses, takes children (and their parents) through a network of looping obstacles five metres above the forest floor, including the spider’s web, log balance and jungle crossing, before finishing on a tree-totree zipwire. Prices: Go Ape! costs £30 for adults, £20 for 10-17 year olds. The new junior course costs £15 for any age. For more information see www.goape.co.uk 2. Climb the rocks Rock-climbing is apparently one of the fastest-growing sports in Britain, and giving it a try makes for a great family day out. Like all the best family challenges it’s about supporting one another, learning new skills, encouraging people when they need it, and celebrating new-found abilities and courage! Family climbing courses abound – google to find one in your area – and most are for complete beginners and take children from about eight (although some specialise in working with younger children) www.mendipoutdoorpursuits.co.uk . Look

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for a course where you have a dedicated instructor: you’ll learn (amongst other things) how to belay (ie hold the ropes safely) and how to make the most of the rock’s features for your hands and feet. If you’re looking for a family challenge in a rainy period, look up climbing walls in your area and see if you can hire an instructor for a family session there instead visit www.undercover-rock.com 3. Ride the tracks For a family with people who can’t get around very easily – elderly grandparents, for example, or other people with special needs – you can’t beat a trip on a steam railway. Most of these railways, preserved from Victorian times, are in areas of breathtaking natural beauty. Avon Valley Railway have steam trains running every Sunday www.avonvalleyrailway.org. East

understand the difference between those stalactites and stalagmites. Some of the best caves in the country are at Cheddar Gorge in Somerset and Wookey Hole near Wells in Somerset, home (apparently) to the Witch of Wookey. Not suitable, though, for a buggy or a wheelchair. For more information on the caves www.cheddargorge.co.uk; www.wookey.co.uk 5. Fly a kite Every family has a kite or three, usually given as birthday or Christmas presents and with fiendishly difficult-looking instructions. We sometimes thought about taking our children to fly them, but something always held us back – usually doubts about how to do it, and whether the area we were planning to kite-fly in was actually big enough. The Kite Society of Great Britain have put together some great tips for flying a kite safely for further information visit www.thekitesociety.org.uk 6. Go mountain biking Like a lot of city families we have a houseful of bikes, but we tend not to do anything more adventurous than go to friends’ houses or the local shops on them. Mountain biking is a whole different experience from a short trip down the road: we went to try it on the South Downs, where the gentle (and not-so-gentle) inclines make for great off-road cycling adventures. You don’t, of course, have to use an instructor to get to grips of mountain biking: but if you’re taking kids with you, and

Advertising deadline for the September/October issue, 10 August

you want to get a real thrill out of your day (plus you won’t need to get the bikes there, because the instructor will provide them) then I recommend a course. Our teacher, Richard, gave us lots of confidence to try out manoeuvres we’d never otherwise have tried (cycling over logs, for example – and yes, it’s a lot scarier than it looks when you’re in the saddle!). He also revealed the number one rule of mountain biking, which is never look down. You have to look straight ahead, focusing on the furthest point of the trail, because if you look down you’ll change your centre of gravity and fall off. We loved our day learning to mountain bike: the children (who need to be over about seven) were a lot better than the parents, but even the parents managed things they’d never have believed they could do! Expect to pay around £40 per person for mountain biking tuition, including bike hire. For more information on the South West trails see www.1sw.org.uk for details of courses near you see www.abc-ofmountainbiking.com 7. Try potholing Potholing has a scary reputation, and it’s not for the fainthearted (or those with claustrophobia). But if you’re a brave clan and up for an adventure, it can be an extraordinary experience to journey into the underworld dressed in what resembles a miner’s gear, and to edge your way through spaces you didn’t believe you’d ever fit through. Coming across underground chambers is magical – as is seeing the daylight come back into view when you finally make your way out! For further information visit www.mendipoutdoorpursuits.co.uk 8. Find a geocache Geocaching is one of those things that sounds totally perplexing to anyone who’s never tried it, but is a huge hit with almost everyone who has. The idea is to find some ‘treasure’ – treasure that’s hidden in a box, and is findable using a hand-held satnav system (any will do). The treasure in question usually consists of a plastic box like a lunchbox with a whole host of miscellaneous bits and pieces in it – things like small toys, CDs, pens, anything. The rule is that when you find your treasure you’re allowed to take one thing out, and you must put one thing in – and sign the log book of course. The treasure is hidden everywhere and anywhere – in cities, in the countryside, even underwater. For more information see www.geocaching.com 9. Hire a boat or a bike Experience a quieter side of Bath by exploring the beautiful Kennet and Avon canal. Hire a powered electric boat for a relaxing experience or if you are feeling more energetic then try a canoe.

Photo: Bath and Dundas Canal Co.

Summer Feature What’s especially lovely about canoeing is that, as well as the skills to learn, you can also have a day out that’s close to wildlife – look out for fish, water birds and dragonflies. If you’re lucky you might even spot an otter or a water vole. If you would prefer to stay on dry land then hire bikes and cycle the canal towpath. Bath and Dundas Canal Co can accommodate the whole family with a range of adult and children’s bikes, trailers, tag-alongs and child seats. Either way you will be able to explore the stunning stretch of canal between Bath and Bradford-on-Avon. Bring a picnic or stop at one of the many canal side pubs and tearooms along the way. For further information www.bathcanal.com or www.waterscape.com 10. Get into metal detection There’s something almost absurdly exciting about setting off with a metal detector and seeing what you’re going to turn up – even though it will, in all probability, be complete rubbish. Because there’s always that chance of finding treasure – or even, and this is almost as good, remnants of the way other people lived, in another age. To use a metal detector effectively, you need to use a sweeping motion – and it’s best to go somewhere with plenty of space, perhaps where other interesting finds have been made. Children are just thrilled with the idea of a machine that goes bleep the whole time, and which might lead to some discovery. Another big plus is that this is an adventure anyone can enjoy – great for families with small kids in buggies or anyone in a wheelchair (though you need to chose your terrain wisely). For more information see www.ncmd.co.uk

Bath & Dundas Canal Co Self-drive Dayboats, Canadian Canoe and Cycle hire on the beautiful Kennet & Avon Canal. The ideal family day out! Our Canal Visitor Centre also has a large customer car park and a cafe/restaurant.

Tel: 01225 722292 • www.bathcanal.com Brass Knocker Basin, Monkton Combe, Bath BA2 7JD

To advertise, call 0117 3309640 or email editor@familiesuponavon.co.uk

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Education and Health

Get your children (and yourself too) to walk barefoot this summer Have you noticed how good it feels to walk barefoot on the earth? Recent research has shown that our immune system functions best when our body has an adequate supply of electrons. Electrons are easily and naturally obtained by walking barefoot on the earth, a process known as earthing. These electrons have antioxidant effects that protect your body from inflammation and its many well-documented health consequences. Today we often wear rubber or plastic-soled shoes which disconnect us from this energy and, of course, we no longer sleep on the ground. This disconnection from the Earth creates abnormal physiology and contributes to inflammation, pain, fatigue, stress and poor sleep. By reconnecting to the earth, these symptoms can be relieved and even eliminated. There is no research indicating that earthing will protect a person from exposure to cell phones signals, microwave radiation, or radio frequencies, but research does confirm that it reduces significantly induced body voltages generated by simple exposure to common household plugged-in electrical items (even if the appliance is off), internal wiring, and underground electrical devices. So next time you open the back door, let the children walk barefoot, as we have done throughout history, what about sitting, working, even sleeping grounded indoors? Let the Sunshine in A recent survey in the UK showed that more than half of adults in the UK did not have enough vitamin D. In the winter and spring about 1 in 6 people has a severe deficiency and about 9 in 10 adults in the UK of South Asian origin. The symptoms of vitamin D deficiency are unclear and the problem can often be missed until it reaches severe levels, at which point it results in a condition known as rickets. What is also coming to light is the impact of insufficient Vitamin D goes far beyond the problem of soft bones. New research is revealing the importance of vitamin D in protecting against many health problems, and insufficient levels of vitamin D is now being closely associated with asthma in children, depression (recent research by the University of Bristol), and two senior paediatric pathologists have discovered a vitamin D deficiency in a significant number of SIDS cases. We are all capable of

Photo: Oscar and Rose Photography

Vitamin D and walking bare feet in the summer

producing vitamin D with proper exposure to sunlight. However, most sunscreens filter out UVB light which inhibits vitamin D production. During the summer, just 15 minutes in the sun without sunscreen in the early morning and late afternoon is enough for most light-skinned individuals to create an ample supply of vitamin D, and for skin with more pigment (melanin) up to 40 minutes. Sunscreens remain essential during the sun’s peak hours for you and your children, but maybe use just what you need.

Useful websites -

To read more on Vitamin D deficiency, go to: • www.wddty.com • www.webmd.boots.com • www.womentowomen.com • www.patient.co.uk To read more on earthing, go to: • www.earthinginstitute.net • www.naturalnews.com • www.kindredcommunity.com

Making the Transition to Secondary School How much to help and how much to let go Margaret Ansell has supported large numbers of children and parents through this transition and this is what she has learnt. The transition from Primary to Secondary School is an anxious time for parents. During the primary school years, it is fairly easy to support your child at school. You will probably know his teacher, other members of staff and parents, as well as being familiar with school policies and routines. The thought of losing the control this familiarity offers is as daunting for parents as it is for children and you may well wonder how best to continue to support your child. You may also worry specifically about your child’s ability to cope with the new environment and crucially, whether he or she will make friends. Your anxieties may be eased by adopting strategies that help with the transition. Here are some tips and tools which should help you prepare for and manage the early months: Before the transition: 1. Shield your child from your anxiety. They can make this transition. Critically, they need to know that you believe in them and their ability to deal with difficulties and challenges. 2. Relax the organisation Towards the end of year 6, step back from the organisation of your child’s school life eg packing school bags etc. You may secretly want to savour these last few months of

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dependency but your child needs a taste of independence. If they are slow to take up the reins, don’t take over and don’t despair, they will get there eventually. 3. If your child will walk to school or travel independently on public transport, practice the new journey Start by travelling together but without interaction. Then move to simply following behind your child. Finally, let him do it alone and meet him there. Travel at busy times. Allow your child to make mistakes and find solutions. This equips them with the skills to handle the unexpected like bus detours and road closures. After the transition: 1. Be There Make sure a parent or trusted carer is available before and after school -to provide food, notice if your child comes in late, listen to their successes and concerns and be aware of subtle changes in mood; someone to empathise and with whom to discuss problems. Watch and listen, help out if asked but don’t take over. Become an Enabler rather than a Fixer. 2. Support the development of friendships It is of great importance to older children that they mix socially and establish secure friendships and they need to do this whilst still young enough to turn to you for support when they make mistakes. Gradually they will learn to make informed choices

about friends. It’s appropriate for this age group to have access to a basic mobile phone and computer but the dangers of social networking should be discussed and boundaries agreed upon. 3. Support organisation and routines. Create “To Do Lists” or “Timetables” for the fridge, agree places to keep bags, kit, and books. Label uniform and valuables. Establish routines so they can get to school punctually. Don’t expect too much too soon, many won’t crack this for years! 4. Understand what homework they have and know when it has been completed and handed in. Agree a routine that will help your child to complete and hand in all homework on time, without devoting too much time to one piece and little or nothing to others. However, remember it is their homework not yours; help, encourage, motivate but accept their best. 5. Schedule time to relax. Your child will be exhausted by the effort of holding it all together. Tears are likely over the most trivial things and they may regress and demand more care. Trust that they can cope and make sure there is time for sleep, friends, homework, more sleep, watching TV, playing computer games and yet more sleep! Avoid weekend breaks and reduce extra-curricular commitments to the minimum. Now is not the time for your child to begin new activities or classes. And lastly, schedule time to relax yourself! All will eventually be well.

Advertising deadline for the September/October issue, 10 August

Summer camps explained....

So you are thinking a camp might be a great way to keep the kids busy over the long summer break... but what are the differences and how do you know which one to choose? Let us break it down for you... Residential or Day Camp? Residential Camps are holidays where your child can stay during the holiday course, often further away from your home and sometimes including activities not available locally. Day Camps are holidays at a local venue where you can take your child on a daily basis. Times may vary but they are usually around 8.30am – 4pm with additional costs for early starts and later finishes. What type of Camp would suit your child? Multi activity holidays offer a selection of different activities every day, usually including a range of sports, creative or adventure activities – ideal for the child who does not want to attend a specialist course in a single activity. Sports Coaching holidays offer specialist courses in a single activity such as football, basketball, tennis, cricket or golf

Summer Camps Outdoor adventure holidays may involve one or more challenging activities such as abseiling, climbing, orienteering or zip wire. Centres offering this type of course may also offer watersports. Creative arts holiday courses may involve arts & crafts, pottery, sculpture, etc. Performing arts holiday courses may offer specialist or multi activity courses in activities such as dance, drama, mime, singing or behind the scenes stagecraft. Computer / Technology courses may be specialist courses or part of a multi activity programme including activities such as computer games, web design, programming, design and technical production skills Horse riding holiday courses are available at specialist riding centres offering full or half day courses in riding and stable management Watersports centres offer holiday courses in single activities such as canoeing, kayaking, sailing or windsurfing as well as multi watersports courses offering taster sessions in a range of activities What location is best for you and your child? Most camps offer a variety of locations. Check our listing in this issue and see our Local Directory section on our website www.familiesuponavon.co.uk for a selection of camps that are local and some further afield. What age group would be best? Do you want your child mixing with a variety of ages? Would you prefer they were all roughly the same age? Check with the camp provider to see how the children attending are grouped – by age? by ability? by interest? Lastly always see if you can talk to other kids and parents who have been on the camp, as always, the best form of testimonial is from those who have done it before you!

SUMMER SCHOOLS A week of the holidays where stars will shine!

Monday 30th July - Friday 3rd August 2012 at The Clarendon College, Trowbridge 10am - 4pm "Pop Extravaganza"

Book on 0844 335 1705 | www.stagecoach.co.uk/trowbridge

To advertise, call 0117 3309640 or email editor@familiesuponavon.co.uk

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Outdoor Fun Are your kids Free Range? Turn off the TV and get outdoors with some advice from Sustrans. Originated from an article by Carly Rudrum aunched in July 2011, Sustrans Free Range Kids campaign aims to create environments for independent, active children, with a focus on 20mph speed limits and safe walking routes. They’re also working directly with the Government to help tackle childhood obesity. The campaign hopes to change the way we view childhood, and allow our children more freedom to grow. Here are some tips from Sustrans on raising Free Range Kids: Reclaim the streets: Research shows 90% of today’s parents played outside as kids, but one in three children in the current generation of seven to 15 year olds have never played outside at all. Playing outside helps teach children road safety skills, and bolsters their confidence and social skills. Start slowly – do a bit of gardening while your kid’s scooter on the pavement outside. When you feel confident, suggest they invite friends to play in the street – you could do a bit of housework and leave the front door open so you can hear what they are up to. If your street is far too busy, then take

a picnic to a local park on a dry day and let your kids explore while you man ‘base camp’. Get on your bike: Sustrans work with schools in the UK saw the number of children cycling double and we know that nearly half of all kids want to cycle to school yet just two per cent do. Why not plan a family cycle ride at the weekend? Learn outside: Encourage your kid’s school to adopt an ‘outdoor classroom’. Whether it’s the school field, the local park or the Botanical Gardens, outdoor learning has plenty of benefits. Start small – perhaps your children could explore, find and name plants. Or for older children, why not head into town for a look at the different types of architecture, asking the public to vote for their favourite buildings. Visit www.sustrans.org.uk/freerangekids for more information and ideas. They have plenty of advice and learning resources for schools and youth groups, plus you can lend your support to the campaign and sign their pledge (www.sustrans.org.uk/freerangekids/freerange-kids-pledge-form) calling for 20mph speed limits in residential areas.

Stourhead House and Garden Stourhead House is a majestic Palladian mansion built in the 1720s, which was home to the Hoare family. The interior includes a unique Regency library and is decorated with Chippendale furniture and inspirational paintings. It is set the world-famous landscape gardens with a magnificent lake reflecting classical temples, King Alfred’s Tower, mystical grottoes and rare and exotic trees. The garden and house are at the heart of a 1,072-hectare (2,650-acre) estate where chalk downs, ancient woods and farmland are managed for nature conservation. Enjoy a great day out from climbing trees and hands-on conservation to behind-the-scenes glimpses and fresh-air workouts. There are plenty of activities and events going on throughout the Summer for both families and adults, why not enjoy a summer evening lakeside picnic, with classical temples illuminated and a spectacular firework display or experience A Grand Tour of Stourhead or perhaps an energetic off-road bicycle ride in the wilder estate. Visit the extended shop or plant centre for a memento or treat yourself to a delicious, fresh, home-cooked food, made using local ingredients and suppliers. We serve it in our double gold Soil Association, award-winning restaurant. Stourhead is open rain or shine there is always something to discover and explore.

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Don't forget to visit www.familiesuponavon.co.uk for more info on activities in the area.

Capturing the light – Lacock Alive Three exciting new, interactive sculptures are going to arrive at Lacock Abbey in time for July. The Capturing the Light project features a rotating umbrella topped with a disco ball, a quirky tree displaying prisms and orbs and a fascinating, free standing window showing a photographic negative of a tree. As part of the trail four small magnifying posts offer visitors the chance to look close-up at nature objects found in the grounds and leave these for others to enjoy. The artworks celebrate the fact that the first photographic negative was created at the Abbey by William Henry Fox Talbot in the 1800s. Capturing the Light was Talbot’s phrase for his early experiments. “We’re really excited about these sculptures”, said Maureen la Frenais of the National Trust. “They are arty, but family friendly at the same time. They will be placed around our grounds and we hope that children will have great fun finding them. We just hope that the sight of a umbrella on wheels with a glitterball on top does not cause too many accidents on the M5 as it makes its way from Wales to Wiltshire!” An event will also be celebrating the achievements of Lacock’s best known inventor: “Eye Magic” will be taking place on Sunday July 8th in the grounds of the Abbey. A walk in Camera Obscura will be on display and costumed re-enactors will demonstrate (and let people play with) various optical illusion toys. Children can make a simple optical illusion toy and a sun print to take home with them. Normal admission fees apply, NT members and under fives FREE. Call 01249 730459 or see www.nationaltrust.org.uk/lacock or see National Trust Lacock on Facebook.

National Trust Prior Park Landscape Garden Prior Park is a beautiful and intimate 18th-century landscape garden, home to one of only four Palladian Bridges in the world. The garden is steeped in history, created by local entrepreneur Ralph Allen, with advice from 'Capability' Brown and the poet Alexander Pope. It offers a great walk, over-looking the World Heritage City of Bath below and for those who want to keep on exploring; the six-mile Bath Skyline can be accessed nearby. We have regular activities for children, including story telling in the summer house and our explorer tracker packs, available all year round, which give children the chance to discover the wonders of the garden. This year, we have also created a new nature play area, next to the tea kiosk, so the kids can let off some steam whilst you enjoy a snack next to the lakes. This summer we have some great events lined up, from children’s outdoor theatre in June, our summer trail in July and our Big Tree Climb in August and denbuilding on the Skyline. We also have something for the adults, from Tai Chi to Zen, with our head gardener, and late night openings on a Friday, for those who want unwind in this tranquil landscape garden. So whether you want to simply relax and enjoy the beautiful views, or come for a fun-filled family day out, there’s always something to do at PriorPark. Please check our website for events at www.nationaltrust.org.uk/prior-park

Would you like copies of Families upon Avon to give to parents? Call 01494 673427

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Great

Competitions

WIN! A Family

WIN! A chance to have

Ticket for At-Bristol worth £35.50 admits 4 people (max 2 adults) With hundreds of hands-on exhibits, explosive live shows and a Planetarium, At-Bristol is one of the UK’s biggest and most exciting interactive science centres. Join Morph and friends for a journey through animation past and present and become an animator for the day, be awed by icy bodies and cosmic rays, activate the Vein Ray to see your own veins, create your own TV show, and take a trip to outer space with seasonal expert-led star shows. New for July 2012 is Our World – no more waste: discover all the amazing ways in which in our world nothing goes to waste and everything is recycled into something new! Opening hours are 10am - 6pm on weekends, bank holidays and local school holidays; 10am - 5pm on weekdays during term time Prices are £12.50 for adults, £8 for children (3-15), £10.50 for concessions, £35.50 for families and £33.50 for grandparent families. These prices include a voluntary GiftAid donation. To book, people can visit the website (at-bristol.org.uk) or call 0845 345 1235 Standard At-Bristol terms & conditions are that the prize is non-transferable with no cash alternative and is not valid with any other offer. The ticket will be valid for a year from the date of issue.

To enter please visit www.familiesuponavon.co.uk/competitions CLOSING DATE MIDNIGHT 31ST AUGUST 2012

your child on the front cover of the Families upon Avon November/December issue! Plus a free 30 x 20 print of your child Families upon Avon has teamed up with Oscar and Rose Photography to give you the chance of winning a photo shoot of your child/children with this popular photographer. In addition to your child/children being on the front cover of Families upon Avon you will also receive a beautiful 30 x 20 print of the chosen image worth £40. Six runners up will receive a special code for £10 off their booking fee (valid for three months) . The photo shoot will take place at the Oscar and Rose Photography studio near Lacock in September at a mutually agreed date and time. To see the Oscar and Rose gallery please visit the website: www.oscar-and-rose.co.uk or visit the Facebook page: www.facebook.com/oscarandrosephotography

If you think your child /children would look great on the front cover of Families upon Avon then to enter please visit www.familiesuponavon.co.uk/competitions CLOSING DATE MIDNIGHT 31ST AUGUST 2012

WIN! An Aquabeat MP3 player with

WIN! A Batch Cooking

New Metanium Everyday (two to giveaway)

Plan courtesy of Menus4Mums worth £8.99 each

plus three runners up will receive a Metanium changing bag Exercising with your baby can be a great way to get and stay in shape, and listening to music can be just the motivator you need to get out there every day. New Metanium Everyday Barrier Ointment is giving away 2 colourful Aquabeat MP3 players (RRP around £70) which can store 1000 of your favourite tracks. It’s waterproof so you can even use it while swimming.

Three to giveaway!

Visit: www.metanium.co.uk to join the Metanium Baby & Toddler Club

Modern families face daily news of the decline in family meals, coupled with the rise of grocery bills and food waste. What can they do about this? Menus4Mums, the online family meal planners, have launched an ingenious Batch Cooking Plan of summer dinners which enables a busy parent to cook 8 delicious family meals for the freezer in just 1.5 hours. All the meals are family-friendly, healthy and delicious. All the meals can be finished off in a matter of minutes when required. Batch cooking means parents can make good use of multi-buys, saving money on food and fuel costs, and avoiding food waste. Best of all, they have a freezer full of family meals so no longer have to rely on takeaways or ready-meals at the end of a family trip out or a busy working day. At just £8.99 for an immediate download, it could save the modern family a lot of money and time! Visit www.menus4mums.co.uk/batch-cook for more details.

To enter please visit www.familiesuponavon.co.uk/competitions

CLOSING DATE MIDNIGHT 31ST AUGUST 2012

3 runners up will receive a specially designed purple Metanium changing bag (RRP £30) – ideal for all those on-the-go baby essentials. Winners and runners up will also receive a tube of Metanium Everyday. Protection for your baby and motivation for you – Every day! Metanium Everyday RRP £2-99 for 40g and £5-49 for 80g is available from Boots, Asda, Tesco, Sainsbury’s, leading pharmacies and at www.boots.com

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www.familiesuponavon.co.uk for lots more competitions

What’s On Please always phone before setting out in case details have changed since our press deadline. We regularly update the What's On section of our website. For further or more detailed information on the below please check our website www.familiesuponavon.co.uk

EVENTS & EXHIBITIONS @BRISTOL Anchor Road, Harbourside, Bristol. BS1 5DB 0117 909 2000 www.at-bristol.org.uk Summer night sky Planetarium show 1 July – 31 August £1 per seat Book a seat for the planetarium when you buy your tickets. FREE for members. The Planetarium Time: At regular intervals throughout the day, please phone in advance to check times/availability. Enjoy a tour of the night sky with this presenter-led show. Little Stars Planetarium show Weekends plus daily shows during school holidays (please check website for times) 2 pm. 50p per seat. Book a seat for the planetarium when you buy your tickets. FREE for members. Location: Planetarium. Children aged 1-4 and their families Get star struck in our brand new Planetarium show Little Stars, especially for under 5's. Storytelling Weekends and holidays 11.30am Mondays during term time 2.30pm Let yourself get swept up in a story! Join us ‘In the jungle’ and get swept up in a story! Explore our world in the Live Lab 1 July – 26 July Get hands-on and explore the wonders of the world around us with our new Live Lab activities. NEW EXHIBITION! Exhibition Launch: Our World – no more waste 20 July Discover all the amazing ways in which in our world nothing goes to waste and everything is recycled into something new! Try-Athlon 27 July – end of summer holidays Drop in to At-Bristol’s Live Lab and try your hand at our sporty activities, ranging from easy-peasy to downright impossible! Are you up for the challenge?! The Robo World Cup 20 – 25 August Marvel at robots playing football and basketball, climbing or running a marathon – showcasing pioneering mechanical, electronic and advanced artificial intelligence technology. Going for Gold 7 July – 7 October, daily during weekends and holidays (times vary). Come and get your pulse racing at our brand new family show exploring how amazing the human body is. Join us as we learn all about hearts, lungs, limbs and all manner of sporty things!

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Photo: David Noton Lime

BRUNEL’S SS GREAT BRITAIN BS1 6TY 0117 9260680 www.ssgreatbritain.org Sea Hear 3 July and August 7, 11 am. Join professional storyteller Sarah Mooney for adventures of the high seas. Stories are tailored especially for preschool children aged 3 to 4 year olds, but younger siblings (and older during school holidays) are welcome too.

Mr Brunel visits July 20 - Sep 1 (Except, July 25 & 26, August 1, 8, 15, 22, 29, 30) Meet Britain's greatest engineer

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HORSEWORLD Staunton Manor Farm, Staunton Lane, Whitchurch, Bristol, BS14 0QL 01275 893024 www.horseworld.org.uk Rehoming Day Sunday 1 Jul Could you give one of our rescued animals a new loving home? Please email: info@horseworld.org.uk to apply Teddy Bears Picnic Saturday 28 July Join the Teddy Bear's on their very special picnic day. Bring along your teddy to join in the fun too! Newfound Friends at HorseWorld 18 August We will be welcoming some of the Newfoundland dogs from Newfound Friends to our Visitor Centre. Newfound Friends was formed in 1990, with the objective of using the skills of the Newfoundland dog to raise money for children's charities.

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WESTONBIRT, THE NATIONAL ARBORETUM Tetbury, GL8 8QS 01666 880220 www.forestry.gov.uk/westonbirt Westonbirt Arboretum offers free summer fun for families Kids go Free promotion 20 July - 31 August High Fibres Tuesday 31 July - Thursday 2 August 10:30am - 4:30pm Crafts and a trail to discover plants that provide us with the fibres that help us make our world. Summer Secrets Tuesday 7 - Thursday 9 August 10:30am - 4:30pm. Join us as we delve deep in the undergrowth to find the hidden secrets of summer.Create secret summer pictures and design your own pipe cleaner woodland bugs. Arboretum Art Attack! Tuesday 14 - Thursday 16 August 10:30am - 4:30pm Calling all artists! Explore the artistic origins of Westonbirt and discover how we use trees instead of paint. Young Plant Hunters' Academy Wednesday 22 - Monday 27 August 10:30am - 4:30pm Take a trip around the world as an intrepid plant hunter. Discover death defying stories, solve our mystery tree quiz and

HOLBURNE EARLY YEARS WORKSHOPS To book or for further information: Tel: 01225 388568 or email v.fear@bath.ac.uk Brilliant Babes – 0 to 8 months Tuesdays, 3 -10 July 1-3pm in the Gardener’s Lodge, £8. Come along and meet other parents and their babies, share your experiences and learn new skills creating beautiful toys and craft projects for you and your baby. Yearlings – 8 to 24 months Mondays and Tuesdays, 2-17 July 10.30am12noon in the Gardener’s Lodge, £7.50. Have fun with sensory and creative activities, meet other children and their adults and learn new favourite songs and stories. Toddlealongs – 2 to 5 years Fridays, 6-20 July 10.30am-12noon and 12.30pm in the Gardener’s Lodge, £7.50. Sing songs, watch stories come to life and get arty with a new museum-related theme every week. FREE Story Time for Under 5s Every Wednesday until 17 July at 2pm in the Museum Galleries. Pop in to hear a short story about an object or character in our collection. Gather at the bottom of the stairs to find out where we will go. HOLBURNE CHILDREN’S WORKSHOPS Saturday Art Club for 5-7 year olds and 8-13 year olds 7-21 July Saturdays 10.30am-12.30pm in the Clore Learning Space, £8 A weekly workshop for aspiring young artists. Taster sessions for our Early Years workshops Tuesday 14 August 10.30 – 11.30am - Yearlings £3. 1.30 – 2.30pm - Brilliant Babes £3.

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VICTORIA ART GALLERY Bridge Street, Bath. BA2 4AT Tel. 01225 477232 www.victoriagal.org.uk Robert Race: Automata

Photo: Paul Groom

find out why we continue to go on plant hunts today. There will be different craft activities and explorer challenges each day. This activity forms part of Treefest. Treefest Saturday 25 - Monday 27 August 10am - 5pm Alongside activities in the Young Plant Hunters' Academy, families can enjoy storytelling, archery, falconry, a Medieval Village and crafts at Treefest. Find out more at www.forestry.gov.uk/westonbirt-treefest.

MUSEUMS AND GALLERIES THE HOLBURNE MUSEUM Great Pulteney Street, Bath BA2 4DB 01225 588588 holburne@bath.ac.uk www.holburne.org

7 July – 2 September Robert’s cleverly designed and witty automata are fashioned from re-used and recycled materials such as driftwood. Appeals to all ages, they will be for sale. Events for Children Young @ Art Club Ages 3-11 £3.75 per child in advance. All children to be accompanied by an adult. Book on 01225 477244. Lighting up 2012 Thursday 26 July, 10.30-12.00 and 1.30-3.00pm Design and make a model torch ready for the opening night. Faster, higher, stronger Thursday 2 August 10.30-12.00 and 1.303.00pm Make a sporty scene. Magical machine Thursday 9 August 10.30-12.00 and 1.303.00pm Enjoy our special automata exhibition and create a magical machine. A Victorian day by the sea Thursday 16 August 10.30-12.00 and 1.303.00pm Dress up in Victorian costume and make a Victorian bather. Seaside special Thursday 23 August 10.30-12.00 and 1.303.00pm Use rubbings and textures to create a summer seaside scene. Jump for joy Thursday 30 August 10.30-12.00 and 1.303.00pm Make jointed figures.

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Chippenham Museum & Heritage Centre Summer Exhibition Olympic Dreams: A History of Sport & Sports Clubs in Chippenham Runs until end October 2012

Archaeology Activity Day Wednesday 25th July 2012 Free, fun, archaeology activity day for all the family. Learn the ancient skills of flint knapping and metal working with the experts. Or have a go at making clay pots, jewellery or mosaics yourself.

Summer Holiday Workshops The Museum & Heritage Centre will once again be running a full series of family themed holiday activities. Full details of all our activities are on our Facebook and Twitter pages, on www.chippenham.gov.uk or please contact us at: 9-10 Market Place, Chippenham, SN15 3HF

01249 705020

heritage@chippenham.gov.uk

NATIONAL TRUST LACOCK ABBEY Near Chippenham, SN15 2LG 01249 730459 www.nationaltrust.org.uk/lacock Normal admission fees apply, NT members and under fives FREE, unless otherwise stated. Old fashioned sports day Saturday 28 July 10.30am - 4pm. Come and enjoy a variety of old fashioned activities like hoopla and various races that you will remember from school sports days long ago! Mr Punch’s Picnic Tues 31 July Shows at 11.15, 12.30 and one at 1.30pm. Mr Punch is 350 years old this year. Come and see him in his usual antics with Judy. Make something to take home with Wiltshire Scrap store and have a bounce on the inflatable castle, too. Bee and Honey Day Sun 12 August 10.304pm. Join the Melksham Beekeepers Association for a relaxed day of demonstrations, hands-on activities, things to buy and more. Teddy bears’ picnic Tuesday 14th Aug 11am to 2pm. Your teddy will love having a parachute jump off the top of our tower (optional to avoid tears!). Go on a teddy trail. See Fez the Jezter perform his funny magic tricks and making balloon models and who knows what treats you will be making with Wiltshire Scrapstore? Parachute jump takes place at 1.30pm. Teddies assisted by NT staff only. Free entry for children with their Teddy Bears. The Twits Outdoor theatre at Lacock Abbey Thurs 23 August Gates open at 6pm for picnics. Performance starts at 7pm A slimily, stickily, revoltingly funny show, from the most popular children's author in the world, performed by the fantastic theatre Group Illyria. Tickets Adult - £15.00 Child - £8

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PRIOR PARK LANDSCAPE GARDEN Ralph Allen Drive, Bath, BA2 5AH 01225 833422 www.nationaltrust.org.uk/priorpark

Late night Fridays Friday 6, 13, 20 & 27 July 10am - 9pm. As part of our 'chill out July' campaign, enjoy the garden later than normal. Pack a picnic and relax in this tranquil garden, the perfect place to unwind after work.

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Story-telling in the summerhouse, Saturday 7 July 1.30 - 3.30pm Children's Saturday story-telling. Come and listen to outdoor tales told in the summerhouse by our very own Prior Park story-teller. Den Building 22 Aug, 2 – 5pm Looking for some summer holiday fun.. why not come along and build a den in Long Wood, our fantastic Beech woodland on the Bath Skyline with our countryside Rangers.

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DYRHAM PARK Dyrham, nr. Bath. SN14 8ER 0117 9372501 www.nationaltrust.org.uk/dyrhampark. Normal admission

unless otherwise stated Tuesday Toddler Trails Tuesday 3, 10, 17 July 10.45-11.30am Join one of our garden trails designed for toddlers; learn about shape, colour and numbers while exploring nature. You will need to arrive in the car park by 10.30 in order to catch the first shuttle bus down to the house. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Trails may be cancelled in adverse weather. Wulfheodenas Living History Camp Saturday 14 July – Sunday 15 July 10.30-4.30pm. Come and see the reenactment group Wulfheodenas, as they portray Anglo Saxon life in their living history camp at Old Lodge in the park. Family Park Discovery Tours Tuesday 24, Thursday 26 & Tuesday 31 July Tuesday 7, 14, 21 and 28 August 11am-12pm AND 2-3pm. Explore the park through exciting activities on one of our popular guided discovery trails. From bark-rubbing or bug-hunting to spotting the deer, head outdoors and discover the wild side of the parkland! The Lord Chamberlain's Men present Macbeth Fri 10 & Sat 11 August 6.30-8.30pm. Bring a picnic an enjoy one of Shakespeare's most gripping thrillers in the West Garden, please bring a low backed chair or picnic blanket with you. Performance continues whatever the weather, so bring appropriate clothing for an outdoor performance. Garden opens at 5.30pm. Tickets must be booked through the National Trust Box Office 0844 249 1895, Adult £15.50, Child £9, Family £40

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STOURHEAD Stourton, Warminster, BA12 6QD 0844 249 1895 www.nationaltrust.org.uk/stourhead Cream Tea Sunday & Cup Cake Canter Sunday 8 July, 10.30am and 11am. Summer fun with the Eco Fitness team. Work up an appetite for your cream scone reward on the 5k walk/jog/run, or cup cake treat if your under 16. www.ecofitness.co.uk Adult £8, child £3 A Grand Tour of Stourhead Wed 18 July, 2-4pm. Meet at visitor reception Adult £10, Child £5 Stourhead Picnic and Firework Display Sat 21 July 7.30-10pm. Experience the unspoiled beauty of this world-famous landscape garden. Gather your family and friends, pack a hamper and enjoy a summer evening lakeside picnic, with classical temples illuminated and a spectacular firework display. Adult/Child £12 each Forest Fridays Every Friday in August, 11-3pm King Alfreds Tower. Whispering Woodfolk workshops. Woodland Den Building, Play Trails. Cycle Trails, Giant Games Discovering Dormice Fri 3, 10, 17, 24 and 31 Aug, 11am. Meet at King Alfred’s Tower car park. Join our Ranger on these woodland walks to discover how we look after our resident Dormice. Learn all about these adorable but secretive creatures …will you be lucky enough to see one? Adult £10, Child £5 On Your Bike Sun 19 Aug, 10.30am-12.30pm. Meet in the main car park. Join us and enjoy a rewarding off-road cycle into the wider estate. Your bike will need to be in good working order, have plenty of gears and you must be prepared to get muddy if it is wet! Please bring your own preferred safety gear. This ride is open to all ages and we will cycle between 7-10 miles. Adult £10.

Entries in What's on are free - send details to editor@familiesuponavon.co.uk

THEATRE THE EGG, THEATRE ROYAL BATH Sawclose, Bath B&NES BA1 1ET Tel 01225 448 844 or 01225 823409 www.theatreroyal.org.ukim £7/£5.50 CHILDREN Scamp and Bunk Puppets present SWAMP JUICE Friday 6 July & Saturday 7 July Using mindblowing shadow puppetry and bits of rubbish, acclaimed Canadian performer Jeff Achtem brings his award-winning show about life in a swamp, with a stunning 3D finale. 7 years and over RUBY RED TELLS TALES

KEYNSHAM MUSIC FESTIVAL Keynsham Memorial Park www.keynshammusicfestival.co.uk Sunday 1st July FREE entry. Music, food and stalls, lots of creative fun things for children to do.

ZOO & WILDLIFE PARKS BRISTOL ZOO GARDENS Clifton, Bristol, BS8 3HA 0117 9747 309 www.bristolzoo.org.uk Dinozoo Every day until Sunday 2 September Dinosaurs are making a comeback at Bristol Zoo Gardens this summer. Life-like dinosaurs will be placed around the Zoo in an amazing animatronic exhibition, all of which will be brought to life using state-of-the-art technology. Entry is free with normal Zoo admission. Open-air film Night at Bristol Zoo Gardens - Jurassic Park comes to life! Saturday 18th August Watch one of the biggest and best Dinosaur films of all time in the beautiful Zoo grounds whilst surrounded by 12 incredibly life-like animatronic dinosaurs. Take your picnic blankets, grab a spot. To find out more, visit www.bristolzoo.org.uk or phone 0117 974 7300

MARKETS & FAIRS

Saturday 14th July Times: 11.30am & 3pm An enchanting physical and musical performance using everyday objects and young children’s retellings of stories from around the world to recreate wonder and wow! 3 years and over The egg YPT presents WILDE TALES Thursday 19th July to Saturday 21st July Times: Evenings: Thursday to Saturday at 7pm & Matinee: Saturday at 2pm. Fairy Tales by Oscar Wilde, Directed by Amy Leach. Wilde's fairy tales The Selfish Giant and The Happy Prince are in turn ambiguous, beautiful, powerful, and tender; be heartened by the empathy of a nightingale and uplifted by the compassion of a swallow as the egg theatre’s Young People’s Theatre perform Wilde Tales. 6 years and over Tallulah Swirl presents WHEN EGGY MET PEGGY Saturday 28th July 11.30am & 3pm. Join Eggy and Peggy the pea in this deliciously funny and original twist on The Princess And The Pea starring one-woman puppeteer, Amy Lloyd-Jones, as the mischievous Queen and a host of quirky and beautiful creations. 2 years and over STORM ON THE LAWN 2012 presents PETER PAN By J M Barrie, Adapted by Trevor Nunn and John Caird, Directed by Amy Leach Wednesday 22 August to Sunday 26 August Evenings at 8pm, Matinees on Saturday & Sunday at 2.30pm. The Ball Court in the grounds of Prior Park College, Bath. Tickets: £12.50 adults / £8.50 children & students. Please wear warm clothing – the evening can get chilly – and bring a cushion! There is a licensed bar. You are welcome to picnic in the grounds from 7pm.

LITTLE PICKLES MARKETS www.littlepicklesmarkets.co.uk Tel. 07856832095 Come and grab some bargains - good quality pre-loved children’s clothes & equipment. From maternity clothes to toys, books to pushchairs, furniture to children's clothes 0-8 years and so much more. ENTRY £1 per adult, children FREE Pre-loved tables £10 Business tables £15 Little Pickles Markets, Chippenham Sunday 1st July, 1.30pm-3.00pm We will be holding a market at St Paul's Church Hall. Spaces to bring your own table (upto 6ft) are £8. Contact Lisa at lisa@littlepicklesmarkets.co.uk for more information or book a table now Little Pickles Markets, Melksham Saturday 7th July, 10am-11.30am Spencer's Sports and Social Club, Melksham For more information or to book a space please email jackie@littlepicklesmarkets.co.uk Little Pickles Markets, Bath Sunday 15th July 10-11.30am Bath City Football Club. Book now or for more information email bath@littlepicklesmarkets.co.uk

FESTIVALS BRISTOL HARBOUR FESTIVAL 2012 Friday 20 to Sunday 22 July 2012 A variety of circus, dance, music and theatre acts will be heading to the harbourside for three days of festive fun. For further information visit www.bristolharbourfestival.co.uk

.............................................. For lots more What's on events visit www.familiesuponavon.co.uk

SUMMER CAMPS SUPER CAMPS www.supercamps.co.uk Venues: King Edward’s School, North Road, Bath, Avon BA2 6JA Sheldon School, Hardenhuish Lane, Chippenham, Wiltshire, SN14 6HJ (Multi-Activity Camp only) Multi-Activity Camp Age 4-14 23 July to 24 August Action packed and full of variety with over 40 activities on offer (sports, arts & crafts). Our instructors are experienced and enthusiastic, you can book individual days or full weeks and we offer free extended hours: 8am 6pm (core hours: 9.20am - 4.30pm). Five Day Rate £164 ,Single Day Rate £36.00 A Passion for Food Age 6-16 30 July to 3 August 9am-5pm (extended hours available at additional cost) These five day workshops (Mon – Fri) give children the chance to explore and develop in a specific activity. Five day rate £174 A Passion for the Stage Age 6-16 6 August to 10 August 9am-5pm (extended hours available at additional cost) These five day workshops (Mon – Fri) give children the chance to explore and develop in a specific activity. Five day rate £164

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GET SPORTED www.getsported.org 07528 689 854 Multi Sports Day Camp Age 5-12 4 Day Camps – 24-27 July and 7-10 August 9.15am-4pm Venue: Ralph Allen School, Claverton Down Road, Bath BA2 7AD Price varied rates please see website for details

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STAGECOACH The Clarendon College, Trowbridge www.stagecoach.co.uk/trowbridge tel 0844 335 1705 Pop Extravaganza 30th July – 3rd August

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THE EGG, THEATRE ROYAL BATH Sawclose, Bath B&NES BA1 1ET Tel 01225 448 844 or 01225 823409 Summer Drama School 30 July – 17 Aug A host of week-long drama summer schools .Working with a host of talented local directors you will spend the week creating your own show to be performed at the end of the week to an invited audience of friends and family. For more information egg email egg.reception@theatreroyal.org.uk

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THE HOLBURNE MUSEUM Great Pulteney Street, Bath BA2 4DB 01225 588588 holburne@bath.ac.uk www.holburne.org Summer Art Camp for 5 to 7 year olds and 8 to 13 year olds Monday 23 – Friday 27 July - Portraits Monday 6 – Friday 10 August – Illustration Monday 20 – Friday 24 August – Colour 9am-4pm, £35 per day or £160 for five days Creative and fun day long workshops for budding artists wishing to focus on specific crafts.

SCHOOL EVENTS SHAW C. of E. PRIMARY SCHOOL Corsham Road, Shaw, Melksham, SN12 8EQ Saturday 7 July 2012 12:00-3:00pm Grand Summer Fayre Mini Olympics, fantastic raffle, arena entertainment, fun stalls & games, delicious refreshments… a great afternoon for all the family!

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