Families Cheshire Issue 47 - May/June 2017

Edition 47 • May June 2017

The local magazine for families with children 0-12 years www.familiesonline.co.uk

@FamCheshMag facebook.com/familiescheshire

FREE

ÂŽ

In this issue: > The A-Z of party buzzwords > Budding little gardeners > Zzzzzz...the importance of sleep

Covering: Poynton, Wilmslow, Alderley Edge, Knutsford, Prestbury, Macclesfield, Congleton, Holmes Chapel, Sandbach, Northwich, Winsford, Crewe, Nantwich, Tarporley, Waverton, Chester and surrounding areas

News In this issue 02: News 04: Education 06: Parents’ place 09: Parties

Kids Go Free at the Great 3-in-1 Spring Show this May Bank Holiday weekend!

10: Clubs, classes &

holiday camps 12: What’s on

Hello!

So, “Da Spring is sprung, da grass is riz” and suddenly the world is a brighter and lovelier place. As usual, the first half of the year is flying by and before we know it, some of our babies will be finishing Primary school or heading off to University.

But it’s not all doom and gloom – we can finally start breaking out the flip flops, breathing in the fresh air and thinking about new beginnings. There are so many fabulous outdoor events coming up across the region area in May and June: find all the details in our News section alongside, and also in What’s on, starting on page 12.

So get into the grip of Spring Fever, and enjoy!

Caryl Hall

Jayne Keep

Next issue: July/August 2017

Families Cheshire is part of Families Magazines Ltd, a franchise company. All franchised magazines in the group are independently owned and operated under licence.

Families® is a registered trademark of Families Magazines Ltd, Remenham House, Regatta Place, Marlow Road, Bourne End, Bucks SL8 5TD. The contents of Families Cheshire are fully protected by copyright and none of the editorial or photographic matter may be reproduced in any form without prior consent of the publisher.

We take every care preparing the magazine, but the publishers and distributors can’t be held responsible for the claims of advertisers, the accuracy of the contents nor for any consequences.

Circulation: 25,000 copies of Families Cheshire are available through nurseries, schools, libraries, selected shops and other points throughout Cheshire. If you would like free copies for your organisation, please let us know.

Contact details: Families Cheshire, 3 Hall Hill, Bollington SK10 5ED Tel: 01625 801 801 www.familiesonline.co.uk Editorial: editor@familiescheshire.co.uk Advertising/artwork: advertising@familiescheshire.co.uk Events, diary dates, what’s on: events@familiescheshire.co.uk Cover Photography: kidsbeingkids, 07707 830286 / www.kidsbeingkids.co.uk Design: Paul Wilson Graphic Design, Congleton.

Tel: 07743 111 694, www.withpaul.co.uk

@FamCheshMag

Print: Bishops Printers, Walton Road, Portsmouth, Hampshire PO6 1TR Tel: 023 9233 4900 www.bishops.co.uk

Running from Saturday 27 to Monday 29 May 2017 at the Royal Cheshire County Showground (adjacent to Junction 19 on M6), the show features The Great British Outdoors Show (packed full of family fun, demonstrations and activities), FoodFest North West (bringing you a wide variety of food vendors plus activities & tastings) and Charity Fest North West, a rock and soul music festival fundraising for 3 great charities (Cancer Research UK, British Kidney Patients Association and Help Musicians).

An added bonus element is Sky Fest – a celebration of flight featuring a spectacular giant kite display (including the famous Peter Powell Stunt Kite family who will also give kite workshops) and a Birds-of-Prey display which will take place in a central arena.

So you can celebrate an outdoor lifestyle including gardening and outdoor hobbies and crafts and then munch your way around the World Street Food Court

Great British Dog Walk at Lyme Park

facebook.com/familiescheshire

Live in the Park 2017

Arley Hall in Northwich is the stunning backdrop for the Neuromuscular Centre’s live music concert, where you can enjoy a picnic and tributes to some of the greatest acts of all time.

Bring your own picnic, chairs and

rugs, but there will be a variety of food stalls available, as well as a licenced bar.

Tribute acts you can look forward to are: Mod Revue (hits from the 60’s to early 80’s), Bob Drury as Neil Diamond, Jackie Marie as Diana Ross, and John Collins Band. There’s also a fantastic firework finale by Nemisis Pyrotechnics.

Tickets cost £22.50 for adults, £17.50 for under 16s (Under 5s go free). A family of four ticket is £70.

Tickets are available online, by calling NMC Fundraising on 01606 861733, via Arley Hall and ticketweb.co.uk

2 Families Cheshire | www.familiesonline.co.uk

with freshly prepared Italian pizza, Malaysian rending & satay, Mediterranean mezze, Spanish paella, USA hot-dogs, Mexican burritos & tacos, Indian curries and even English Hog Roast and healthy wraps washed down by Real Ale, Prosecco or Pimms – the perfect accompaniment to an exciting music programme!

Music acts include USA Mississippi Soul Man, Stars of Britain’s Got Talent, The X Factor and The Voice plus Dougie James Soul Train, George Borowski, The Clik, The Fabulous Wonderfuls, Tony Auton Band, the World’s No 1 Lionel Ritchie Tribute - Hamilton Browne, rising Soul sensation Babalola, Northern Soul star Johnny Pryers, brilliant solo acts Rebecca Whitehead and January Butler, electro-loopers Sound of Thieves, Motown crowd-pleasers Soulvation, Johnny Sax, Cancer Fundraisers Loose Change, Clare & Jennings plus more still to be announced!

Daily admission is just £10 per day (Saturday & Sunday) and £5 Monday or £20 for a 3 day ticket (saving a fiver).

Or make it a Family Weekend mini-break with a camping ticket for just £70 – Mum, Dad & 2 kids (free) in their own tent. But if you buy your tickets before 15 May, you can save an EXTRA £5 (total £10 saving) on a weekend ticket – just quote FAM1 at the checkout.

Tickets are on sale now from www.TheGreatSpringShow.com

Sign up to take part in this year’s Great British Dog Walk at Lyme Park on Saturday 13 May – and help raise funds to ensure more hearing dogs can be trained to bring life-transforming benefits to deaf children and adults.

There will be two different routes to choose from, so it’s an ideal event for dog-lovers, families, couples, independent walkers and organised walking groups.

Refreshments and entertainment will be on offer and you can also bring a picnic to enjoy after the walk.

There’s also a free special limited-edition

Great British Dog Walk doggie bandana and the opportunity to be entered into a prize draw to win a luxury Forest Holidays getaway with every event booking.

Hearing dogs transform their recipient’s lives by providing a special kind of independence, confidence and inclusion whether at home or out and about. They alert their owners to important sounds that hearing people often take for granted such as the doorbell, alarm clock and smoke alarm. Unlike a hearing ‘gadget’ a hearing dog also provides a warmth of companionship that can boost a recipient’s confidence enough to face the outside world and increase social and professional interaction thereby significantly improving health and wellbeing.

To sign-up, visit www.greatbritishdogwalk.org.

Tickets cost £10 in advance and £12 on the day. Under 16s go free.

News 30 hours free childcare

Greenhills Pre-school is pleased to announce that from September 2017 they will be offering the 30 hours Free Early Years Entitlement.

Situated in the grounds of Marlborough Primary School

(Tytherington), Greenhills is a registered charity, a member of the Pre School Learning Alliance and has been established on this site for over 30 years.

They are an Ofsted registered early years provision that follows the EYFS, and children are eligible to start the term they have their 3rd birthday. By working in close partnership with the school, the children are familiar with the environment, thus making the transition from Greenhills to school a smooth one.

Opening times are 8.30 – 11.30 and 12.30 – 3.30 with the option of staying over lunch.

For more information please contact Greenhills Pre-school on 01625 503980.

Prepare to be Amazed by Science this May half-term!

Join in the fun at the Cheshire-wide science festival with a week full of science shows for all the family!

Celebrate with a week full of science shows for all the family at lots of different attractions, from Chester Zoo to Jodrell Bank. Experiment with Ludicrous Liquids, learn the science behind making cheese, become a Mad Scientist, then discover the difference between science and magic!

Find out more at amazedbyscience.com

Families needed! Scientists and pollinators want your help…

Imagine living in a desert with barely any food, hardly any water or any place to shelter. Unfortunately, this is exactly what it is like for the pollinating insects currently living in Britain.

Loss of habitat, pesticides, and farming practices have left these insects hungry and homeless, suffering from a lack of feeding, nesting and shelter habitat. Which is why the Polli:Nation project needs your help.

Now in its second year, the Polli:Nation survey is looking for families across the UK to take part in aiding research on the health and status of pollinating insects across the UK.

The survey can be completed in under an hour in outdoor spaces such as gardens, school grounds, or local parks, and uploading your findings will contribute to important scientific research.

The survey will also help you to consider whether your area is a good environment for bees and other pollinators. It offers guidance on how you can create simple feeding and nesting habitats such as a pot of wildflowers, or nesting and shelter habitats like a bee hotel, as well as other cheap and easy ways you can improve your outdoor space for pollinators.

So get out there now, become a citizen scientist and help the pollinators in your community. Free survey resources can be downloaded at www.opalexplorenature.org/ polli-nation and results can be submitted either online or by post.

The Polli:Nation project has been developed by OPAL Imperial College London, Learning Through Landscapes, The Field Studies Council, Buglife, Butterfly Conservation, Bumblebee Conservation Trust and Centre for Ecology and Hydrology).

GoFest North 2017

Childline launches new app to offer counselling for kids

The NSPCC’s Childline service has just launched a new iPhone app to provide counselling for kids directly through their mobile phones.

The ‘For Me’ app allows kids to access Childline’s online services, including 1-2-1 live chats with a counsellor, the

‘Ask Sam’ problem pages and entrance to their private ‘lockers’ – areas where they can write down their own personal thoughts and track their moods.

It was invented by four teenagers who wanted to use technology to address the urgent need for support among young people. Childline founder Esther Rantzen said: “We know hundreds of thousands of young people use our website for help and support, with more than half those visits coming via mobile devices.

Now young people can get immediate access to our counsellors through this brilliant, innovative app.”

The App is free to download via iTunes and is designed for discreet usage.

Read more at www.childline.org.uk

GoFest is the UK’s Family Festival of sports, dance, health and fitness and is coming to Manchester on 24-25 June at some of the amazing facilities at Sportcity, including Manchester Regional Athletics Arena, Tennis & Football Centre and the pool at East Manchester Leisure Centre.

It’s a fantastic opportunity for all abilities and ages to receive some top-quality family friendly coaching in small groups from clubs like Sale Sharks, England Netball, Manchester Giants Basketball, Salford Red Devils and Lancashire County Cricket Club and many others.

Bring your family and friends along to ‘have a go’ at a huge variety of sports, dance classes and healthy activities and to have a ton of fun together!

What’s on at GoFest (all included in your ticket price): • 40+ Sports & Activities to “Have a Go” at!

• Free Family Friendly Coaching from professionals, National Governing Bodies and local sports clubs • Numerous Dance and Fitness Classes • Main Stage Entertainment • Runs, Races and Relays • Exhibition and Retail - more things to try!

• Chill out areas with free massage • Giant Screens with live Sports coverage and Entertainment • Food and drink outlets including Bars!

• Celebrity Ambassadors For more information and to buy tickets visit www.gofest.co.uk

Families Families Cheshire Cheshire | www.familiescheshire.co.uk | www.familiesonline.co.uk 3

Education 7 Ways to Make Homework Fun! 2. Magical motivators Keep homework battles at bay by using incentives to keep your child on track.

Younger children may be motivated by sticker charts, where they can pick a reward once it is full, whilst older kids may be persuaded to crack on with their work with the promise of time on the iPad. Make sure your child understands the value of developing good homework habits, rather than just receiving a reward!

‘Homework? Boooring!’ Is this a regular moan in your house? We’ve all been there! We want our children to progress and do well at school but after a long day, many youngsters will feel reluctant to sit down to get on with their homework - and no amount of nagging seems to help!

We’ve teamed up with the experts at Explore Learning to bring you seven awesome ways to make homework ACTUALLY fun.

1. Set up a fun and creative space Having a special place to do work, decorated in personalised decor, can really help children to focus. Avoid busy areas and make sure there is no other distractions, like technology or televisions. Younger children may appreciate their own artwork hung on the walls, while older children may prefer more desk space and personalised planners, so they can organise their work.

4 Families Cheshire | www.familiesonline.co.uk

3. Find a study buddy Hold a homework playdate where your child and one of their friends do their homework together. Set some rules ahead of time and reward them afterwards with an activity of their choice. Or join your child yourself and accomplish some work of your own – be it catching up on emails, paying bills or planning a holiday. Win-win!

4. Turn it into a game Turn learning into a fun game. For spellings, you could use flashcards or writing words in foam, or for maths, you could use sweets like Smarties to help visualise numbers. When they get a right answer, they get to eat some!

5. Get outside If the weather is good, why not let your child do their homework outside? The fresh air will help them concentrate after being inside a stuffy classroom all day.

Let them have a short break in between exercises, like a game of Frisbee or football.

6. Be positive Always be upbeat about school and homework and give your child bags of encouragement. Reinforce how well they are doing, write them inspiring messages and chat to family members about your child’s achievements.

7. Make it visual If your child feels overwhelmed by everything they have to do, visually being able to see their progress will help. Make a list or chart on a white board or special planner and get them to cross each task off as it is completed.

Some new pens and exciting stationary will also keep them happy!

Education Mandarin Chinese the most useful non-European language UK parents see Mandarin Chinese as the most important non-European language for their children to learn.

French, Spanish and German were still the top languages of choice but a majority of parents saw value in learning Mandarin.

More than half (56%) of those questioned in a Populus survey commissioned by the Mandarin Excellence Programme (MEP) felt that the language would open their children’s minds to an “exciting and dynamic” culture. 51% also thought that learning Mandarin Chinese would boost their kids’ future career prospects.

Mark Herbert, of the British Council, which is backing the MEP along with the

UCL Institute Of Education, said: “With the global economy becoming more interconnected and the drive to boost exports, language skills are increasingly vital for work and life.

“Mandarin Chinese is one of the languages that matter most to the UK’s future prosperity. If the UK is to remain competitive on the world stage, we need far more of our young people leaving school with a good grasp of Mandarin in order to successfully work abroad or for businesses here in the UK. Learning Mandarin is also a fascinating process that brings a valuable understanding of Chinese culture,” he added.

Walk to School Week

Join thousands of children across the country celebrating the benefits walking brings during Walk to School Week Monday 15 – Friday 19 May.

We know that walking to school makes children feel healthier and happier, while reducing congestion and pollution outside the school gates. Yet less than half of primary school children currently walk to school. Living Streets, who organise the annual event want to reverse this decline and see every child that can, walk to school.

For more information or to order a challenge pack see www.livingstreets.org.uk

Families Cheshire | www.familiesonline.co.uk 5

Parents’ place How to get the kids outside gardening

go to plan and you only get one tomato – it’s a learning process, and your kids can think about why it might not have grown and what to try next time.

Create a wildlife garden Kids love animals, bugs and creepy crawlies, and a wildlife garden can be a great way to get them outside and stuck into gardening. Plant flowers such as lavender, honeysuckle and verbena to encourage butterflies and bees in the summer. Maybe think about building a pond to encourage frogs, dragonflies and water boatmen, and let your children learn about the life cycle as they turn from frogspawn to tadpoles to baby frogs. Encourage them to learn about and identify the different creatures and how to attract them to your garden and help them to make new habitats and learn where animals live, from bug barns to hedgehog houses. Great fun!

Gardening can be a great way to get your kids playing outside, learning about nature and engaging with the environment. From the smallest seed in a pot to growing huge sunflowers in the garden, your children will love getting their hands dirty and watching their garden grow.

While we may not have the best weather here in the UK, it’s so important for kids to experience the natural world, get some vitamin D and learn some great lessons through gardening.

So how do you get them outside?

We’ve put together a few creative ways that you can encourage your children to start gardening.

Do a treasure hunt!

Every child loves hunting for treasure, and what better way to get them outside than to go on a nature hunt? You’d be surprised how many different species are in your garden - dandelions, vegetables, woodlice, earthworms. See who can find the most different animals and plants. If they don’t know what it is, help them to find out on the internet.

This is something you can keep up throughout the year, encouraging them

to observe the changing seasons and what plants grow at different times. Ask them what plants and animals they would like to see in their garden and start growing these/encouraging wildlife together.

Encourage your kids to take their favourite toys outside... ...and build miniature worlds for them.

Help them create a race course with ramps for toy cars, a jungle for their favourite animals to hide in or a fairy-tale wood for their princess dolls. Encourage them to think about what their little world looks like, and start to name the plants with them while they play.

Grow your own dinner!

There’s nothing better than eating peas straight out of the pod or picking your first strawberry, and all of these can be grown in your own garden. If you’re not hugely confident with gardening, cress is

the best place to start, and you can grow it on your window sill. It’s a great way for children to learn about how plants grow, watching seeds turn into tasty snacks. It can encourage your children to try new foods, after all – they grew it themselves, and it can add to their important 5-a-day!

It’s a great way for children to learn about the food they eat and where it comes from, and standing in the mud with a big spade is a million miles away from the supermarket, and far more fun.

Some great fruits and vegetables to grow with your little ones are carrots, tomatoes, strawberries, courgettes, salad leaves, herbs, peas and potatoes. Grandparents are great at this kind of knowledge: why not organise a trip to a garden centre with them to choose seeds and plants?

Keep an eye on the time of year and encourage your kids to read up on their plants, water them when needed, and take care of them. Don’t worry if it doesn’t

Fill your garden with colours, smells and textures Choose bright flowers like geraniums, pansies and sunflowers so your kids can enjoy making the garden more beautiful. Choose strong smelling plants like honeysuckle, or plants that make interesting noises, like bamboo rustling in the breeze. Encourage your kids to make their garden their own, and if they love it, let them loose at Grandma’s too!

Get messy!

There’s something so satisfying about getting all muddy: kids can’t resist it.

Gardening doesn’t have to be about neat rows of flowers. Let your kids dig until their hearts are content. If they can’t get enough of mess, try making bird cakes to hang from the trees, and let them watch as quietly as possible as birds come to feed. Or how about a bird feeder made out of Cheerios and pipe cleaners? Encourage your kids to get crafty in the garden, making everything from bottle top wind chimes to lolly ice stick plant markers, so they know which plant is which.

For more awesome activity ideas with the kids visit: www.familiesonline.co.uk/activities

Free health app for Cheshire East parents

The NHS Eastern Cheshire Clinical Commission Group (CCG) has joined forces with NHS South Cheshire CCG and Cheshire East Council to develop a free app for parents and carers of children aged 0 – 5.

An extension of the Choose Well campaign, which helps give people the confidence to decide when it’s safe to selfcare instead of seeing a health professional, the CATCH app (which stands for Common Approach to Children’s Health) is available for free on the App and Play Stores and provides: • NHS-approved health advice • Highly localised information about healthcare services and support groups in Cheshire East

6 Families Cheshire | www.familiesonline.co.uk

• Timely notifications about key health dates such as childhood immunisations • An interactive map of Cheshire East healthcare services such as GP surgeries, dentists and pharmacies.

The app is also highly personalised as parents can input their child’s date of birth and it will only present health information and reminders that are relevant to their child’s age.

Dr Lesley Bayliss, the CCG’s clinical

champion for children, said: “I really hope that people embrace the app and generally adopt the self-care approach where appropriate, which is not only beneficial to the patient but also eases pressure on the NHS. We want Cheshire East to be the best place in the country for children to grow up in, and this app is a great step towards achieving that goal.”

For more information on CATCH or to download it, visit catchapp.co.uk.

Parents’ place Get more out of life!

A busy family life can leave little time for you to focus on what you want to do. Racing around meeting one commitment and then another. Do you ever just take a moment to stop and think? Not many of us do but now a life and career coaching service, aimed specifically at mums, can offer just that.

Oriel Coaching helps mums work out what they want just for themselves, bridging the gap between where they are now and where they want to be.

Career Coaching: Returning from maternity leave, it’s common for us to need a confidence boost. Going for a new job can feel daunting. Finding a new career that fits around our changing priorities takes energy. Becoming your own boss can feel scary. The Career Mum package supports mums to do just this – to love work and have it fit in with family life!

Life Coaching: We look for balance and contentment. We feel there is never enough time in the day. We know we need to replenish our mind, body and soul putting on ‘our own oxygen mask first’. We want to feel confident and resilient. The Super Mum package helps mums be the best version of themselves!

As mums, we wear lots of hats (mum, wife, daughter …) and it’s easy to lose our sense of identity. Imagine if you really understood what made YOU tick and what was important to YOU … DISC personality profiling and exploring your values will give you just this – there’s no right or wrong, no good or bad.

So breathe... Oriel Coaching gives mums the headspace to clearly visualise their goals, to welcome new insights, to draw on their strengths and change beliefs that limit us to ones that empower and get us to where we want be. Get creative and positively commit to your future … and help get more out of life.

Special offers available in May/June on a limited number of confidential coaching sessions. To find out more, visit www.orielcoaching.co.uk, e-mail oriel@orielcoaching.co.uk or call Oriel on 07960 855646.

Families Cheshire | www.familiesonline.co.uk 7

Parents’ place The importance of sleep for children

As adults, we are more than aware of how important a good night’s sleep is – we need it for balance, mood stability and to enhance brain function.

And anyone who has children will concur that getting a full night’s sleep is essential to combat temper tantrums and tiredness, which can be traumatic for toddlers. Experts from the NHS think that as much as we should prioritise healthy eating and exercise, we should also be ensuring children get around nine hours of solid slumber nightly, to improve their learning.

Particularly when they are young and acquiring knowledge on everything as they begin to shape and understand the world around them, children need a requisite amount

of sleep to boost retaining information and help embed knowledge from throughout the day. Ultimately, our brains need rest overnight to allow us to absorb information better, and this is even more important for young minds.

So how much sleep should they be getting?

The NHS’ guidelines for optimum sleep time for different age groups have been collected by the Millpond Children’s Sleep Clinic. These are: Between the ages of 4 and 16, children should be sleeping through the night for 11 hours, which gradually goes down to about 9 at 14, with 15-minute decrements over the time space.

Why is sleep so important?

We only need to look at some of the poor decisions or small mistakes we have made ourselves when we are tired, and we can begin to understand the importance of sleep. How many times have you started something which you then struggled to finish, simply because of the impact tiredness has on judgement and motivation? When coupled with the vital rest time for busy, sponge-like brains, getting adequate sleep makes a lot of sense. Whether it’s through using sleep aids or planning a meticulous routine, there are several ways

to ensure your children are reaching the requisite sleep hours for their age group.

So, how can you encourage them to sleep?

Essentially, fostering a good sleeping habit is much easier with young children than teenagers, who know how to fight back! Laying the right foundations when they are young, and encouraging them to see sleep as a part of healthy living should make maintaining it, even when they have discovered the joys of socialising, much more straightforward.

Routine, routine, routine Whilst they try to convince themselves and their parents otherwise, children thrive on routine, and our brains learn when to start shutting down and getting the all-important rest they need. Trying as best you can to instil a routine of preparing for and going to bed at the same time every night will help your child, no matter what age they are.

This includes brushing teeth and getting pyjamas on at a certain time, which starts to surreptitiously prepare the brain for sleepy time. Getting them settled into a routine means preparing the brain for its rest period.

Limit the technology For many people, the evening routine relies on technology. Be it smartphones, tablets or television, we all, including our children, use devices to unwind with at night. However, these bits of tech are actually stimuli, which make the going to bed routine harder to implement.

After dinner, try enjoying some conversation or a board game to encourage them to chat about their day and also allow the brain some all-important decompression time.

Where possible, discourage them from having TV or gadgets in the bedroom at all, as these can be used as a distraction.

In fact, making sure that the bedroom is most closely associated with sleep is a better way to negotiate this obstacle – which means keeping it tidy and clutter-free.

The importance of light Whether it’s through blackout curtains or nightlights, achieving the correct balance of light in your child’s room is key to ensuring consistency in their sleep pattern. Invest in some heavy duty curtains so that whether winter or summer, their room is dark, and use a little nightlight for a subtle glow that helps orientate them if they do wake up in the night.

Summer Book selection from Ed’s Reading Room Here are Ed’s latest reviews for some great summer reads. You can download the specially written reading activities for these books and buy the books online at www.EdontheWeb.com.

Ages 5 – 7 years

Ages 7+

Cowboy Pug: The Dog Who Rode for Glory by Laura James (Bloomsbury £5.99) Pug and Lady Miranda are saddled up ready for an exciting adventure. There are plenty of fun things in store for them like the county fair and candyfloss but they also have to deal with the runaway train, a water jump and even bandits. When Lady Miranda gets into trouble will she be able to smooth things over with the police officer and will Pug be able to earn his spurs?

This is part of a super new series with very funny illustrations. It is a great story for newly confident readers, boys and girls alike.

Jinks & O’Hare: Funfair Repair by Philip Reeve and Sarah McIntyre (Oxford £8.99) Jinks and O’Hare are the repair team at Funfair Moon that boasts the highest helter-skelter and the scariest ghost train in the universe.

Emily loves helping them and as her school, the Learny-Go-Round, is open only every other day she has plenty of time. But when the Funfair Inspector arrives everything seems to go wrong and chaos ensues. It seems someone is sabotaging the funfair. Will the whole fair spin out of control and be shut down? Or will Emily’s dream of becoming a funfair repairer come true?

Here is another fantastic book from this wonderful writer and illustrator partnership. It is fast-moving, funny and entertaining – a rollercoaster of a story.

Evie’s Magic Bracelet: The Silver Unicorn by Jessica Ennis-Hill (Hodder £5.99) Evie is settling into her new home. The day she starts her new school, she receives a gift from Grandma Iris in Jamaica – a beautiful bracelet with a message. ‘Have a magical time!’ Evie is amazed when she understands what the seagulls and the animals at the city farm are saying. She gradually realises this all started when she put on the bracelet from Grandma Iris. She hopes her magic ability will keep the sprites at bay during the children’s paper chase and she hopes to help the silver unicorn out of his trouble.

This is a warm-hearted story with lovely illustrations. It is ideal for children reading on their own or reading together.

The Jamie Drake Equation by Christopher Edge (Nosy Crow £6.99) Imagine your father was an astronaut! It would be so exciting especially when he is orbiting the Earth in the International Space Station.

Jamie’s dad is an astronaut and, although at first he thinks it’s really cool that his father will be doing a spacewalk, he is actually just missing him being at home. When parts of the family solar system start to shake, Jamie becomes very worried. And when Jamie picks up a strange signal on his mobile, things start to get really complicated. Can Jamie prove that he’s a hero too?

This is a very exciting story that is brilliantly written. If you’ve ever wondered what’s out there with the stars, you will find this book a real page-turner.

For more amazing books for your kids, visit www.familiesonline.co.uk/bookclub

8 Families Cheshire | www.familiesonline.co.uk

Parties children discover the puppets, bubbles, teddies, games and activities all hidden in a treasure box.

Juniors parties designed for 5, 6 & 7 year olds. Crazy dancing to the latest Jabberjacks tracks, Wacky Games, Funky prizes and Looking for a unique and special party party bags! Jabberjacks provides a that will keep the children and parents hassle free party package! If you would talking for weeks? like to know more, simply visit www.

Playmates parties especially for 2, 3 jabberjacks.co.uk/chester or contact & 4 year olds. Be amazed as the Wendy on 07519 238263.

Families Cheshire | www.familiesonline.co.uk 9

Clubs, classes & holiday camps British summer camps for kids

A long-established tradition in the USA, summer camps are now readily available across the UK for all ages.

British parents have found that packing their youngsters off for a few days or weeks of stimulation and entertainment is the perfect answer to the annual conundrum: “what will the kids do with their long summer break?” For working parents, the concept is a godsend. The great news is that the children love it too.

Although sport and adventure are heavily featured, not all camps cater to active mini-athletes. For the less boisterous, there are art and academic options, technology and

performing arts. If your child loves dancing, motorbiking, film-making or computing, there is bound to be a camp to suit and build their skills, and they vary in length from one-off days to several residential weeks.

Finding one that suits you A good place to research all the activities on offer, from archery to zorbing, is the British Activities Providers Association, which lists and gives accreditation to over 100 summer camps in the UK and Europe. Two well-known British providers are Outward Bound and the Youth Hostel Association. The Outward Bound Trust caters to 11-19 year olds in residential camps, and the YHA holds themed camps for 10-19 years with accommodation in their own hostels. Younger children are accepted by xkeys.co.uk from 6 years, and at ATE from 8 years. Fun might include scuba diving, football or quad biking.

The so-called “Bear Grylls effect” has led to a lot of kids (and their parents) enjoying the idea of learning survival skills and coping with the great outdoors. Over-10s can bivouac under the stars in the Lake District, and coasteering, bush tracking, den-building and bonfires are all popular. If your 9 – 15 year old is an adrenalin junkie, they will relish the cliff jumping and sea swimming at the Isle of Man Venture Centre.

Day camps are great too Not all kids are comfortable with the prospect of being away from home and this is where day camps are ideal. Super Camps (ages 4 – 14) offer multi-activity programmes, and Fire Tech (for ages 9 – 14) covers subjects such as video game development and mobile app design.

Learning a new language is also a popular camp choice, and some parents elect to fly their children overseas to brush up on their French, German or Spanish. It’s even possible to go to Shanghai or Beijing and learn mandarin.

Many local high schools also host camps during the summer break, as do local theatre and dance schools.

Of course, hanging from zip wires, pushing the boundaries of courage and competence and trying new things will always be top reasons to consider a summer camp, and companies like PGL, like to combine activities for their teens and tweens. Creativity and adventure can go hand-in-hand on their seven day courses with mornings spent fencing and evenings doing photography.

Cost is obviously a consideration for most families, especially when they have more than one child to pay for. Many companies offer Childcare Vouchers and in addition, they give discounts for multiple or early bookings.

Some even offer scholarships or reduced rates for special circumstances.

The benefit of going off to camp for the average child is the phenomenal boost to their self-esteem and independence. It can be a little daunting for parents to let them go off on their own, knowing they will not be there to soothe and reassure should anything go wrong.

However, this is just the character-building part of the experience which allows children to flourish and find their own confidence. Most camps will team younger children with an older “mentor” who will keep a special eye on them, and provide that all-important cuddle if necessary. Tempting though it may be to call and check on them all the time, it really is better to restrict contact, and encourage your child to have a positive attitude to being away.

If considering a summer camp, involve your child in the selection process, so that they know what to expect, and have input into the choice. You can tailor this process to support your child’s personality, for example, a shy child may be happier in a smaller group.

Ultimately, with the right preparation, a summer camp is the ideal way for your child to spend their time during that long summer holiday. Spend some time selecting, look at each camp’s suitability, and be excited for your child for one of the most life-enriching experiences out there.

For more information about clubs and classes visit: www.familiesonline.co.uk

A Summer School with Razzamataz!

Summer is nearly here! Looking for some fun activities for your little one during the summer holidays?

Look no further!

Razzamataz Chester is running a very exciting summer school for 4–18 year olds, inspired by the hit film ‘Beauty and the Beast’. Taking place at Mollington Village Hall, Chester from Wednesday 16 – Friday 18 August, the workshop will include singing, dancing, drama, arts and crafts, fun games and a performance on the final day for parents to watch! Every child will also receive a

10 Families Cheshire | www.familiesonline.co.uk

certificate for being a part of this special summer school and it’s a great way to make new friends and keep your child occupied! Razzamataz also offers an amazing 50% sibling discount on your second child or your third child goes free!! Limited spaces are available so book now to avoid disappointment.

Also, if you’d like some more information about Razzamataz’ Saturday school please call Chloe on 07514 624222 or email chester@razzamataz.co.uk. www.chester.razzamataz.co.uk

Clubs, classes & holiday camps Fabulous fitness offer from Brio Leisure Brio Leisure has the perfect new fitness venture for the juniors to keep them busy this summer! If they join now, they get membership for May AND June for just £12!

This gives them access to all 8 Brio centres – Christleton Sports Centre, Ellesmere Port Sports Village, Frodsham Leisure Centre, Neston Recreation Centre, Northgate Arena (Chester), Northwich Memorial Court, Rudheath Leisure Centre and Winsford Lifestyle Centre.

So you can enjoy 8 gyms, 6 pools, off-peak racquet sports and junior fitness classes. And parents - you can get all the above and more for just £20! www.brioleisure.org/summer

CLUBS & CLASSES CLASSIFIEDS Kumon Kumon’s unique programmes complement the school curriculum and provide far more than just maths or English tuition. They cater for your child’s individual needs, allowing them to study at a rate that is just right for them and eventually to take responsibility for their own learning.

Helsby & Frodshan – Karen: 01565 734478 Knutsford – Sue: 01565 621142 Nantwich – Sarah: 01270 780810 Northwich – Amanda: 01606 76468 Wilmslow – Ian: 01625 532529 www.kumon.co.uk​

Jabberjacks A fun activity pre-school class which helps develop social and physical skills for children aged between 6 months and 4 years. Using a unique combination of puppets and music, against a backdrop of drama and play, we ensure all activities delivered in our classes are stimulating and interactive, supporting EYFS. Whilst playing and having fun, children: Engage their senses / Explore their imagination / Develop co-ordination skills / Socialise and communicate with confidence / learn to listen and follow direction / Experience caring and sharing!

To find out more or book a place (Chester, Northwich & Winsford) contact wendy@jabberjacks.co.uk or call 07519 238263

Families Cheshire | www.familiesonline.co.uk 11

What’s on Daily during May & June

Gruffalo Spotters Trail Delamere Forest, Northwich Bring the Gruffalo and other characters to life at Delamere Forest with the brand new 3km / 1,8mile Gruffalo Spotters trail and exciting augmented reality app which you can download at home. Along the trail look out for clues which lead to footprint marker posts – point the app at these and watch Mouse, Fox, Owl, Snake and the Gruffalo appear before your eyes! Aimed at younger children, but fun for the whole family. Gruffalo Activity Kit also available to buy at the café. 0300 067 4340 / www.forestry.gov.uk/gruffalo

Not all event information is available at the time of going to press – so make sure you visit our NEW website which is full of fabulous LOCAL content and being constantly updated. www.familiesonline.co.uk

The Lion Salt Works, Northwich Salt Sunday 2pm. A family friendly, interactive day of art, science, music and history. 01606 275040 / www.lionsaltworks.westcheshiremuseums.co.uk

Sat 13 May

Hare Hill, Over Alderley Ranger Skills Day 11am – 3.30pm / Free but normal admission applies Try your hand at outdoor cooking, learn about ropework and knot tying, have a go at tree climbing, and take a look at the range of kit the Rangers use. www.nationaltrust.org.uk

Blakemere Village, Northwich Find Polly’s Piglets 10am – 5pm / Activity pack £3. Help Polly find all her piglets with this great treasure hunt around Blakemere Village. 01606 883261 / www.blakemerevillage.com

Lyme Park, Disley The Great British Dog Walk 10am & 11am / Adults £10, under 16s & dogs free A charity walk for all dog lovers to support Hearing Dogs for Deaf People. Lots of fun activities for adults and children! www.hearingdogs.org.uk

Sat 6 May

Witton Church Walk CofE Primary School, Northwich May Fayre 10am – 1.30pm 01606 43128 / www.wittonchurchwalk.co.uk

Tegg’s Nose Country Park Intro to Foraging with James Wood 10am – 1pm / Adult £10 (1 free child u16, additional children £5), booking essential. Learn more about wild food and the wild plants growing around us. Cost includes five pre-made tasters and wild tea. 07999 992615 / www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/rangers Chester Cathedral Grand Concert fundraising for Help the Heroes 7.30pm / £15 & £20. Trelawnyd Male Voice Choir with Dishforth Military Wives Choir.

01244 500959 / visitwww.chestercathedral.com Dunham Massey, Altrincham Special Guided Walk - Family Wildlife 11am – 1pm / All ages / Free, but limited availability and normal admission applies. Bring all the family to discover Dunham’s deer and other wildlife on an accessible walk around the park. 0161 941 1025 / www.nationaltrust.org.uk/dunham-massey The Senior Citizens Hall, Macclesfield Cheeki Monkeys Big Baby & Children’s Market 12 – 2pm / Adult £1, child free. An indoor market selling pre-loved clothes and toys for little ones, as well as products from family focussed crafters and businesses.

Refreshments, Buggy/Pushchair friendly/disabled access, Children’s entertainment. Cash only (no cash machine on site). 07934 207862 / www.cheekimonkeys.co.uk

Sun 7 May

Sandbach Town Hall Baby & Children’s Market 10 – 11.30am / Adult £1, Children free / Free parking. Lots of stalls selling excellent quality nearly new baby & children’s items from birth to 8 years plus a small selection of unique businesses in the baby & children’s industry showcasing and selling their products & service. ATM service next to venue. Stall bookings now being taken. 07946 513404 / heather@babyandchildrensmarket.co.uk / www.babyandchildrensmarket.co.uk

Sun 7 May

Tegg’s Nose Country Park Fun Dog Show and Dog Behaviour Clinic with Vic Barlow, the Dogfather 10am – 2pm / £1 per class entry. 12 classes: Prettiest Bitch, Most Handsome Dog, Best Rescue Dog/Bitch, Dog with Most Appealing Eyes and Dog Judge would most like to take home. 07590 560012 / www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/rangers The Grange School, Northwich Northwich and District NCT Nearly New Sale 1.30 – 3pm. Pick up a bargain with this popular nearly new sale. Free parking. www.facebook.com/northwichnctnns

Oulton Park Circuit, Little Budworth Bubble Rush 2017 12pm & 1.30pm / Adult £20, Child £10 (or free if you raise over £100 in sponsorship). A family-friendly 5km fun-run with live entertainment.

01606 555815 / www.stlukes-hospice.co.uk Vickersway Park, Winsford Peppa Pig’s Muddy Puddle Walk 10.30am. Join the gang from Tots Play on a Muddy Puddle Walk to raise money for Save the Children.

Just bring your wellies and donations. www.totsplay.co.uk/northwich Quarry Bank Mill, Styal Storytelling and Play session 9.30am, 10.15am, 11am / Free but advance booking essential. A special storytelling and play session for babies and toddlers. 01625 527468 / www.nationaltrust.org.uk/quarry-bank Northwich Town Centre Northwich Artisan Market 10am – 4pm. Over 100 of the very finest artisan market traders lining the main shopping avenue Witton Street.

Including Teen Market – local teenagers selling their handmade gifts and crafts in their own area of the market. www.themarketco.co.uk/markets/ northwich-artisan-market

Sat 13 & Sun 14 May

Albert Square, Manchester, M2 5DB, Góbéfest 11am – 11pm. The Uk’s first Transylvanian Hungarian festival of arts and culture – with music, dance and food. Free family friendly activities running 11.30am – 8pm both days, including puppet shows, folk art workshops, a traditional Hungarian dancehouse for children, zither workshops, folk singing sessions and crafts activities. www.gobefest.com Tatton Park, Knutsford The Tatton Park Country Show 10am – 5pm / Adult £9.50, Child (5 – 16) £4, Family £25.

Something for everyone with all day entertainment (Jousting, Stunt Bikes, Dog Training, Living History, Birds of Prey, Goat Show, Children’s petting pens, magic show, arts, crafts, gifts and food). Enter your pooch in the Companion Dog Show (proceeds to Marie Curie). www.oakleighfairs.co.uk

Sun 14 May

Reaseheath College, nr Nantwich Reaseheath Family Festival 10am / Adult £5, Child (3 – 15) & concessions £4 / Family (2+3) £15, Under 3s free. A fantastic day out with headline acts including Binbot, the walking and talking giant robot, and Team Extreme, a display team of the UK’s top BMXers and skateboarders. Loads of entertainment throughout the day.

01270 625131 / www.reaseheath.ac.uk

12 Families Cheshire | www.familiesonline.co.uk

Cholmondeley Castle, nr Malpas Punch and Judy 1pm & 3pm / Adult: £7, Child £4. An old family favourite, Professor Humo’s Punch & Judy returns with two half hour performances at the Tea Room to enthral children young and old. www.cholmondeleycastle.com Bramall Park Duck Race 17 11am / £1 per duck race entry. Lots of races, entertainment, music and dancing. 2 free duck busses throughout the day between Bramhall Village and the park, Hazel Grove HS and Stockport Rugby Club. Free entry. www.bwrotary.org

Thurs 18 May

Staircase House, Stockport Staircase Special 5 – 9.30pm / All ages / £3, Under 16s £2.50, drop in. Take advantage of this rare opportunity to take a peek and be captivated by an atmospheric evening trip around Staircase House, with tour rooms dating from the 15th century upwards. www.stockport.gov.uk/museums

Sat 20 May

Eaton Bank Academy, Congleton Cheeki Monkeys Big Baby & Children’s Market 10am – 12.30pm / Adult £1, child free. An indoor market selling pre-loved clothes and toys for little ones, as well as products from family focussed crafters and businesses. Thousands of bargains from as little as 10p! Children’s entertainment, refreshments available and plenty of free parking. Cash sales only. FREE goody bags to the first 100 buyers through the door! nicola1.cheekimonkeys@gmail.com www.facebook.com/cheekimonkeys.congleton.3

Sat 20 May

Barony Sports Complex, Nantwich UK Kids Fun Duathlon Cheshire 12 – 3.30pm / £20. Achievable distances for all abilities of 5-16 year olds. Grass cycle & run course, spectator friendly and relaxed atmosphere, kids play area, food, refreshments, parking. Finisher’s medal, individual and relay team options. www.uktriathlon.co.uk/uk-kids/uk-kids-funcheshire-duathlon Tatton Park, Knutsford Radical Run Ages 5 - 14. 3km, fun obstacles, 100s of excited kids and happy adults! www.radicalrun.co.uk The Park, Ryleys Lane, Alderley Edge May Fair 2017 11am – 10pm / Free entry. Village Parade, Arena Events, Live Music, Dog Show, Fancy Dress, Funfair, Circus, Artisan Market Stalls, Freshly Cooked Food, Licensed Bar. www.alderleyedgefair.com Glebe Farm, Astbury Astbury May Day www.astburychurch.org.uk Little Moreton Hall, Congleton Tudor All Nighter 6 – 9pm / All ages / Adult £10, Child £5, Overnight camping £40 (includes admission for 2 adults, 2 children), booking essential. A new family experience exploring the sleep rituals of the Tudors. This is the first opportunity to experience Little Moreton Hall in the evening and the following morning and a chance to camp overnight too (not compulsory). Ticket prices include a cold Tudor breakfast.

01260 272018 / www.nationaltrust.org.uk/little-moreton-hall

Sun 21 May

Queen’s Park High School, Handbridge, Chester Baby & Children’s Market 10 – 11.30am / Adult £1, Children free / Free parking Lots of stalls selling excellent quality nearly new baby & children’s items from birth to 8 years plus a small selection of unique businesses in the baby & children’s industry showcasing and selling their products & service. No ATM service on site – please bring cash. Stall bookings now being taken.

07946 513404 / heather@babyandchildrensmarket.co.uk / www.babyandchildrensmarket.co.uk

Sun 21 May

Helly Hansen Watersports Centre, Salford Quays The Salford Dragon Boat Festival 10am – 4pm. www.sdbf.co.uk Cheadle Hulme Methodist Church Mum2mum Market Nearly New Sale 1.30 – 3.30pm / £2 admission. Buy or sell nearly new or new baby and children’s clothes as well as maternity clothes, prams, cots, stairgates, car seats, books, toys and many more. Hire a stall and keep 100% of your takings. www.mum2mummarket.co.uk Newgate Nature Reserve, Wilmslow Wild Food Walkabout – Newgate Nature Reserve 10 – 11.30am / Age 6+ / £4 (under 16s free), booking essential. An easy stroll looking for edible treats 01625 374790 / www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/rangers

Sun 21 May & Sun 25 June

The Carrs Park, Wilmslow Balsam Blitz 2 – 4pm / Free. Help us out on the battle against the alien weeds! No experience needed. Long sleeves and trousers recommended (Gloves can be provided if necessary). Children must be accompanied.

01625 374790 / www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/rangers

Wed 24 May

Rookery Wood, Crewe Crewe BizMums Launch Join local women in business to share what you do and make some new connections. Children are welcome.

A short talk about Money, and the opportunity to ask any questions you may have after. Members and First time guests FREE, returning guests £6 (payable upon registration). Register before attending. Memberships available at www.bizmums.biz

Sat 27 May

Tegg’s Nose Country Park Environmental Art 10am – 4pm / All ages & abilities (under 12s must be accompanied / £22, booking essential. A fun and interactive session looking at all things art.

01625 573615 / www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/rangers Chester Racecourse Roman Day 2017 A fun day with a Roman theme. Lots of Roman themed activities for all the family and plenty to see and do; plus non stop racing action. Have your picture taken with authentic legions in Roman clothing and equipment.

01244 304600 / www.chester-races.co.uk

Sat 27 – Mon 29 May

The Royal Cheshire Show Ground, Tabley The Great 3-in-1 Spring Show A fabulous family weekend with loads of entertainment, food, shopping and music. KIDS GO FREE. www.TheGreatSpringShow.com Arley Hall, Northwich Geronimo 10am – 9.30pm daily. The UK’s largest children’s festival with over 130 activities. www.geronimofest.com

What’s on

These listings are for guidance only – please check before you go To include your upcoming event in our listings, email events@familiescheshire.co.uk or upload your event listing to our website - www.familiesonline.co.uk

Sat 27 May – Fri 2 June

Jodrell Bank Bee Backpacks Trail 10am – 5pm / All ages / Normal admission + £20 refundable deposit. Explore the life of a bee as you make your way around the gardens carrying out bee-themed activities on your journey. Children must be accompanied. Part of the Amazed by Science festival. www.amazedbyscience.com

Sat 27 May – Sun 11 June

Stockport Museum Half Term Crafty Makes Ages 3 – 11 / £1 craft pack, drop in. Pick up a craft bag and find a celebration of spring for you to make.

Decorate your tree or create a bird’s nest collage. www.stockport.gov.uk/museums

Sat 27 & Sun 28 May

Tatton Park, Knutsford Sheep shearing at the Farm 1.30pm / Normal charges apply. Local sheep shearer David Norcott will be shearing some of the flock daily, 01625 374400 / www.tattonpark.org.uk

Sun 28 May

Hat Works, Stockport Super Sunday - All About Hats!

11am – 4pm / All ages / £2 (under 2s free), drop in. A fun day for the family. Make a hat, hear stories about hats, see our amazing hats and be part of a hat fashion parade!

0161 474 2399 / www.stockport.gov.uk/museums Eaton Estate, Eccleston, CH4 9ET Eaton Hall Gardens Charity Open Day 10.30am – 5pm / Adult £8, Child 2, Family £18 (Cash only). Raising funds for local charities.

01244 684400 / www.eatonestate.co.uk

Sun 28 & Mon 29 May

Lion Salt Works, Northwich What Have the Romans Ever Done for Us? 10.30am. A family friendly look at the life of a Roman soldier. 01606 275040 / www.lionsaltworks.westcheshiremuseums.co.uk Beeston Castle, Beeston Joust!

11am – 5pm / All ages / Normal admission applies Step back to the 13th century and experience a spectacle of speed and skill as knights on horseback clash head on in a mighty contest. Choose your champion and see who is victorious in this colourful display of chivalry and courage. Watch as birds of prey soar high above the action below in a dazzling falconry display. Laugh at the mischievous jester while your budding knights put their skills to the test in junior jousting and have-a-go archery. www.english-heritage.org.uk

Mon 29 May

Parrs Wood High School Sports Centre, Didsbury Children’s Multi-Activity Fun Day 10am – 5pm / £9.50 (covers all activities), Adults and under 3s free. An exciting children’s fun day with a mixture of indoor and outdoor activities so no need to worry about the weather.

Indoors: Electric Go Karts, Giant Obstacle Course, Massive Slide, Bouncy Castle, Whizz Wheels, Sporting activities Outdoors: Battlefield Live Combat Game, BodyZorbing, Sporting activities. Drinks and snacks available. www.go-kiddy-karts.co.uk/fun_day St Johns Church Centre, Hartford Make, Taste and See Holiday activity session 10am – 12pm. Craft, cake and film clips. Drop in anytime. 01606 8772255 / www.stjohnshartford.org

Mon 29 May – Fri 2 June

Quarry Bank Mill, Styal The Worst Children’s Jobs job shop 11am – 4pm / Free but normal admission applies Answer the interactive quiz and find out whether you’d be a cheery chimney sweep or a magnificent mole catcher. Don’t get fired! Follow the interactive family trail around Quarry Bank to test your mettle against some of the most exhausting, dirtiest and disgusting jobs in all of history. 01625 527468 / www.nationaltrust.org.uk/quarry-bank

Catalyst, Widnes Ludicrous Liquids 11am & 2pm / Age 5 -1 0 / Admission charge + £1.25 pp for workshop. Experiment with interesting and surprising liquids. How many colours can you get in your rainbow straw, and can you make a lava lamp?

Fantastic Plastic 12pm & 3pm / Age 5 – 16 / Admission charge + £1.25 pp for workshop. Experiment with an amazing plastic material before making it into a key ring to take home. Tickets for workshops sold on arrival only, places limited. Part of the Amazed by Science festival. www.amazedbyscience.com Chester Zoo Nutrition Science at the Zoo 10 – 11.30am / All ages / Free, normal admission applies.

Creating diets for our unique animals is an importance science. Compare different animals and work out what nutrition they need. Demo is free to attend and takes place on a drop-in basis. Part of the Amazed by Science festival. www.amazedbyscience.com Tatton Park Be Amazed by Science!

Trails during opening hours, Farm workshops 2pm / Free, but normal admission applies. Discover the secrets of science and technology in the Mansion, Gardens and Farm this May half term. Spotting trails around the Mansion and Gardens daily, with a workshop at the Farm. Part of Amazed by Science festival.

Tues 30 May: Diets and Digestion Wed 31 May: Challenge the Root Chopper Thurs 1 June: Weights and Measures Fri 2 June: The Science of Butter & Cheese Making 01625 374400 / www.tattonpark.org.uk Jodrell Bank Cheshire Beekeepers Stand and Observation Hive 10am – 5pm / All ages / Free, normal admission applies. A chance to talk to real Beekeepers and learn about the ancient craft of Beekeeping and the wonderful life of the honeybee. See live bees up close in an observation hive and find out how to encourage bee friendly habitats. Part of the Amazed

by Science festival. www.amazedbyscience.com

Mon 29 May – Sun 4 June

Little Moreton Hall, Congleton Dreamtime Tudor style 11am – 5pm / All ages / Free, normal admission applies. Explore your dreams and discover dreamtime in our new dream tent designed by Wild Rumpus. Part of the ‘How we used to sleep’ project.

01260 272018 / www.nationaltrust.org.uk/little-moreton-hall

Grosvenor Museum, Chester Art Puzzle 2 – 4pm / Ages 5 – 12, £1.50. Enjoy the museum’s fabulous collection of paintings. Take a closer look at the detail in one of them and help us to re-create it piece by piece, in the form of a giant puzzle. Then follow our art trail to discover our collection in even more depth. 01244 972197 / www.grosvenormuseum. westcheshiremuseums.co.uk Delamere Forest Family Forest Fun 10am – 2pm / Age 3+ / £2.20. A day in the forest for families, with lots of self-led activities to take part in all based on free play. We will stop for half an hour lunch, please bring a rug and a packed lunch as we will be eating on the forest floor. We will gather together at the end of the session for a fire toasting marshmallows.

07808 506308 / www.forest-explorers.co.uk

Tues 30 May – Thurs 1 June

Hat Works, Stockport Half Term Fun 2 – 4pm / all ages / £5, booking advised. Lots of different activities for all ages to try out, from decoupage to felt making, and marbling to quilling.

Limited places.

0161 474 2399 / stockport.gov.uk/museums

Tues 30 & Wed 31 May

Lion Salt Works, Northwich Amazed by Science Festival 10.30am. A family friendly Science Festival where you can embrace your inner Mad Scientist. www.lionsaltworks.westcheshiremuseums.co.uk

Tues 30 May – Fri 2 June

Jodrell Bank Siemens Pods 10am – 5pm / All ages / Free, normal admission applies.

Learn, explore and experience science, technology, engineering and maths in action with Siemens’ interactive online games. Activities vary from testing your skills to keep cars rolling off a production line, putting a human skeleton together correctly, to choosing the right energy solutions to keep an island running!

Children must be accompanied.

Is it Science or Magic?

10.30am, 11.30am, 12.30pm & 2.30pm / All ages / Free (normal admission applies). A live science show full of fun experiments, interactive demonstrations, and even the occasional explosion. Great for all budding young scientists (and magicians!).

Under 5s Storytime 11am / under 5s (accompanied) / Free (normal admission applies). A story telling session that’s science themed, fun and interactive.

Meet the Expert 1.30pm / Age 7+ / Free (normal admission applies) Meet one of the resident science and astronomy experts.

Find out about their work and ask the questions you’ve always wanted the answers to.

Live Beekeeping Demonstrations 2pm / All ages / Free, normal admission applies.

Closely view the hive inspections from behind the netted screen of Jodrell Bank’s very own Apiary. Our Beekeepers will talk through what they’re looking for and how the colony is doing as well as answer any questions after the show. Children must be accompanied. All these events are part of Amazed by Science, a Cheshire-wide family festival that promotes and celebrates science, technology and engineering. www.amazedbyscience.com Dunham Massey, Altrincham Outdoor Adventures 12 – 4pm / All ages / Free, normal admission applies. Find some fun outdoor adventures for all the family this half term. Get closer to nature and tick off some ‘50 things to do before you’re 11 ¾’ along the way. 0161 941 1025 / www.nationaltrust.org.uk/dunham-massey Tegg’s Nose Country Park Visitor Centre / Rudyard Lake Moorland Adventure May Half-Term Kids Activity Club 8.30 – 5pm / Ages 8 -16 / £35 per day or £120 for 4 days, booking essential. A great way to experience some varied exciting activities in the countryside with local experts.

Day 1 – Archery and Orienteering Day 2 – Climb and Abseil Day 3 –Canoe / Kayak & raft building at Rudyard Lake (must be water confident) Day 4 –Challenge Day (Abseiling, Climbing, Orienteering and Problem Solving) 01625 573615 / www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/rangers

Wed 31 May

Tatton Park, Knutsford A Day in the Life of a Victorian Servant 10.30am – 12.30pm / Ages 7 – 11 / £12, booking essential. Step back in time and experience the harsh reality of life below stairs.

01625 374428 / www.tattonpark.org.uk Bramall Hall Patterns & Printing 2pm & 3pm / All ages / £4, booking essential. Be inspired by the patterns and shapes in the Hall and sketch a design to create a press print to take home.

0161 474 2020 / stockport.gov.uk/museums

Tues 30 May

Tatton Park, Knutsford Cycling Boredom Busters 10am – 1.30pm / Age 8+ / £12, booking essential Fundamentals of off-road skills, exploring ‘out of bounds’ farmland trails and woodland single-track.

Medals and certificates for special achievements will be awarded at the finish. A basic bike safety check is included for each child. Please bring a packed lunch.

Own bike and cycling helmet is compulsory.

01625 374428 / www.tattonpark.org.uk NT Yard, Alderley Edge Down the Mines!

7 – 9.30pm / Age 6+ (accompanied) / £7.50. Join Derbyshire Caving Club for a trip down the old copper mines of Alderley Edge. Helmets with lamps provided.

01625 374833 / www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/rangers West Park Museum, Macclesfield Panda Bear’s Picnic!

2 – 4pm / All ages / £3 per activity pack, drop in Celebrate Macc Panda’s return to West Park Museum and make your own panda mask. Bring your own snacks along to have a panda bears’ picnic in the Park! Macclesfield Town Council are also holding fun activities in West Park.

01625 665010 / www.macclesfieldmuseums.co.uk

Families Cheshire | www.familiesonline.co.uk 13

What’s on The Old Sunday School, Macclesfield All Boxed Up 1.30 – 9.30pm / All ages / £3 per activity pack, drop in Join in some ‘box magic’ and turn a small box into something ‘fantabulous’ to store your treasures in.

01625 665010 / www.macclesfieldmuseums.co.uk Anderton Boat Lift, Northwich Engineering Experiments with Cranes & Lifts 11am – 3pm / Ages 5 – 16 / Free, drop in. Learn all about canal cranes and experiment with gears by having a go at building a working mini crane. Understand how hydraulics work by experimenting using our kits, which will help you see the amazing power of hydraulics and understand the principles behind the Anderton Boat Lift. Part of Amazed By Science 01606 786 777 / www.amazedbyscience.co.uk Grosvenor Museum, Chester Light and Shade Craft Day 11am – 1pm & 2 – 4pm / Age 5 – 12/ £1.50, drop-in.

Make a range of crafts and discover how Light and Shade can change the way we see things.

01244 972197 / www.grosvenormuseum. westcheshiremuseums.co.uk Weaver Hall Museum and Workhouse Kites 10am – 4pm / All ages / £1.50, drop in. Make a kite and take on our kite challenge in the museum grounds.

01606 271640 / www.weaverhall.westcheshiremuseums.co.uk

Thurs 1 June

Crewe Lifestyle Centre Library Mad Science Pop Up Labs 10am – 1pm / Age 3 – 14 / Free, drop in. Light and Energy funstation – use our power peddlers to generate enough electricity to power our plasma balls, and the nature of fluorescence and phosphorescence are unveiled in a black light demonstration! Slime Zone funstation – find out all about polymers and their uses in this ooey gooey science class, and take home your very own pot of slime! Part of the Amazed by Science festival. www.amazedbyscience.com Norton Priory, Runcorn Wildlife Discovery Workshop: Nocturnal Animals 10am – 2pm / Age 5 – 10 / £10 (accompanying adult free, includes museum entry). Investigate owl pellets, have a close up look at moths, and make a bat box for your garden. Bring a picnic lunch and remember to wear appropriate clothing and footwear.

Part of the Amazed by Science festival. www.amazedbyscience.com Bramall Hall The Beasts of Bramall Hall 10am, 1pm & 3pm / Ages 3 – 6 / £5 (1 free accompanying adult). A magical tour of the Hall for our younger visitors. Listen to stories based on the creatures found here and find the Red Dragon.

0161 474 2399 / stockport.gov.uk/museums

Not all event information is available at the time of going to press – so make sure you visit our NEW website which is full of fabulous LOCAL content and being constantly updated. www.familiesonline.co.uk Chester City Centre & Grosvenor Museum Digital Take-over Day 2 – 4pm / All ages / £1.50. Look out for the museum photo booth in Chester City Centre, where you can be photographed in your finery wearing clothes and accessories from the museum’s handling collection.

There will also be plenty of digital-based activities happening in the museum, including make your own tiny film to go on our social media channels.

01244 972197 / www.grosvenormuseum. westcheshiremuseums.co.uk Delamere Forest Forest Tots 10am – 12pm & 1 – 3pm / Age 2 – 5 / £8.70. Mud kitchen, hammocks, mini beast hunting, den building, swings, forest art and of course the ultimate end to a session - the fire toasting marshmallows!

07808 506308 / www.forest-explorers.co.uk The Silk Museum, Macclesfield Wonderful Creepy Crawlies 1.30 – 3.30pm / All ages / £3 per activity pack, drop in Make a selection of beautiful and boggle-eyed bugs!

01625 612045 / www.macclesfieldmuseums.co.uk

Fri 2 June

Grosvenor Museum, Chester Summer Discovery Day 2 – 4pm / Age 5 – 12 / £1.50. Bumble bees and butterflies, dragonflies and grasshoppers. Discover why insects are so important to habitats, and try your hand at some bug crafts. We’ll also be decorating our oak tree model for summer. 01244 972197 / www.grosvenormuseum.westcheshiremuseums.co.uk Delamere Forest Viking Family Day 10am – 3pm / Age 6+ / £5.20. A full day of Vikings!

Learn all about the Vikings, watch a fighting demonstration and then have a go at using the swords and shields.

Play traditional Viking games, learn the runic alphabet and try your hand at dying fabrics and weaving.

07808 506308 / www.forest-explorers.co.uk Hat Works, Stockport Top Hat Toddlers 10.30am – 12.30pm / Ages 2 – 5 / £4 (2 free accompanying adults), booking essential. An exciting play session. Stay for as long as you like within the two hours.

0161 474 2399 / www.stockport.gov.uk/museums

Fri 2 & Sat 3 June

Capesthorne Hall, Macclesfield The Big Church Day Out World-class music, mouth-watering food, relaxing cafes, family activities, and dancing crowds. Something for all tastes and every age. www.bigchurchdayout.com

Sat 3 June

Delamere Forest Native American Forest Fun 10am – 3pm / Age 4+ / £5.20. Make teepees, headresses, elder jewellery, flags, journey sticks and make music around the fire whilst cooking homemade bread! Please bring a packed lunch and a rug as we will break for lunch at 12pm on the forest floor.

07808 506308 / www.forest-explorers.co.uk

14 Families Cheshire | www.familiesonline.co.uk

Tatton Park, Knutsford Classic Car Spectacular with Giant Cheshire Autojumble 9am – 4pm / Adult £9, Children (10 – 16) £6, Under 10s free. One of Britain’s best and most popular classic car shows with around 2,000 classic and performance cars on display. Light entertainment with children’s rides, refreshments and bar.

01565 723863 / www.cheshireautopromotions.co.uk

Sun 11 June

Woodford Community Centre, Stockport Cheshire Tortoise Day 10am – 4pm / All ages / £2 (children free). All things Tortoise, as well as pet portraits, dog accessories, tombola, children’s competitions, Feathery Folk live owl display and light refreshments for sale.

07891 283753 / wwwbritishcheloniagroup.org.uk

Sat 3 & Sun 4 June

Wed 14 June

Mon 5 June

Wed 14 – Sun 18 June

Dunham Massey, Altrincham Teddy Bears’ Picnic 12 – 4pm / All ages / Free, normal admission applies Bring your teddy bear and a picnic to the garden today and enjoy storytelling and a brass band.

Garden ticket required. 0161 941 1025 / www.nationaltrust.org.uk/dunham-massey Stockport Museum Visits for Families with Autism 10am – 12pm / All ages / £1 craft pack, free museum entry. Enjoy the Museum while it’s quiet and closed to the public. Staff will be on hand to chat about the exhibits and a craft activity pack is an additional option. Drop in. www.stockport.gov.uk/museums

Wed 7 – Sun 11 June

Manchester Opera House Gangsta Granny David Walliams’ hilarious tale of one boy and his Granny.

0161 8281700 / www.palaceandoperahouse.org.uk

Thurs 8 June

Air Raid Shelters, Stockport Children’s Explorer Tours 6.45 – 8.15pm / Ages 7+ / £4 (accompanying adults £3), booking essential. Exciting children’s tours exploring the shelters. Brave the darkened tunnels go back in time and experience life as a child during WWII. 0161 474 1940 / www.stockport.gov.uk/museums

Sat 10 June

Davenham Davenham Village Carnival Dog Display, Punch & Judy, baby chicks, fairground rides, traditional stalls, donkey rides, hog roast, burgers, tea room & yummy cakes, crowning of the Carnival Queen, tombola, grand raffle, procession & memories to be treasured. www.facebook.com/DavenhamVillageCarnival The Bridgewater Hall, Manchester The Amazing Sound Quest : BBC Philharmonic Family Concert 3pm / Age 6+ / Adult £15, Under 16s £10, Family £37 (4 people, min 1 child). Join award-winning musical comedian and super-sleuth Vikki Stone on an adventure to track down a host of enchanting, wild, magical musical sounds all hiding out in a concert stuffed full of great music played by the stunning BBC Philharmonic. www.bridgewater-hall.co.uk

Riverside Park Ranger Centre, Macclesfield Countryside Taster Day 11am – 3pm / All ages / £2, booking essential Outdoor excitement and challenge for ALL people with disabilities. Activities such as archery, climbing and crafts suitable for all abilities.

01625 374790 / www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/rangers Bolesworth Castle, Tattenhall Bolesworth International www.bolesworthinternational.com

Fri 16 – Sun 18 June

Middlewich Middlewich Folk & Boat Festival A fabulous weekend of folk and roots music. www.middlewich.org.uk/middlewich-fab-festival

Sat 17 June

Poynton Park Party in the Park A musical event for the whole family. www.poyntonrotary.co.uk Crazy Craft Company, Weavervale Garden Centre, Northwich Abstract Colours 10.30am – 12.30pm / Age 4+ / £8. Bring the children along to enjoy a craft workshop in the Art Studio where they can learn how to work with water colours and fine liners. 01606 860944 / www.crazycraftscompany.co.uk Hoole CE Primary School, Chester Summer Fair A fun afternoon for all the family with entertainment, stalls, food and drink.

University of Manchester Community Festival 11am – 3pm / All ages / Free. A fun-filled day of hands-on activities, including: live experiments, interactive demonstrations, musical and dramatic performances, the chance to meet our staff and scientists, behind the scenes tours, workshops and much, much more! www.manchester.ac.uk/communityfestival Brereton Heath Local Nature Reserve Come and Try It Day 10am – 4pm / £18, booking essential. Archery, Bushcraft, Orienteering / Clue search, Canoeing and Kayaking.

Minimum age for Canoeing and Kayaking is 8 years old and participants must be “water confident”.

01625 573615 / www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/rangers

These listings are for guidance only – please check before you go To include your upcoming event in our listings, email events@familiescheshire.co.uk or upload your event listing to our website - www.familiesonline.co.uk Beeston Castle, Beeston Kite Festival 11am – 5pm / All ages / Normal admission applies Learn the art of kite flying, see expert flyers and children can make their own kite to fly. www.english-heritage.org.uk Arley Hall, Northwich DogFest North 2017 A fun-filled, action packed weekend, for you and your dog – hosted by Supervet Noel Fitzpatrick. Plenty of activities for dogs and their owners! www.dog-fest.co.uk Tatton Park, Knutsford Medieval Fayre 11am – 5pm / Adult £7.50, Child (4 – 15) £5, Family (2+3) £20, normal park admission applies. With hundreds of re-enactors, traders and artisans, the fayre is one of the most atmospheric events in the living history calendar. Good food, ale music and shopping. www.eventplan.co.uk Little Moreton Hall, Congleton Midsummer Celebrations 11am – 4pm / All ages / Free, normal admission applies. Celebrate the Tudor festival which gives thanks for the sunshine and water that nourishes the crops. Try Tudor dancing, activities and enjoy live music from Piva. 01260 272018 / www.nationaltrust.org.uk/little-moreton-hall

Sun 18 June

Manchester City Centre Manchester Day 12 – 6pm. Celebrate everything we love about Manchester. Parades, performances, food, drink, entertainment. Perfect for all the family. www.manchesterday.co.uk Tegg’s Nose Country Park Come and Try It Day 10am – 4pm / £18, booking essential. Climbing, Abseiling, Archery and Orienteering. Minimum age for Abseiling is 8. Booking and payment in advance is essential. Cost £18 per person. 01625 573615 / www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/rangers

Tues 20 & Wed 21 June Clay House Farm, Knutsford Royal Cheshire County Show A fabulous family day out. www.royalcheshireshow.org

Thurs 22 June

Mottram Hall Folklore Walk 7 – 9pm / All ages / £4, booking essential. A leisurely wander around Mottram exploring the Countryside folklore of what is discovered on the day.

01625 374790 / www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/rangers Brereton Heath Local Nature Reserve Orienteering for All 5.30 – 7pm / All ages / Adult £5, Child £2. An evening event held by Manchester and District Orienteering Club.

Courses suitable for everyone, beginners and experienced orienteers. Families and groups welcome. Instruction available. www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/rangers

Thurs 22 June – Sun 2 July

Lymm Lymm Festival 2017 Something for everyone: Music and Dance, Comedy and Drama, Spoken Word, Food and Drink, The Arts, Walks, talks, cruises and a garden party for families with a teddy bear trail and poetry and stories. Loads free, more than 20 different venues around the village. www.lymmfestival.org.uk

Sat 24 June

Arley Hall & Gardens, Northwich Arley Garden Festival 10am – 5pm / All ages / £10.50 – 11.50. Spectacular Floral displays, specialist plant nurseries and garden accessories. Gardener’s Question Time sessions, guided tours of the gardens, food fair and creative crafts marquee, live music, classic cars, children’s entertainment and petting animals on Sunday. Entrance to the Hall & Gardens included. Free parking. 01565 777 353 / www.arleyhallandgardens.com

What’s on

Sandbach Armed Forces Fun Day 11am – 4pm. Local cadet groups with interactive parades and assault courses along with an exhibition of military vehicles and equipment, and emergency services equipment. Children will be able to touch, feel and sit in all exhibits. Plus loads of other free activities and crafts. www.armedforcesday.org.uk St Peter’s Square, Manchester Manchester Armed Forces Day: A Big Thank You 11am – 4pm. A march past at 11.30am, bands, military vehicles, loads of family friendly activities, including a climbing wall and face painting, delicious food and drink. www.armedforcesday.org.uk

Sat 24 & Sun 25 June

Tatton Park, Knutsford Pretty Muddy 5K & 10K (Sat) / RFL 5K & 10K (Sun) Cancer Research UK Race for Life – sign up to help beat cancer. www.raceforlife.org.uk

Sun 25 June

The Chester Dragon Boat Festival River Dee, Chester 10am opening ceremony / Free to watch. A day of challenge, fun, excitement and competition on the banks of the River Dee. www.chesterdragonboatfestival.co.uk Victoria Avenue, Crewe Crewe Armed Forces Military Festival 12 – 5pm. A march, parade and thanksgiving service as well as a band concert, choirs, a number of drill competitions for cadets including sea, army, air, fire, police and scouts. www.armedforcesday.org.uk Lindow Common Heathland Heritage 10am – 12pm / All ages / £3 (under 16s free), booking essential. Stroll around Lindow Common Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) incorporating both history and natural history. 01625 383700 / www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/rangers

Tues 27 & Wed 28 June

Tatton Park, Knutsford Summer Deer Walk 7 – 9pm / Age 8+ / £10, booking essential. Join the Rangers for guided evening walks of the summer parkland and, if lucky, see new-born calves and fawns.

01625 374428 / www.tattonpark.org.uk

Wed 28 June

Rudyard Lake Fancy a Paddle?

7 – 9pm / Age 9+ (water confident) / £14. A chance to learn a little bit about kayaking and canoeing. Full instruction equipment and buoyancy aids will be provided. 01625 573615 / www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/rangers

Sat 1 July

Verdin Park, Winsford Northwich Carnival 2017 9am. Traditional family carnival and parade.

Sat 1 & Sun 2 July

Tatton Park, Knutsford Stars & Stripes American Car Show 10am – 4pm / Adult £9, Child (10 – 15) £6, Under 10s free, normal park admission applies The UK’s premier event for lovers of all things American! Over 100 Memorabilia, American Lifestyle & General Trade stalls. www.cheshireautopromotions.co.uk

Fri 7 – Sun 9 July

Jodrell Bank Bluedot 2017 Weekend Tickets: £159 / Day Tickets: £59 An award-winning annual festival of music, science, arts, culture and the exploration of space. Live science experiments and exhibits, family activities, expert talks and immersive artworks. Don’t miss the Star Field: a science marketplace, peppered with street food vendors, live experiments, performances, and science engagement activities. www.jodrellbank.net

Families Cheshire | www.familiesonline.co.uk 15

What’s on

Not all event information is available at the time of going to press – so make sure you visit our NEW website which is full of fabulous LOCAL content and being constantly updated. www.familiesonline.co.uk

16 Families Cheshire | www.familiesonline.co.uk