Families Manchester Issue 40 : July - August 2013

Edition 40 • July/August 2013

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

@FamiliesManch facebook.com/familiesmanchester

ÂŽ MANCHESTER In this issue > Summer Holiday Clubs > Travel Tips > Loads of days out and events

Covering: Altrincham, Trafford, Salford, Manchester, Bolton, Bury, Rochdale, Didsbury, Stockport, Cheadle, Bramhall, and surrounding areas.

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Welcome In this issue 02: Holiday Clubs 04: Parents’ place 09: Education 12: Summer 18: What’s on

Hello!

Russian playwright and master of the short story, Anton Chekhov once said: “People don’t notice whether it’s winter or summer when they’re happy.” How true! And definitely something to bear in mind this summer when we will no doubt be treated to some very un-summery weather. With so many fabulous places to go and things to do both locally and further afield in the UK, there’s absolutely no excuse for not creating some very happy family memories this year.

We’ve put together a bumper issue for you and hope it helps you find some inspiration to keep boredom and stress at bay. With 13 pages dedicated to Summer, as well as 2 pages of holiday club offerings, you’ve really no excuse!

But make sure you take a little time to relax too while the kids are being entertained, because we all need it by this time of year. As Chekhov also said: “Any idiot can face a crisis; it’s day-to-day living that wears you out.”

Dreading the long summer break?

Here’s a selection of some great summer holiday camps and courses in the area to help keep the kids entertained.

Enjoy-a-Ball Summer Camps

Action packed 4 hour camps for children aged 4 – 9 years, offering indoor and outdoor games, fun activities as well as arts and crafts to take home.

Camps are held at Longford Park School,

Stretford (M32 8QJ) from 9am – 1pm on Wed 24 – Fri 26 July and Mon 29 – Wed 31 July. Sessions cost £19 (discount if booking more than one session). For more information contact Sam on 07973 886783 / www.enjoy-a-ball.com

Have fun, travel safely and have a fantastic summer.

Withington Girls’ School Summer Workshops Caryl Hall

Next issue: September/October 2013 Circulation: 26,000 copies of Families Manchester are available through nurseries, schools, libraries, selected shops and other points throughout Greater Manchester.

If you would like free copies for your organisation, please let us know.

Contact details: Families Manchester, 3 Hall Hill, Bollington SK10 5ED Tel: 01625 801 801 www.familiesmanchester.co.uk

Jayne Keep

Design: Paul Wilson Graphic Design, Congleton.

Tel: 07743 111 694, www.withpaul.co.uk Print: Bishops Printers, Walton Road, Portsmouth, Hampshire PO6 1TR Tel: 023 9233 4900 www.bishops.co.uk Families Manchester is part of the Families group, established in 1990 and headed by Families South West.

All franchised magazines in the group are independently owned and operated under license.

The school is hosting some great workshops and camps this summer.

Drama Workshops: w/c 22 July with actor, theatre maker and director Fiona Paul.

The workshops will be held in the School’s purpose-built Drama Studio.

Sports Camps: w/c 22 July and w/c 29 July led by qualified tennis coach Matthew Nichols. These activities will take place on the

Stagecoach Summer Workshops

Editorial: editor@familiesmanchester.co.uk We take every care preparing the magazine, but the Advertising/artwork: advertising@familiesmanchester.co.uk publishers and distributors can’t be held responsible for the Events, diary dates, what’s on: events@familiesmanchester.co.uk claims of advertisers, the accuracy of the contents nor for any consequences.

Cover photograph by: @FamiliesManch Yours Truly Photography 01937 833758, www.yourstrulyphotography.co.uk www.facebook.com/familiesmanchester

These are perfect for children who love singing, dancing and acting who will work with a team of choreographers and directors to put on a show in just 5 days.

Every child will be given a part suitable for their age and ability and everyone gets a chance to shine. Limited

2 Families Manchester | www.familiesmanchester.co.uk

School’s superb indoor and outdoor facilities.

Art Workshops: w/c 29 July led by Mrs Samantha Joice, Acting Head of Art. The workshops will be held in the School’s recently refurbished Art Studios.

For more information or to book your place, please call 0161 249 3457 or email willisp@withington.manchester.sch.uk www.withington.manchester.sch.uk

places available, so book quickly.

Bury: Mon 22 – Fri 26 July at The Met BL9 0BW (Porridge) Didsbury: Mon 29 July – Fri 2 Aug at Parrs Wood High School M20 5PG, Ages 8 – 18 (Bugsy Malone), Ages 4 – 7 (The Gruffalo) Salford: Mon 5 – Fri 9 Aug at Bridgewater School, M28 2WQ, Ages 8 – 18 (Bugsy Malone), Ages 4 – 7 (The Gruffalo) Stockport: Mon 12 – Fri 16 Aug at Hazel Grove High School SK7 5JX (Glee Club!) www.stagecoach.co.uk

Holiday clubs Pyjama Drama

Oulder Hill’s Summer Holiday Club

These unique one day Magic and Mystery holiday workshops for primary school children are designed for creative and energetic children between the ages of five and seven years.

Held in Altrincham throughout August, they’re a fabulous way for your child to explore through song, music, dance and play. For more information please contact Emma on 0161 820 2209 or emma@pyjamadrama.com. www.pyjamadrama.com

Holiday Club at Oulder Hill Leisure Complex in Rochdale is running from Mon 29 July – Fri 23 August (8.30am – 5.30pm). It provides children aged 5 – 15 with a wide range of sporting and arts activities in a safe and friendly environment.

The club offers a wide range of activities to suit all age groups, including football coaching with an FA Qualified football coach, dance and music, arts and crafts, cricket coaching, archery and trampolining with a fully qualified instructor, and pool inflatable sessions.

For more information or to book, call 01706 716680 or go to www.ohlc.co.uk

Super Camps in Manchester

Calling all Fairies & Pixies!

Super Camps will be running two camps at William Hulme’s Grammar School in Manchester this summer for children aged 4 – 14.

Multi-Activity Summer 2013 takes place from Mon 29 July – Fri 23 August and costs £160 for a week (5 days), £128 (4 day Bank Holiday week) or £40 per day. The camp offers 40+ exciting activities, sports and arts & crafts (up to 8 activities per day and no two days are the same). Book individual days or full weeks (book for more than 10 days, and get a discount of £6 per day from the 11th day onwards).

A Passion For... Arts & Crafts Summer 2013 will run at the school from Mon 12 – Fri 16 August, and covers Food, Arts Crafts, Invention & Performance. Learn life skills, making choices and problem-solving. £180 for the 5 days. www.supercamps.co.uk

Fairy Enchantica and her Fairy friends are running a secret Fairy Camp at Navigation Primary School in Altrincham from Mon 5 – Fri 9 August (9 – 3pm).

Fairy training for ages 3 – 8 years is delivered through fun themed activities including make and take crafts, dance, drama, singing and creative movement.

Families and friends will be invited to the secret Fairy camp on the last day at 2pm for the Fairy show and to watch their little fairies receive their certificates and graduate. £190 for the week, from £35 per session.

0113 322 7988 / www.fantasykidsclubs.co.uk

Starlight Performing Arts Holiday Club The holiday club will put on a different show each week: w/c 22 July: Les Misérables w/c 29 July: Grease w/c 5 Aug: Annie w/c 12 Aug: Hercules w/c 19 Aug: Matilda w/c 27 Aug: Cats Clubs cost just £49 per week. Rehearsals and classes take place from 10am – 5pm, and the club offers pre- and after-care from 8am – 10am and 5pm – 6pm for a £10 surcharge. Places strictly limited. www.starlightperformingarts.co.uk

Glasshouse Mini

Open all day every day during the school holidays, Glasshouse Mini in Sale provides the opportunity for children to take part in loads of different activities including Photography, Acting, Baking, Painting, Cooking, Singing, Swimming, Dancing, and Sports.

Different from any other holiday club, they are completely flexible.

Trips out to the park, swimming at the local leisure centre and even day trips further afield will keep your children stimulated and happy during the long summer holiday.

Book for morning, afternoon, daily or weekly sessions – £25 per day – with discounts available for siblings and block bookings.

For more information, call Amy on 07983 420 058. www.glasshousemini.co.uk

Summer Film Shoot Ages 7 – 16 Mon 29 July – Fri 2 Aug, 10am – 4pm daily in Wilmslow £235 per child (includes DVD and tickets to cinema premiere) 5 days of filmmaking – no previous experience necessary.

0845 533 3763 / www.studiofilmschool.co.uk Movie Masterclass Ages 10 – 13 Tues 27 & Wed 28 Aug, 10am – 4pm in Wilmslow. £135 per child (includes DVD) A two day ‘boot camp’ for young filmmakers.

0845 533 3763 / www.studiofilmschool.co.uk Kings Camps Ages 4 – 17 Held at Cheadle Hulme School & Bridgewater School, Manchester. Week long activity camps or individual days with a great range of sports, activities, games and crafts.

0845 643 5272 / www.kingscamps.org Mad Science Camps Ages 5 – 11 Mon 22 – 26 July: Alderley Edge School for Girls (Alderley Edge), The Maccabi Centre (Prestwich) Mon 29 July – Fri 2 Aug: Alderley Edge School for Girls, Gorsey Bank Primary (Wilmslow), Great Sankey Leisure Centre (Warrington) Mon 5 – Fri 9 Aug: Alderley Edge School for Girls, Navigation Primary (Altrincham) Mon 12 – Fri 16 Aug: Great Sankey Leisure Centre (Warrington) Mon 19 – Fri 23 Aug: Navigation Primary (Altrincham) Design, build and test a multitude of science projects. 9.30am – 3.30pm, £35 per day or £150 for 5 day camps. Group, Sibling and Early Bird discounts available.

01772 628844 / www.madscience.org Activate Sport Bolton School Mon 5 – Fri 9 Aug: Andrew Flintoff Cricket Academy Lymm High School Mon 12 – Fri 16 Aug: Andrew Flintoff Cricket Academy Tues 27 – Fri 20 Aug: Multi sport/activity with Brendan Cole Dance Academy Stockport Grammar Mon 29 – Fri 2 Aug: Andrew Flintoff Cricket Academy Wed 28 – Fri 30 Aug: International Netball Roadshow 0115 973 1676 / www.activatesport.co.uk Parsley Pie Art Club Age 4+ Mon 29 – Wed 31 July, 10am – 2pm in Hale Tues 6 – Thurs 8 Aug, 10am – 2pm in Stockport Creativity, laughter, learning & freedom of expression and a huge range of activities, materials & projects to choose from. www.parsleypie.com QFirst Holiday Club Children in Reception – Year 7 Trampolining, Gymnastics, Street Dance, Athletics, Dodgeball, Football, Film Club, Baking, Arts & Crafts, Musical Theatre.

Mon 22 July – Fri 23 Aug in Bury and Radcliffe Full (8.30am – 5.30pm) and short day (10am – 4pm) options available 0161 763 5573 / www.activedance.co.uk

Bury FC Holiday Camps Mon 22 July – Fri 30 Aug, 9am – 3pm Soccer Camp for ages 5 – 13 at Playfootball, Bury College. Take part in fun games, competitions and World Cup tournaments. £10 per day / £45 full week.

Shakers Camp for ages 5 – 11 at All Saints Primary, Whitefield. Mini Olympics, athletics, rounders, cheerleading, street dance, junior boot camps, gymnastics, fitness, tri-golf craft & games. £9 per day / £40 full week. www.buryfccommunitytrust.co.uk Manchester Summer Soccer Camp Mon 5 & Tues 6 Aug at Manchester Health Academy, M23 9BP, £20.00 Mon 12 – Fri 16 Aug at Salford City Academy, M30 7PQ, £50. 10am – 3pm www.soccerstarcoaching.co.uk Mi2W Workshops Sun 11 – Sat 24 Aug at Heywood Civic Centre 10am – 4pm, £100, £80 for siblings Two weeks of workshops where you will develop your acting, singing and dancing, learn new skills and get ready for the public performances. www.link4life.org Multi Activity Sessions Sailing, windsurfing, kayaking, raft building, mountain biking, climbing at Hollingworth Lake Water Activity Centre, Littleborough Age 7 - 14 July: Mon 22 – Wed 24 & Mon 29 – Wed 31 Aug: Mon 5 – Wed 7, Mon 12 – Wed 14, Mon 19 – Wed 21, Tues 27 – Thurs 29 3 x half days (9.45am – 1pm) £75 3 x full days (9.45am – 3pm) £100 www.link4life.org Splashout Age 7 – 9. Sailing or kayaking instruction at Hollingworth Lake Water Activity Centre, Littleborough. 3.30 – 5pm, £25 July: Thurs 25 & Fri 26 Aug: Thurs 1 & Fri 2, Thurs 8 & Fri 9, Thurs 15 & Fri 16, Thurs 22 & Fri 23, Thurs 29 & Fri 30 www.link4life.org Rugby League Sports Camp Ages 11 - 16 Top quality coaching from fully qualified Rugby League Coaches at Kingsway Park Sports Centre, Rochdale Mon 12 & Wed 14 Aug and Mon 19 & Wed 21 Aug 10am – 3pm, £2.50 per day www.link4life.org Tennis Summer Camps Ages 5 – 14 Fun tennis coaching sessions at Alkrington Tennis Club, Middleton and Middleton Tennis Club.

4 days of coaching with a fun competition non the Friday of each week.

Middleton Tennis Club: Mon 29 July – Fri 2 Aug & Mon 12 – Fri 16 Aug, 10am – 12noon (age 5 – 10), 1 – 3pm (age 11 – 14) Alkrington Tennis Club: Mon 5 – Fri 9 Aug, 10am – 12 noon, (age 5 – 10) Council Run Holiday Camps Try your local council for centre for holiday camps in your area: Bolton: www.bolton.gov.uk Bury: www.bury.gov.uk Rochdale: www.rochdale.gov.uk Salford: www.salford.gov.uk Stockport: www.stockport.gov.uk Manchester: www.manchester.gov.uk

Families Manchester | www.familiesmanchester.co.uk 3

Parents’ place WORKING MUMS How to be a Million Pound Mum

by Hazel Cushion Published by Accent Press Ltd, ISBN 9781908262998 Hazel Cushion launched her awardwinning independent publishing company from her spare bedroom when her triplets were just six years old. Ten years on and her company Accent Press Ltd is on target to turn over £1 million and is renowned throughout the publishing world for its feisty, independent books.

To tie in with her company’s success Hazel is launching the Million Pound Mum series of inspirational business books aimed at the growing number of mothers who want to run their own businesses but don’t have the knowledge or confidence to do so. Drawing on her own experience with practical information, top tips and the real life stories of mums who have successfully started their own companies, the books offer

Exciting low cost franchise opportunity for Mums!

constructive advice on how to start a business, still be a great mum and have fun while doing it.

With her own children preparing for university, Hazel shares her secrets of maintaining a successful business and happy family balance.

Hazel says: ‘Being a million pound mum is a state of mind, not just a financial goal. Some of the mums featured in the books have reached the million-pound turnover; others are well on the way. It’s all about the self-belief, having the confidence in yourself and the tenacity to believe that your idea is capable of achieving a million pound turnover.’

Pink Spaghetti was started by two busy Cheshire mums in September 2009 when they spotted a gap in the market for an affordable PA service that could support busy professional people who were trying to juggle running a home and small businesses around a family.

In September 2012 they launched their first two franchisees and they are now looking for like-minded mums to share in their success and expand Pink Spaghetti across the UK. A Pink Spaghetti franchise has low start-up costs and high profit levels and will allow you to build a business around your family, providing you with the perfect

work life balance. You can choose your working hours and the model allows for your own business to grow as your children grow up.

As a franchisee you will get full support every step of the way and access to their award winning website, marketing materials and everything you need to get your business up and running.

This franchise is designed to be a second income, usually for someone who has come from a good career before children, and now wants a challenge and an income but also time to spend with their family.

For further information visit www.pink-spaghetti.co.uk

Fed up at work? Looking for a new career?

A Cheshire mum is looking for women with a love of fashion and styling to join a new retail business venture.

Mhari Oakes from Northwich, invested in a business with Stella & Dot last summer, and is looking to expand a team across the UK. Married to retired Premier League footballer, Michael, and mum to daughter Cameron, aged six, Mhari says that her career as an independent stylist fits in flexibly with family-life and the school run.

Now she helps women to start up

their own business with Stella & Dot working on their terms – whether part-time, a few hours a week, just evenings or even full-time.

Mhari said: “Like most women, I love fashion and shopping – and as soon as I saw Stella & Dot, I fell in love with the brand and all their jewellery, scarves and handbags.

“Then I discovered that they were looking to expand in the UK – and I jumped at the chance of starting my own business with them. Since then I’ve

helped lots of women to do the same.”

The unique collections are designed in New York by Blythe Harris, who has previously worked for luxurious brands including Cartier and Louis Vuitton.

Stella & Dot also has a strong celebrity following – with names such as Cameron Diaz, Penelope Cruz, Paris Hilton, Davina McCall and Katy Perry.

To enquire about becoming a Stella and Dot Stylist, please call Mhari on 0791 293 7224 or visit www.stelladot.co.uk/moakes

ARE YOU FEELING LUCKY? Win an Easy2Name Off to School set

We have 5 Easy2Name Off to School sets to give away! Each set is worth £18.90 and contains 30 waterproof stickers, 30 iron on name tapes, 1 set of shoe covers, 1 bag tag and 1 shoe bag. To enter the draw, simply enter online at www.familiesmanchester.co.uk. Closing date for entries is Wednesday 31 July. The full Easy2Name range can be seen at www.easy2name.com

4 Families Manchester | www.familiesmanchester.co.uk

Parents’ place

What is hay fever?

By Dr Adam Simon, Primus Healthcare

Hay fever is a condition caused by an allergy to pollen – the fine powder produced by plants, flowers, trees and weeds to fertilise other members of the same family.

Different species release pollen at specific times of the year. This can often help doctors work out which species a patient is allergic to.

• Grass pollen is produced May to June • Tree pollens are produced March to May • Weed pollens are produced March to September What happens in hay fever?

Normally, any small particles that are breathed up into the nostrils, go straight to the back of the nose and are swallowed.

When pollen is breathed up through the nose, it irritates the nose lining and causes production of histamine. This is the same chemical that causes itching and swelling on the skin when we encounter nettles. The nose lining becomes slightly swollen and inflamed, leading to an itchy, runny, congested nose. It also causes sneezing and sore throats. Some people with Hay fever can also get asthma symptoms (coughing, wheezing & shortness of breath) The same happens in the eyes where the eye lining becomes swollen and inflamed after being in contact with pollen. This leads to itchy eyes that water clear fluid.

Other symptoms include headaches, tenderness on the sinuses and sleep disturbance.

How common is hay fever?

Hay fever is very common, affecting 15 – 20% of people. It is thought to develop in school age and teenage children but I am seeing more younger children with typical symptoms each year.

How is hay fever diagnosed and why is diagnosing hay fever important?

Thankfully, unlike many other conditions, hay fever usually causes quite typical symptoms and this means in most cases your GP will be able to make a diagnosis at the first appointment.

However in rare cases where the diagnosis is not clear, the GP may request breathing tests or blood tests.

Hay fever is an unpleasant condition that due to the symptoms listed can interfere with a patient’s life. This can affect home, school and work. Thankfully, there is medication available that can reduce most if not all of the symptoms.

Dr Simon’s Top ten tips 1. BE PREPARED! Most hay fever sufferers get symptoms during the same months each year. Taking precautions & starting medication in advance of that time may make your spring / summer much more enjoyable.

2. Look at the pollen count forecast on line, on your phone weather app or on TV/radio . When the pollen count is high, stay indoors especially during the morning and evenings, when the pollen count is at its highest.

3. If you are out & about, keep car windows shut and when your car is serviced ask the garage to fit pollen filters in the air vents.

4. When you come home in the evening, shake pollen off coats / clothes and consider washing your hair in the evening. This will reduce pollen exposure during the night.

5. Anti-histamines: Use a non-drowsy anti-histamine. Your GP will be able to advise you on the most appropriate one for you. But BE AWARE: even non-drowsy anti-histamines can make some people drowsy. Do NOT drive or operate machinery if you are affected. See your GP who can change you to an alternative.

6. Nose Sprays: There are 4 types of nose sprays – Decongestant, Anti-histamine nose sprays, Cromoglycate and Steroid nose sprays – your GP can advise you which one is the best for you. But remember, family members may not necessarily respond to the same type of spray. There is also a very

new combination spray which combines steroid and anti-histamine called Dymista. It is available for UK GP’s to prescribe, but do not be surprised if your GP has not heard of it yet.

7. Eye drops: There are several available. They reduce the production of histamine in the eyes and reduce the itching, watering and discomfort symptoms that many hay fever sufferers endure. Your GP can advise you of the best for you.

8. Leukotriene receptor antagonists: These work to block the chemical that causes the symptoms of hay fever. They work in combination with antihistamines in hay fever sufferers who also have asthma (either due to the hay fever or separately).

9. Immunotherapy: This is a treatment used when symptoms are severe and do not respond to the other treatments above. The treatment involves either tablets or injections and it involves exposing your body to small amounts of grass pollen.

The effect of this is to reduce the body’s response to the pollen it encounters in the hay fever season.

It has to be supervised by a specialist immunologist and is not suitable for everyone. Your GP can advise if it would be suitable for you.

10. BE PREPARED. I know it is also number 1. But it is the most important point. Early treatment, even for a few weeks before symptoms normally start, may well make the difference between a miserable, sneezy, congested spring / summer and a happy symptomless one.

0800 644 6230 advancedfostercare.co.uk

Families Manchester | www.familiesmanchester.co.uk 5

Parents’ place Lily Rocks Out!

Then there were three

By Deirdre Peden, Relationship Coach and Counsellor, Marriage Care

Rock Out! Music Schools have recently opened a new school in Manchester, based at St Clement church in Chorlton. Families Manchester popped along for a taster session to find out more about their fresh and fun approach to teaching children music.

We used Lily (age 7) as our guinea pig; she had already done a handful of guitar lessons at school so was the perfect candidate to sample a different approach to teaching the instrument. She was paired up with a young instructor and they worked together on chords from a simple rock tune on an electric guitar.

Lily found this much more fun than the stuffy pieces she played at school on her acoustic guitar. The one to one

attention was great as she was supported at every step and got a better understanding of what she was supposed to be achieving.

At the end of the lesson Lily was then given the chance to play the chords she had learnt along with a full band and singer. Her instructor stayed next to her and told her which chord to play when so she could keep up with the band.

She thought it was fantastic.

Rock Out! Music Schools cater for children 7 years +. They offer lessons in guitar, drums, bass, keyboards and vocals.

For more information visit www.rockoutschool.com, call Michael Anderton on 0161 862 9634 or email chorlton@rockoutschool.com

BIG on quality and TOP for organisation Dave and Judy Usher’s big family was the inspiration for Big Top Parties which they started up just two years ago. With five children of their own, they are no strangers to big celebrations, and wanted to provide something very special for children’s parties and family gatherings, where every last detail is taken care of.

They provide party hosts, children’s entertainers, fun food, birthday cakes and party bags – everything you can think of to complete the whole party package.

The team loves nothing better than to

organise bespoke theme parties or outdoor events and picnics for under 5s and 5 – 12 year olds.

Some theme ideas are Teddy Bears Picnic, Fun of the Fair, Parachute Games, Bugs and Beetle, Big Art, Football Crazy and The Winning Team. Have a look at their website for ideas, but they’re more than happy to work with your ideas too. They also provide catering for every occasion – from informal buffets to three course meals and celebration cakes – all food is handmade to homemade recipes. www.Big Top Parties.co.uk

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Having a family is the most natural thing in the world, but nothing prepares us for the changes it makes to our relationship with our partner.

Research tells us that couple conflict and relationship dissatisfaction increase dramatically when children arrive. Usually (though not always) Mum is absorbed with attending to baby’s needs and Dad, wanting to be the noble provider, gets stuck into work. Hormones, lack of sleep and often fraught days leave Mum weary and exhausted, with nothing left for Dad but a list of grumbles when he gets home after a hard day’s work. Both are investing heavily in the family but in the struggle to adjust to new demands, their own relationship suffers and each can feel isolated and unappreciated by the other.

Research also reveals gender differences; most women want a partner who listens and can empathise, while most men simply want their partner to be happy. All too often we expect our partner to be able to mind read and when they get it wrong this causes even more friction. Instead of blaming each other and making demands, try to see these issues as a common enemy to your warm, loving relationship and work on the solutions together.

We all have different expectations and ideas about roles including parenting.

Arguments inevitably happen and when they do, fight lovingly, allow each other to speak, listen carefully, stay focused on the issue at hand and respect each other’s perspective. Assume your partner is doing their best and try not to criticise and blame. Admit your mistakes, say sorry and be prepared to compromise – sometimes we need to put our relationship before ourselves.

With busy lifestyles and endless commitments, it is too easy to prioritise the children, work, friends or ageing parents over your partner, but finding time for each other will help you to grow closer. Whenever possible enlist a babysitter and go out on a ‘date night.’ Make time for intimacy, as this will strengthen your connection. Surprise each other; sometimes little things can go a long way; bring your partner a cup of tea, leave love notes and remind them regularly how much you appreciate them.

Ultimately your children will grow up and leave home and it will be just the two of you. So invest in your relationship, build it to weather the storms and last a lifetime. The more you put in the more you will get back and remember it’s never too soon to seek support. Find out how Marriage Care can help at www.marriagecare.org.uk or call 0800 389 3801 for a local appointment.

Parents’ place

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Parents’ place

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Education Award-winning tuition – 25% off when you join in July

Explore Learning centres across the country provide maths and English tuition to 5 to 14 year olds of all abilities, and also run special courses in 11+ exam preparation. The centres are open 7 days a week, and are Ofsted registered, meaning that families can use Childcare Vouchers to pay for membership. Children attend up to twice a week on a drop-in basis, so that Explore tuition fits easily into busy family life.

As Explore members, children work with tutors who are great educational role models, enthusiastic about learning and fantastic motivators. Each child has

an individualised learning programme tailored to meet their needs, and all Explore courses map to the National Curriculum. This combination of benefits has led to the company being named Supplementary Education Provider of the Year at the prestigious Education Investor Awards for the past 2 years running.

July is the most popular time of the year for families to join Explore Learning, as parents across the country look for an engaging way to keep their children’s brains active over the long summer break. Also, families joining in July will receive 25% off their first full month of tuition at participating centres, so now is a great time to join if you haven’t already!

Explore Learning has centres across the UK - try them for free to find out how your family can benefit! To book your trial, visit www.explorelearning.co.uk or call your local centre.

Let your child be the teacher Do your children enjoy playing school when they are home?

Perhaps with siblings or soft toys?

If so they are sure to love the role pay game ‘Playteachers’ created by local teacher Frazer Moyes. The game is aimed at children aged 4 – 10 years and lets them create their own mini classroom with a huge supply of props such as a register, behaviour cards, timetable sheets, certificates, stickers, whiteboard and pen plus much more. Frazer’s own two children

love making up their own lessons with the props; as have children Frazer has taught in school when the game has been used as a bit of fun through wet playtimes. ‘Playteachers’ is a shift away from the electronic games and a step back to the traditional game that encourages a child to use their imagination.

The packs can be purchased online at www.playteachers.com/shop.html or for information on local stockists email info@playteachers.com.

Families Manchester | www.familiesmanchester.co.uk 9

Education Advertise in Families Manchester

Gold Awards for Withington Girls’ pupils

Call Jayne on: 01625 801801 or email advertising@familiesmanchester.co.uk

L-R: Teneeka, Tanya and Siyang

Winning trio from Withington Girls’ School Tanya Drobnis, Teneeka Mai, and Siyang Wei took three of only five Gold Awards presented to girls in this year’s prestigious British Physics Olympiad experimental project.

Nationally more than 5,000 students

took part in the Olympiad, organised across five categories by the Institute of Physics and supported by Oxford University.

Last year the Institute of Physics expressed concern that girls were under represented in the subject at A-level, but at Withington Girls’ School, 15 per cent of the A-level candidates take physics and regularly embark upon related summer residential courses at universities across the country.

Withington Girls’ school will hold its next Open Day on Thurs 7 November from 4.30 – 6.30pm, and Open Morning on Sat 9 November 10am – 12 noon.

0161 224 1077 / www.withington.manchester.sch.uk

Surviving the summer slide

By Janet Sherlock, Leaders are Readers

Summer holidays bring excitement and adventure. Students look forward to their days off, knowing the long months will offer respite from their school year.

What they do not understand is that whilst those days may relax and energise, they can also stress them academically. Summer learning loss, also known as the summer slide, can occur quickly during the summer.

Recent studies published through a management tracking information system utilized by over 22,000 schools throughout the UK, indicate many students can go an entire summer without even picking up a book. This can be extremely detrimental to a child’s learning progress.

When children mentally go on holiday for the summer, they are often at risk of losing one to three months of education with some dropping behind by as much as two to four national curriculum points. These students enter the classroom in the autumn term significantly behind their classmates. This makes it challenging for educators to meet the needs of their students. As a parent though, you have the ability to minimise that academic loss.

Support learning at home Learning begins in the home but parents do not have to be educators to support that learning; you can do so by extending your children’s summer activities. Have them find a book about the play they are studying at drama camp. Participation in a summer football or rugby camp can be turned into a journaling activity. Maths can be practised through a trip to the grocery store. Turn

10 Families Manchester | www.familiesmanchester.co.uk

any experience into a learning opportunity.

Support learning through the library Reading is arguably one of the most important components of your children’s education. Local libraries present opportunities to participate in reading programmes, group discussions, or other literacy events. Use your local library to find grade level appropriate books and activities.

Support learning through summer programmes Sometimes though, children need more support than can be received at home.

Between your work hours, a lack of resources or simply not knowing where to focus, you can be overwhelmed. If that occurs, reach out to an established summer school programme. Learning is directed in a setting with real, live teaching, as opposed to in front of computer screens, and in small classes that allow your child to receive individualized instruction. Enrolling your children in a vibrant and authentic programme may be the perfect opportunity to revise learning from the previous school year, extend learning and prepare for future challenges such as entrance exams.

Janet Sherlock is head tutor at Leaders are Readers, the award-winning Saturday and Summer Schools. www.leadersarereaders.co.uk

Education Header Starting School

By Victoria Murray, Early Years Specialist Teacher at kidsunlimited nurseries

New starts are always daunting at any age, but starting school is one of the most memorable experiences a child will have. However, this should be one that is exciting and enjoyable for you and your child, and not a source of worry.

One of the biggest differences for your child will be the level of independence that they will want (and need) to demonstrate. There are many practical little things you can do to aid this independence, such as: • Providing Velcro/slip on shoes (as opposed to laces) so that your child can fasten and unfasten these alone. • Providing socks instead of tights so your child can remove these independently.

Another big change will be meal times. Dining areas in schools tend to be a lot larger and busier than your child may be used to. If possible, try to arrange your visits to the school so that your child can see what a meal time looks like, menus, seating arrangements and practicalities like asking for a drink or going to the toilet. It is important to try to organise an opportunity to visit the setting with your child before they start. This will help to ensure that your child has clear expectations of their new school and visiting together enables your child to have the opportunity to explore this new environment whilst feeling safe and secure with you. Whilst you are there, ask the staff if you are permitted to take photographs. These photographs can be used to make a photo book of your child’s new school which you can discuss together at home. This will enable your child to become familiar and reassured about their new environment.

Families Manchester | www.familiesmanchester.co.uk 11

Summer The Big Summer Holiday Tips for Travellers

By Robina Cowan

Yippee! It’s the break we’ve all been dreaming of and looking forward to through the dank winter and spring months – here comes this year’s summer holiday. Hands up who remembers when it was just you and your beloved, grabbing a cheap deal, filling a backpack at the last minute and heading for the sun? Those were the good old days... Now you’re a family, there’s a third ‘p’ to add to ‘passport and packing’ – ‘planning’.

Here at Families (now a mighty group of 40 local magazines), the editors have children spanning all ages from three months to the early twenties, so you could say we’ve been there, done that. We put our heads together to pool our experience and best ideas for you. Happy travelling!

BEFORE YOU GO • Label your child’s clothes, towels and backpacks, especially if you will be using kids’ clubs – they WILL go missing. Labels 4 Kids (www.labels4kids.com/fam) and Easy 2 Name (www.easy2name.com) both stock packs of instant labels, so the job’s a breeze and it’s a much cheaper solution than replacing lost items. They also have ID wristbands so you can label the children with your contact details. Or try

Snappy Tags (www.snappytags.co.uk) • Use Google Street View with the children to look round your planned location and help get familiarised with the landscape, ‘foreign’ signs and local attractions. You can also use it to create a list of places to visit.

• Photocopy everyone’s passport and keep the copies in a different place. If the originals go missing, proof that you had passports will make it much easier to tussle with overseas authorities when it’s time to come home.

• Have up to date pictures of your children on your phone - if they go missing you can show authorities what they look like.

• Freeze food to await your return - even fresh milk can be frozen - so you don’t come home to an empty kitchen. Some very organised mothers even do an online shop towards the end of their holiday, for delivery on their first day home.

Now, that’s organisation!

• Lost luggage is a nightmare. Rather than filling one suitcase per person, pack a couple of daytime and evening outfits for everyone in each case so you can all get started while the hotel / airline tracks down the missing bag.

• Involve your children in the packing even if just a small part is their

responsibility. It occupies them while you are busy and gets them into the holiday mood. Then check their choices: you may find fancy dress costumes and nothing sensible (OK, I admit this is from experience!)

• Add a small ‘emergency bag’ to your hand luggage, with plasters, tissues, sachets of paracetamol, cotton wool, needle and thread, safety pins, wetwipes and a few sweets (for bribing and wiping away tears). Oh the satisfying feeling to have what you need just at the right time!

• Pack spare clothes in your hand luggage in case of ‘accidents’.

• Leave a spare set of keys with a friendly neighbour in case of home emergencies, losing yours or locking yourself out (I’ve done that just when we were about to leave!)

• Cancel the newspapers and ask your friendly neighbour to return the wheelie bins to your property on collection day, so you’re not advertising an empty home.

ON THE WAY • Long car journeys are not all about being plugged into gadgets. Try story tapes - as a family, we are all totally addicted to the ‘How to Train your Dragon’ series. The ‘Michelin I-Spy’ activity books are great fun, as are the free downloads from www.rac.co.uk/ advice/car-knowledge/top-ten/ car-games. I made up some sheets myself for a journey through France and they kept my boys amused for hours.

• For flights, Usborne’s ’50 Things do on a Plane’ will keep them occupied, rrp £5.99, while the Top Trumps range is great for older children, especially if you’re willing to join in.

• Flying is the one time I am relaxed about screen time – if you have electrical gadgets, use them. Make sure you have some child friendly headphones to hand so as not to ‘share’ your child’s love of Peppa Pig with the entire plane.

• Sucky sweets (as they are known in our

house) are great for little ones who struggle with their ears on take-off. Give babies a bottle (or breastfeed) to stop their ears popping.

• Pack an extra layer for the flight even if you’re flying from a warm UK to a tropical destination. Planes can be chilly and children won’t relax if they’re not cosy.

• If your child is crying on the flight, don’t panic. Most of passengers on board will be either parents or grandparents and will have sympathy for you. Your priority is settling your child in the best way you can. If your child has a favourite teddy or comfort blanket, make sure it’s in your hand luggage. It may help calm them and that in turn will calm you.

WHILE YOU’RE THERE • Resist the temptation to Facebook your day’s antics - you’re advertising that you are away and your home’s empty.

Not a good idea.

• When packing to come home, check the back of every drawer, cupboard and even under the beds for favourite toys that might be lurking unseen. Have a quick rifle through the hotel/resort Lost Property box for mislaid hats/t-shirts etc (patting yourself on the back for labelling them beforehand).

WHEN YOU RETURN • Take your holiday laundry for a service wash - it’s a small price to pay for not having to sort, wash and dry all those gritty beach towels and sunscreen covered t-shirts.

AND FINALLY Work on a 70:30 ratio. Holidays are not effortless when you have children, just as life at home is not effortless. If you can enjoy 70% of the time you are away together, that’s a result. 30% will be about tantrums, tiredness and bad moods. But if you come home knowing that for most of the time, you relaxed, laughed and enjoyed the time spent together as a family, it’s been a success!

The Great Escape Road to Rouen Ben Hatch, best-selling author of Are We Nearly There Yet?, is back – and this time he and his family are travelling in France.

Imagining that the family would return as relaxed, cultured food sophisticates, ten thousand miles later

12 Families Manchester | www.familiesmanchester.co.uk

his family’s been attacked by a donkey, had a run-in with a death-cult and, after a near drowning and a calamitous wedding experience involving a British spy, his own marriage is in jeopardy.

Funny and poignant, Road to Rouen asks important questions about life,

marriage and whether it’s ever acceptable to tape baguette to your children’s legs to smuggle lunch into Disneyland Paris.

Road to Rouen is published by Headline, £11.99. It’s available online at Amazon as both a paperback and Kindle.

Summer Travel Britain No matter where you’re going in the UK this summer, look no further than www.familiesonline.co.uk for what’s on in the area. With 40 local magazines across the country, we can keep you and the family entertained! Here are a few recommendations from some of our editors for great days out both in their area and further afield.

Warwick Castle and Stratford-upon-Avon are our best local offerings, but we’ve also enjoyed Legoland, Drayton Manor’s Thomas Land (when my son Luca was small), Brighton Pier and the Eden Project. Plus pretty much any beach with rock pools and crabbing! National Space Centre in Leicester was the highlight of Luca’s year last year.

Gabrielle Starkey, Families Warwickshire

We could easily write a whole page on Scotland, there is so much to see and do up here! Stirling Castle, Falkirk Wheel, Wallace Monument to name but a few....

Louise Boyle and Fiona Logan, Families Central Scotland

I spent a large chunk of Sunday at Hollycombe Steam Museum in Liphook, Hampshire. It was my 3 year old nephew’s birthday party and all the kids loved it. And all the Dads and Grandads loved all the engines. For a one off trip it was fairly expensive but the ticket price covered you for a whole year (just in case dads and kids want to return on a regular basis)!

Sarah Adair, Families Edinburgh

When my son was very little we used to spend lots of summers down in Dorset (Bridport) and never missed an opportunity to go to Pecorama. It’s located on the cliffs above Beer with some beautiful sea views and ride-on miniature railways. I suppose it is quite old fashioned but absolutely delightful. We stopped going to Dorset when he was 5 years old but at 18 he still remember what lovely days we had there.

Shelley Cooper, Families Herts

Legoland Windsor would get my vote as one of the best family attractions for younger age groups. The Harry Potter Studios are great for older kids who are Potter fans. And on a local level – Folly Farm in Pembrokeshire was a great family day out.

Wendy Flynn, Families Birmingham Plugging my area, we have the fab new All

About Me gallery at Eureka! which is the UK’s museum for children in Halifax, West Yorkshire. It is right in the heart of the Pennines and around us you have the moors and valley with villages (which pre-date the Industrial Revolution), North to the Yorkshire Dales via Haworth where the Bronte’s lived and created, and the Railway Children was filmed on the Keighley So many places I could mention in my local Worth Valley Railway, North East to the area but we love Yorkshire Sculpture Park and it’s free, except for parking. And further North Yorkshire Moors and Coast and South to the Peak district. afield, I can’t agree more about Harry Potter Rachel Bentley, Families Pennines experience - highlight of my year so far!

Belinda Maunsell, Families Vale of York

My daughter is 4 and recently loved The Riverside Museum on Clydebank in Glasgow, Edinburgh Castle and The Falkirk Wheel – you’ve guessed it we were in Scotland! Locally, my vote goes to Hobbledown in Epsom (which has something for every age range).

Linda Stone, Families London upon Thames

My children are 5 and 8 and over the past couple of years they’ve both really enjoyed the following…

Chatsworth House, Derbyshire Castle Howard, Yorkshire Eden Project, Cornwall Jorvik Viking Centre, York Warwick Castle, Warwickshire Alton Towers, Staffordshire Sudbury Hall Museum of Childhood, Derbyshire Helen Hill, Families Leicestershire

Chill out Having never done anything more than build snowmen, throw snowballs and sledge, Jayne and I headed off with some trepidation recently to a taster skiing session at the Chill Factore.

Convinced we were going to end up with at least one broken bone between us, we were pleasantly surprised to discover that it was remarkably simple and really great fun. Our lovely instructor Dan was very patient as we puffed and panted our way gradually higher and higher up the slope, learning the basics of ski control. We even ended the session with a race (I’m convinced it was a tie, although Jayne may have had an inch or two on me) – and the only time I hit the deck was when I tried to take my skis off! We’d highly recommend it for first time skiers (and children) – and may even sign up for lessons over summer, when the indoor slope is a bit quieter. Lessons aren’t cheap, admittedly (then again, nothing relating to skiing is really), but it’s a fun activity

that all the family can enjoy together.

And if skiing’s not your thing, then Chill Factore also offers snowboarding, a 12m climbing wall and a Snow Park with revamped Tubing lanes, a 60m long Luge, a Snow Play area for ages 2 – 10, and a newly launched Snow Carousel. Appropriate clothing is available to hire, and there are various special offers for sessions currently running – more info on their website. You can make a real day of it with onsite eateries and shops too. Pre-booking for sessions strongly recommended.

0161 749 2222 / www.chillfactore.com Caryl Hall, Families Cheshire

Join the Summer Reading Challenge There are plenty of spine-tingling surprises waiting for you at your local library!

From Sat 13 July, all children can register at their library for Creepy House. They’ll get a Creepy Fold out poster and a set of stickers (including some smelly scratch and sniff ones!) and a glow in the dark wrist band on their second visit! To receive a certificate and a medal for completing the challenge, children need to collect all 6 stickers, and record 6 of their favourite books.

There will be lots to do in the library – quizzes, events, competitions and all completely free of charge! www.creepyhouse.org.uk

Families Manchester | www.familiesmanchester.co.uk 13

Summer Header What I learned on my holidays...

By Joanna Moorhead

The long summer break is almost upon us; but whether you’re having a staycation or going away, why not fold some learning into your vacation plans? We’ve got 20 great ideas for skills you and your family can master over the weeks ahead – wherever you are.

1. Sleep outdoors: nothing says ‘summer’ like the chance to kip outside.

If you can, find a campsite where you can go for a few days; but if you can’t get away, put up a tent in the garden. No tent?

Borrow one. You’ll be amazed at the amount of fun kids can have with a few torches under canvas. Make sure they have lots of snacks – and don’t forget the singsongs!

2. Find a geocache: geocaching is like a treasure hunt where you use a GPS device to find a container which will have some small items (maybe toys) inside. It’s fun, exciting, and there’s lots to learn (about orienteering, geography, exploration, the environment). For more information see www.geocaching.com 3. Go wild swimming: swimming in rivers and lakes may sound an experience not a learning activity – but swimming in a natural environment helps kids learn about nature, and it’s a totally different experience from swimming in a pool, even an outdoor one. See www.wildswimming.co.uk for ideas of where to try it out.

4. Climb a tree: there’s so much to learn in tree-climbing: how to deal with the unexpected, how to trust your own judgement, how to take a risk and how to manage failure. You learn that it’s harder to come down than to go up, and you learn how to look after your friend who

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falls out of the tree. And they’re all life skills that are useful for ever.

Fly a kite: gem up on wind direction, find a suitable open space, and make or invest in a kite. Read up online on how to launch a kite, and go for it! You’ll get a tremendous sense of satisfaction as your kite dances across the sky.

Have a treasure hunt: there are loads of different ways to run a treasure hunt, so read up on the different methods online.

It’s all down to good planning, so don’t stint on that: you’ll spend more time on planning than on the event itself. As a rough rule of thumb, kids can manage twice as many clues as their age.

Make a movie: with the arrival of the iPhone and the iPad, it’s never been easier to make a (surprisingly professional) home movie. Choose your location, put together your storyboard and...action! There are various apps that can make filming easier (eg filmic pro, which locks the camera’s settings for the duration of a shot).

Build a den: it’s come to symbolise childhood freedom, and there’s little doubt it’s an activity children (and their parents) absolutely love. Dens are best built in woods, but even a small garden or a bedroom will do as a venue. The secret is to allow your child to let his/her imagination run wild (and not worry too much about the tidying up afterwards).

Ride a horse: some kids are pony-mad, but even those who don’t do regular lessons usually love at least the occasional chance to ride. Look up a riding school and see what they can offer in terms of a one-off experience; ideally, you’ll want to go too.

10. Find your way using a map and compass: whether you’re in a city or the country, whether it’s somewhere you know or somewhere new to you, there’s loads to learn from this. It’s tricky to work out the compass points, so a good activity to do en famille; also great to acclimatise children with maps and their usefulness.

11. Track wild animals: again this is something that can be done in the outback, the local park, or your back garden. Your children are looking for signs that animals have been here: pawprints, claw marks, scuff marks and – most fascinating of all for most kids – poo.

12. Catch a fish: if you’re new to fishing, use a net. Find water that’s clean and clear, and where you can see there are lots of fish. Then be patient, and ready to pounce.

13. Identify wild flowers: there are so many beautiful wild flowers, and it feels knowledgeable when you know what’s what. Choose an area rich in wild foliage, and take a book or leaflet with you to help you with identification.

14. Cook on a campfire: sausages and marshmallows are the obvious contenders – but you can be more ambitious than that! You can cook anything on a campfire. Try frying eggs, grilling fish, warming burritos, making risotto. Kids will eat things they’d never eat at home when they’ve been whizzed up on a campfire.

15. Go bird watching: if you’ve never done it, and know little about birds, the best thing to do is go to an RSPB sanctuary. Take your binoculars, read the guides, and use the hides.

BUGS! at Chester Zoo A ‘world first’ exhibition set to open at Chester Zoo on 13 July is aiming to put invertebrates in the spotlight. The exhibit will feature

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16. Build a raft: there are courses in raft-building; but there are also instructions (on the internet). It takes time, and teamwork, and effort; but there’s nothing like the feeling of finding it floats!

17. Identify at least ten constellations: invest in a good chart, wait for a dark night, keep your eyes peeled. You get a huge sense of satisfaction, and awe, when you manage to do it.

18. Make a family tree: learning about your family history is a fascinating way to put flesh on the bones of history lessons. What’s more, grandparents and great-aunts and uncles won’t always be around to fill you in – so ask the questions now.

19. Start a collection: it can be anything – football cards, postcards, photographs of funfairs you’ve visited, pebbles from beaches you’ve been to. You can collect experiences as well as items: keep a book where you write a short review of every film you watch, every book you read, or a description of every day out you have. Collections aren’t about WHAT they are, they’re about learning to organise your thoughts in a coherent, logical way.

20. Learn a good card or magic trick: it takes practice, but it’s enormous fun and if you get good at your trick, you really can surprise people (especially visitors). It’s part-performance, part-agility, part-confidence; all useful skills for every child.

13 large-scale robotic bug replicas including a scorpion, a ladybird and a 33ft-wide tarantula, and promises to be one of the most breath-taking displays ever seen in a UK zoo.

The huge creations are being custom built for the zoo by a top animation studio in the USA. Conservationists from the zoo hope the exhibition will provide a showcase for invertebrates and the need to conserve threatened species.

BUGS! will be free with normal zoo admission prices and will run until 3 November. www.chesterzoo.org/bugs

Summer Header Odds Farm Park

Explore the exciting Maize Maze. Weather and crop dependent!

01628 520188 / www.oddsfarm.co.uk, Wooburn Common, Bucks HP10 0LX

Willows Farm Village

Image: Istock

Check out their A-maize-ing 20,000 metre maze.

0870 1299718 / www.willowsfarmvillage.com, London Colney, St Albans, Hertfordshire AL4 0PF

Stansted House Maze

Amazing mazes Get thoroughly lost this summer in an exciting maze. From yew mazes to water mazes and the traditional to the modern, these 3D puzzles are sure to test your maze-solving abilities. Here are some close to home options close to home, as well some recommendations for further afield if you’re travelling over summer.

Reaseheath College

Reaseheath’s premier family attraction has been open to the general public each summer for the past 15 years!

Each year a Maize Maze is formed in a crop of forage that can grow up to 3 metres high, and this year the maze has been designed with a circus theme, so you will find an array of fun circus themed clues to help you complete the quiz that forms part of the journey around the maze. They also cater for younger visitors and anyone with less time to spare by offering a smaller Maize Maze. And while you’re there, you have the option to purchase a ticket to visit the zoo where you will find an array of animals including meercats, reptiles, aquatics and birds of prey.

01270 625131 / www.reaseheath.ac.uk, Nantwich, Cheshire CW5 6DF

Red House Farm

A new design every year, which starts at around 1 metre at opening weekend, to around 3 metres towards the end of summer. Plenty of other family friendly fun in the large courtyard area and onsite refreshments.

0161 941 3480 / www.redhousefarm.co.uk, Altrincham, Cheshire WA14 5RL

Adlington Hall

There’s a unicorn at the centre of the yew maze – but can you find it? Planted in 1996, the maze offers a real challenge for adults and children alike.

01625 820875 / www.adlingtonhall.com, Adlington, Cheshire SK10 4LF

Apple Jacks

Maize Maze open from July, as well as wooden maze. Full adventure playground too with Adventure Hayride, Jumping Pillow, Haystack Mountain, Stilt Walking, Roller Skating rink, and more.

01925 268495 / www.applejacksfarm.co.uk, Warrington, Cheshire WA4 4NW

Brimstage Maize Maze

Getting people lost since 2003, there’s now a whole range of additional attractions and activities for visitors to enjoy too. All activities included in the standard entry price.

07709 339490 / www.brimstagemaze.co.uk, Brimstage, Wirral, Merseyside CH63 6JA

York maze

An award winning, seasonal attraction with a giant maze and over 20 rides and shows. Set in the beautiful Yorkshire countryside, but only 10 minutes from the centre of York. New ultra violet mirror maze for 2013. 01904 607341 / www.yorkmaze.com, York YO19 5LT

Hever Castle

You will definitely get lost in this one!

Created by William Waldorf Astor in 1906, the Yew Maze sports hedges 8 feet high and is one of a few traditionally designed mazes in the country. Hever also has a Water Maze of stones that tilt and water jets that spring into action to soak the unwary visitor. Reach the stone grotto in the centre without getting wet!

01732 865224 / www.hevercastle.co.uk, Hever, nr Edenbridge, Kent TN8 7NG

Leeds Castle

Lose yourself in this spiraling Yew Maze and return to civilization through an underworld grotto, complete with macabre forms and mythical beasts. There is also a Turf Maze designed for younger children, the circles of turf leading to a wooden castle in the centre.

01622 765400 / www.leeds-castle.com, Maidstone, Kent ME17 1PL

Maze World

Be a-mazed as you travel the world in one day.

Home to the UK’s largest collection of permanent mazes, Maze World has six mazes themed around continents, including Canadian Hedge Maze, English Hedge Maze, Antarctic Labyrinth, Japanese Trellis Maze, African Reed Fence Maze and Australian Wooden pole Maze. 01827 713438 / www.visitplantasia.co.uk/mazeworld_1.aspx, Mancetter, Warwickshire CV9 1RF

A family attraction with over 500 yew trees nearly 2m tall.

02392 412265 / www.stanstedpark.co.uk, Stansted Park, Rowland’s Castle, Hampshire, PO9 6DX

Manydown Maze

You’ll have a farm–tastic time at Manydown Maze, over 2 acres in size. To help you navigate around the maze there is a treasure hunt.

01256 220398 / www.manydownfamilyfun.co.uk, Basingstoke, Hampshire RG23 8PU

Cliveden Maze

Have fun getting lost in the Maze, as large as the world famous Hampton Court Maze. There is no ‘quick exit’ so you have to find your way out as well as in. 01628 605069 / www.nationaltrust.org.uk/cliveden, Taplow, nr Maidenhead, Berkshire SL6 0JA

Blenheim Palace – Marlborough Maze

The giant Maize Maze is created with a different design each year. They also have Torchlight Maze Evenings, giving visitors the chance to complete the maze in the dark.

01342 718472 / www.tulleysmaizemaze.co.uk, Crawley, West Sussex RH10 4PE

The world’s second largest symbolic hedge maze, designed to reflect the history and architecture of the Palace. Covering over an acre, it has two wooden bridges which provide vantage points. Within the maze is a model of a Woodstock street, putting greens, and giant chess and draughts set.

0800 849 6500 / www.blenheimpalace.com, Woodstock Oxfordshire OX20 1PP

Millets Maize Maze

Hampton Court Maze

Tulleys Summer Maze Park

Split into 3 mazes, Mega, Midi and Mini, each of them have a different game to play.

Or venture in by moonlight.

07826132416 / www.milletsfarmcentre.com, Frilford, Nr Abingdon, Oxfordshire OX13 5HB

Britain’s oldest surviving hedge maze.

Designed by George London and Henry Wise in 1690, it is the most famous maze in the world and arguably the most visited.

There is also an effective sound installation enticing visitors through the labyrinth.

0844 482 7777 / www.hrp.org.uk/HamptonCourtPalace, East Molesey, Surrey KT8 9AU

National summer cycling event comes to Manchester!

Image: Jon Bewley

This summer, television presenter Lorraine Kelly is encouraging people in Manchester to support a 1,000-mile cycle tour called Pedal On UK, a summer of cycling events which celebrate the extension of walking and cycling routes across the country organised by cycling charity Sustrans.

Lorraine said: “This fantastic new event will give everyone the opportunity to explore their local areas, enjoy these cycling and walking routes and have some fun together.”

Between Sat 31 Aug and Sun 1 Sept, Pedal On UK will come to some of Manchester’s new walking and cycling routes in Sale, Bury and Rochdale. As

part of the celebration, members of the public will get the chance to cycle with Pedal On UK as it passes through certain areas.

Pedal On UK will begin a three-week journey from the Olympic Park on 16 August, and will end on September 7 at Glasgow’s Bridge to Nowhere. The event is backed as part of the Big Lottery Fund’s Spirit of 2012 campaign to ensure a lasting legacy from the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Eleanor Roaf, North West Regional Director at Sustrans said: “We are proud to be bringing Pedal On UK to Manchester this summer. There are thousands of miles of safe cycling and walking routes on people’s door steps, so we hope this event will raise this awareness. It will also be a great chance to get the whole community together to have some fun.”

To get involved in Pedal On UK when it comes to Manchester, visit www.pedalonuk.org to register your interest.

Families Families Manchester Cheshire | www.familiesmanchester.co.uk | www.familiescheshire.co.uk 15

Summer Header Have an adventure

The National Trust has taken advantage of the warmer weather to update their list of 50 Thing To Do Before You’re 11¾. There’s nothing quite like fresh air, exercise and family time, and you can’t beat the fun you can have in the Great Outdoors.

However, sometimes convincing your kids can be a bit of a struggle, so the Trust have come up with 50 Things To Do Before You’re 11¾ to encourage kids to get mucky, discover their wild side and enjoy what Mother Nature has to offer. Check out the website, where you can interact with your very own virtual Outdoors Explorer - keep track of activities, earn rewards, get top tips for each adventure, unlock cool games, earn badges, collect certificates and discover some secret challenges. Camp out in the wild, build a den, go star gazing, hunt for fossils, set up a snail race, explore a cave and much, much more. www.50things.org.uk

Full steam ahead

Astle Park is to host its Annual Steam Fair on Sat 10 & Sun 11 August. One of Cheshire’s biggest steam and vintage events, there wil also be the opportunity to help drive a steam engine!

An action packed arena programme will run from 11am – 5pm.

This exciting day out has plenty for children with both old time and modern funfairs, quad rides, puppet show, birds of prey displays, a giant inflatable slide and castles, climbing wall, face painting and trampolines.

New for 2013 is Ken Fox’s Wall of Death, the oldest surviving Wall of Death in the UK. The noise, the speed, the smell, the proximity of the bikes ridden to the top of the vertical wall, barely 6 inches from the audience – an experience never to be forgotten!

For more information visit www.outdoorshows.co.uk.

Just So Festival back for 2013

The award-winning festival, which takes place in Cheshire each August, takes families out of their day to day lives and invites them to sing, dance, play, explore and discover art together in a spellbinding natural landscape.

The festival is unique in its offer of a weekend packed entirely with performances and workshops specifically for families. It has grown from strength to strength in its first three years and organisers are certain that Just So Festival 2013 (16/17/18 August) will be the best yet.

In 2013 the festival team will be delving further into the woods on the Rode Hall Estate to bring the audience some exciting new areas including Telling Tales, a world full of books and The High Chaparral where everyone can release their inner cowboy. Buckets & Spades, the beach installation from 2011 will be making a return and what better setting than the banks of the lake at Rode? Peekaboo, their area for 0–3 year olds will again be providing high quality performances and experiences designed around their smallest visitors.

The festival will take place at Rode Hall Park, Scholar Green, Cheshire, ST7 3QP. Tickets are on sale from www.justsofestival.org.uk.

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Funstock 2013: a feast of family fun for charity

Prolong the summer holiday fun this year, and join The Co-operative Bank for one of the biggest family days out in the North West. Funstock 2013 will be held on Sun 8 September at Stockley Farm, Arley from 10.30am until late, and is organised in aid of Carer’s Trust.

Start your day with a tractor and trailer ride from the car park down to the farm, and enjoy the following activities: • An animal corner and sheds with a wide variety of animals • Bottle feeding baby lambs and goats

• Sheep racing • Birds of prey displays • Watching cows being milked in the farm’s on-site dairy • Indoor and outdoor play areas • Craft and gift stalls Relax in the farm Tearoom and enjoy a wide selection of home-made food, including hot and cold meals, snacks and home-made cakes. Or, enjoy the BBQ (vegetarian option available).

Locally produced real dairy ice cream is also available. www.co-operativebank.co.uk/funstock

ARE YOU FEELING LUCKY? WIN a Family VIP ticket to see Cyrano De Bergerac in Grosvenor Park Chester’s stunning Grosvenor Park – right in the heart of this historic and beautiful city - will once again be magically transformed into a professional, family friendly open air theatre from 5 July – 25 August. Now in its fourth year, this summer attraction offers families the opportunity to experience the wonders of theatre in this unique, relaxed and informal setting. A brand new adaptation of the swashbuckling comedy drama Cyrano De Bergerac, Shakespeare’s summer favourite A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Othello will play in rep throughout the season. Picnics can be enjoyed and families can be entertained – as all children under 12* years of age are free with an accompanying adult.

Chester Performs – producers of the Grosvenor Park Open Air Theatre – are delighted to offer one family the chance to win a Family VIP Ticket – including four matinee tickets to see Cyrano De Bergerac in August, reserved deckchairs for four on the grassed area in the heart of the action and a picnic for all to share. Mum and dad can also enjoy a free bottle of fizz to accompany their food! *Children must be under 16.

For a chance to win, enter online at www.familiesmanchester.co.uk.

Entries close Wed 31 July. For full details of this year’s Grosvenor Park Open Air Theatre line-up and how to book tickets, please visit www.grosvenorparkopenairtheatre.co.uk

Summer Header Places to visit for great days out THE GREAT OUTDOORS:

Aerial Extreme, Trafford Centre www.aerialextreme.co.uk Bruntwood Park www.stockport.gov.uk Chorlton Water Park www.manchester.gov.uk Clifton Country Park www.salford.gov.uk/cliftoncountry Daisy Nook Country Park www.oldham.gov.uk Debdale Park www.manchester.gov.uk Etherow Country Park www.stockport.gov.uk Heaton Park www.heatonpark.org.uk Fletcher Moss Botanical Gardens www.manchester.gov.uk Go Ape, Delamere Forest www.goape.co.uk Hollingworth Lake Country Park www.rochdale.gov.uk Jumbles Country Park www.bolton.org.uk/jumbles.html Moses Gate Country Park www.bolton.gov.uk Moss Bank Park www.bolton.org.uk/mossbank.html Platt Fields Park www.plattfields.org Reddish Vale Country Park www.reddishvalecountrypark.com Vernon Park www.stockport.gov.uk Wythenshawe Park www.manchester.gov.uk

WALK ON THE WILD SIDE:

Blackpool Zoo www.blackpoolzoo.org.uk Blue Planet Aquarium, Ellesmere Port www.blueplanetaquarium.co.uk Chester Zoo, Chester www.chesterzoo.org Knowsley Safari Park www.knowsleysafariexperience.co.uk Sealife, Manchester www.visitsealife.com/Manchester The Chestnut Centre, Chapel-en-le-Frith www.chestnutcentre.co.uk Trentham Monkey Forest, Trentham www.trentham-monkey-forest.com

THEME PARKS:

Alton Towers, Stoke-on-Trent www.altontowers.com Blackpool Pleasure Beach www.blackpoolpleasurebeach.com Gulliver’s World, Warrington www.gulliversfun.co.uk

FARMS:

Cronkshaw Fold Farm, Helmshore www.cronkshaw.co.uk Heaton Park Animal Centre www.heatonpark.org.uk Reddish Vale Farm www.reddishvalefarm.co.uk Red House Farm, Dunham Massey www.redhousefarm.co.uk Smithills Open Farm, Bolton www.smithillsopenfarm.co.uk Stockley Farm, Arley www.stockleyfarm.co.uk Tatton Park Farm, Knutsford www.tattonpark.org.uk

MUSEUMS, GALLERIES, HISTORY:

Bramall Hall www.stockport.gov.uk/bramallhall Dunham Massey, Altrincham www.nationaltrust.org.uk Hat Works, Stockport www.stockport.gov.uk/hatworks Imperial War Museum North www.iwm.org.uk Jodrell Bank Discovery Centre, Macclesfield www.jodrellbank.net Lyme Park, Disley www.nationaltrust.org.uk Manchester Art Gallery www.manchestergalleries.org Manchester Museum www.museum.manchester.ac.uk Museum of Science & Industry www.mosi.org.uk Museum of Transport www.gmts.co.uk People’s History Museum www.phm.org.uk Portland Basin Museum www.tameside.gov.uk Quarry Bank Mill, Styal www.nationaltrust.org.uk

Salford Museum and Art Gallery www.salford.gov.uk/museums Staircase House, Stockport www.stockport.gov.uk/staircasehouse Stockport Air Raid Shelters www.stockport.gov.uk/airraidshelters The Lowry www.thelowry.com The Whitworth Art Gallery, Manchester www.whitworth.manchester.ac.uk Touchstones, Rochdale www.link4life.org

INDOOR PLAY CENTRES:

Anchor’s Away Play, Wythenshawe www.anchorsawayplay.com Antz in your Pantz, Timperley www.antzinyourpantz.co.uk Curly Whirleez, Bolton www.curlywhirleez.co.uk Funtime Kids, Cheadle www.facebook.com/FuntimeKidsCheadle Head over Heels, Chorlton & Stanley Green www.headoverheelsplay.co.uk Land of Play, Trafford Park www.landofplay.co.uk Mischief Makers, Rochdale www.mischiefmakersltd.co.uk Planet Play, Heywood www.planetplay.net Playfactore, Trafford www.playfactore.com Richmond Hall Kids Adventure Play Centre www.richmond-hall.co.uk Run of the Mill, Stockport www.runofthemill.co.uk Zoom Play Centre, Stockport

INDOOR ADVENTURE:

Airkix, Trafford Park www.airkix.com Awesome Walls, Stockport www.awesomewalls.co.uk Chill Factore www.chillfactore.com Gulliver’s World Splash Zone www.gulliversfun.co.uk Manchester Climbing Centre www.manchesterclimbingcentre.com Rockover Cllimbing www.rockoverclimbing.com Silver Blades Ice Rink, Altrincham www.altrinchamicedome.co.uk

The Vertical Chill Ice Wall, Manchester www.vertical-chill.com

GET CREATIVE:

Bean & Brush Café, Sale www.beanandbrush.co.uk Brooklyn Pottery, Stockport www.brooklynpottery.co.uk Brookside Pottery, Poynton www.brooksidepottery.com Legoland Discovery Centre, Trafford Park www.legolanddiscoverycentre.co.uk Pottery Corner, Chorlton www.potsareforpainting.co.uk

ON THE RAILS:

Brookside Garden Centre, Poynton www.brooksidegardencentre.com Churnet Valley Railway, Cheddleton www.churnet-valley-railway.co.uk Dragon Miniature Railway, Marple www.freewebs.com/dragonrailway East Lancashire Railway www.eastlancsrailway.org.uk Grosvenor Park Miniature Railway, Chester www.gpmr.co.uk Haigh Miniature Railway, Wigan www.miniaturerailwayworld.co.uk/Haigh.html Heaton Park Tramway www.heatonparktramway.org.uk MOSI steam train www.mosi.org.uk Moss Bank Park Miniature Railway, Bolton www.bolton.gov.uk Springfield Park, Rochdale www.rsmee.com Walton Park Trains, Sale www.waltonparktrains.co.uk

WATERWORKS:

Anderton Boat Lift, Nortwich www.andertonboatlift.co.uk Hyde Leisure Pool www.tamesidesportstrust.com/ hyde_pool_index.asp River Dee Cruises, Chester www.chesterboat.co.uk Salford Watersports Centre www.salford.gov.uk/watersportscentre.htm Trafford Water Sports Centre www.thedeckersgroup.com/twsc

Paltry Portions and Revolting Recipes

ARE YOU FEELING LUCKY?

Horrible Histories® to create a new, immersive, 360 degree Big Picture Show for all the family - based on the world’s bestselling children’s history-book series written by Terry Bleurgh! Step into the horrible world Deary and illustrated by Martin Brown.

Watch the show at 11am daily of rotten rationing. IWM North, (and at 2pm on weekends and during part of Imperial War Museums, in school holidays) in the Main Exhibition Manchester, has teamed up with

One lucky Families reader will win a Family Ticket to the IWM North AirShard viewing platform, a free child’s meal in the WaterShard Cafe & Kitchen and a free copy of the Horrible Histories: Beastly Best Bits book signed by illustrator Martin Brown.

To enter, go to www.familiesmanchester.co.uk.

Entries close Wed 31 July.

New Horrible Histories®: Rotten Rationing Big Picture Show at IWM North Space. Entry to the museum is free, but donations are welcome. Test your taste buds by trying wartime treats such as spam-fritters, carrot cake and minipotted (Woolton) pies – every weekend in the IWM North WaterShard Café & Kitchen. Then add to your collection of Horrible Histories® books by visiting the IWM North shop. www.iwm.org.uk

Families Manchester | www.familiesmanchester.co.uk 17

What’s on

These listings are for guidance only – please check before you go To include your upcoming event in our listings, email events@familiesmanchester.co.uk

In the Night Garden Live – Back In Manchester Don’t miss your chance to see In The Night Garden Live at The Trafford Centre in Manchester from Thurs 15 August for two weeks only.

See Igglepiggle, Upsy Daisy and Makka Pakka brought to life with beautiful costumes, magical puppets, enchanting music and breathtaking projections.

In the Night Garden Live takes place in

its own family-friendly Showdome. With just 13 rows of seats, you’ll be close to the action and everyone gets a great view!

You really must be quick to get tickets.

Seats are limited, and premium tickets have already sold out.

Watch the trailer and book online at www.NightGardenLive.com.

Sun 7 July & Sun 4 Aug

Tatton Park, Knutsford American Civil War at the Old Hall 12pm – 5pm, Adult £6, Child £4, Family £16.

Normal Park Entry Charge applies Gunfire and skirmish, bugle and drum as well as rest and recreation offer vignettes of other lives. A spectacular and noisy battle each day.

01625 374400 / www.tattonpark.org.uk

Kingsway School (lower site), Cheadle SK8 1NP & Saddleworth School, Uppermill, OL3 6BU Kids Car Boot & Swap Shop 10am - 12pm, Pitch costs £15 www.kidscarbootandswapshop.co.uk

Beech Fields, Timperley Altrincham Festival 11am – 5pm, Free (donations welcome) Displays, food, funfair, inflatables, fun train, puppets and more. www.yourfestival.org.uk

Sun 7 July

Beep Beep!

Winston pulls into Thomas Land As Thomas Land™ commemorates its fifth anniversary at Drayton Manor Theme Park, near Tamworth, Staffordshire, a brand new ride based on a celebrated Thomas & Friends™ character is set to arrive.

Winston’s Whistle Stop Tour features the willing, loyal and extremely helpful Winston, who will be on hand to assist The Fat Controller with his terrible driving skills, whilst keeping all of his visitors and younger guests entertained when he officially launches on Friday 19 July.

Sun 7 July

William Scholes Playing Field, Gatley Gatley Carnival Parade and Festival Fun Day Free entry, donations welcome Parade starts 12.30, arriving at Scholes Field at 1.30. Crowning of royalty at 2pm. www.gatleyfestival.org

Winston joins the 21 other rides and attractions based on the ever-popular Thomas & Friends series. Families can experience the magic of Sodor and interact with their favourite characters like never before and the new Winston’s Whistle Stop Tour ride will allow them to be able to see everything from a bird’s eye view. In good weather the Winston vehicles will also be open top to add to riders’ enjoyment.

0844 472 1960 / www.draytonmanor.co.uk

Honford Hall, Handforth Handforth Craft Fair 11am – 2pm, Free entry 40 stalls including children’s activities, also a charity tombola and cash prize raffles (drawn at 1.45pm). Red fun play bus parked at the Bulls head car park. Fabulous café. www.facebook.com/handforthcraftfair

World’s First Madame Tussauds Children’s Zone completed

Buile Hill Park, Salford Party in the Park 1 – 5pm. A free faith community event run by local churches. Live music stage, dance performance, food and drink. Lots of children’s activities including inflatables, all set in beautiful parkland. For more details contact Becci McGeown at the World Harvest Bible Church.

07885 970 779 / www.salford.gov.uk/countryparks

Marvel’s Spider-Man, one of the most popular characters in the world, and everyone’s favourite Ogre, DreamWorks Animations’ Shrek have been immortalised by Madame Tussauds Blackpool.

Joining TV star Bob the Builder, the two new figures complete the World’s first Madame Tussauds Children’s Zone.

The new figures of the iconic web-slinging Super Hero figure and the seven-foot-tall Shrek, who is Blackpool’s tallest figure, will be featured in the new

City Airport, Eccles Family Fun Day and Aircraft Fly in £8 per car or £3 for pedestians (under 12s free if accompanied by an adult). See classic cars, emergency services, live music, aviation art, Flying School exhibits and new for this year, Go-Karting !! Try your hand at flying on the day by taking a flight in a Helicopter, Aircraft or Microlight. Special offers will be available on the day, just turn up and fly! Flypast by the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight’s Dakota aircraft.

0161 789 1362 / www.visitcityairport.co.uk

interactive zone which includes a Manhatten skyscraper, a log tunnel and an Ogre Swamp.

0871 282 9200 / www.madametussauds.com/blackpool

New What’s on Guide to Inclusive UK Did you know there are over 1,300 events for people with learning disabilities and autism taking place every week around the UK? They’re all listed in the new What’s on Guide to Inclusive UK – online at

www.netbuddy.org.uk. Given the thumbs up by Liam Gallagher and DJ Jo Whiley, you can add your information about inclusive events too – just email inclusive@pressassociation.com.

18 Families Manchester | www.familiesmanchester.co.uk

Ordshall Hall Museum, Salford The Bloomin’ Great Big Garden Party 12 – 4pm, Free A celebration of all things garden related! Lots of fun hands-on activities for all ages and a chance to unwind and relax in Ordsall’s beautiful gardens. www.salford.gov.uk/ordsallhall.htm

Victoria Park, Swinton Victoria Park Band Concert 2 – 4pm. A fabulous outdoor live band concert performed on a Victorian band stand with light refreshments served by Friends of Victoria Park. Call Jill on 07872 808 003 for more information. www.salford.gov.uk/countryparks

Fri 12 July

Pavilion Gardens, Buxton Buxton Food & Drink Festival 4 – 11pm, Free. Over 25 stalls serving up delicious foods from around the world plus local beers and street entertainment. Outdoor seating will be available. www.visitbuxton.co.uk

Fri 12 – Sun 21 July

Manchester Town Hall Manchester International Festival - Once Upon A Story A treasure trove of stories of and about childhood, where anything is possible and audiences find themselves at the heart of the action. Four shows, each aimed at different age groups. www.mif.co.uk

From Sat 13 July

Chester Zoo BUGS! 13 large-scale robotic bug replicas promising a breath taking experience. Free with normal zoo entry. www.chesterzoo.org/bugs

Sat 13 July

Torkington Park, Hazel Grove Hazel Grove Carnival Parade starts 1pm, arriving at the park around 2.15pm. www.hazelgrovecarnival.co.uk Manchester Museum Big Saturday: Dig Now 11am – 4pm, All ages, Free Meet curators and archaeology students and find out more about archaeology today.

Children can roll up their sleeves and fine tune their archaeology skills as they explore the dig boxes. Smash pots and explore the science of putting them back together again.

0161 275 2648 / www.manchester.ac.uk/museum

Fri 12 July

MediaCityUK, Salford Summer in the City - BBC North Open Day 4 – 7pm, Free The BBC throw open their doors at MediaCityUK. Find out all about what goes on in the home of BBC Breakfast, children’s channels CBBC and CBeebies, BBC Sport and BBC Radio 5Live. www.mediacityuk.co.uk

What’s on Sat 13 July

Bowden Parish Centre An Oasis in the City 11.30am – 4pm, Adults £2, Children Free A pop up family event hosting local, independent design-makers selling gorgeous handmade homewares, papercrafts, clothing, jewellery and accessories and artisan foods!

Vintage tea room, pamper zone, ‘find out corner’ to discover new hobbies, FREE fully supervised kids club, allowing parents to shop, pamper and learn while their children are safe and entertained. www.eventsbythesocialbutterfly.com

Sat 13 July & Fri 9 Aug

The John Rylands Library, Manchester Enchanting tales 11am – 12 noon, Ages 5 – 12, Free Join the Library’s storyteller in one of our beautiful book-lined rooms, for tales of magic, mystery, mayhem and more!

Here be dragons 12 – 1pm, Ages 5 – 10, Free The walls and ceilings of the Library are full of strange and mysterious creatures – join our tour to seek them out!. Booking essential.

0161 306 0555 / www.library.manchester.ac.uk/rylands

Sat 13 & Sun 14 July

Manchester Airport Runway Visitor Park Aviation Fair www.manchesterairport.co.uk Daresbury, Warrington, WA4 4AG Cheshire Steam Fair 10am to 5pm, Adults £8, Under 16s £4, Family Ticket £20. Pre-booked Weekend Camping including Family Admission £35.Not just for the Steam enthusiast! It’s a great family day out with hundreds of exhibits on display, attracting visitors from throughout the UK. 01751 200839 / www.outdoorshows.co.uk

Sun 14 July

Queen’s Park, Heywood Heywood Big Games 11am – 3pm, All ages, Free Sports Tasters, Face Painting, Arts & Crafts, Punch & Judy, Live Music, Junior Assault Course, Mountain Bikes & BMX, Orienteering, Crown Green Bowls, Tennis, Angling, Cricket, Rochdale Hornets Rugby Taster, ‘Where It’s At’ Youth Bus, Stalls & Groups and Rochdale Borough Golf Roadshow. Prizes to be won.

Goody bags for the first 250 to register. www.link4life.org Higher Poynton Station Higher Poynton Summerfest 2013 11.30am – 4.30pm, Free (£2 car park charge) Morris dancing, birds of prey, bouncy assault tunnel, children’s rides , a magician, Punch & Judy, balloon modelling , free canal boat trips, dog training, pony rides, food and music.

01625 878495 or 01625 872238 / www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/rangers

Fri 19 July

MOSI, Manchester Experitots – Big Machines £3 for one adult and one child, £2 each additional adult/child Activity session for under 5s in the hands-on science gallery. Fun, creative activities, puppets and storytelling help toddlers get the most out of the gallery. Sessions have limited places - booking highly recommended.

0161 833 0027 / www.mosi.org.uk

Sat 20 July

Woodbank Park, Stockport Stockport Carnival Procession starts in Belmont Way, Heaton Norris at 1pm, arriving at Woodbank Park at 2pm. Funfair, giant car boot sale and crowning of the new Royalty at 3pm. www.stockportcarnival.com

Dunham Massey, Altrincham Sports Day 12 – 4pm, Free (normal admission applies) Fun and games in the garden. Who will be your family’s egg and spoon race champion?

0161 941 1025 / www.nationaltrust.org.uk/dunham-massey

The John Rylands Library, Manchester Summer of Magic Launch 5 – 7pm Watch The Sword in the Stone in the atmospheric surroundings of the Library’s Historic Reading Room. www.library.manchester.ac.uk/rylands

Heywood Civic Saturday Dance Day 1pm – 4.45pm, Ages 8-15, Free 1 – 1.45pm Zumba 2 – 2.45pm Disco Dancing 3 – 3.45pm Street Dancing 4 – 4.45pm Ballroom Dancing “Tuck Shop” available, limited places – please book.

0300 303 8399 / www.link4life.org

Sat 20 Jul – Early Sept

Middleton Arena Middleton Big Games 11am – 3pm, All ages, Free. Swimming, Aqua Sports, Face Painting, Theatre Skills, Arts & Crafts, Music and Dance Groups on stage, Rochdale Borough Golf Roadshow, Mountain Bike Track, Racquets, Healthy Living, Clubs & Groups, Lifesaving, Martial Arts and All Free Coaching. Prizes to be won. Goody bags for the first 250 to register. www.link4life.org

MOSI, Manchester Made in Manchester Follow in the footsteps of Manchester’s many pioneers. Hear their stories of ingenious inventions and ground-breaking discoveries, find out what Manchester’s famous for and be inspired to make, invent and create in our workshops and activities. Let your imagination come out to play and maybe you could be the next great inventor. www.mosi.org.uk

Sun 21 July

Smithills Hall, Bolton Garden Party and Dog Show Hall entry: Adult £1.50, Child £1 Dog show entry: £1 per dog per category Free entry to grounds. Craft stalls, live music, food, face painting and more. www.boltonmuseums.org.uk/smithillshall

Mon 22 – Fri 26 July

Sat 27 July

24 July

Ordsall Park, Salford Ordsall Festival 12 – 4pm, Free. A host of sports and games.

With champion dancing, singing and live music plus ice cream, face painting and a bouncy castle. Look out for details of sporting VIPs attending the launch of the new sport space in the park. www.salford.gov.uk/countryparks

Manchester Museum Ancient Worlds 11am – 4pm, All ages, Free, Drop-in Hands-on activities, part of the Festival of Archaeology 0161 275 2648 / www.manchester.ac.uk/museum

Bury Transport Museum Paper Pop Up’s 11am – 3pm, £1 (plus standard admission) Simple and fun, impress your friends with your handmade paper pop-up.

0161 763 7949 / www.eastlancsrailway.org.uk

Wed 24 July – Tues 3 Sept

Touchstones, Rochdale Summer Holiday Quiz FREE drop-in activity available during opening hours – no booking required. The quiz takes you on a tour of the exciting exhibitions and once completed you can enter the free prize draw to win a high street gift voucher. www.link4life.org/touchstones

Thurs 25 – Sun 28 July

Tatton Park, Knutsford RHS Flower Show A stunning blend of inspirational gardening with all the magnificence and grandeur of a garden party.

0844 871 3070 / www.rhs.org.uk/tatton

Thurs 25 July

Heywood Sports Village Summer Taster Day 12.30 – 3.30pm, £1 Try out a variety of sports and swimming sessions to get a taste for what’s on every day during the summer holidays. www.link4life.org Rochdale Leisure Centre Summer Taster Day 10am – 12pm, £1 Try out a variety of sports and swimming sessions to get a taste for what’s on every day during the summer holidays. www.link4life.org Middleton Leisure Centre Summer Taster Day 1 – 3pm, £1 Try out a variety of sports and swimming sessions to get a taste for what’s on every day during the summer holidays. www.link4life.org

Fri 26 July

Manchester Museum Magic Carpet 10.30 – 11.30am & 11.30am – 12.30pm, under 5s, Free, Drop-in. Storytelling and activity session for under 5s and their families/ carers. Book from a week before.

0161 275 2648 / www.manchester.ac.uk/museum

Bolton Museum Super Saturdays – Sports Day 11am. A range of free events for the whole family. Activities include a free Family Trail, Crafts, Storytelling, Object Handling and more.

No booking required. www.boltonmuseums.org.uk

Sat 27 & Sun 28 July

Dunham Massey, Altrincham Edwardian Garden Party 12 – 4pm, Free (normal admission applies) Bring a picnic and celebrate this elegant era in style. Family fun with a brass band, Punch & Judy, circus workshop and croquet.

0161 941 1025 / www.nationaltrust.org. uk/dunham-massey

Sat 27 July – Sat 3 Aug

Wythenshawe Park Wythenshawe Games A free, week-long, fun, festival of sport and culture for all ages. Football, rugby, softball, tennis, badminton, running, cycling, rock climbing and more. Drop in any time in the week to the specially constructed Sports Arena to take part in sports. Also special events throughout the week, such as an over 50s day, under 5s day and a youth games. www.wythenshawegames.org.uk

Sun 28 July

Chadkirk Chapel & Country Estate Chadkirk Festival & Well Dressing 12 – 5pm, Adult £2, Child (5 – 15) £1, under 5s Free A day of live music, fantastic shows and demonstrations, a variety of stalls including crafts and hand made goods.

0161 474 4444 / www.stockport.gov.uk

Mon 29 July

Lyme Park, Disley Den Building 1 – 3pm, Free (normal admission applies) Enjoy an afternoon of fun and mud as you build dens in the woods.

01663 762023 / www.nationaltrust.org.uk/lyme-park

Mon 29 July – Fri 2 Aug

Dunham Massey, Altrincham Meet the Rangers 12 – 4pm, Free (normal admission applies) Meet the ranger team in the north park. Find out how they take care of Dunham and get some inspiration for how you can do some of the ‘50 things to do before you’re 11¾’ at Dunham.

0161 941 1025 / www.nationaltrust.org.uk/dunham-massey

Families Manchester | www.familiesmanchester.co.uk 19

What’s on Mon 29 July – Fri 2 Aug

Quarry Bank Mill, Styal Cool shades 12 – 4pm, Free (normal admission applies) Make your own sparkly spectacles! Plus . . .

Wild Wednesday – why not cool down in the garden and design your own wild art.

01625 527468 / www.nationaltrust.org.uk/quarry-bank-mill

Mon 29 July – Fri 23 Aug

Jodrell Bank Summer Holiday Fun 4 weeks of family holiday fun including science shows and hands-on experiments. www.jodrellbank.net/families

Mon 29 July – Fri 30 Aug Manchester Museum Nature’s Library 11am – 4pm, All ages, Free, Drop-in 0161 275 2648 / www.manchester.ac.uk/museum

Tues 30 July & Thurs 1 Aug

Hat Works, Stockport Summer Flowers 10.30am – 12 noon and 1pm – 2.30pm, Ages 5 – 11 £3.50 Make a beautiful bunch of flowers that will last all summer long at this fun crafts workshop.

Booking essential.

0161 474 2399 / www.stockport.gov.uk

Tues 30 July & Tues 13 Aug

Lyme Park, Disley Below Stairs Apprentice 1 – 3pm, All ages, Free (normal admission applies) Explore Truelove the butler’s rooms and find out how Edwardian Lyme ticked. Polish the silver, learn deportment and become the perfect servant.

01663 762023 / www.nationaltrust.org.uk/lyme-park

Tues 30 July, Tues 6, 13, 20 & 27 Aug

The John Rylands Library. Manchester Summer fun!

1 – 4pm, Ages 5 – 12, Free Boredom-busting activities to help the summer holidays go with a swing! Creative activities for all the family to enjoy.

Come for an hour or stay for the whole afternoon. No booking required.

0161 306 0555 / www.library.manchester.ac.uk/rylands

Wed 31 July

Smithills Hall, Bolton Bug Hunt 12.30pm & 2pm, Free (normal Hall admission charges apply) Explore the grounds and use nets to look for Ladybirds and other insects, or slugs and snails. After we’ve had a look at them, we’ll let them go. The event is free however admission charges apply if you would like to look around the hall. Booking essential as places limited. 01204 332377 / www.boltonmuseums.org.uk/smithillshall

These listings are for guidance only – please check before you go To include your upcoming event in our listings, email events@familiesmanchester.co.uk

Tatton Park, Knutsford Viking Morning 10.30am – 12.30pm, Age 8 – 12, £9, advance booking essential. A fun-filled morning exploring the life of a typical Viking settlement, including outdoor cooking, storytelling, shelter building and animal tracking.

01625 374428 / www.tattonpark.org.uk Air Raid Shelters, Stockport Children’s Explorer Tours 6.45 – 8pm, Age 7+, Adult £2, Child £3.95 Exciting children’s version of the ever popular explorer tours. Brave the darkened tunnels as you go back in time and experience the life of a child during the war. Booking essential.

0161 474 1940 / www.stockport.gov.uk/museums Imperial War Museum, North Fit For Action 11am – 3pm, All ages, Free. Fun, exciting sport and fitness themed events taking place around the museum with staff from Trafford Community Leisure Trust.

No booking required. Activities include table Tennis Taster sessions and Fencing for children. www.iwm.org.uk Bury Transport Museum Magical Magnets 11am – 3pm, £1 (plus standard admission) Harness the power of magnets to create a little moving car or train as well as a railway line or road to run it along.

0161 763 7949 / www.eastlancsrailway.org.uk

Wed 31 July, Wed 14 & Wed 21 Aug

Lyme Park, Disley Garden Apprentice 1 – 3pm, All ages, Free (normal admission applies). Water the plants in the garden and learn how to care for them, just like Mr Addison, the Edwardian Head Gardener.

01663 762023 / www.nationaltrust.org.uk/lyme-park

Thurs 1 Aug

Lyme Park, Disley Animal Kites in the Garden 1 – 3pm, All ages, Free (normal admission applies). Create a wonderful kite using traditional techniques.

01663 762023 / www.nationaltrust.org.uk/lyme-park

Fri 2 Aug

Lyme Park, Disley Stone skimming and grass trumpets 1 – 3pm, All ages, Free (normal admission applies). Ever wanted to skim stones better than your dad? Join in the fun at the mill pond.

01663 762023 / www.nationaltrust.org.uk/lyme-park

20 Families Manchester | www.familiesmanchester.co.uk

Fri 2, Fri 9, Tues 13, Mon 19, Tues 28 Aug

Delamere Forest Bush craft 10am – 12pm or 1.30pm – 3.30pm, £6.

Learn the ways of the forest. Make survival shelters, whittle a stick and try your hand at fire lighting. Finish off by toasting marshmallows. Booking essential.

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

Sat 3 Aug

Dunham Massey, Altrincham Guided Walk - Family Wildlife Walk 11am – 1pm, Free (normal admission applies). Bring all the family to discover Dunham’s deer and other wildlife on a guided walk around the park. Dogs on leads welcome. Limited places available.

0161 941 1025 / www.nationaltrust.org.uk/dunham-massey Paddock, Handforth Handforth Paddock Fair 11am – 4pm, Free entry Great family day out. Unique stalls and Mediterranean food, Children’s activities such as face painting, bouncy castle, canvas painting and a chance to meet Peppa Pig. www.facebook.com/handforthpaddockfair MOSI, Manchester What’s Cool about Nuclear Science?

Did you know that we are constantly being bombarded by nuclear radiation from outer space? Or that radioactivity occurs naturally in some common foods we eat? Join scientists from the Nuclear FiRST Doctoral Training Centre and take part in some hands-on activities to find out lots more about radioactivity and nuclear energy. www.mosi.org.uk

Sat 3 & Sun 4 Aug

East Lancashire Railway Day Out With Thomas™ 9am – 3.45pm (Official opening with the Fat Controller at 9.45). Come and spend the day out with Thomas and his friends. Your one time entry fee gets you unlimited access to all of the events and attractions!

0161 764 7790 / www.eastlancsrailway.org.uk

Sat 3 & Sun 4 Aug, Sat 17 & Sun 18 Aug, Sat 31 Aug & Sun 1 Sept

Hat Works, Stockport Children’s Tours 2.30 – 3.30pm, Ages 5 – 11, Adult £1.50, Child £2.50.Step back in time to learn how hats were made and experience what it was like to be a hatter’s apprentice! Booking essential.

0161 474 2399 / www.stockport.gov.uk

Sat 3 – Sun 11 Aug

Manchester Dig the City From King Street to the Cathedral, via fine food, flowers and a fête, with markets, workshops and public art – it’s Manchester’s urban gardening festival. Supported by the National Trust, the event will inspire visitors as it transforms the city centre into a natural wonderland. Pop-up park and workshops with TV gardener Monty Don, a fine food market, stunning art, the National Trust’s “50 things to do before you’re 11 ¾” campaign for kids, plant-swops, craft markets, and an urban twist on a traditional country fair. www.digthecity.co.uk

Sun 4 Aug

Tatton Park, Knutsford VW North West Car Show 9am – 5pm, Adults £7.50, Children under 16 free, Car entry charge applies The largest gathering of VW’s in the North of England. Children’s rides and Entertainment on the day. A great family day out!

01625 374400 / www.vwnw.co.uk Manchester City Centre Skyride Manchester From 10am. A fantastic traffic-free bike ride through Manchester. Experience some of the city’s highlights in a very special atmosphere.

Loads of free family activities happening on the day. www.goskyride.com/ManchesterSkyRide Chester Racecourse Family Funday A fabulous day of fun with free entertainment for children. www.chester-races.co.uk

Mon 5 Aug

Lyme Park, Disley Nursery Rhyme 1 – 3pm, Free (normal admission applies) Come dressed as your favourite character and follow a fun trail around the garden.

01663 762023 / www.nationaltrust.org.uk/lyme-park

Mon 5 – Fri 9 Aug

Quarry Bank Mill, Styal All in a spin 12 – 4pm, Free (normal admission applies) Make and decorate your choice of twirling toy!

Plus . . . Wet Wednesday – Play with the ‘wheely’ good water wheels in the Mill.

01625 527468 / www.nationaltrust.org.uk/quarry-bank-mill

Mon 5 – Sun 11 Aug

MedaCityUK, Salford Children’s Week 12 – 4pm, Free. Teddy bear picnics, art workshops, treasure hunts, sing-a-longs, puppetry and BBC Shaun and the Sheep championsheeps. The Piazza will be filled with exciting activities to keep the kids entertained! www.mediacityuk.co.uk

What’s on Tues 6 Aug

Touchstones, Rochdale Pirate Arty Party 10.30am – 12 noon, Ages 5 – 12, £2. Ahoy me hearties! Be a pirate for the day. Make pirate hats, eye patches, Jolly Roger flags and go on a treasure hunt around the Gallery!

Paper Cup Puppets 1.30 – 3pm, Ages 5 – 12, £2. Create magical fairies, pixies or pirates using just paper cups, plastic spoons and lots of imagination! Booking recommended.

Children must be accompanied. www.link4life.org/touchstones

Tues 6 – Sat 31 Aug

Staircase House & Air Raid Shelters, Stockport Discovery Bucket Free with normal admission, suitable for families. Collect a Discovery Bucket from Reception and use its contents to help you find out lots of things about Staircase House and the Air Raid Shelters. There are magnifying glasses, torches, quiz sheets and clues to follow as you go exploring.

0161 474 2388 / 0161 474 1940 / www.stockport.gov.uk/museums

Tues 6 & Thurs 8 Aug

Hat Works, Stockport Summer Mobile Ages 5 – 11, 10.30am – 12 noon and 1 – 2.30pm, £3.50. Make a cool mobile to hang in your room at this fun crafts workshop. Booking essential.

0161 474 2399 / www.stockport.gov.uk

Tues 6 & Tues 20 Aug

Lyme Park, Disley Summer Jam 1 – 3pm, £7 (normal admission applies) Make your own Jam in the Still Room, just like the Edwardians. Decorate your jam jar too. Bring an apron or old shirt as we can get messy! Booking essential.

0844 249 1895 / www.nationaltrust.org.uk/lyme-park

Bury Transport Museum Moving Vehicles 11am – 3pm, £1 (plus standard admission) Can you build a moving vehicle out of paper and card?

0161 763 7949 / www.eastlancsrailway.org.uk

Wed 7, 14, 21 & 28 Aug Manchester Museum Warriors of the Plains 11am – 4pm, All ages, Free, Drop-in 0161 275 2648 / www.manchester.ac.uk/museum

Wed 7, 14, 21 & 28 Aug, Thurs 8, 15, 22 & 29 Aug

Bramall Hall Brass Rubbing 1.30 – 3.30pm, All ages, from 75p depending on size of Brass. Come and try your hand at Brass rubbing in the grand setting of the Great Hall.

0161 474 2020 / www.stockport.gov.uk/museums

Wed 7, Thurs 22 & Wed 28 Aug Lyme Park, Disley Estate Apprentice 1 – 3pm, All ages, Free (normal admission applies). Have a go at dry stone walling and path laying. Find out how the workers built the 18 miles of walls around the park.

01663 762023 / www.nationaltrust.org.uk/lyme-park

Thurs 8 Aug

Haydock Park Under the Sea Family Fun Day Inflatable fun, surf simulator, polar bear show, craft workshop, face painting, funfair rides, pony rides – and all free for children under 17.

0844 579 3006 / www.haydock-park.co.uk

Tues 6 & Tues 27 Aug

Bramall Hall Be a Tudor Builder 1 – 4pm, All ages, Free (normal admission applies). Try your hand at wattle and daub as you find out how the Hall was built.

0161 474 2020 / www.stockport.gov.uk/museums

Wed 7 Aug

Tatton Park, Knutsford Children’s Cycling Boredom Busters 10am – 1.30pm, Age 7+, £10, advance booking essential. Fundamentals of off-road skills, including a bike-safety check. Explore farmland trails and woodland single-tracks.

Bring a packed lunch.

01625 374428 / www.tattonpark.org.uk Manchester Museum National Play Day 11am – 4pm, All ages, Free, Drop-in 0161 275 2648 / www.manchester.ac.uk/museum

Families Manchester | www.familiesmanchester.co.uk 21

What’s on Dunham Massey, Altrincham Bug Walk 11am – 12pm, 1 – 3pm, 3 – 4pm, Free (normal admission applies) Join in a bug hunt in the garden, then see some creatures up close with microscopes.

Please note limited places for walks, collect a timed token from the ticket office on the day.

0161 941 1025 / www.nationaltrust.org.uk/dunham-massey Lyme Park, Disley Mini Masterpiece 1 – 3pm, All ages, Free (normal admission applies). Paint your own watercolour, inspired

by Lyme’s garden.

01663 762023 / www.nationaltrust.org.uk/lyme-park Touchstones, Rochdale Frogs & Dragonflies!

10.30am – 12 noon, Ages 5 – 12, £2 Come and join the RSPB staff to make your very own dragonflies and origami bouncing frogs. A fun creature craft activity for all the family.

Feathery Friends Mobile 1.30 – 3pm, Ages 5 – 12, £2 In this lovely session you will make a family of colourful birds to hang up at home as a super decorative mobile.

Booking recommended. Children must be accompanied. www.link4life.org/touchstones The John Rylands Library. Manchester Magick treats and treasures 11am – 12.30pm, Ages 7 – 11, Free See some of our magical books up close, then have a go at some wickedly fun activities!

Booking essential.

0161 306 0555 / www.library.manchester.ac.uk/rylands

Fri 9 Aug

Lyme Park, Disley Animal Tracking 1 – 3pm, All ages, Free (normal admission applies). Join the rangers on a walk around the park, discovering what lives at Lyme.

01663 762023 / www.nationaltrust.org.uk/lyme-park

Header

These listings are for guidance only – please check before you go To include your upcoming event in our listings, email events@familiesmanchester.co.uk

Chimney Pot/Langworth Park, Salford Chimney Pot Park Fun Day 12 – 4pm, Free Free family fun day with face painting, music, displays, ice cream and bouncy castles!

For more information contact Sue Bowen on 0161 603 4089. www.salford.gov.uk/langworthypark

Sat 10 & Sun 11 Aug

Hat Works, Stockport Paper Hat Making 11am – 4pm, All ages, free The chance to decorate your very own hat.

Pick up your pack of craft materials from reception, then make and decorate your paper hat on the gallery floor!

0161 474 2399 / www.stockport.gov.uk MOSI, Manchester Manchester Mini Maker Faire Join the Maker revolution at the second annual Manchester Mini Maker Faire. An explosion of hobbyists, inventors, 3D printers, hackers and crafters will take over the Museum for one weekend to show off the wonderful things they’re making and share what they’re learning. It’s the place where craft joins engineering, technology fuses with fashion and robots meet art. www.mosi.org.uk

Sat 10, Sun 11 & Wed 14 Aug

Churnet Valley Railway Peppa Pig Peppa Pig and George will be delighting their fans when they make guest appearances at the railway. The popular duo will make personal appearances at certain times throughout the day to coincide with train arrivals and departures. Face painting, bouncy castle, games and activities, tombola and walkabout entertainers.

01538 750755 / www.churnet-valley-railway.co.uk

Sun 11 Aug

The John Rylands Library, Manchester It’s a kind of magic 2 – 3.30pm, free. “Magic squares” use specially chosen numbers to create protective spells or amulets. They have been used for hundreds of years, by people all over the world. Come and see some examples from our collections and be inspired to create your own…! Booking essential.

0161 306 0555 / www.library.manchester.ac.uk/rylands

Tatton Park, Knutsford Fun Dog Show at the Farm 12noon, £2 entry per class. Normal Park Entry Charge applies. 10 novelty classes including Saddest Eyes, Waggiest Tail and Scruffiest Dog plus a fun agility course (try it if you’re fit enough). ‘Show Champion’ trophy to be won and rosettes to 6th place.

Viking Sunday at the Old Hall 12 – 5pm, Adult £6, Child £4, Family £16.

Normal Park Entry Charge applies Experience skirmish and domestic life, have a go at archery (small charge). Try on armour.

Falconry demonstrations and performance of Nasty Norman Justice.

01625 374400 / www.tattonpark.org.uk

Sat 10 Aug

Mon 12 Aug

The John Rylands Library. Manchester Magical beasts and monsters 1.30 – 4pm, Age 10+, Free Join artist Stuart Kolakovic for some stamping fun, and create your own hideous monsters to take home. No need to book.

0161 306 0555 / www.library.manchester.ac.uk/rylands

Lyme Park, Disley Brilliant Bugs 1 – 3pm, All ages, Free (normal admission applies). From butterflies to millipedes, find out which bugs live in the garden and create your own to take home.

01663 762023 / www.nationaltrust.org.uk/lyme-park

22 Families Manchester | www.familiesmanchester.co.uk

Mon 12 – Fri 16 Aug

Quarry Bank Mill, Styal Time and tide 12 – 4pm, Free (normal admission applies) We’re all at sea, catching fish, with a splashingly good craft activity. Plus . . . Wet Wednesday – Sail away with your own mini boat or raft.

01625 527468 / www.nationaltrust.org.uk/quarry-bank-mill

Tues 13 Aug

Bramall Hall Kill or Cure?

1 – 4pm, All ages, Mostly free, 50p for herb bag (normal admission applies) Feeling under the weather? Pop into Bramall Hall to find a cure, but be warned – some are not for the fainthearted! Make a herb bag to take home and ward off further illnesses!

0161 474 2020 / www.stockport.gov.uk/museums Touchstones, Rochdale Tiny Pirates 10.30 – 11.30am, under 5s, £2 Make a pirate hat and go on an adventure to explore the Art Galleries. This lovely workshop introduces young children to the artwork on display and includes music, story time and craft activities.

Miffy at the Seaside 1.30 – 2.30pm. A fantastic workshop to introduce children to the wonders of the Gallery. In this session children will make Miffy style ears, listen to a story and create a colourful collage. Booking recommended.

Children must be accompanied. www.link4life.org/touchstones Bury Transport Museum Family Mystery Show – Sherlock Holmes Adult £10, Child £8. Help the world’s greatest consulting detective solve the case of the century as he and his assistants (that would be you) race to solve the mystery and catch the criminal mastermind. 0161 764 7790 / www.eastlancsrailway.org.uk

Tues 13 & Thurs 15 Aug

Hat Works, Stockport Summer Decoration 10.30am – 12 noon and 1 – 2.30pm, Ages 5 – 11, £3.50. Create your very own Topiary style decoration that will brighten up any room at this fun crafts workshop.

Booking essential.

0161 474 2399 / www.stockport.gov.uk

Wed 14 Aug

Tatton Park, Knutsford Boredom Busters Nature Day 10am – 1pm, Age 5+, £3, advance booking essential. Join the Rangers to hunt for mini-beasts in the park’s ponds and woodlands and take a trailer ride to get a close look at Tatton’s deer.

01625 374428 / www.tattonpark.org.uk

Bury Transport Museum Fun Flags 11am – 3pm, £1 (plus standard admission) Design your own coat of arms or pirate flag at this creative craft workshop.

0161 763 7949 / www.eastlancsrailway.org.uk

Thurs 15 & Tues 27 Aug

Lyme Park, Disley Terrific tales in the garden 1 – 3pm, All ages, Free (normal admission applies). Fabulous stories told by a professional storyteller.

01663 762023 / www.nationaltrust.org.uk/lyme-park

Thurs 15 Aug

Touchstones, Rochdale Pop-up Houses 10.30am – 12 noon & 1.30 – 3pm, Ages 5 – 12, £2. Inspired by the children’s book illustrations on display, create 3D houses which open up to an exciting imaginative world. Booking recommended. Children must be accompanied. www.link4life.org/touchstones

Fri 16 Aug

Dunham Massey, Altrincham Family Bird Walks 11am – 12pm, 1 – 2pm, 3 – 4pm, Free (normal admission applies) Bird spotting in the garden, then make a bird feeder at the end of the walk. Please note limited places, collect a timed token from the ticket office on the day.

0161 941 1025 / www.nationaltrust.org.uk/dunham-massey Lyme Park, Disley Underwater Minibeasts 1 – 3pm, All ages, Free (normal admission applies). Grab a net and find out what lives under water at Lyme Park. Parking charge applies.

01663 762023 / www.nationaltrust.org.uk/lyme-park

Sat 17 Aug

Stockport Town Hall Jewellery & Craft Fair 10am – 3pm, Free entry. Personalised and unusual gifts, hand crafted jewellery, scarves, cushions, beads, hand carved tableware, trinket boxes, keepsakes, needle craft, wall art, vintage jewellery, cards, pictures, print, semi-precious stones, stained glass, leather goods, purses, handbags, wind charms, children’s toys and dolls clothing and much more.

0161 474 3451 / www.stockport.gov.uk/museums

Sun 18 Aug

Tatton Park, Knutsford Babe The Sheep-Pig by Dick King-Smith 3pm, Adult £11, Child £7, Family £32 (2 adults, 2 children). Outdoor Theatre at the Old Hall.

01625 374400 / www.tattonpark.org.uk

What’s on The John Rylands Library. Manchester Harry Potter Day 11am – 4pm, Ages 8 – 12, Free Film showing 1 – 4pm (film rated 12A) Join us in the magical surroundings of the library for hours of wizarding fun! Come dressed as your favourite character and win a special prize! The café will be open throughout the day, and a picnic area will be available for anyone bringing their own lunch.

Booking essential.

0161 306 0555 / www.library.manchester.ac.uk/rylands

Mon 19 Aug

Lyme Park, Disley Bare foot walk 1 – 3pm, All ages, Free (normal admission applies) Do you dare to do the bare foot walk? Squidge the mud between your toes at Lyme.

0844 249 1895 / www.nationaltrust.org.uk/lyme-park

Mon 19 – Fri 23 Aug

Quarry Bank Mill, Styal Aliens have landed!

12 – 4pm, Free (normal admission applies) Turn yourself into an alien! Plus . . . Wet Wednesday – Try your hand at water experiments which are out of this world!

01625 527468 / www.nationaltrust.org.uk/quarry-bank-mill

Tue 20 Aug

Bramall Hall Play in the Past 1pm – 4pm, Free (normal admission applies) What did children play with in the past? Come and find out by playing with toys and games from Roman to Victorian times.

0161 474 2020 / www.stockport.gov.uk/museums Touchstones, Rochdale Blooming Felt 10.30am – 12 noon & 1.30 – 3pm, Ages 8 – 12, £2. Create handmade 3D flowers using the traditional felt making process which uses soap suds and warm water to bind woollen fibres together. All good clean fun!

Booking recommended. Children must be accompanied. www.link4life.org/touchstones

Tues 20 & Thurs 22 Aug

Hat Works, Stockport Crafty Games 10.30am – 12 noon and 1 – 2.30pm, Ages 5 – 11, £3.50. Make your own game at this fun craft workshop. Booking essential.

0161 474 2399 / www.stockport.gov.uk

Wed 21 Aug

Bury Transport Museum Fabulous Floatables 11am – 3pm, £1 (plus standard admission) Build a boat and see if you can make it float!

0161 763 7949 / www.eastlancsrailway.org.uk

Thurs 22 Aug

Tatton Park, Knutsford Defence of the Realm!

10.30am – 12.30pm, £9, advance booking essential. Your country needs you! Join the guides at the Old Hall to explore personal and national defence and daily life throughout history. Build an Anglo-Saxon fort, become a medieval archer and travel back to World War II to practice your rifle drill. A great activity for all the family.

01625 374428 / www.tattonpark.org.uk Touchstones, Rochdale There be Dragons!

10.30am – 12 noon & 1.30 – 3pm, Ages 5 – 12, £2. This session captures the excitement and mystery of the world of dragons. In this lively storytelling and craft workshop you will make your very own 3D dragon to take home.

Booking recommended. Children must be accompanied. www.link4life.org/touchstones

Fri 23 Aug

Lyme Park, Disley Create Wild Art 1 – 3pm, All ages, Free (normal admission applies). Be inspired by nature, create your own piece of wild art to take home.

0844 249 1895 / www.nationaltrust.org.uk/lyme-park

Sat 24 Aug

Poynton Poynton Show Chariot Races, Air Displays, Novelty pet show, food market, music and crafts. www.poyntonshow.co.uk

Sat 24 – Mon 26 Aug

Tatton Park, Knutsford English Country Weekend at the Farm A terrific celebration of English country life.

Visit the farm for a weekend of traditonal English fayre and fun. Egg and spoon race, tug of war, meet the Shire horses and enjoy their fabulous ridden displays. Sheep and chicken racings, sheep dog demonstrations on Sunday and Morris dancing. Traditional stalls include local honey, old fashioned sweets and Tatton’s own produce. Gain an insight in to traditional country crafts with bee keeping, woodturning and dry stone walling demonstrations. A great day out!

Normal opening times and charges apply.

01625 374400 / www.tattonpark.org.uk

Sun 25 & Mon 26 Aug

Bolton Steam Museum Summer Steamings 10am – 4pm. Our volunteers have rescued and restored 27 old stationary steam engines, some of the engines which once powered the cotton mills of Lancashire.

Come and see these magnificent monsters in action! Free car parking on site and admission to the museum is free, although donations towards the cost of running the boiler would be appreciated.

01204 846490 / www.nmes.org

Families Manchester | www.familiesmanchester.co.uk 23

What’s on

These listings are for guidance only – please check before you go To include your upcoming event in our listings, email events@familiesmanchester.co.uk

Mon 26 Aug

Tues 27 Aug

Bury Transport Museum Teddy Bears’ Party Your invitation to the ultimate party! Bring the kids and their furry friends for a day of fun, games and hands-on-activities! Bouncy Castle, Miniature Railway, Puppet Shows, Brass Band, craft workshops, parade and treasure hunt. Kids with a teddy bear travel free on the ELR when accompanied by a full line return holding adult.

0161 764 7790 / www.eastlancsrailway.org.uk

Touchstones, Rochdale Collage Creatures of the Deep 10.30am – 12 noon, Ages 5 – 12, £2. Join artist Vincent James to make your own underwater creatures and help create a big picture of life beneath the waves that will be captured in a time-lapse film and uploaded on to You Tube.

Frogs & Dragonflies!

1.30 – 3pm, Ages 5 – 12, £2. Come and join the RSPB staff to make your very own dragonflies and origami bouncing frogs. A fun creature craft activity for all the family.

Booking recommended. Children must be accompanied. www.link4life.org/touchstones

Bramall Hall Peek into the Past 11am – 5pm, timed tours at quarter past and quarter to the hour, All ages, Normal admission applies. Meet characters from the Hall’s history as you travel through time from 1599 to 1914 and find out about the families who have lived here. 0161 474 2020 / www.stockport.gov.uk/museums

Mon 26 – Fri 30 Aug

Quarry Bank Mill, Styal Funny faces 12 – 4pm, Free (normal admission applies) Create your own fantasy masks inspired by the exhibition. Plus . . . Wild Wednesday – Look for funny water creatures at pond dipping sessions. Limited numbers, timed tickets on the day.

01625 527468 / www.nationaltrust.org.uk/quarry-bank-mill

Dunham Massey, Altrincham Bug Walk 11am – 12pm, 1 – 3pm, 3 – 4pm, Free (normal admission applies). Join in a bug hunt in the garden, then see some creatures up close with microscopes. Please note limited places for walks, collect a timed token from the ticket office on the day. 0161 941 1025 / www.nationaltrust.org.uk/dunham-massey

Wed 28 Aug

Tatton Park, Knutsford Children’s Cycling Boredom Busters 10am – 1.30pm, Age 7+, £10, advance booking essential Fundamentals of off-road skills, including a bike-safety check. Explore farmland trails and woodland single-tracks. Bring a packed lunch.

01625 374428 / www.tattonpark.org.uk

Air Raid Shelters, Stockport Children’s Explorer Tours 6.45 – 8pm, Age 7+, Adult £2, Child £3.95 Exciting children’s version of the ever popular explorer tours. Brave the darkened tunnels as you go back in time and experience the life of a child during the war. Booking essential.

0161 474 1940 / www.stockport.gov.uk/museums Bury Transport Museum Crazy Creations 11am – 3pm, £1 (plus standard admission) Let your imagination run wild and build whatever you want in the final craft activity of the summer.

0161 763 7949 / www.eastlancsrailway.org.uk

Thurs 29 Aug

Lyme Park, Disley Edwardian Sports at Lyme Park 1 – 4pm, Free (normal admission applies) On 14 September 1910 a sports day was staged to celebrate the coming of age of Richard Legh the 3rd Lord Newton. In 2013 you can test your skills at Lyme’s Edwardian Sports day. 01663 762023 / www.nationaltrust.org.uk/lyme-park The John Rylands Library. Manchester Tall tales and short sagas 2 – 3pm, Ages 5 – 10, Free. Listen to some magical tales in one of the beautiful library rooms, a perfect treat before tea-time. Booking essential.

0161 306 0555 / www.library.manchester.ac.uk/rylands

Touchstones, Rochdale Lights! Camera! Action!

10.30am – 12 noon, Ages 5 – 12, £2. Work with fi lm makers Sam and Alison to create a short fi lm using shadow puppets. Create the characters and then use them to act out a short story. The performance will be filmed and uploaded on to You Tube for its world premiere!

Pirate Arty Party 1.30 – 3pm, Ages 5 – 12, £2 Ahoy me hearties! Be a pirate for the day.

Make pirate hats, eye patches, Jolly Roger flags and go on a treasure hunt around the Gallery! Booking recommended. Children must be accompanied. www.link4life.org/touchstones

Fri 30 Aug

Lyme Park, Disley Den Building 1 – 3pm, Free (normal admission applies) Enjoy an afternoon of fun and mud as you build dens in the woods.

01663 762023 / www.nationaltrust.org.uk/lyme-park

Fri 30 & Sat 31 Aug

Rochdale Town Centre Rochdale Feel Good Festival All day, all ages, free event. Cookery demonstrations, live music, street theatre, kids’ arts and crafts and fairground.

Link4Life’s Arts & Heritage Service will be programming a range of activities including Victorian toys, games and exercises to try out (Sat only, 11am – 2pm). www.link4life.org