Families Surrey East Mar/Apr 2017

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March-April 2017

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ISSUE 57 MARCH - APRIL 2017

IN THIS ISSUE

Happy Springtime! Here at Families we’re loving the warmer weather and longer evenings – and looking forward to the Easter hols. It’s been a bit of a mission to squeeze all the fab events into the What’s On pages this issue – it’s packed!

Page 2 News Page 5 Babies & Toddlers Page 6 Mother’s Day Page 8 Easter Page 12 Nature Notes

Page 14 Holiday Clubs Page 15 Club News Page 16 Education Page 18 What’s On

We’ve got 4 pages of Easter egg hunts and craft ideas, another 2 pages of Easter days out (whatever the weather) and some ideas for Mother’s Day.

Families Surrey East is part of the national network of Families magazines. See www.familiesonline.co.uk/local/surrey-east for more features and competitions.

Alongside the usual Nature Notes (check out the new Nower Wood centre in Leatherhead) and Education pages, it’s a very busy issue. Remember that you can also check What’s On at your local Families site and keep an eye on the In the Know section for seasonal news and articles.

NEXT ISSUE – May-June 2017, out 3rd May. Send your news and upcoming events by 7th April for FREE INCLUSION.

Hannah Grogan, Editor Contact me at editor@familiessurreyeast.co.uk

PROMOTE YOUR BUSINESS and reach families throughout East Surrey with DISPLAY ADS or ask about our WEB ADS from £42.

AD BOOKING AND COPY DEADLINE FOR MAY-JUNE 2017 is 7th APRIL. Please send ad artwork by 14TH APRIL. For advertising & editorial enquiries call the Editor on 07769 222347 or email: editor@ familiessurreyeast.co.uk 22,500 copies of FAMILIES SURREY EAST are distributed free of charge to schools, nurseries, playgroups, clubs & classes, NCT groups, baby clinics, good children’s shops, libraries, theatres & sports centres.

AWARD-WINNING

Distributed to venues in Leatherhead and Dorking, Reigate and Redhill, Godstone, Oxted and Lingfield, Warlingham and Caterham and down to Horley and the Surrey/Sussex border in the south. To obtain copies for your venue call 07769 222347 or email editor@familiessurreyeast.co.uk. Families Surrey East, 37 Springcopse Road, Reigate, Surrey RH2 7HH Tel: 07769 222347 Web: familiesonline.co.uk/local/surrey-east. Annual subscription £15. Email: editor@familiessurreyeast.co.uk Design: Andrews Design & Marketing, The Studio, 29A Bell St, Reigate, Surrey RH2 7AD Tel: 01737 224340 Email: phil.andrews1@btinternet.com. Print: Printmates, 84 Holmethorpe Ave, Redhill, Surrey RH1 2NL. Tel: 01737 773755.

Families Surrey East is part of Families Magazines Ltd, a franchise company. All franchised magazines in the group are independently owned and operated under licence. Families® is a registered trademark of Families Magazines Ltd, Remenham House, Regatta Place, Marlow Road, Bourne End, Bucks SL8 5TD. The contents of Families Surrey East are fully protected by copyright and none of the editorial or photographic matter may be reproduced in any form without prior consent of the publisher. We take every care when preparing this magazine but the publishers and distributors cannot be held responsible for the claims of advertisers, nor for the accuracy of the contents nor for any consequence.

Meet the Scummy Mummies The Scummy Mummies are Ellie Gibson and Helen Thorn – and they know your secrets. They know you drink wine out of a mug at teatime.

They know you’re carrying a dirty nappy in your handbag right now – because they do it too!

Call 030 3003 4006 to book your free trial. explorelearning.co.uk

HAVE YOU BEEN

FEARLESS TODAY?

The comedy duo with four kids between them and a successful podcast to make you all feel better about your parenting fails, have just written a book! Packed with cringey, hilarious and honest confessions from real life motherhood, the book also includes quizzes, handy hacks and stupid jokes to help you battle your way through the day.

You can also see the ladies live on March 22nd at Bush Hall in Shepherd’s Bush, so why not grab your girls and head up to the big smoke for a mum’s night out. Look out London! Details at scummymummies.com.

/explorelearning @exploretutors EducationInvestor

Awards 2016

2 Families Surrey East March-April 2017

BOOK GIVE AWAY The book is out March 9th from Quadrille at a very pocket-friendly £7.99 and we’ve got a copy to give away to the reader who sends me their best Scummy Mummy story to editor@familiessurreyeast.co.uk by March 31st. Winner will be chosen by a panel of like-minded mums!

News Kingswood Shetlands for Schools & SEN In December, Claire Quinn of Kingswood Shetlands very kindly invited the Families tribe to visit her adorable miniature ponies and find out more about what they do.

My youngest is horse-mad, so we jumped at the chance!

Kingswood Shetlands are a local, experienced and fully insured mobile service which visits schools, centres, residential homes, functions and parties, bringing 2-3 ponies with them for education, therapy and fun!

Comic Relief 2017 It’s Red Nose time again! Last time around, in 2015, the generous people of the South East raised and donated more than £1.3m to help important causes across the UK and abroad, including 47 projects in this region.

The school trips help to bring science topics to life and are suitable for children from Nursery through to key stage 1 and 2. Children get the opportunity to handle and learn about the ponies and related science topics.

The 2017 event is held on Fri 24th March with the theme Make Your Laugh Matter. Since launching in 1988, Comic Relief has sold more than 70m red noses in the UK (enough to stretch from London to Ankara, Turkey!).

The SEN visits are available to all children with disabilities and offer a rewarding ‘hands on’ experience. The ponies are small, gentle and patient and the visits focus on allowing the children to interact with the ponies by touching, stroking and brushing. Claire will liaise with teaching staff in advance to provide support material and a visit plan to prepare the children.

To find out more about what’s happening in the South East and how you can support the event at school or work visit rednoseday.com

Leatherhead Skate Park The public consultation on the Kingston Road skate park in Leatherhead has reached its second stage. Between 20th- 31st March locals can vote on the 3 shortlisted designs and pick their favourite.

The winning design will be announced in early April,Design with work creation Ground Skate Park to start this Summer. To check them out visit molevalley.gov. uk/kingstonroadskatepark and drop into the Help Shop in Leatherhead or Dorking Council Offices to vote.

You can also book Kingswood Shetlands for kid’s parties, with grooming, dressing and riding the ponies as part of the package – see more info in our Parties issue in May. To find out more, contact Claire at kingswoodshetlands.co.uk

5

Travelling with Autism With World Autism Awareness Week coming up from 27th March 27th- 2nd April, you might be interested to know that Gatwick recently became the UK’s first Autism Friendly airport, in recognition of the airport’s commitment to becoming an accessible and friendly environment for autistic passengers.

The award recognises the airport’s efforts to meet a range of Autism Friendly criteria which benefit autistic passengers, their families and caregivers. For these passengers, a special lanyard can be worn on their journey through the airport, which will identify them to specially trained staff as someone who may need additional support or understanding.

If you’re flying from Gatwick and have any other special requirements, they also provide disabled parking, help points and mobility assistance across the airport.

Sign up to Gatwick Airport’s regular digital newsletter to stay updated on airport news at gatwickairport.com/communitynewsletter

Families Surrey East March-April 2017 3

News Teaching Kids Mindfulness Families HQ likes to keep an eye on local Facebook groups to see what’s making people tick in the parenting community – so we were really interested to see a recent post relating to mindfulness for children. Living in the moment and the practice of mindfulness is a hot topic right now, but it’s hard to make the space to teach your kids (and yourself) how to do it.

The post went bananas with requests for info and organisations that can help teach mindfulness to children – and it turns out that there are quite a few! If you’re interested in finding out more about mindfulness, and would like some simple, do-able techniques for all ages and abilities, check out the following: BeMindful.co.uk – this is an online resource run by the Mental Health Foundation, with a Learn Online facility, a directory of accredited teachers and information about evidence & research into mindfulness.

East Surrey Mindfulness Network - a great Facebook group that encourages an exchange of ideas and tips for practicing mindfulness.

MindfulSchools.org – an organization that promotes mindfulness in educational establishments. With mindfulness now becoming a regular practice in some schools, MindfulSchools trains teachers and parents how to help kids combat stress.

Mothering Mindfully – a Caterham-based mum, Tasha Nico, who practices yoga and mindfulness with her children and has an Instagram and FB page offering easy exercises and tips.

Relax Kids @ Little Champs – Mindfulness classes for kids, based in East Surrey, designed to create calm and concentration in a busy world.

Flourishing Mind – Offers 8-week stress-reduction courses, aimed at managing stress, anxiety and pain. Uses some MBCT techniques (mindful-based cognitive therapy).

A great book for novices is Peace of Mind: A book of calm for busy mums

by Georgina Rodgers, which features lots of calming exercises, easy mindful activities to do with kids and some meditation techniques.

Get your PJs on for Young Epilepsy Sunday 26th March is officially Purple Day, marking the annual International Epilepsy Day. The Young Epilepsy charity, based in Lingfield is holding a PJ Day, encouraging children, parents and businesses across the UK to dress in their pyjamas all day on the Fri 24th March, to raise money for the charity.

They are also holding a Purple Skydive, with 44 fearless skydivers set to jump 10,000 feet for Young Epilepsy in Salisbury, Wiltshire.

The charity works with over 112,000 young people with epilepsy, helping them to deal with their condition and fulfill their potential to live life to the full. They also help to support their families, with information for parents, carers and schools. The charity also has an important function in providing research, diagnosis and rehabilitation for epilepsy sufferers in the UK. For more information on Young Epilepsy visit youngepilepsy.org.uk

4 Families Surrey East March-April 2017

Surrey Youth Games Following the success of Team Mole Valley in the 2016 Surrey Youth Games, young people are invited to take part in FREE training sessions ahead of this year’s SYG, taking place on 17- 18 June at the Surrey Sports Park.

Open to 7-16yr olds, the free sports sessions are open to all abilities who either live or go to school in the Mole Valley district, with a chance to represent the borough in June. It’s a great opportunity to develop and show off talent on a county-wide stage and participants have the chance to try something new, make new friends and build confidence.

Young people interested in getting involved need to visit molevalley.gov.uk/sgy for the complete list of sports available.

Registration closes on Friday 7 April.

‘Classes in the Reigate and surrounding areas from September’

For Further information and class availability email enquiries@athletixkidz.com *Please quote ‘Families’ to get 10% off your 1st term of classes

• The ONLY Athletics Play Programme for 21/2 - 7yr olds • • Running, Jumping, Throwing • • Social, Physical and Psychological Skills • • Weekly Classes - Parties - After School Clubs • • Fun & Games •

Babies & Toddlers Hartbeeps Launch Strep B Update Hartbeeps, the interactive magical musical classes for babies and toddlers has launched in Reigate. Run by Laura, the classes are held on Thursday mornings at the Subud Hall in Woodhatch, for newborns to 4yr olds. Children can enjoy a soundtrack of original songs, lullabies and nursery rhymes to stimulate their little ears. You can try a trial class for FREE! Classes also run in Warlingham & Caterham.

For more info see hartbeeps.com.

Athletix Kidz Expands

Athletix Kidz, the fab athletics play programme for 2.5-7 yrs olds has now launched Tuesday classes in Horley. The fun sessions, encompassing running, throwing and jumping were launched in 2016 by Sarah & Jason Hoad, with their daughter Lucy also running classes. They’ve proved so popular that they now run numerous classes a week (daytime and after school) in Reigate, Redhill and Hookwood Hall. For more info about the classes and parties visit athletixkidz.com

Regular readers might remember our news item last year about Fiona Paddon’s fight to highlight the dangers of Strep B to expectant mothers, and her campaign to introduce routine testing for the infection on the NHS. We are pleased to report that Fiona and her partner Scott recently delivered a petition to the Department of Health, with over 250,000 signatures, calling for the £11 test to be offered to pregnant women.

Fiona and Scott lost their 9-day old son Edward to the detectable and treatable infection and have campaigned tirelessly to try and ensure other parents don’t suffer the same tragedy. Watch this space for updates.

For more info about Strep B visit gbss.org.uk

Whoops! In the January issue we stated that

Audrey Sandbank dealt with allergies. This is not the case but please contact Audrey for child behavioural and anxiety problems. For more info email Audrey.sandbank@btinternet.com

WALTON ON THE HILL, DORKING, BOCKETTS FARM, ASHTEAD, OXSHOTT AND EPSOM E: leatherhead.dorking@monkeymusic.co.uk T: 020 8432 0811

Group discounts for NCT members when 3+ people join together at the same time.

Daisy First Aid has Twins!

Families just wanted to say a big congratulations to Daisy First Aid’s Stacey McCann – a regular contributor to our magazine – on the birth of her twin boys. Daisy First Aid classes will continue while Stacey is on maternity leave, so if you would like to be trained in paedeatric first aid, you can attend a group class or book an at-home session. Visit facebook.com/ DaisyFirstAidRedhill for more info.

Puzzled by Parenting?

Our local Children’s Centres offer a wealth of information, advice and courses linked to parenting, including breastfeeding support, weaning, speech & language and behavioural advice, but one of their most successful courses is the Parenting Puzzle workshops.

These 10-week courses offer guidance, ideas and support to help you lead a healthy, happy family life. Group sessions are led by trained professionals and offer suggestions on rules, choice & consequences and dealing with discipline & emotions. To find out more, visit surreycc.gov.uk to find your local centre.

2hr first aid classes in your home 20% Discount ­ Quote: FAMILIES Facebook: DaisyFirstAidRedhill

Surrey Branch - Established 1991 Committed to outstanding service

Tel: 020 3637 4040 www.buttonsnannyagency.com Every Buttons Nanny: ● Is carefully interviewed by Buttons ● Has minimum two checked references ● Holds childcare qualifications ● Holds an Ofsted First Aid Certificate ● Receives an enhanced DBS check or is Ofsted registered

info@buttonsnannyagency.com

Fully trained, full time, part time and temporary Buttons nannies are available throughout Surrey.

Online registration and jobs.

Families Surrey East March-April 2017 5

Time for You

Spa-Tea Together Treat your mum to the ultimate Mother’s Day treat

Package Includes: Aromatherapy Facial Back, Neck and Shoulder Massage Essential Manicure Spa Boutique Pedicure Served with a scrumptious afternoon tea ÂŁ250 for two Call now to reserve your place 01737 242663 Gift vouchers available

T h E N A i l & B o dy B o u T i q u E 15 lesbourne Road, Reigate, Surrey Rh2 7JP

nailandbody.co.uk 6 Families Surrey East March-April 2017

Mother’s Day

March 26th is Mothering Sunday in the UK (incidently, it also marks the start of British Summertime – not sure which I’m most excited about!). If you’re looking for local ideas to spoil – or be spoilt – we’ve got a few suggestions.

Time for You Theatre Trip

Enjoy a great day out as a family at Dorking Halls to see The Tiger that Came to Tea, direct from the West End stage. Everyone loves Judith Kerr’s classic about the tea-guzzling tiger and kids of all ages will enjoy this comedic performance, packed with music and magic. Family tickets cost £46 from dorkinghalls.co.uk

Afternoon Tea on the Train

Mums travelling on the Kent & East Sussex Railway from Tenterden to Bodium on March 26th can choose from a lovely Ploughmans lunch or cream tea and also receive a bouquet of flowers, for just £29.50. To book please call 01580 765155.

Take a Cruise

Why not treat mum to a relaxing cruise on the Wey & Arun canal, complete with a coffee & pastry, or upgrade to a full cream tea? The 90 minute trips are £14 for adults and £10 for kids. W&R Cruises have an amazing timetable of special events lined up for the year, including the Pirates & Princesses event in May half term and a Bacon Butty Boatride for Father’s day. To book visit weyandarun.co.uk/ events-boat.php

EASTER HOLIDAY FAMILY FUN

LINDT GOLD BUNNY HUNT 1 – 17 APRIL 2017

Dine in Style

The spectacular 17th century De Vere Wotton House Hotel in Dorking has recently undergone a £6m refurb and is open for afternoon tea.

Check out the new 1877 Restaurant and have a walk in the Grade II listed grounds. For info visit phcompany.com/de-vere/wotton-house

Weekend Retreat

The Beaverbrook estate on the outskirts of Leatherhead has also recently reopened, with a very family-friendly ethos. The Garden House is a great base from which to enjoy the local countryside, including horse riding and fishing. Kids can take part is lots of activities, such as den building and treasure hunts, while parents can relax at the spa or enjoy the walled garden. For more info visit beaverbrook.co.uk

Pampering for Two

The Nail & Body Boutique in Reigate has put together a fabulous treat for mothers & daughters, including a beauty package of Aromatherapy Facial, Back, Neck & Shoulder Massage, an Essential Manicure and Spa Pedicure – sounds amazing! You can also enjoy a decadent afternoon tea to top it all off.

Buy garden tickets at rhs.org.uk/wisley and save 10% RHS Members go free.

RHS Registered Charity Number: 222879 / SC038262

FOX Stretch Limousines

Limousine hire for Children's Birthdays, School Proms, Tours White, Pink, Black Limousines Soft drinks and balloons for children's parties

T: 020 8406 3758 or 0844 856 5466

www.foxlimousines.co.uk info@foxlimousines.co.uk

HIIT

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If you’d prefer to opt for gift vouchers, mum can choose her own treatments, including makeup lessons, lash & brow treatments and more specialist skincare consultations. They also do the best manicures in town, including a full range of luxury finishes to your manicure, like diamante, metals and nail art. To reserve your place or find out more about what the nail and Body Boutique offers, visit nailandbody.co.uk

PERSONAL TRAINING SMALL GROUP TRAINING

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Families Surrey East March-April 2017 7 Families Magazine.indd 2

13/12/2015 15:21

Easter

Get Close to Nature this Easter The Best Bluebell Walks

Between February and May, the countryside is awash with beautiful blooms of spring flowers. So where are the best places to see a carpet of delicate bluebells? We’ve been asking local families for their recommendations, compiled below.

One little request though: we know it makes a lovely photo, your little ones in the midst of the bluebells, but please remember that they’re delicate plants and easily trampled! Please leave the countryside as you’d like to find and enjoy it.

Limpsfield Common nr Oxted

Banstead Woods

In the triangle between Banstead, Kingswood & Chipstead lies an ancient woodland, once owned by Catherine of Aragon. The 250 acres of woods includes an orchard, where bluebells are at their most prolific, nature trails and lots of walking routes.

Between Oxted and Westerham, you’ll find the lovely Limpsfield Common. Best approached from Ridlands Grove, there is usually loads of Bluebells by late April.

You can also spot the Beatrix Potter animal houses dotted around the common.

Felland Copse, Earlswood

Opposite Earlswood Lakes car park you can take a track down past Connick Tree Care and into Felland woods. This is a lovely short, circular walk, with a small brook and horses.

Priory Park, Reigate

Venture into the woodland on the edge of Priory Park and discover lots of Bluebells in May. You can even look for the Fairy Doors – apparently you need to start in the treeline by the beacon. Good luck!

Outwood Common

If you’ve never visited Outwood Common before, it’s a super place for a family walk. You can also take kids over to have a look at the windmill (the oldest in Britain!) and grab a pub lunch at the cosy Bell afterwards.

Nower Wood, Leatherhead

Photo: Aimee Clark

This ancient oak woodland is run by Surrey Wildlife Trust (see Nature Notes on Page 12). It is a wonderful place to see Bluebells, but also to spot plenty of other species of wildlife and have a go at pond dippling. For more info visit surreywildlifetrust.org/ reserves/nower-wood

Ranmore Common nr Dorking

Between Denbies Hillside and Polesden Lacey lies the pictureseque Ranmore Common. On the route of the North Downs Way trail, there’s amazing views and lots of bluebells in Spring.

Hammonds Copse, Leigh

A well-kept secret, so please keep it pristine for other walkers, these woods between Leigh and Newdigate has carpets of bluebells in Spring and fragrant wild honeysuckle in the Summer. Managed by the Woodland Trust.

Horton Park, Epsom

A recent Families discovery, this great nature reserve on the edge of Epsom has loads of walks for all abilities, with a circular that is suitable for buggies and wheelchairs too.

8 Families Surrey East March-April 2017

A Day Out at the Farm Nothing says Springtime like a baby chick, right? Where better to educate your kids about animal life, lambing and farming than one of our great local family farm attractions?

Get close to the animals and enjoy the play facilities at Godstone Farm.

This is a great farm for a bit of everything. They’ll have baby lambs at Easter and you can take part in other sheeprelated craft activities. They’ve also got loads of small animal sheds, a dinosaur trail and a huge outdoor adventure play area, which is great for older kids. They’ve also got a brand new Tea Room Kitchen, so grab a cuppa! godstonefarm.co.uk

For a working farm experience visit Bocketts Farm where they’ve got hundreds of baby lambs due during the Easter hols. You can also meet the shepherd, who’ll answer all your questions about the new additions. There’s baby chicks, piglets and other small animal handling, as well as tractor rides, pig racing and pony rides.

There’s also lots of indoor and outdoor play options (incl the ever popular bouncy pillows) to keep the kids occupied. bockettsfarm.co.uk

Easter Want an actual nofrills real life working farm? Not for the faint

Easter Holiday Events

hearted, Saddlescombe Farm is a working farm nestled in the South Downs and is a brilliant place to experience the rigours of farming. They have dozens of expectant ewes waiting to give birth (you’ll probably see one!) and pens of newborn lambs. You can watch country crafts, including carpentry and shepherding and enjoy a gorgeous homemade burger from the BBQ! Lambing open days on 1st, 2nd, 8th & 9th April. camillaandroly.co.uk/saddlescombe-farm

Monday 3 April Our favourite birds swooping in. 11am- 3pm, main display at 12.30pm. Free.

Monday 10 April 11am - 3pm, main display at 12.30pm. Free.

Or how about Lambing Weekend at Shabden Park Farm in Chipstead? On 25-26th March you can visit the baby lambs and their

Tropical Creepy Crawly Roadshow Tuesday 4 April

Teddy Bear’s Train Ride and Storytelling!* Tues 11 April 10am/11am/12pm

mums, see the baby calves and learn about sustainable farming. It’s also market weekend, so you can talk to producers about the organic, locally farmed and produced food. Mums also get in free on Mothers' Day. For more info visit shabdenparkfarm.com

Fancy going a bit further afield?

Fishers Farm in West Sussex is

an award-winning day out, with lots of different breeds of lambs to see at Easter, as well as bottle feeding, Name the Chick comp and egg hunts. Fishers also run Family Film Nights in the play barn (next one is Moana on March 4th) and have two farm cottages for rent, so you can treat the kids to a real ‘life on the farm’ experience. fishersfarmpark.co.uk

Craft Activities Monday – Friday throughout the Easter holiday 11am - 3pm, ranging from £1.50 henfold Birds of Prey

Meet Snakes, Lizards, MiniBeasts and Frogs. 11am and 2pm, £7.50 per child / Accompanying adults free.

Teddy Bear’s Train Ride and Storytelling!* Wednesday 5 & Thursday 6 April 10am / 11am / 12pm / 2pm.

Bring your favourite Teddy for a vineyard train ride and storytelling. £7.50 per child, incl. a chocolate treat. £3 per adult, incl. a hot drink. *Taking

place on the outdoor Vineyard Train, warm clothing advised.

Punch & Judy Friday 7

April Traditional Family Fun, 10.30am / 12noon / 2pm.

Free of charge.

henfold Birds of Prey

/2pm. Bring your favourite Teddy for a vineyard train ride & storytelling. £7.50 per child, incl. chocolate treat. £3 per adult, incl. hot drink. *Taking place on the outdoor

Vineyard Train, warm clothing advised.

Family Easter Chocolate Fun Wednesday 12 April

Easter Egg Decorating, suitable for all ages, £7.50 per ticket.

henfold Birds of Prey

Thursday 13 April 11am- 3pm, main display at 12.30pm. Free.

Vineyard horse & Carriage

Rides Good Friday 14 April & Easter Monday 17 April 12noon until 3pm. £7.50 per adult / £5 per child.

Denbies Wine Estate . London Rd . Dorking . Surrey Rh5 6AA T: 01306 876616 I Reservations online at: www.denbies.co.uk

Easter Fun

www.godstonefarm.co.uk NORTHPARKFARM.CO.UK

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Try before you buy • Nationwide delivery • Assembly service www.northparkfarm.co.uk Tel: 01273 833643 North Park Farm, Church Lane, Albourne, West Sussex BN6 9BY

Families Surrey East March-April 2017 9

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HEV-Easter-Ad-Families-87x130-AW.indd 1

07/02/2017 13:31

Easter

We're all going on an Egg Hunt As usual, we’re spoilt for choice for great places to hunt down those choccy eggs this year. Here’s a local round up – and you can find even more online at familiesonline.co.uk!

Lindt Gold Bunny Hunt (1st-17th April) RHS Garden Wisley

Hop through the garden on the trail of the Lindt Gold Bunny. Take your family along for a full day of Easter fun and join in with arts & craft sessions. Follow the clues to lead you to a delicious treat! rhs.org.uk/gardens/wisely

Hever Castle & Gardens

As well as the Lindt trail, kids can also make and decorate an Easter bonnet at daily craft workshops and parade their creations in front of the Castle each day, with treats for the best Easter bonnets. Also take part in an Easter quiz. hevercastle.co.uk

Cadbury’s Easter Trail at the National Trust

The nation’s favourite chocolate brand and the NT have teamed up again to hold an egg hunt at over 250 properties in the UK. Here’s a run-down of your local sites:

Polesden Lacey’s egg hunt

is carnival themed. Help bunny get his Rio costume together and hunt for the eggs from 1st-17th April. Follow the trail around the grounds of Hatchlands Park to claim your choccie prize from 14-17th April.

Box Hill, Claremont Landscape Garden and Winkworth Arboretum hold their egg hunts from 14th17th April, with additional activities for kids at Winkworth.

Dapdune Wharf in Guildford is hosting a Family Fun

Day on April 14th with races, craft activities and the Cadbury’s Trail (which runs to 17th). At Shalford Mill you need to crack the code to find the chocs, with egg-decorating activities to take home.

In Kent, Winston Churchill’s home at Chartwell will hold its annual egg hunt, or you could explore the medieval deer park at Knole. Dates for these properties still tbc.

In Sussex, you can visit Nymans from 14th-23rd April or Batemans, The Jacobean home of Rudyard Kipling to follow the Easter trail. Look up and see what’s shining in the trees at Sheffield Park to find your prize from 1st-23rd April.

For info on all locations visit easter.cadbury.co.uk/2017 Meet the Easter bunny on the Wey & Arun Canal with special cruises on 14th, 16th and 17th April. For just £10 you can enjoy a gentle cruise and kids get a choccie gift to scoff on route! Booking essential at weyandarun.co.uk

British Wildlife Trust

is running a Children’s Easter Trail on 16th April where kids can hunt down eggs that are hidden amongst the animals. Could they be in the walk-through red squirrel enclosure, or on the banks of the otter ponds? Perhaps there's one secreted amongst the wildcats or being guarded by the long-eared owls? Spotters win a small chocolate treat and all entries go into a prize draw to win Family Membership. Easter opening: 1st-17th April. britishwildlifecentre.co.uk

Denbies Wine Estate is holding an Easter Egg Decorating family event on 12th April, as part of their full programme of Easter activities, including horse & cart rides, storytelling and birds of prey displays. See What’s On. denbies.co.uk Priory Farm, Nutfield, holds a Little Bunnies Easter Egg Hunt on Good Friday, Easter Saturday and Easter Monday in Wendy’s Garden (at the entrance to The Discovery Walk) from 11am-4pm. prioryfarm.co.uk

10 Families Surrey East March-April 2017

On Easter Monday (17th) Gatton Park holds an Easter Egg Hunt, where you can explore the gardens looking for clues to find eggs. Open 1-5pm, no booking required.

Gattonpark.com

The Horniman Museum in SE London has an Easter Fayre on 15-16th April, with an egg hunt, craft workshops and special storytelling performance inspired by Alice in Wonderland. horniman.ac.uk.

The crew at Saddlescombe Farm have organised a Easter Egg Trail round Devil’s Dyke on 15-17th April and also have an Egg Rolling comp on April 17th. Bring your hard-boiled egg and see if yours can roll the furthest down the dyke! Also an egg-decorating comp. nationaltrust.org.uk/ saddlescombe-farmand-newtimber-hill

Easter Babies & Toddlers

Easter Craft Ideas Easter Egg and Basket

Cut another 6 straight lengths of 0.8mm wire, long enough to secure at the top and base of the circles, to stabilize the basket structure.

For Older Kids 7+ What you’ll need:

Cut a 90cm length of 0.4mm wire and wrap this up and around the top and base of the basket shell, until it is totally wrapped around all sides.

• 0.8mm craft wire • 0.4mm craft wire • 1 wooden egg • Craft paint – various colours • Lengths of ribbon • Cylindrical shape (2 different sizes) • Round nosed pliers • Wire cutters

Once you have covered the side surfaces, weave more 0.4mm wire to create a base for the bottom of the basket. Cut approximately, 20cm of 0.8mm wire and fold in half.

Hold the double end in your round nosed pliers and with your hand, twist the 2 extending wires together.

Shape the twisted cable around a circular shape to form a curve, to the same size as the diameter of the top of your basket. Secure the ends around the basket to make a handle.

Using your ribbons, tie around the secured areas of the handle creating a bow.

What to do: Cut 2 lengths (approx. 15cm) of the 0.8mm wire. Create two different sized circles of wire, using your cylindrical shapes leaving a long tail at one end of each piece.

Paint the wooden egg with a coloured design.

Your egg in basket is ready to treasure or give to someone special as an Easter present.

This project was created by Blooming Crafts, Redhill. For more info on their courses, drop in craft sessions and art supplies visit facebook.com/bloomingcraftsredhill/

On each piece, wrap one end of the wire around the circular shape to secure.

Bend the long tail, 90 degrees.

Easter Chicks in a Basket For Younger Kids (3-6yrs)

What you’ll need: • •

•

A polystyrene egg/s Different shades of yellow paper / tissue paper cut into small squares Small piece of brown or black card for beak

Secure the circular frames, one above the other, using the long tail wires to secure around the top of one and the base of the other.

• • • •

Gloopy glue & spreader Googly eyes Match sticks for legs Feathers for plumage

Shopping

whatever weather the

The Belfry Shopping Centre in the heart of Redhill with a great mix of stores all under one roof.

What to do: Spread glue all over your egg and layer with your different colour yellow squares to create 'fluffy feathers'. Tip: pop the egg onto a matchstick to make it easier to hold whilst adding the feathers

Love keeping up to date at the Belfry? Follow us on social media!

Add your googly eyes and beak

US PLNewo,ved

Pop in your match sticks for legs

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Finish off with your real feather plumage and your new friend is complete!

Why not give your chicks a home & decorate with some lovely Easter stickers too? You can do this using the base on a small box (cereal box would be ideal) and creating an easy handle from a strip of light card.

The cheapest parking in Redhill

This project was created by Creation Station. For more info on their babies & toddler and pre-school courses, holiday sessions and parties contact Lisa on 01737 731169 or visit thecreationstation.co.uk

‘like’ us on Facebook follow us on Twitter @BelfryShopping

redhillbelfry.co.uk

Families Surrey East March-April 2017 11

Nature Notes Go Wild and Free at Nower Wood!

Surrey Wildlife Trust is opening its brand new £1.1m education centre this spring, with a FREE family activity day! Take your wild things to Nower Wood nr Leatherhead in April for a tour of the fantastic new facilities, nestled in more than 80 acres of ancient bluebell woodland.

Have a go at pond dipping and woodland crafts or head out on an exciting minibeast safari. Walk the stunning bluebell trails that wind amongst the trees and let your little ones search for fairy folk in the forest!

Since 1971 Nower Wood has inspired thousands of young people to understand, love and protect the natural world. The dilapidated old wooden buildings have now been replaced with a fantastic modern (and fully accessible) centre, funded by a Heritage Lottery Fund grant and donations from Trust supporters and local businesses. The wildlife charity hopes more than 10,000 people of all ages will visit the centre to

discover and learn more about nature every year, including schools and community groups. Nower Wood also offers a range of outdoor events, courses and activities - look out for new ‘Wild Times’ events for children and families during the school holidays and a new Wild Explorers Holiday Club starting this summer.

The woodland reserve can also be booked for birthday parties, with options for all age groups, including forest treasure hunts, wild survival and orienteering days, topped off with marshmallows toasted round the campfire!

To book your FREE place on the Nower Wood open day on Saturday April 22 visit surreywildlifetrust.org/whats-on. Morning and afternoon sessions on offer. Book your wild family day out now!

What to do with Garden Waste?

If you’re itching to get back in the garden after those long winter months, then it’s a good time to think about how you’re going to get rid of your unwanted weeds, twigs and grass cuttings.

More than 5,000 tonnes of garden waste is thrown into the rubbish bin in Surrey every year instead of being recycled, which is bad for the environment and expensive for the taxpayer. However, there are three easy ways to deal with your garden waste.

The most environmentally-friendly way is home composting as it rots down and produces a nutritious compost you can use in your garden.

Visit the Recycle for Surrey website to buy a compost bin from just £13, and there’s also loads of help and advice to get you started.

You can subscribe to your local council’s garden waste service, and have it collected fortnightly from your home. Why not talk to a neighbour if you don’t create enough garden waste on your own, as they might have room in their bin or you could share a subscription? Most bins cost around £50 a year, so well worth it if you create regular garden waste.

CRC

Be

C CR

G REEN with your

garden wasteby

• Composting at home • Joining your garden waste collection service • Taking it to a community recycling centre recycleforsurrey.org.uk

And remember that garden waste can be taken to all of Surrey’s community recycling centres free of charge. To find out more about home composting, garden waste subscription services and community recycling centres, go to recycleforsurrey.org.uk

South & South East Britain in Bloom Some of our readers might not be aware that Gatwick Airport has an outstanding record in biodiversity, sustainability and conservationism, so it seems a natural progression that the airport is the headline sponsor for this year’s RHS South and South East Britain in Bloom.

More than 45% of the airport’s UK passengers hail from the South and South East BiB region, so the competition presents a great opportunity for Gatwick to connect with a broad community of gardeners, supporting social inclusion and recognising horticultural achievements, environmental responsibility and community participation.

The airport has retained The Wildlife Trusts’ Biodiversity Benchmark Award for three years running, recognising its commitment to maintaining and enhancing the biodiversity of Gatwick’s 100-acre site and surrounding area. The airport’s community engagement work helps local groups and volunteers in improving landscape appearance and quality; and building awareness and understanding of habitat value and conservation. Rare species such as hazel dormice and the Long-Horn bee have been recorded in the woods around the airport.

This year’s South & South East in Bloom 2017 is now live, and they’re very keen to encourage small communities and schools to get involved this year. Categories include Our Community and It’s Your Neighbourhoods.

You don’t have to be a professional gardener to enter!

Visit inbloom.org.uk for more info, and sign up to Gatwick Airport’s regular digital newsletter to stay updated on airport news and their environmental work at gatwickairport.com/communitynewsletter

12 Families Surrey East March-April 2017

Nature Notes It’s an unfortunate fact that, for most children in the UK today, independent outdoor adventures are out of the question. One survey concluded that since 1980 children’s “roaming range” (the distance that adults consider children should be permitted to navigate unsupervised) has decreased by 70%. Today, just 21% of children regularly play outside, compared with 71% of their parents. Research into children’s lives consistently and overwhelmingly shows that being outdoors, especially in wild places, and being allowed to play at least partly unsupervised, vastly improves their well being. The problem is, our modern, hectic lifestyle, and parental attitudes to perceived dangers often prevents them from doing any of that.

But there is something you can do. It’s not complicated, doesn’t require much (or even any) equipment, and doesn’t need to cost any money at all. Encourage your children to play outdoors. Try not to get too involved with your child's play - let them decide what to do and how to play, that’s crucial. Let them play in the garden while you're in the house. If they can play between neighbouring gardens that’s even better, but remember that your job is to supply snacks and drinks, and to keep out of the way! Leave your door ajar so that you can hear them and check on them from time to time, but don’t interfere!

If you want to venture farther afield, here are a couple of ideas.

Sticks work as pokers, diggers and flagpoles, in fact anything you can imagine them doing, they do. They come in an almost bewildering variety of sizes and shapes, but you can amass a whole collection without too much of an investment (in an afternoon, in fact).

Mud is the universal construction medium, and can make forts, castles, pies, sweets, facepaint and sculptures. It's also good for you, with an increasing number of studies showing that kids who play with dirt have stronger immune systems than those who don’t.

Put the two together however, and you have a whole raft of possibilities. How about this?

These are only two ideas, but the list of things you can get up to outdoors is almost endless. The important thing is that you get your children out there.

Jon Millington is a Director of Wild learning, a Wild Play organisation that promotes outdoor play and adventure for children and grownups. More information at wild-learning.net

British Wildlife Centre Over 40 different native wild animal species l l

Free-range red squirrels Deer park Badger sett Otter ponds Owl display Fox families Wildcats & more

This might seem a bit obvious but it’s free, it’s simple and it’s a great introduction to outdoor activities for kids who may not be used to being outdoors. Your children will model your behaviour, so if they see you getting excited about going outside, they will too.

One idea is to make it an expedition, rather than a walk – make it a bear hunt or a rainforest hike. Talk about where you will go, let them decide if you can, remembering to make sure you pick something that’s age- and ability-appropriate. This is a great way to introduce younger children to the idea of weather (what shall we wear?) and older children can be put in charge of expedition planning and resources (food, water, other supplies).

l

Once you are on your walk children can get bored, especially if they are used to constant stimulation. One idea we use a lot at Wild Learning is Tracking and Trailing.

Valid to Sun 30 April 2017 with one full paying adult - No cash alternative One voucher per party - No photocopies - Not to be used with other offers (FSE 03-17)

l l l l

Open at weekends & during school hols

Easter holiday: Sat 1 April - Mon 17 April

1 child FREE with this advert - save £8.50

We’re on the A22, Newchapel, nr Lingfield, Surrey RH7 6LF

01342 834658 www.britishwildlifecentre.co.uk

Decide who will Trail and who will Track (you get to swap roles, so don’t fight!)

The Trailers set off first and lay a trail of arrows using only natural materials.

Bocketts Farm Park 1st - 18th April 2017

EASTER EGGSTRAVAGANZA FANTASTIC FAMILY FUN THIS SPRING!

Draw them in the mud, use sticks or stones, whatever you can to keep the trackers on course. Remember only to use dead materials – don’t break branches off trees! You can be sneaky of course and send them in circles, but eventually (when you are tired) you will want to find a place to…

WE’RE LAMBING

Hundreds of baby lambs due

Meet the Shepherd Easter Trail with Chocolate treats

Make a circle with a cross and put a stone in it.

That’s the sign you are a stone’s throw away. Then....Hide! Sshhh!

Wait to be found and swap group roles.

If you get bored of stalking each other, or if you have party members that are a bit young for tracking and trailing, then the outdoors is the best supplier of those toys voted number 1 and number 5 respectively in Geek Dad's Top 5 Toys of All Time survey, Sticks and Mud.

Children’ s Easter Tr ail SUNDAY 16 APRIL

OVER

400 B

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PLUS Animal handling, goat milking, tractor rides, pig racing and pony rides daily!

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£1 OFF full price farm entry per person* Valid 1st - 31st March 2017.

Only with this voucher (*maximum of 5 people).

FM

Families Surrey East March-April 2017 13

HOLIDAY CLUBS Holiday Camps & Courses There are so many great clubs & classes to occupy the kids during the Easter hols, so here’s our pick of the bunch.

Join the team at Camp Glide this Easter. They’ve got lots of exciting activities to offer including swimming, dance, gymnastics, football, outdoor skills, bouncy castle and more! At Camp Glide children have choice, try new things and make new friends. The camp is situated in Reigate at Wray Common Primary School and is open during Easter, Summer and Half Term Holidays. For more information and to book please visit the website CampGlide.co.uk.

See you in the Holidays!

Stagecoach Coulsdon & Caterham is running a holiday

workshop during the Easter break, from 3rd-7th April. The West End Workshop, based at Hillcroft Primary School, features songs, dances and scenes from different West End shows each day from performers who have appeared in the West End productions! The classes are for ages 4-6yrs, from 10am-1pm and costs £75. Ages 7-18yrs have a longer day from 9.30am-3.30pm, costing £120.

Also booking ahead for the Summer workshops of The Ugly Duckling for ages 4-6yrs and Aladdin for ages 7-18yrs. Summer courses are also running at other local Stagecoach sites, including Dorking, Leatherhead & Reigate. To book visit stagecoach.co.uk

Have fun in the woods this Easter with Wild Learning Holiday Clubs. Adventures in Esher, Guildford, Gt Bookham and Reigate on various dates. For ages 5-12yrs. Loads of fun activities including den building, fire making, tracking and stalking, rope bridges, mud sculptures, environmental art, pond dipping & stealth games. For more details or to book see wild-learning.net

DASH Holiday Camps at Oxted & De Stafford Sport Centres are packed with a fantastic range of activities for kids aged 4-11yrs, including the Air-mazing science workshops, Bake & Bounce sessions and Movement & Storytelling for 3-6yrs as well as the usual arts, crafts and sports. For more info and to book, call 01883 716717 or visit tandridgetrust.co.uk

A-Z Of Other Holiday Club Providers

Many other local clubs hold holiday activities and workshops.

Contact your nearest dance, gymnastics or sports club for latest news.

Camp Beaumont, Dunottar School, Reigate, RH2 7EL. Multi-activity. Tel: 01603 851 000 Campbeaumont.co.uk EzeeSport Holiday Clubs, Leatherhead Leisure Centre.

Multisports. Tel: 07862 220857 ezeesport.com Fire Tech Camps, Surrey. Science & IT. Tel: 020 7193 4002. firetechcamp.com Fit for Sport, Dorking Sports Centre, RH4 1SW. Multisports.

Tel: 0845 456 3233 fitforsport.co.uk.

Futsal Focus Academy, South Croydon. Football. Tel: 0844 318 1700 futsalfa.com

HANG ON

Girls Attack! Oxted. Netball. Tel: 07896 902371 pitchero.com/clubs/girlsattack

Easter’s coming!

Den building Survival skills ● Storytelling ● Treasure hunts ● Tracking & trailing ● Wild art ● Rope bridges ● Mini beasts ●

●

“Best day ever, can I go again tomorrow?”

Wild Play holiday clubs Ages 5-11, 10.00am–4.00pm* * times vary by site

For more details or to book a place visit

www.wild-learning.net 14 Families Surrey East March-April10/2/17 2017 17:11:22

Familiesqtr.indd 1

PPCKD Martial Arts are holding a week-long Easter holiday bootcamp at Oakwood Sports Centre, Horley from 3rd-6th April.

It’s a fitness booster for the over 10s and fun and games for the over 4’s at a cost of £20 per day. Martial arts is a great way to improve self-discipline and encourages confidence and focus in kids. Contact paul@ppckd.com for more details or visit ppckd.com/

Inspire Academy of Dance, North Downs School, Betchworth, RH3 7DJ. Performing Arts Easter Courses. Tel: 07783 138348 inspireacademyofdance.co.uk Mega Days at Hawthorns, Hawthorns School, Bletchingley, RH1 4QJ. Multi-activity. Tel: 01883 743377 hawthorns.com.

Perform Holiday Workshops, various locations including Woking and Sevenoaks. Alice in Wonderland dance and drama workshops for kids aged 4-7yrs. Improving confidence, concentration, communication and coordination. For more info visit perform.org.uk/classes-courses/holiday-courses Premier Sport, Tadworth Primary School, KT20 5RR. Multi-activity. sport.premier-education.com/ SCL, Reigate, Banstead & Epsom sites. Multi-activity.

Tel: 0845 644 5747 wearescl.co.uk Sharp Sparks Science, Effingham. Science & IT. Tel: 07966 867775 sharp-spark.com Sports Focus UK, Reigate & Tadworth. Multisports.

Tel: 0844 318 1700 sportsfocusuk.com Sporting Steps, Hillcroft School, Caterham. Multisports.

Tel: 0203 605 1302 sportingsteps.com.

Super Camps, Sutton and South Croydon. Multi-activity.

Tel: 01235 467300 supercamps.co.uk.

Tilgate Park Wildlife Rangers, Crawley. Forest School.

Tel: 07771 375254.

Wacky Wickets, Merstham Scout Hut, RH1 3LH. Cricket.

Tel: 07896 114068 facebook.com/WackyWickets/ YMCA, Redhill & Banstead. Multi-activity. Tel: 01737 779979 or 01737 362058 ymcaeastsurrey.org.uk

CLUB NEWS Stage Stars in the Making If you’ve got a budding performer in the family, then you should check out your local Perform workshops – in Caterham, Oxted and Reigate.

Aimed at ages 4-12yrs, the classes are a unique mix of drama, dance and singing specially formulated to bring out every child's true potential. They’re small classes where kids get lots of individual attention.

From April, Perform 4-7s will be saddling up and going on a Wild West adventure to find the Horse with the Golden Mane. The 7-12s will be zooming off on a fun-filled outer space adventure with Robinson Crusoe in a space-age version of the castaway survival classic. The Summer term starts Tuesday 18th April 2017 and they’re offering a no-obligation FREE trial for newcomers.

To book contact 020 7255 9120 or visit perform.org.uk/try

Swimming - a Skill for Life Dorking Sports Centre has a programme of crash courses to set your child on the path to water confidence, with a week of swimming sessions during the Easter holidays. From 3rd-7th and 10-13th April, there will be 5 levels of crash courses taking place – from pre-school, through to more confident Level 4 swimmers. The week costs just £20-25, which seems like a great price to help give your kids a skill for life.

They’re also booking for May half term and the Summer hols. To find out more, call 01306 870185 or visit dorkingsportscentre.co.uk

Get your skates on!

AS SEEN ON

DISCOVER RUGBYTOTS

Did you know that Redhill & Reigate Artistic Rollerskating Club (RRARSC for short!) holds a family skating session every Sunday at Reigate College Sports Hall? From 11.30am12.30pm you can come along with your kids and have a go at this fun sport. If you fancy honing your skills, then stay on for another hour for lessons. They also hold a roller disco on the last Sat of the month at Hawthorns School, from 6-8pm, which is often themed, with music, dance and games. rrarsc.co.uk

On yer bike for Rugbytots

MAKE YOUR CHILD’S DEVELOPMENT MORE FUN!

Our dynamic weekly play sessions enable boys and girls aged 2–7 to develop their social and physical skills in a fun, positive environment.

For more details, just call or email:

0345 313 3242

enquiries@rugbytots.co.uk

rugbytots.co.uk

The world’s favourite rugby play programme The nation’s favourite rugby play programme is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year with a charity bike ride. The 4-day, 323-mile trip will go from Lands End to London, raising money for the children’s rugby charity Wooden We’re now on Facebook: Spoon. You’ll need to raise £1400, plus a £250 deposit, but the fab support package you’ll receive is well worth it. If you’re interested in Principals: the challenge, visit rugbytots.co.uk/Home/ SKATING PARTIES Miss C Walford CDE - AISTD (Dip) Miss C Taylor (Dip Dance Performers Course) CharityBikeRide for more info.

Accredited by Council for Dance / FUN SESSIONS

Redhill & Reigate Artistic Roller Skating Club

C&C Dance Programme Did you know that C&C Dance School offers a range of classes – not just for budding ballerinas, but for parents too!? You can enjoy Funky Fitness at Dunottar on a Wed eve and pay-as-you-go Mothers & Toddler dance classes on Tuesdays (Lime Tree) and Fridays (Dunottar). They’ve also recently started Street Jazz classes at Nutfield Priory Club after school on Fridays. To find out more visit candcdanceschool.co.uk.

Sundays 11.30am-1.25pm at Reigate College Sports Hall, Rushworth Road

LAST SATURDAY OF THE MONTH:

ROLLER DISCOS 6-8pm for all ages

at Hawthorns School, Bletchingley For more details please call Barry on

01293 776266 bbridger@lineone.net

www.facebook.com/candcdanceschool

Education & Training in UK

Free Trial Class!

Tel:

01737 763391

Email:

misswalford@aol.com

Ballet, Modern, Street & Funky Jazz, Tap, Musical Theatre, Mother & Toddler, Mini Movers, Drama, Tread the Boards (Drama, Singing and Dancing)

& Adult classes.

Classes held in Nutfield, near Redhill.

www.candcdanceschool.co.uk

Families Surrey East March-April 2017 15

Education Maths Masters School Report So before the bell rings out on the last day of the Spring Term, here is a periodic review of this thriving After School Club. All of the Year 6 and Year 2 children are well prepared for their SATS: churning out the practice papers left right and centre.

The younger times tables candidates are graduating thick and fast. This Year’s Prize Giving will see a record number receiving their trophy.

The middle graders might think they have time now to catch their breath, but they are on a fractions journey, ticking off topics one by one. It is truly remarkable that a regular 45 minute’s tuition can produce such results but Maths Masters has done it again! Asked to comment, co-founder Emma Kitto remarked, ‘We are succeeding through personal tuition. We are not in the business of selling worksheets, but of teaching and educating the whole child.’

Next Open Morning: Friday 5th May, 9.30am Please call 01883 626844

To find out more about Maths Masters tuition in Lower Kingswood, Redhill and Epsom visit them at maths-masters.co.uk

If you’d like to advertise with Families and reach more than 40,000 readers in the local area, please call 07769 222347

New Banstead Prep From September 2017, Bramley girls school in Walton-on-theHill, Priory Prep boys school and Greenacre Junior join forces to create a brand new preparatory school - Banstead Prep.

The school will be on the site of the current Greenacre school and is part of the United Learning group (incl Dunottar and Caterham Schools). Most of the key staff from the original schools will be absorbed into the new setup, with Ms Vicky Ellis appointed as the new headmistress.

The merger will allow the smaller schools to continue with their high achieving academic and sporting records, whilst giving pupils the opportunity to experience the facilities and broader curriculum a larger school like Banstead Prep can offer.

A school for life

Enriching learning, creating confidence A thriving independent school in Bletchingley, Surrey, for girls and boys aged 2 to 13 years Call us to discuss admissions throughout the year

01883 743048

www.hawthorns.com

16 Families Surrey East March-April 2017

Hawthorns Speeding Success Earlier this year The Hawthorns School, Bletchingley launched a petition to lower the speed limit on Pendell Road from the national speed limit to 40mph. The school has already cut hedges and verges where possible to improve vision, but as cars continued traveling at speeds of up to 60mph, an unacceptable number of accidents continued to happen.

An independent schoo The petition, which raised over 450 signatures, was presented at a local planning meeting and the speed limit has now been reduced to 40mph.

Hawthorns will continue to work with the local community on a Speedwatch scheme.

For the next open morning at Hawthorns is Fri 17th March at 9am. For more info visit hawthorns.com

One to One Tutoring Fleet Tutors has been matching the right tutor to the education needs of students across the UK since 1977. Their network of tutors are subject specialists who tailor the teaching and learning experience to relieve any subject specific anxieties and help build your child’s confidence so they achieve a successful outcome.

With SATS and GCSEs coming up soon, call Fleet Tutors to chat about your requirements on 0333 920 2545.

New Name for Lingfield

At Easter 2017, Lingfield Notre Dame School will change its name to Lingfield College.

The School has come a long way from the all-girls’ Convent it was when the nuns left in 1987, and it is now a dynamic, For more info, please visit progressive HMC co-educational day unitedlearning.org.uk/ school of nearly 1000 pupils aged between 2 ½-18yrs.

11/11/2016 13:35:17 Headmaster, Richard Bool confirmed that the Junior School will also be known as Lingfield Prep. The next open day is on March 11th, to find out more visit lingfieldnd.co.uk Bramley girls school, Priory Prep boys school and Greenacre Junior join forces.

Education Independent School Open Mornings

Micklefield School Reigate RH2 9DU Boys & girls, 3-11 yrs. Tel: 01737 224212 micklefieldschool.co.uk 11th March

Open events require advance booking, so please call the school to check.

Moon Hall College & Bury’s Court Leigh, Reigate RH2 8RE Boys & girls, 2.5-16 yrs. Tel: 01306 611372 buryscourtschool. co.uk moonhallcollege.co.uk 9th March

Spring & Summer Terms 2017 for prospective parents.

Aberdour School Burgh Heath KT20 6AJ. Boys & girls, 2-13 yrs. Tel: 01737 354119 aberdourschool.co.uk 24th March 9.30am Bramley School Walton on the Hill KT20 7ST Girls, 3-11 yrs. Tel: 01737 812004 bramleyschool.co.uk BANSTEAD PREP FROM SEPT 17 Caterham Preparatory School Harestone Valley Road, CR3 6YB. Boys & girls, 3-11 yrs. Call Registrar on 01883 335046 to book your place. caterhamprepschool.co.uk Chinthurst School Tadworth KT20 5AP. Boys & girls 2-11 yrs. Call to visit on 01737 812011 or visit chinthurstschool.co.uk Downsend School Pre-Preps Leatherhead, Ashtead & Epsom. Boys & girls, 2-6 yrs. Tel: 01372 372311 downsend.co.uk Pre-prep 6th May (2-4pm) & Prep 6th May Dunottar School Reigate, RH2 7EL Boyis and girls, 11-18yrs. Tel: 01737 761945 dunottarschool.com 25th April & 28th June

Essendene Lodge School Caterham CR3 5PB Girls & boys, 2.5-11 yrs. Tel: 01883 348349 essendenelodge.co.uk 20th April The Hawthorns School Bletchingley RH1 4QJ Boys & girls, 2-13 yrs. Tel: 01883 743048 hawthorns.com 17th March, 9am Hazelwood School Limpsfield, Oxted RH8 OQH Boys and girls, 4-13 yrs. Call 01883 733841 hazelwoodschool.co.uk Lingfield Notre Dame School Lingfield RH7 6PH. Co-educational Interdenominational, 2½ -18 years. Tel: 01342 838153 (Admissions) lingfieldnd.co.uk Jnr school 11th March & Yr 5 23rd June Manor House School & Nursery Bookham KT23 4EN Girls 2-16 yrs. Tel: 01372 457077 manorhouseschool.org Reception 20th April, School 10th May Moor House Hurst Green, Oxted, RH8 9AQ. A specialist school for pupils with speech and language difficulties.

Tel: 01883 712217 moorhouseschool.co.uk 11th May

Every year we help students to love their maths!

Oakhyrst Grange School Caterham CR3 6AF Boys and girls, 3-11 yrs. Call 01883 343344.oakhyrstgrangeschool.co.uk Priory Prep School Banstead SM7 2AJ Boys 2-13 yrs. Tel: 01737 366942 prioryprep. co.uk Banstead Prep From Sept 17

For more open day listings please visit familiesonline.co.uk

Reigate St Mary’s Chart Lane, Reigate RH2 7RN Girls and boys, 3-11 yrs. Tel: 01737 244880 reigatestmarys.org NEW YEAR 3 CLASS FROM SEPT 17 Royal Alexandra & Albert School Reigate RH2 0TD Boys & girls, 7-18 yrs.

Tel: 01737 649000 raa-school.co.uk 11th March & 20th May St John’s Leatherhead, KT22 8SP Girls & boys, 11-18 yrs. New Lower School. Tel: 01372 373000 stjohnsleatherhead.co.uk 15th March, 5-6th May & 7th June Warlingham Park SchoolNursery, Preschool & Prep, Chelsham Common, Warlingham CR6 9PB. Boys & girls, 2-11 yrs. Tel: 01883 626844 warlinghamparkschool.com 3rd March & 5th May 2017

Exceptional hammock made by Albie (age 16).

OPEN MORNINGS

Sat 11th March & Sat 20th May 9.00 - 10.30am

THE SCHOOL IS

EXCEPTIONAL PARENT

A state school with a difference. Local pupils can stay from breakfast until bedtime and stay overnight 7-10 nights a year. Excellent academic results and a packed schedule of activities for £1,786/term.

After school maths clubs for children aged 5 and up, weekly at Lower Kingswood, Redhill & Stoneleigh Call 07743 898418 or visit www.maths-masters.co.uk ★ Enrolling now for SATS 2018 ★

@RAASchoolGatton

Gatton Park, Reigate, Surrey RH2 0TD Tel: 01737 649000 admissions@gatton-park.org.uk www.raa-school.co.uk

NURSERY AND JUNIOR SCHOOL

OPEN MORNING

Saturday 11 March 2017 www.lingfieldnd.co.uk 01342 838153

Families Surrey East March-April 2017 17

What's On Guide

For more What's On visit familiesonline.co.uk

E A ST E R DAYS IN

You can’t rely on the weather in April, so we thought we’d put together a few ideas for fun days undercover.

Mercedes-Benz World

exhibits and attractions guaranteed to keep everyone entertained.

Weybridge, KT13 0SL There’s so much for the whole family to see and do at Mercedes-Benz World. And what’s more, entry and parking is absolutely free, making Mercedes-Benz World the ideal destination for an adrenalinefuelled day out with the whole family. Step inside and explore three floors of interactive

Take a close look at a Formula One pit lane in the motorsport exhibition area, then find out how the Mercedes AMG Petronas Formula One Team became world champions, with exclusive behind-the-scenes films showing every day in the F1 Cinema.

Challenge your friends and family in the virtual racing Simulator Zone or get behind the wheel with an Under 17s Driving Experience on the historic Brooklands racing circuit. Alternatively, experience the thrill of driving off road with a 4x4 driving adventure on a challenging 10-acre off-road

course. Back on the track there’s a huge variety of experiences to suit even the most daring of thrill seekers. There’s even an indoor Little Learners driving circuit for guests aged 3-5yrs.

Complete the day with delicious food and healthy snacks in Café 1886 and the Gullwing Bistro.

For more info visit mercedesbenzworld.co.uk

Dorking Museum West Street, Dorking RH4 1BS There is loads to see at your local Dorking Museum, including permanent displays about town life, and temporary exhibitions, such as the current Medieval Betchworth event.

Find out what it was like to be Lord of the Manor, learn about industry at that time and their experience of the Black Death.

Mercedes-Benz World

The Look Out Discovery Centre Science and discovery fun over 90 activities.

Guildford, GU1 1UP

Bring this advert to get one free child with one full paying adult*.

Valid until 31/04/17 *Terms and conditions apply.

Families SE

Shows run at weekends and school holidays. Age 3+

After a trip round the museum, take the kids down to the fab Meadowbank Park playground to expel some energy!

For more info visit dorkingmuseum.org.uk

Guildford Spectrum

Splash, Bubbles and Balloons 14 January 2017 1 May 2017

Other permanent exhibitions focus on the Dorking area, from the Crustaceous period (fossils!), through to scientists working on the development of penicillin at Brockham Park in the 60s. There are displays on country life, sports, wartime and the Suffragettes – a great place for any school projects.

The museum also holds regular walks through Dorking, including the South Street Caves

and the recently reopened Deepdene Trail.

They hold family events every month, where kids can come along and join in crafts and actvities for just £1 and they will have dedicated events during the Easter hols (half term fun included coin rubbing).

The regular opening hours are Thurs-Sat 10am-4pm.

✃

Be Amazed...

Nine Mile Ride, Bracknell, Berkshire, RG12 7QW

Tel: 01344 354400 www.facebook.com/thelookoutdiscovery

18 Families Surrey East March-April 2017

If you feel like a total indoor day with more activities on tap than you can shake a day pass at, then check out Guildford Spectrum. With a range of leisure actvities under one roof, you can entertain the kids with bowling, swimming and ice skating. They’ve also got a Scalextric track and an indoor climbing wall!

They also hold day camps during the hols, with fab themes like Circus Skills, StarWars and Frozen themed days and soft play sessions. If all that activity has worn you out, refuel at Wimpy (yes, burgers on plates!),

Freedom Café or the Strike Diner. It is advisable to book your tickets online in advance to avoid disappointment.

For more information visit guildfordspectrum.co.uk

Get a FREE child place at Look Out Discovery this Easter! See ad page 18.

For more What's On visit familiesonline.co.uk

E as t e r D ays O u t If the April showers don’t keep you inside, there are some great new outdoor attractions for kids this Easter. Check these out!

Spot a Gruffalo At Alice Holt or Bedgebury Pinetum The Forestry Commission has teamed up with Magic Light Pictures to bring you the interactive Gruffalo Spotters app! The augmented reality app has been specially designed to work at 26 sites around the UK and allows you to spot characters from Julia Donaldson’s kids book. Take the self-led trail and once you’ve spotted the Gruffalo characters, you can use the app to bring

the 3D character animation to life and take photos with them.

You can also share them on social media with the hashtag #GruffaloSpotters!

Opens 24th Feb at Bedgebury and 24th April at Alice Holt. For more info visit forestry.gov.uk/gruffalo

Visit the Jurassic Kingdom At Osterley Park This is an absolute must for any dinosaur fans! From 1-17th April, this West London park will be visited by 30 true-to-life models from the Jurassic period, including a 16-metre tall Diplodocus and 18-metre long T-Rex. Hear the ear-piercing screeches of the Pterosaurus and practice your archaeological skills at the Excavation Scene.

The dinosaurs will then depart

on a tour of other UK cities for the next seven months.

Tickets starts at £12.80 for this unmissable experience. Book now at jurassickingdom.uk

The Hannah Peschar Sculpture Garden

“Take the plunge.”

Children’s weekly lessons from £26.25 a month Easter crash courses booking now 3-7 April and 10 -13 April

Standon Lane, Ockley If you love to see sculpture in a natural setting, then a visit to the Hannah Peschar Sculpture Garden will not disappoint. Walk the private gardens and enjoy over 200 works of art framed by plant and trees, in a range of mediums including wire, wood and bronze.

The park is not totally buggyaccessible due to steps and narrow paths – and it can get muddy, so wellies are a must!

Sculptor: Alison Berman

Take a picnic and enjoy educating the kids about the arts. Open Thurs-Sun (& bank hols), with prices starting at £7 for kids. For more info visit hannahpescharsculpture.com

Go boating on Earlswood Lakes this Easter 10am-4pm weather permitting - find them on Facebook.

www.placesforpeopleleisure.org Operated by Places for People Leisure Ltd in partnership with Mole Valley District Council

Dorking Sports Centre enquiries@dorkingsportscentre.co.uk 01306 870185 Contact us today

Our

Terms and conditions apply.

Families Surrey East March-April 2017 19

What's On Guide

For more What's On visit familiesonline.co.uk

Theatre

Satchwell Road Can Take It! The Courtyard Theatre Longshaw, Hazelwood Lane, Chipstead, CR5 3QU (nr the White Hart) The Chipstead Players’ Youth Theatre are continuing the story they started in 2015, when they presented the drama of the 1939 evacuation of a group of East End children, in ‘Say Goodbye to Satchwell Road’.

Leatherhead Theatre Church Street, Leatherhead KT22 8DN Tel: 01372 365141 theleatherheadtheatre.org Howard of Effingham School present Disney High School Musical. Follow Troy and Gabriella for Disney's High School Musical live on stage, 9-11th March.

Julie Sianne presents Dance Variations 2017 Awardwinning performing arts school presents its dance variations extravaganza, incl. ballet, tap & modern. 23-25th March.

The Rosalle School of Dance present The Fairytale Forest Their own take of "Into the Woods". 1st-2nd April.

Ballet Theatre UK present Alice in Wonderland Come with Alice on a magical adventure as she tumbles into Wonderland! 14th April.

Dorking Halls Reigate Road, Dorking RH4 1SG Tel: 01306 881717 dorkinghalls.co.uk The Tiger that Came to Tea Direct from the West End stage, meet Judith Kerr’s teaguzzling tiger in this comedic performance packed with music and magic. March 26th, 12.30 & 2.30pm

The young cast of actors will once again stir and inspire your spirits with song, dance and drama, this time portraying the lives of the Londoners who stayed at home and withstood the Blitz in the early months of 1941. Night after night, they emerged from air raid shelters to see what was left of their homes and businesses - but Hitler’s aim of crushing his enemies with fear had the opposite effect, as this production will show.

Performances Tues 18th to Sat 22nd April 2017 at 8pm, with a matinee on Sat 22nd at 2.15 pm. Tickets £8 & £10.

For online ticketing and all other info call 01737 555680 or visit chipsteadplayers.org Girlguiding Surrey East Present Musigals 2017 Girlguiding Surrey East are presenting Musigals 2 to raise money for their County Campsite and Pack Holiday house at Faurefold. All age groups taking part. 1st April, 7.30pm.

Robin Hood Easter Panto Join heroes Robin Hood and Maid Marian in this swashbuckling, arrow-slinging, tights-wearing comedy adventure! With an allstar cast, including Britain’s Got Talent Winner George Sampson as Robin Hood & kid’s TV favourite Dani Harmer as Maid Marian. 2nd April, 2pm & 6pm Mr Bloom's Nursery Live!

Bring your ‘tiddlers’ along to join Mr Bloom and the Veggies on their first ever live tour!

Featuring all of the much loved

20 Families Surrey East March-April 2017

The Rose Theatre High Street, Kingston KT1 1HL Tel: 020 8174 0090 rosetheatrekingston.org elements of the TV show, Mr Bloom (Ben Faulks) will be joined by his veggie friends and his trusty compostarium! 3rd April, 11am & 2pm.

Harlequin Theatre Warwick Quadrant, Redhill, RH1 1NN Tel: 01737 276500 harlequintheatre.co.uk Pasha: Let's Dance the Night Away Strictly Come Dancing’s Pasha Kovalev and his fantastic dancers present their brand new show. All your favourite dances, stunning costumes, great music and family fun.

17th-18th March, 7.30pm Star for a Night Family entertainment at this young people’s variety show, in conjunction with the Reigate School of Ballet. 6th April, 2.30pm & 7pm.

The Hawth Theatre Hawth Ave, Crawley RH10 6YZ Tel: 01293 553636 parkwoodtheatres.co.uk/TheHawth The Girl and the Giraffe Charming puppetry, an enchanting soundscape and beautiful storytelling in this show about wellbeing and friendship, told from a child's perspective. For ages 3-6. 18th March, 11am Northern Ballet present Goldilocks & the Three Bears This is the perfect opportunity for your little ones to enjoy live ballet, music and theatre for the first time. Relaxed performance in the afternoon. 4th April, 12.30pm & 2.30pm Naomi’s Wild and Scary Children’s TV presenter Naomi Wilkinson brings a new show packed full of fun and surprises as she is joined by ‘Animal Mark’ and some of his scariest creatures. 19th April, 2.30pm

Epsom Playhouse Ashley Avenue, Epsom KT18 5AL Tel: 01372 742555 epsomplayhouse.co.uk Beauty and the Beast Easter Panto Keith Chegwin and Basil Brush team up for a comedy take on the ‘tale as old as time’.

11th April, 2.30pm & 6.30pm.

The Twits Roald Dahl’s dastardly duo – Mr & Mrs Twit - are brought to life in this mischievous new production.

For ages 6+. 5th-16th April.

Book now for We’re Going on a Bear Hunt (17th-21st May), The Very Hungry Caterpillar (31st May-4th Jun) and The Scarecrows Wedding (23rd25th June)!

Chequer Mead Theatre De La Warr Road, East Grinstead RH19 3BS Tel: 01342 302000 chequermead.org.uk Treasure Island Spotbots tv characters Callum Donnelly, Richard Franks and Robin Hatcher set sail on a swashbuckling adventure. 11th March, 2pm.

The Wizard of Oz Easter Panto Musical panto with an all-star cast, including Coronation Street’s Steve Arnold. Expect plenty of music, dancing and hi-jinks! 12-13th April.

Book now for The Sooty Show (14th May).

Polka Theatre The Broadway, Wimbledon SW19 1SB Tel: 020 8543 4888 polkatheatre.com

Sarah & Duck’s Big Top Birthday Join CBeebies tv faves as they plan a birthday party in their garden. Features all their friends from the show, including The Ribbon Sisters, The Shallots, Flamingo & John and Umbrella.

6th April-14th May.

What's On Guide What’s On in March & April Nakarian Contagion role-play event Pilgrim’s Academy, Redhill nakariancontagion.com If you’re a games buff or just a fan of Simon Pegg movies, then take your chances fighting zombies in a war-ravaged town in the Nakarian Contagion event. 60min and 45min themed sessions, with a family option for kids aged 8+ (with less blood and guts!). Includes mission briefing, ‘weapon’ training and live action play.

Kids event £19.95; adult event £43.95. 11th March onwards

Mother’s Day Horse & Carriage Rides Denbies Wine Estate, Dorking denbies.co.uk Treat mum to a leisurely 25-min ride through the vineyard. £7.50pp.

26th March, 12-3pm

Alice’s Circus Adventure Groombridge Place, Tunbridge Wells groombridgeplace.com Meet the Mad Hatter, Alice, The Queen of heart, Cheshire cat and of course the forgetful white rabbit in this circus-themed Easter event.

1st-16th April, 10am-5pm

Children’s Book Festival at Knole Park Knole Park, Sevenoaks nationaltrust.org.uk/knol

Star Gazing at Painshill Painshill Park, Cobham painshill.co.uk Join Walton Astro Group in the 18th century landscape garden to observe The Great Orion Nebula and Double Cluster in a truly magical experience, complete with astronomy talk.

Adults £20; kids (8+) £15.

18th March, 6.30-10pm

Leatherhead Theatre Spring Fair Church St, Leatherhead theleatherheadtheatre.org.uk Fun packed event including loads of activities for families, with the chance to do a bit of shopping for Mother`s Day and Easter.

19th March

Mother’s Day at Fishers Farm Fishers Farm Park, Wisborough Green fishersfarmpark.co.uk Treat your mum to a FREE day at the farm (with paying guests)!

Loads to do, including animals, rides and lunch options in the Saddle Room Restaurant.

26th March

Get up close to your childrens’ favourite authors and illustrators at this inaugural weekend event.

Guests include Lauren Child (Charlie and Lola), Cressida Cowell (How to Train your Dragon) and Children’s Laureate Chris Riddell.

See full programme and book tix at website. 25-26th March

Exhibition: Mrs Greville’s travels to South America Polesden Lacey, Great Bookham nationaltrust.org.uk/polesdenlacey Enjoy lady of the house’s clippings, photographs & memories from her travels to South America.

NAA. 31st March-17th April EASTER EGGS HUNTS AND INFO FOR: Bocketts Farm, Godstone Farm, National Trust, British Wildlife Centre, Wisley Gardens and Hever Castle SEE PAGES 8-11.

Bricks Britannia LEGO® Exhibition Tenterden

Station, Tenterden kesr.org.uk/ bricks Visit the KESR station at Tenterden and see 30 models charting the history of Britain, from Stonehenge to Concorde.

Workshops also running, £10pp.

Book online. 1st April-4th May

Reigate Dorking Horsham Copthorne Ardingly Lindfield

FREE TRIAL CLASS 07783138348

jo@inspireacademyofdance.co.uk

Day Camp Kids Holiday Ages 4 - 12 e.co.uk www.CampGlid 26 07449 5323 Reigate

Easter, Summer and Half Terms

Families Surrey East March-April 2017 21

What's On Guide Spring at Bay Pond Bay Pond Nature Reserve, Godstone surreywildlifetrust.org Pond-dipping, bug-hunting, bird-spotting and woodland play for the whole family at this diverse little reserve. Craft activities also on offer. FREE! 1st April, 11am-4pm

RSPCA Easter Fair RSPCA, South Godstone rspcafriendsofsouthgodstone.org.uk Family fun day of games, comps and egg hunt for the kids. Raising money for South Godstone RSPCA. 2nd April, 11am-4pm

Craft Activities Denbies Wine Estate, Dorking denbies.co.uk Craft activities throughout Easter holidays, from £1.50. 3rd-7th April, 11am- 3pm

Henfold Birds of Prey Denbies Wine Estate, Dorking denbies.co.uk The birds swoop in for an informative visit 11am3pm with a main display at 12.30pm. FREE. 3rd April, 10th April & 13th April

Go Wild in the Woods!

Nower Wood Educational Nature Reserve, Leatherhead surreywildlifetrust.org Woodland activities; campbuilding, treasure-hunting, firelighting and more. Ages 5-12yrs.

Tues 4th April, 9.30am-4pm

Wild Explorers Tilburstow Hill, Rabies Heath Road, Redhill surreywildlifetrust. org Forest School inspired session including crafts, den building, toasting marshmallows & fire lighting. Ages 7-11 yrs.

4th April, 10am-3.30pm

Tropical Creepy Crawly Roadshow Denbies Wine Estate, Dorking denbies.co.uk Meet snakes, lizards, mini-beasts & frogs. Kids £7.50 4th April, 11am & 2pm

Teddy Bear’s Train Ride & Storytelling

Toddler Trails and Tales Gatton Park, Redhill gattonpark. com Enjoy the story of Harry and the Bucketful of Dinosaurs and walk around the park to bring it to life. 2-4yrs. £7.50 per child 7th April, 10am & 1.30pm.

Warriors of Arundel Castle

Denbies Wine Estate, Dorking denbies.co.uk Bring your fave Ted for a vineyard train ride and storytelling. Warm clothing recommended. Kids £7.50; adult £3. 5th, 6th & 11th April at 10am, 11am, 12pm & 2pm.

Family Treasure Hunt!

Gatton Park, Redhill gattonpark.com Follow the clues to explore Gatton Park to claim your prize! 4-7yrs. £7.50 per child 5th April, 10am & 1.30pm

Wild Families Event: Birds and Bees Nower Wood Educational Nature Reserve, Leatherhead surreywildlifetrust.org Get your garden ready for Spring - make a bird box and sow some seeds to take home and grow into bee-friendly plants. Family event, ages 5+.

6th April, 10am-1pm

Design your own T-shirt Gatton Park, Redhill gattonpark.com Learn printing techniques and create your own T-shirt to take home. 8+yrs. £10 per child. 6th April, 10am

Punch & Judy Shows Denbies Wine Estate, Dorking denbies.co.uk Traditional Family Fun, FREE of charge. 7th April, 10.30am, 12pm & 2pm

Arundel, W. Sussex arundelcastle.org Raven Tor Living History Group bring key moments of the Castle’s history from 1067-1644 to life through costume, crafts, weapons and combat displays. Also see Normans & Crusaders at the castle on 15-17th April. 8-9th April

Birds of Prey at Wisley RHS Wisley Gardens, Woking rhs.org.uk/wisley Discover all about birds of prey. See them up close and enjoy agility displays.

NAA. 8-9th April, 11am & 2pm

Gatton Park Open Days Gatton Park, Redhill gattonpark.com The grounds of this grand stately home are open on the first Sunday of every month. £5 for adults; kids FREE! 8th April, 1-5pm

Easter Bunny Fun Run Queens Park, Caterham on the Hill caterhamrotary.org.uk Grab some friends and raise some sponsorship for charity (then reward yourself with an Easter egg!), at the 1k fun run and 5k race for The Rotary Club of Caterham. 9th April, 10am

Denbies Chocolate Fair

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Visit our New Nower Wood Centre!

Family activities, birthday parties, holiday 22 EE nd O clubs, school trips, courses and more!

ApPE Booking essential ril N surreywildlifetrust.org 20 DA Find us off the a24 nr leatherhead 17 Y

22 Families Surrey East March-April 2017

Denbies Wine Estate, Dorking denbies.co.uk A must for chocolate lovers! Discover premium chocolates, sample award-winning and handcrafted chocs and buy from the best chocolatiers in the UK. 9th April, 10am- 4pm

Frogs and Ponds Gatton Park, Redhill gattonpark.com Find out more about frogs and do some ponddipping. 4-7yrs. £7.50 per child.

10th April, 10am & 1.30pm

Easter Egg Decorating Denbies Wine Estate, Dorking denbies.co.uk Fun for all ages, come along and decorate an egg. £7.50pp. 12th April

Toddler Trails and Tales Gatton Park, Redhill gattonpark.com Enjoy the story of Superworm & walk around the park to bring it to life.

2-4yrs. £7.50 per child.

12th April, 10am & 1.30pm

The Flying Scotsman Sheffield Park Station, East Sussex bluebell-railway. com/flying-scotsman See the legendary locomotive make daily trips from Sheffield Park to East Grinstead Stations. Tickets are available on standard stock, to travel behind the Scotsman.

13-19th April

Surrey SME Open Day Mill Lane, Leatherhead ssme. co.uk/page2.html Take a ride on the miniature steam trains and enjoy a relaxed (and reasonably priced!) family day out.

14th April, 11am-4pm

Gatwick Aviation Museum Easter Opening Lowfield Heath Rd, Charlwood gatwick-aviationmuseum.co.uk See planes from WWII to 1970s models, incl Hawker, Avro and De Havilland.

14-17th April, 9.30am-3.30pm

Easter Cruises on the Wey & Arun Canal Loxwood weyandarun.co.uk Enjoy a 90min cruise on the idyllic canal with a visit from the Easter Bunny. 14th, 16th & 17th April, 11am, 12pm & 2pm.

Vineyard Horse & Carriage Rides Denbies Wine Estate, Dorking denbies.co.uk Take a tour around the award-winning vineyard for £7.50pp. 14th & 17th April, 12pm-3.30pm

Children’s Trust Easter Fair

Tadworth Court, Tadworth thechildrenstrust.co.uk/easterfair Celebrate Easter and raise money for a great cause at the same time!

Join the much-loved Easter egg hunt, see farm animals, ride the fairground and play classic games.

Shopping, eating, chocolate and more! 15th April, 12-4pm

Easter Egg Hunt Gatton Park, Redhill gattonpark.com Explore the gardens looking for clues to find the eggs. Adults £5; kids £2 17th April, 1-5pm

What's On Guide

Nower Wood

London Harness Horse Parade South of England Centre, Ardingly lhhp.co.uk A must for horse-fans! A traditional Easter Monday parade of horses, ponies and donkeys with their horsedrawn carriages and wagons, as featured on BBCs Countryfile.

Also a vintage car show and Keep It Local craft fair. Kids go FREE! 17th April, 9am-2.30pm

Exhibition: A socialite’s guide to collecting kings Polesden Lacey, Great Bookham nationaltrust.org. uk/polesden-lacey Charisma, taste, wit and discretion - what does it take to lure kings into one’s confidence? Uncover the talents of the Edwardian’s finest society hostess Mrs Greville.

19th April-31st August

Nower Wood Bluebell Open Day (See Nature Notes

for more info) Nower Wood Educational Nature Reserve, Leatherhead surreywildlifetrust. org Visit the ancient bluebell woodland and brand new education centre! Lots of familyfriendly activities. FREE! Book online. 22nd April, 11am-4pm

Creatures of the Night at Nower Wood

St George’s Day Hever Castle, Edenbridge hevercastle.co.uk Spot St George himself in the grounds of Hever Castle on England’s National Day. 23rd April

Nower Wood Educational Nature Reserve Leatherhead surreywildlifetrust.org Discover the nocturnal mammals, invertebrates and amphibians of Nower Wood.

7yrs+.

28th April, 7.45pm-9.30pm

Hever Castle May Day Celebrations Hever Castle, Edenbridge hevercastle.co.uk See the crowning of the May Queen, enjoy Maypole Dancing and enjoy the traditional procession through the grounds.

29th April-1st May

Hever’s Tulip Celebration Hever Castle, Edenbridge hevercastle.co.uk Join Hever’s head gardener and marvel at the 7000 tulips, in 60 varieties planted in the castle grounds. 24-28th April & 2nd-7th May (excl. bank hols)

Spring Craft Fair at Wisley RHS Wisley Gardens, Woking rhs.org.uk/wisley Browse over 170 stalls of British crafts and produce.

27th April-1st May

YMCA Fun Run & Festival of Sport Priory Park Bell Street, Reigate ymcaeastsurrey.org.uk/funrun Fun run for all ages & abilities from 4yrs+. Fancy dress prizes for most imaginative outfit in the 7 races of the day. Every finisher receives medal & race t-shirt. Loads of stalls, face-painting & bouncy castle, cakes & BBQ. Reigate & Banstead Festival of Sport welcomes local clubs who will showcase their sports with plenty of taster sessions. Visit website to enter.

30th April, 10.30am

In the know Airport news for local residents Stay updated when you sign up to receive Gatwick Airport’s regular digital newsletter and you could also WIN an iPad Mini.

The Supercar Event

Airport updates Travel news Local events Parking schemes Nature watch

24 – 25 June 2017, 9:00am - 4:30pm Dunsfold Park, Nr Guildford, Surrey GU6 8HY The Supercar Event has something for the whole family with attractions and rides for children and adults, including passenger supercar rides around the famous ‘Top Gear’ track from just £30!

For more information: go to thesupercarevent.com or call 01737 364 324

an iPad M ini in our mo nthly prize draw

Prize draws to take place 15th March, 15th April and 15th May. Terms and Conditions apply, view www.gatwickairport.com/communitynewsletter/terms

Reg charity no. 288018

To book tickets* go to: seetickets.com/tour/the-supercar-event-2017 *booking fees will apply

WIN

Sign up today

www.gatwickairport.com/ communitynewsletter

Families Surrey East March-April 2017 23

What's On Guide Spring Garden & Leisure Show

Llama Park Fiesta Llama Park, Forest Row llamapark.co.uk Check out llama and alpaca shearing, spinning demos, military vehicles, magicians, music and BBQ. 30th April-1st May

Chiddingstone Castle Literary Festival

South of England Showground Ardingly seas.org.uk Get out into the fresh air for a day of family fun this May Bank Holiday Sunday & Monday.

Children under 16 go FREE with a paying adult! There’s heaps of interactive entertainment such as the giant colouring cube, a unique caving experience, climbing wall and circus skills workshop; lots of farmyard favourites to meet in the Animal Barn; there’s the fun & educational Mini Sheep Show, the Gardening Theatre for top tips and plants & flowers to buy, street entertainment, acres of shopping and delicious food & drink to enjoy. Dogs welcome!

Buy tickets online for 10% discount. 30th April-1st May, 9am-5pm

Chiddingstone, Edenbridge chiddingstonecastle.org.uk/ Talks & performances from celebrated authors, poets, actors and theatre groups, including Alison Weir and Rev Richard Coles.

Bank Holiday (1st May) for families and Schools on 2nd May. 30th April-2nd May, 11am-5pm

The Blindley Heath Heavy Horse & Country Show East Bysshe Showground, Blindley Heath sesha.org.uk

The South East Shire Horse Association and the Blindley Heath Country Show have merged to create a new family

Make a date with us....

event. Attractions include meerkats, sheepdog displays, circus skills , fire engines and vintage tractors. The magnificent finale parade features the biggest collection of Heavy Horses in Southern England. Kids go FREE! 30th April-1st May

NEARLY NEW SALES NCT 25th March, 10.45am –

De Stafford School, Caterham 8th April, 9.30am – Holy Family Church, Yorke Road, Reigate 13th May, 10am – N. Holmwood Village Hall, Dorking nct.org.uk

Bumps2Babies 1st April, 10am-12pm - Banstead Community Hall, Banstead 22nd April, 2-4pm - PNL Centre at St Joseph’s Church, Redhill bumps2babiessales.com

Mum2Mum Market 11th March, 11am – St Mark’s Church, Reigate, 25th March, 2pm – St John’s CofE School, Dorking mum2mummarket.co.uk

Cheeki Monkeys Nearly New & Family Fun Event 1st April, 2pm - PNL Centre at St Joseph’s Church, Redhill

BOOK NOW FOR THESE GREAT FAMILY EVENTS, COMING UP SOON!

Surrey Young Farmers Cowpie Country Show, 14th May

Blue Anchor Farm, Blindley Heath cowpie.co.uk Get yourself down to the annual Cowpie Show this May for a packed family day out, with livestock, rural crafts, farm food, competitions and dog show – as well as a main ring featuring Jonathan Marshall’s Free Spirits (falconry on horseback), live stunt riders and vintage vehicles.

Other attractions include terrier racing, birds of prey and lots of Young Farmers comps like chick rearing. They’ve also got bee keepers, pets corner, blacksmiths and archery – what more could you want from a day out?! Event is organised by Surrey Young Farmers to raise the funds needed to run the Surrey Federation of Young Farmers Clubs.

FREE FAMILY TICKET The show has very kindly given us a FREE family ticket to give away to a Families reader. To enter please answer the following question: On what farm does the Cowpie Show take place?

T&Cs: Email your answer to chairman.cowpie@gmail.com by Sat 6th May, with the heading FAMILIES COMP with your name and contact details. Winner will be picked at random and contacted on Monday 8th May.

At the Edenbridge & Oxted Agricultural Show 27th & 28th August

The Supercar Event 24-25th June

for details call 01737 645843 www.edenbridge-show.co.uk

This year’s Supercar Event promises over 150 amazing supercars including Ferrari 458 Speciale, Porsche 991 GT3RS, McLaren 675LT and Lamborghini Aventador SV. Passenger rides in supercars start from just £30, with special prices for the top cars on the track.

THE LONDON HARNESS HORSE PARADE

More dates for your diary

A Parade of Harness Horses, Ponies & Donkeys

www.sesha.org.uk

30th Apri l & 1st Ma y

on the A22 between Blindley Heath & Newchapel. RH7 6LF

F

01737 645857

O O PR

BLINDLEY HEATH HEAVY HORSE & COUNTRY SHOW

Easter M onda 17th Apri y l

R

www.lhhp.co.uk South of England Centre West Sussex 01737 646132

24 Families Surrey East March-April 2017

Dunfold Park, Cranleigh thesupercarevent.com

This family event attracts more than 17,000 visitors and raises funds for The Children’s Trust charity, with stars such as Chris Evans, Andrea McLean and Mark Dixon attending in recent years. It’s a great family day out, with loads of kids’ activities like helicopters, trucks, Caterham Sevens, hovercrafts, Segway’s, mini tanks, Diggerland, fire engines, and Peppa Pig! Teens can have their first driving experience with Stay Safe Driving School (age 14+ and above). Family ticket (2 adult, 2 children) cost £30.

See competition to WIN TICKETS in our May-June issue.