Families Bedfordshire Magazine May-June 2016

FREE MAY/JUNE 2016

ISSUE 22

Seven party themes What’s on this May & June!

How to enjoy festivals with the kids

For Families with young children aged 0 - 12 in Bedfordshire To advertise: 01727 373929

May/June 2016

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Contents

Editor’s Welcome Hello and a very warm welcome to our MayJune issue!

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From a fabulous feature on how to enjoy festivals with the kids, to thinking ahead to your childcare plans over the school holidays, there is lot of useful advice to hand.

Plus, if you are planning your child’s birthday party, our feature will give you plenty of ideas about organising a themed party if you are thinking of going down that route.

Our What’s On section in this issue is bursting to the brim. With summer on the way, we have got lots of great ideas of things to see and do across Bedfordshire.

And with lots of anniversary and celebrations taking place across the county this year, there are masses of events and some excellent entertainment for families to enjoy over the course of the next few months.

Fingers crossed for lots of sunny days ahead!

Judith

News & Info

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Summer childcare feature

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Clubs & Classes

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Festivals are fun with kids

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Keeping your child’s brain ticking over

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Health news

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Party feature

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Education NeWS

14 - 16

What’s On

Editor: Judith Dow editor@familiesbedfordshire.co.uk www.familiesbedfordshire.co.uk Mob: 07889 894431 or phone: 01727 373929. www.facebook.com/FamiliesBeds Twitter: @FamiliesBeds

Design by

P.S. Our July-August issue will include lots of great ideas for days out and things to do with the kids over the summer. Copy deadline: Friday 10 June.

.co.uk

Photo Credits Front cover: © Shutterstock (www.shutterstock.com)

Congratulations to the winners of our Family tickets to Mead Open Farm who were S Martin, K Broadbent & C Slater. The winners of Bedfordshire Baby & Toddler tickets were H Gallagher, H Treadwell, Beale, D Murphy, M Scott & B Duigan.

Families Bedfordshire is printed by The Manson Group (01727 848440) on paper sourced from sustainable forests and the inks used are vegetable based. Distribution: we are printing 15,000 copies which will be distributed to selected points in Bedfordshire. For further distribution information please contact the Editor (editor@familiesbedfordshire.co.uk).

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Families Bedfordshire 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 Bedfordshire are fully protected by copyright and none of the editorial or photographic matter may be reproduced in any form without prior consent of the publisher. We take every care preparing 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.

May/June 2016

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NEWS & INFO

Flitwick Carnival returns once again!

For the third consecutive year Flitwick Town Council is organising Flitwick Carnival which this year takes place on Saturday 11 June from 12 noon-7pm at The Millennium Park, Dunstable Road, Flitwick, MK45 1HP. With a Seaside Fun theme you can expect plenty of attractions, including the Parade through the town at 11.15am, fun fair rides and a seaside area complete with a Punch & Judy Show, hilarious stand-in photo boards and lots more.

You can browse the many stalls, take your pick from the catering options, enter into the fantastic Grand Prize Draw or simply relax and watch the very entertaining Arena Acts. Performing this year we have Paws 4 Thought (dog agility), Savage Skills (trials bike display) and popular local band Kong. Thank you also to the Gold Sponsors: Flitwick & Ampthill Bathrooms.

There’s always lots of fun stuff for kids to do at Stotfold Watermill and nature reServe

For more details email Carnival@flitwick.gov.uk or tel: 01525 631900. Don’t forget to LIKE Flitwick Carnival on Facebook as well!

For open dates and events visit www.stotfoldmill.com

Explore your local museums this summer!

The ‘Museum Explorer Passport’ (http://museumexplorerpassport.com/) is back from May and throughout the summer holidays. It covers museums in Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire and Essex, and this year there are more activities, museums and a wider geographical spread to choose from.

Children can claim their passports for free and they are encouraged to explore, with their families, other museums across the three counties. They will get a stamp in their passport in every museum and there is also a challenge to complete. Complete five challenges and they will receive a sticker prize.

The Pattern Tracker also returns to Bedford, and includes the Higgins Bedford, John Bunyan Museum and Panacea Museum. The Trail encourages children to learn about shapes and design using features from each of the museums. It focuses on the beautiful architecture and stunning stained glass windows of the Bunyan Meeting, some of the amazing objects on display at the Higgins, and the tranquil gardens of the Panacea Museum which also has a Garden Tea Shop.

More info: www.thehigginsbedford.org.uk/ www.panaceatrust.org & www.bunyanmeeting.co.uk/museum

To advertise: 01727 373929

May/June 2016

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NEWS & INFO

From Bedfordshire to Africa and back!

Local Bedfordshire mum Sarah Akroyd will be travelling at the end of July to South Africa to stay in the Masoyi community near the White River for two weeks. During her time in the community Sarah will be working with the charity Hands at Work, to support their local volunteers who work with orphans and vulnerable children, as part of a team of 11 who will all travel together. The charity works to serve the most vulnerable by providing food, education and basic health care. For more information on the charity and its work or to donate see www.handsatwork.org/south-africa/

Get ready for the next Big Lunch Food Festival!

Work opportunity with Families Online in Bedfordshire!

We are preparing to celebrate the launch of a fantastic new website this summer. Destined to become the number 1 resource for local families, www.familiesonline.co.uk will soon have over 300 local sites across the UK. Like our magazines, the local sites in Bedfordshire are guaranteed to give users the very best ideas for spending time with their family locally.

We have a number of highly flexible, home-based work opportunities available for Area Managers to run our local sites.

As an Area Manager you will enjoy a fun and flexible role which fits around you and your family life, whilst affording you a great challenge – and the opportunity to make money! There are no set up costs involved, you will be trained by industry experts and you will develop valuable new skills in the digital, print and social media marketing industry.

To register your interest, please email sammie.rose@lifecyclemarketing.co.uk

Local swim school Puddle Ducks celebrates two years of puddling to success!

Local swimming school school Puddle Ducks West Herts & South Beds (www.puddleducks.com/franchisees/30/about_us) recently celebrated its two year anniversary.

In the last two years it has has grown quickly, from owner Ravneet Bermi teaching twelve classes on two days of the week by herself, to nine team members running over fifty classes per week in six pools across West Herts and South Beds. Classes are in Luton Dunstable and surrounding local towns, seven days a week for babies and children up to age four.

Free “Aqua Natal” classes are currently offered for pregnant women and their partners, to help them prepare physically and mentally for meeting their newborns.

Join the fun on Leighton Buzzard High Street on Sunday 5 June between 11 am and 4 pm for an amazing day of food, music and fun for all ages.

Fancy a slice of wood-fired pizza? How about some Jamaican jerk chicken or Indian street food? This year’s Festival brings an exciting array of foods from around the world. Along with traditional British fare, experience the flavours of Spain, China, India, Germany, France, America and more, with a variety to suit all tastes from vegetarians to sweet lovers to BBQ fans.

Plenty of activities will keep the family amused throughout the day. Enjoy live music, watch food demonstrations, sit with a refreshment from the Double Decker Bus Bar or browse craft stalls. There are loads of games for kids, glittery tattoos, a climbing wall and much more. Watch out for the stilt walkers!

For more information: www.leightonlinslade-tc.gov.uk/big-lunch-2016/

To celebrate two years of success, Puddle Ducks are planning some special workshops for expectant parents and there will be celebrations in all of their classes with a special guest appearance from Puddle the Duck himself!

© Darren Harbar Photography

Shuttleworth’s summer season is off to a sizzling start!

The Shuttleworth Collection at Old Warden Park near Biggleswade has a multitude of family-friendly events going on this summer.

Open to the public since 1963, the Collection itself includes showcase of aircraft housed in hangars and other moving vehicles including cars, motorcycles, bicycles and horse drawn carriages.

The Swiss Garden, which reopened in 2014 after being extensively renovated, is fully accessible to all and will play host to a variety of summer events including walks, concerts, theatre and more.

Over the summer, Shuttleworth’s popular flying events begin with the Season Premiere on Sunday 8 May, with the Red Arrows appearing for the first time in 30 years. While “At home with Shuttleworth” in May, June and July will replace the traditional evening airshows, with a relaxed programme of flying throughout the day, weather permitting!

Bring a picnic, let the kids loose in the Jubilee playground and enjoy a fabulous flying circus! For more information see the website www.shuttleworth.org or our What’s On section.

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NEWS & INFO Flitwick town council presents...

Family photos and more in Leighton Buzzard!

Nell Wilkinson and her husband Phil have recently relaunched their family photography business, Pink Pig Photography, from their home studio in Leighton Buzzard having moved from Peterborough.

Offering a professional yet relaxed approach Pink Pig Photography specialises in photos of families, children and babies in particular. My son Thomas and I visited them for a photo session and the time flew as Nell and Phil made us both feel very relaxed and most importantly took some great shots of Thomas!

Pink Pig Photography also offer a children’s party service and they can host a photography session in their studio and provide all the added extras, including balloons, banners and even the chance to handle a Nikon camera, to keep everyone entertained. For more information and to see their work visit www.pinkpigphotography.co.uk

/Flit wickcarnival

saturday 11th June 12 noon - 7pm the millennium park

Spectacular

dunstable road, Flitwick, mk45 ihp

line the streets at 11.15am For the parade!

Parade Route: Rufus Centre - Steppingley Road - Dunstable Road - Temple Way

Bus Bar

Punch & Judy, Paws 4 Thought Dog Agility, Savage Skills Trials Bike Display & Lots More!

Live Music from 4pm - 7pm For more details call 01525 631900

The perfect family day out!

Sponsor:

Arena Acts

Fun Fair

SeaSide e!

Fun Th em

Limited parking at Flit wick Lower School £1

Bedford biscuit baker continues to expand Bedford mum Nila Patel (www.

NilaHolden.etsy.com) set up her baking business producing biscuits and cookie gifts in 2012. After leaving her job, she then worked from home for 3 years and then moved into a commercial bakery premises in September 2015.

Nila set up her online shop via Etsy which has a diverse community of sellers from around the world. The biggest challenge her business faced was “...cash flow, making sure the money comes into the business when it’s needed, particularly with wholesale customers, but Etsy makes this easy with direct payments and being able to schedule payments.” The cookie designs are very seasonal, so ensuring consistent sales across the year can be tough.

Nila’s products are listed in Fortnum & Mason and she has made biscuits for a variety of clients as well as being stocked in shops in the UK and France. Nila says ““Our best sellers are personalised biscuits as this allows people to get a gorgeous, edible gift that has a name or special word for that extra special touch. A gift that they just love to give (and receive!).”

Look up,

look down, look around!

The Collection is home to historic aircraft, vintage vehicles and motorcycles, and a period Swiss Garden Season Premiere Sunday 8 May 2016

Manor House String Quartet Evening Saturday 11 June 2016 Old Warden Aerodrome, Bedfordshire, SG18 9EP

May - June events at Shuttleworth for all the family!

Season Premiere at The Collection on Sunday 8 May, Afternoon Tea at The House on Saturday 28 May with House tours, Manor House String Quartet evening on Saturday 11 June and Chapterhouse Theatre presents ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ in the Swiss Garden on Saturday 25 June

www.shuttleworth.org/events Reg Charity No 307534

To advertise: 01727 373929 Families Beds QP May - June 2016.indd 1

May/June 2016

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19/04/2016 09:07:21

Summer childcare feature

How to organise summer holiday childcare

By Claire Muffett-Reece Worried how you’ll juggle work with childcare over the never-ending summer holidays? Relax – there are plenty of options to ensure you’ll still be employed come the first week of September…

carers. A more affordable solution to higher-priced kids’ clubs, remember to ask what stipulations they have, such as you providing your child’s meals or whether you’re expected to pay if they are sick or you go away.

Looking after your children during the summer holidays is no easy feat for any working parent, with many mums and dads resorting to booking their annual leave separately to ensure someone keeps an eye on the kids. But it doesn’t have to be that way – regardless of your budget, there are many affordable solutions to keep those wages coming in while your little ones enjoy the summer break.

Holiday play schemes/summer camps

Relatives Your first port of call should be looking at close family members to see if anyone could potentially help out. Your parents or in-laws are ideal, as most will revel in the chance to spoil their grandchildren with days out and endless supplies of ice cream! Bear in mind their age and don’t over-burden them if they agree to help, sticking to set times and helping with packed lunches or sending your kids with pocket money towards yet another trip to the zoo. It might be free childcare for you but that doesn’t mean it won’t cost your parents!

School mums Why not have a chat with other mums at the school gates to see if they can help? A win-win situation; your child gets to spend the day with one of their friends – plus you save on childcare costs! Make sure you only ask mums you feel confident leaving your child with – and who your little one feels comfortable around – and take a little gesture of thanks over at the end of the day, such as a small box of chocolates. However, most mums might instead prefer a ‘play date swap’ in return, where they look after your child one day in the week and you look after theirs another.

Childminders For many working parents, childminders are the best option over the school holidays, often sticking to the same person they normally get to do the school drop off and pick up. If you don’t have one, ask friends and other mums who they recommend, or look online for Ofsted-registered

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Open most kids’ school bags towards the end of term and you’ll find half a dozen leaflets offering discounted daycare for specific age groups and boasting a number of fun activities. Usually catered to fit around school hours, they are often based on themes to appeal to your youngster, with football, science, dance and drama top of the hit-list. Run privately or by your local council, this competitively priced option can be booked on a daily or weekly basis and is a fun-filled way for your little one to meet new friends and gain skills in the process.

Working from home Last, but by no means least, is the hope your boss might be sympathetic to your situation and agree to let you work from home every now and then. Explain your childcare struggle as soon as you can, asking if a day a week might be an option over the holidays before giving them time to think about it. If they agree, make sure you complete all tasks assigned to you on time – regardless of the distractions that come with a demanding child at home! Not getting your job done at home will soon be picked up by management, meaning you’ll most definitely be refused if you ever broach the subject again!

Claire Muffett-Reece is a freelance journalist who writes on parenting, lifestyle, health and general interest. Mum to Jack, five, and Max, three, her work has been published in The Evening Standard, The Metro and Cosmopolitan, among others.

Clubs & classes

How to get kids started in outdoor sports

By Adrian Warner

Most parents agree that getting young children involved in sport from a young age will help them to keep fit and get into the habit of enjoying regular exercise.

non-contact game together and the focus is on passing and running skills.

Most clubs start youngsters off at the age of six or seven.

Sport can also help kids learn important life lessons such as how to deal with winning and losing. It also encourages them to make friends and learn how to be part of a team.

3.Tennis – Children from three can learn the basic skills of the game using smaller courts and nets and with child-sized rackets. Some clubs will also have squash and badminton courts.

Outdoor sports are a great way for children to get some fresh air and have fun with their friends. But how do you choose which sport is right for your child?

4. Hockey – The game is much gentler than that for adults and sticks and pitches are smaller. Some clubs offer “Quicksticks”, suitable from seven, which is a four-a-side game that can be played anywhere and uses a bigger ball for safety.

Here are five outdoor options they will love: 1. Football - Children can start from reception age and there are clubs that offer coaching during the holidays for children from five to 11 years.

These are usually a morning or afternoon class where young children are introduced to the basic skills of the sport.

2. Rugby – Don’t panic: kids’ rugby is not about scrums, mauls and tackling or complicated rules. Children are encouraged to play a simple,

5. Multi-Sports – Not sure which sport to choose? Look for multi-sports sessions by local authorities where kids can try a variety of sports. These are often available in the summer holidays and are a great way for kids to find out what they really like.

Adrian Warner has been a sports journalist for 30 years and has reported from 13 Olympic Games and 5 World Cups for Reuters, London’s Evening Standard and the BBC.

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May/June 2016

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Festivals are fun with kids

Festivals are fun

By Sally J. Hall

Introducing your children to all kinds of music can be a great way to give them a lifelong love of everything from folk to classical. Many of the UK’s festivals have plenty to do for the whole family and with some careful planning and by packing a few essentials, you’ll all have a great time.

Where to stay If you have (and know how to put up) a tent, this can be the most costeffective way of attending a festival, as ticket prices can be high. Check the tent before you go, to ensure it has all its poles and pins. A good ground sheet is a must, as are camp beds or self-inflating air beds. A playpen is great for babies and small children to sleep in at night and play in the day.

Alternatively, other options, from pre-erected tents to Yurts and teepees may be provided. Take a look at the festival’s website to see what’s suitable.

If you can’t face roughing it, book a local hotel or bed & breakfast. You’ll have a bolthole should the weather turn nasty and somewhere to wash properly!

Site Map Take time to orient yourself around the site, find where your favourite bands will be and most importantly, check out where the loos and showers are. These can get very busy and there are often long queues. For small kids, take a travel potty, as kids often need to ‘go’ quite suddenly.

Most festivals have a craft and activities area for kids too.

Pushchairs can be tricky to use if the ground is muddy. Carriers are more portable and take up less space.

With small kids, try to camp in the family or quiet areas so that you won’t all be kept awake by people coming back to their tents (in all conditions) through the small hours.

Setting up Car parks can be quite a way from camps, so try to ensure that all gear can be put into a couple of backpacks for you and your partner to carry – and still have a hand free for the kids. Some festivals rent a wagon to transport your stuff, which you can then use to pull the kids around in.

Kids should have your name (not theirs) and number on them in case they get separated. Write it on their arm, or buy luggage tags and attach them to their clothes and bags. Talk to them about how to behave should they get lost. Make sure your phone is charged, so if your kids do get separated, you are able to be contacted.

Dress your kids in bright clothes so you can spot them and take a photo of them each morning, so if they go wandering, you can remember how they were dressed and show others.

Don’t take valuables and keep things you can’t leave behind, such as phone, keys, your purse and credit cards, with you in a day pack all day.

Never leave them in your tent.

Fancy dress Many festivals now have a fancy dress parade as part of the fun, so take costumes. Some things can be made on-site at a craft stall. Face paints are great to pack, as are glow sticks and bubbles.

Packing list •

Waterproofs and wellies, comfy shoes

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Toiletries in small packs, a hang-up sponge bag you can take to the shower. Toothbrushes and paste.

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Lots of changes of clothing

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Warm jumpers and socks

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Sun screen and hats

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A baby carrier

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Torch and batteries

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Phone and charger

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Ear defenders

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Toilet rolls, tissues and wipes

What to eat

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Insect repellent

There are usually lots of food stalls but bear in mind they can be pricey.

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First aid kit

If you want to do your own cooking, invest in a camp stove. Easy, one pot meals are best, like soups, stews, rice or pasta, Freeze some home made meals, then just before you leave, put them in a cool box together with drinks and milk.

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Comfy clothes

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Flasks, camping cutlery and crockery

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Small backpacks for all, with a change of clothes, loo paper, wipes and snack in each, plus drinks.

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Camera

Take lots of snacks too, in case cooking or queuing for meals takes longer than you think!

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Festivals are fun with kids

June Arts Jam WORLD

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One of the festival highlights is A Mano (By Hand) which is performed by El Patio Teatro a company brought over to the UK from Spain especially for June Arts Jam. Told with beautifully crafted clay characters and remarkable artistry, By Hand is a touching and life affirming story about love, small failures, a potter’s wheel and four hands at play.

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See www.fullhouse.org.uk/whats for more information and to book tickets.

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Lots to see and do with the family this summer in Dunstable!

This summer Dunstable Town Council have a varied and exciting free family friendly events programme. It kicks off with their ‘Around The World’ event in Priory Gardens will be held on Saturday 14 May, and will give all the family the opportunity to discover different parts of the world through dance, crafts and music, including a steel band, didgeridoo workshops and samba percussion and dance group amongst others.

The Dunstable Classic Motor Rally will be held on Saturday 11 June, from 10-4pm in Priory Gardens for motor enthusiastists, free entry. While on Saturday 18 June, Dunstable Live returns with five hours of the best 1980s tribute bands, with the full line up to be announced shortly.

The free Sunday Band concerts return for all ages, beginning on Sunday 26 June from 3pm-4.45pm in Grove House Gardens. Bring your own chair if you wish and order a cream tea from the Priory House Tea rooms – delicious!

For more information on all future events see the website www.dunstable. gov.uk or see our What's On section.

Throw your own street party to celebrate the Queen’s birthday!

Families are being encouraged to organise their own street party in honour of the Queen’s 90th birthday on Saturday 11 June. Running alongside the ‘World’s Biggest Street Party’ on London’s Mall, Oakman Inns and Dr Rob Schafer have launched a website called www.ourstreetparty.org, to help people organise their own events to meet their neighbours and to allow children to play outside, free from traffic fears. In addition, Oakman are providing free facilities at their units for meetings of local street party organisers to kick start their community efforts.

If you are interested in organising your own Street Party or getting involved with one, visit the website where you can sign up to receive a free information pack, join a meeting or call 01442 332 603.

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June Arts Jam is a new arts festival for children and their families in Bedford which runs from Friday 3 June-Monday 20 June. It will be presented by Full House Theatre and the events, many of which will be free, will be held at spaces including The Higgins Museum, The Place Theatre, Bedford Central Library and The John Bunyan Museum. During the festival families can head out to their favourite cultural spot and benefit from an added touch of the sweet stuff offered by the jam; entertaining shows, inspiring arts events and interactive workshops.

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So if you want to see the world without travelling too far, then come down to Priory Gardens and experience the world at your finger tips!

There will be demonstrations and workshops for everyone to get involved with plus a packed schedule of arena displays.

Bollywood Dancing Chinese Lion Dance Didgeridoo Workshops Maypole Dancing and Circus Skills

Reptile Show Samba Percussion and Dance Group Steel Band Traditional Dhol Drummers

Visit www.dunstable.gov.uk for all the details of acts, demos and showcases on throughout the day, or call us on 01582 891406 DUNSTABLE

TOWN COU N CI L

@DunstableEvents

To advertise: 01727 373929

May/June 2016

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Keeping your child’s brain ticking over the summer

How to keep your child’s brain ticking over in the summer holidays

By Liat Hughes Joshi The long summer holidays are a well-earned break; a time for kids to spend whole mornings in their PJs, to build dens, go on endless outings and enjoy a ride on their bikes in the park. But the downside of such a lengthy spell away from school is that learning can slip back significantly, with children often forgetting some of the skills they have learnt.

The good news is that we’ve got plenty of ways to prevent this so-called ‘summer slide’. This is largely fun stuff and there’s no need to capitalise all of their, or indeed your, time. Don’t panic, July and August won’t become some sort of temporary home school project and besides, they’re likely to be awake 12 to 14 hours a day, so even half an hour of learning still leaves masses of time for kicking back and relaxing…

1. Head to the library for the Summer Reading Challenge This popular scheme runs every summer in almost all public libraries across the UK and is designed to encourage children to read throughout the holidays. Usually, those who finish at least six books over the six-week period receive badges, rewards and a certificate at the end, with some schools choosing to hand these out in assembly at the start of the new academic year. Even better: it’s all completely free!

Check out the Summer Reading Challenge website for more information, as well as children’s bookrelated news, chat and competitions. http://summerreadingchallenge.org.uk/ 2. Send some postcards Get your children to share their holiday news with grandparents or friends via good old-fashioned postcards.

You could agree a swap with their best friends before heading off for any trips. Younger school-age pupils can practice their letter formation, whilst older ones can look at incorporating some exciting vocabulary into their messages. For keen writers, perhaps find a pen pal – this could even be a cousin who lives far away.

3. Break out the board games and prop open the puzzle books Board games are ideal for those inevitable-to-a-British-summer rainy days and many of the more traditional options incorporate maths. For reception children, work out their counting with Kerplunk (they’ll need to check who has the most sticks and the difference) and Snakes and Ladders. For junior school age kids, Monopoly requires dealing with money and addition, subtraction and multiplication.

Meanwhile, Sudoku, word search and logic problem books are all brilliant brain stretchers for times when a more solitary activity is needed.

4. Keep a holiday scrapbook Head to the stationery shop and choose a funky diary or scrapbook and some pens or pencils, then get them started with keeping a record of their most exciting moments of the summer. For younger writers, even a word or sentence under a picture or stuck-in memento is a start, whilst older children might want to put pen to paper and turn the scrap book into a lengthier journal.

5. Sneak stealth learning into everyday activities Daily life is full of sneaky little educational opportunities – some so subtle that your children will barely notice what you’re up to. It might be weighing and measuring ingredients when baking cakes, dividing the bill between families in a restaurant, or budgeting in the toy shop. If you get too into this, the kids will inevitably spot what you’re doing and complain, but now and then and you should get away with it.

6. Start a blog Tap into an older child’s interests and suggest they set up a blog about it – it could be sports-related, about cooking or outings they’ve been on. If you’re worried about internet safety, just keep it anonymous or filter out any messages and comments yourself. Another option is to keep the blog private and not actually publish it – they can still show it to friends. You never know, they could be the next internet blogging sensation…

7. Ready, get set, go for some Olympic-themed learning 2016 is an Olympic year, so combine boosting interest in sport with some maths and literacy. Ideas include reading the sports section of the paper or setting up their own medal winners’ league table by country. You could also pick a medal winner’s country each day to research together and find a few facts about.

8. Work on non-academic skills that are useful too With much less going on compared to term time, the holidays are a perfect opportunity to work on age-appropriate skills your child could do with picking up or honing. Improving their swimming, doing their shoelaces up, or getting used to becoming a shade more independent by, say, walking to post a letter or to the corner shop, are all worthwhile ideas.

Liat Hughes Joshi is a parenting journalist and the author of four books including ‘New Old-fashioned Parenting’ and ‘How to Unplug Your Child’ (both published by Summersdale) and Raising Children: The Primary Years (Pearson).

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Health news

Is the sugar tax unfair on diabetics?

In March, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osborne announced new plans to bring in a ‘sugar tax.’ The additional tax on sugary products such as soft drinks and sweets came as a response to calls from campaigners like Jamie Oliver to reduce the amount of sugar that children consume. Sugar is one of several factors blamed for the rise in childhood obesity.

Kids’ holiday activities this May and Summer If you’re already starting to plan ahead for the May half term and summer holidays, then Houghton Regis Leisure Cenre have lots on offer for active kids. A bouncy castle, arts and crafts, inflatables in the pool and swimming crash courses will all be available from Monday 30 MayFriday 3 June and again from Monday 25 July to Friday 2 September.

Phone 01582 866141 for more information and to book!

However, parents of children with Type 1 diabetes have said that the tax may unfairly penalise their children, as they sometimes use energy drinks to manage their sugar levels. They have pointed out that, while parents whose children have Celiac disease can get prescriptions for gluten-free foods, parents of diabetic children will have to pay more for their sweet drinks.

Type 1 diabetes can result in a sudden drop in sugar levels in the body (hypoglycaemia) and sufferers can bring their levels back up with a quick sweet drink or a snack to prevent their going into a coma.

Get strolling for Walk to School Week

Say goodbye to traffic jams and lack of parking spaces and walk to school as part of the annual Walk to School week, running from 16 to 22 May. Organised by Living Streets and part of National Walking Month in May, it challenges schools and their pupils to walk to school more during the week.

This year’s theme is ‘Strider’s Walk in the Wild’ with the walking habits and natural environments of different animal species being explored each day. Tuesday 17 May is ‘Happy Shoesday’ and children and teachers can wear the shoes that make them the happiest and donate £1. Money raised will go to Living Streets for work with schools, disability groups and local communities, and campaigning work to make UK streets safer for everyone.

For more info: www.livingstreets.org.uk/nwm

Get into the swing of golf Young people across Luton are being invited to take up their clubs with a range of coaching courses and events at the new Active Luton Golf Academy over the spring and summer at Stockwood Park Golf Centre.

The Active Luton Golf Academy will cater for children aged 6 – 14, led

by Stockwood Park’s Professional Golf Association (PGA) professionals and offer introductory courses as well as series of 14 junior 9-hole golf competitions held on weekends until October.

For budding golfers who get the bug for the sport, junior season tickets for under 18s are available at Stockwood Park Golf Centre allowing juniors to play unlimited golf after 11am in the summer and after 10am in the winter – great for the school holidays. More information tel Stockwood Park Golf Centre Pro Shop on 01582 413704 (option 1).

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at Houghton Regis Leisure Centre Lessons from 1 year+ to Adults Parkside Drive, Houghton Regis, Beds LU5 5PY, 01582 866 141 aquaed.houghton@sll.co.uk Find us online www.sll.co.uk

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Party feature

Seven party themes that kids will love

By Sally J. Hall Parties can go with a swing if you choose a theme that your little ones can have fun with.

Play: This theme really suits all those old-fashioned party games like Pass the Parcel and Musical Chairs.

1. Pirates

Eat: Tea can be a traditional one with little sandwiches and dainty cakes.

Invitations: Create a treasure map with “X marks the party spot” and a pirate poem with plenty of “aaaaaahhhhhhhs!”

Look for cardboard tiered cake stands and use pretty cloths and bunting.

Wear: Dress as a pirate and make eye patches to wear.

Play: Fill a wooden chest with torn up newspaper and pop in some lucky dip gifts.

Eat: Give them chicken, vegetable or fish fingers and let them eat with their hands and make jelly with pomegranate seeds in it to look like sunken treasure.

Invitations: Make animal themed invitations; these can be as simple or artistic as you like.

Wear: Come as your favourite animal or get your guests to bring an animal toy.

Play: Have a Safari game in the garden where you hide pictures of animals which the kids have to spot, then play Sleeping Lions.

Eat: Create a Bush Tucker Trial with the use of jungle themed plates and cups.

2. Disney Invitations: Use stickers of Disney characters and glitter.

Wear: Offer accessories such as paper crowns and a sash made from coloured paper. Old net curtains make good veils.

Play: Create a Disney piñata by covering a balloon with papier maché and turn it into a Mickey Mouse head.

6. Circus Invitations: Create a big, red Clown’s shoe or circus ticket as the invitation.

Wear: Dress as circus folk; ballet costumes double as acrobats, riders can wear jodhpurs and boots and all the kids can be clowns with some face paint.

Play: Buy modelling balloons and then play some tumbling games.

Eat: Serve drinks in plastic goblets for a castle theme and make cucumber sandwiches for Princes and Princeses.

Eat: Make popcorn, have hotdogs and burgers, and don’t forget the ketchup and mild mustard.

3. Superhero

7. Football

Invitations: On Superhero coloured invitations, write: “Dear SuperZac, please come to my Superhero party.”

Invitations: Make football shaped invitations.

Wear: Make simple masks for each child and a badge with their name and super power. You can also make capes from plastic tablecloths.

Play: Create a super hero obstacle course from ropes, pop-up tunnels, boxes and cushions, then have a quiz about superhero powers.

Eat: Add cake toppers with “Boom!” “Pow!” and “Zap!” on them to cupcakes.

4. Tea Party Invitations: Make invitations festooned with flowers from wrapping paper and doilies.

Wear: Make accessories such as fascinators or hats and bow ties.

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5. Jungle

May/June 2016

www.familiesbedfordshire.co.uk

Wear: Whether it’s their school PE kit or a duplicate of their favourite team’s uniform, ask the kids to dress for a game of football.

Play: Ask a coach from a local team to teach skills such as keepy-uppy.

Eat: Use paper cloths in your team’s colours with matching napkins. Eat football ground-style food such as burgers and chips.

For more party ideas see our Online Directory at www.familiesonline.co.uk/locations/bedfordshire directory/children-s-parties Sally J. Hall is a writer and editor who has written for all the main parenting titles as well as The Independent and The Mail. She is author of Eco Baby and contributing author to Watch My Baby Grow (Dorling Kindersley).

education news

Calling all aspiring young writers!

Teachers and parents concerned about Academy plans The Government has announced that it plans to turn all schools into Academies, taking them out of local Education Department control.

Parents and teachers have expressed their concerns about the plans, which they say will be disastrous for education. The National Union of Teachers which represents staff at many schools across the UK, has organised protests across the country.

The government says that it is making the change because Academies, which are not within local authority control, are able to raise standards as they are more autonomous. They say that heads have more powers to improve failing schools and that greater control is put into the hands of teachers and heads.

However, critics of the scheme have said that the move will have a devastating effect on schools, as there is no evidence that Academies perform better than other schools.

The move will also reduce the role of parent governors, who currently help decide school policy. The move will also shift ownership of the schools to private companies who will be able to sell off the land if they wish. In 2012, ministers admitted that Academy school playing fields could be sold off without any checks.

BBC to give each Year Seven child a mini machine This year, every Year Seven child in the UK will get their own BBC Micro:bit. This tiny computer helps children begin to learn code and get used to technology from an early age. There are lots of different applications for this little gadget, from creating a digital watch and using it as a fitness aid to count your steps, to making games or controlling a music player.

Families Book Reviews

Is your child excellent with words? Do they like telling stories? Or do you want to encourage their creativity? Well it’s time for them to put pen to paper because the National Young Writers’ Awards have returned for the eighth year! Judged by best-selling author of the Charlie & Lola, Clarice Bean and Ruby Redfort books, Lauren Child and organised by tuition provider Explore Learning, this year’s theme is ‘The Mash-Up’ where children are asked to write a 500-word story of a ‘mash-up’ of two genres.

Whether it’s an alien landing his spaceship in Victorian England or a Disney princess as a zombie slayer, there is a huge scope to let their imaginations run wild!

The competition is free to enter and your child could win a fabulous family trip to Disneyland and £500 worth of books for their school. Open to children aged 14 and under, the closing date is Tuesday 7 June. Children can fill out an application form at their local Explore Learning Centre in Bedford, Luton or Milton Keynes or enter online at www.explorelearning.co.uk/ youngwriters

By Emily Victoria

Families brings you the best new book releases

Baby & Toddler

3 - 5 years old

6 - 8 years old

9+ years old

Baby’s Very First Fingertrail Playbook Garden by Fiona Watt (Usborne £7.99)

How Many Legs? By Jim Field and Kes Gray (Hachette Children’s Group £6.99)

Tom Gates Yes! No (Maybe...) by Liz Pichon (Scholastic £6.99 paperback)

Beetle Boy - The Battle of the Beetles by M.G. Leonard (Chicken House £6.99)

Watt contrasts fun, bright colours to stimulate the sense of even young babies with this touchy-feely board book. Inside are colourful animals and the places where they live along with a trail that you can encourage your baby to follow with her finger. This helps develop hand-eye coordination and to learn to distinguish different textures.

This is a fun book to share with babies, helping develop their interest in the world from birth through to toddler years.

The award-winning authors have teamed up again to introduce another hilarious, page-turning book sure to have both adults and children in stitches. In this humorous book little ones are given the opportunity to count how many legs there are at the table as guests of all kinds keep turning up to tea. The funny pictures add to the charm of this witty, rhyming story.

Tom Gates is back in in the next instalment of Pichon’s bestselling illustrated series in this laugh-out-loud page turner. Tom is having a hard day; his mum wants him to get rid of some of his things, and if he can’t decide what to give away, she’ll do it for him. Children can join Tom in his amusing struggles to tidy up, deal with a grumpy sister (who isn’t helping) and appease an impatient mum. A good read guaranteed.

Darkus is an instantly likable, engaging character who goes on an adventure to find and save his missing scientist dad. With the help of Baxter the beetle, this funny book tells a story of persistence, bravery and silliness. It’s great vocabulary practice for your child but it does have a dark undertone (balanced well with humour) that is important to be aware of.

12 to teens The Siren by Kiera Cass (HarperCollins £7.99) The prolific author of the bestselling Selection Series offers another captivating read, exploring a number of adult emotions.

Kahlen is trapped in a one hundred year sentence as a solitary siren, who must not speak or interact with humans. When she meets her true love, she must struggle with the battle between the risk of following her heart or sticking to the strict rules of secrecy in her role as a siren.

All the while, she is aware that a single word uttered could be fatal.

Emily Victoria is mum to one small baby, and a journalist who writes for parenting titles and works in her spare time in broadcast media. She is founder of a startup that revolutionises the way mothers exercise with their babies - to be launched later this year.

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What’s on Please always phone before setting out in case details have changed since press deadline or if we got it wrong.

Please send events to be listed to: editor@ familiesbedfordshire.co.uk

May Open Wednesdays Wednesdays from May onwards weekly, 10.30-3.30pm Luton Hoo Estate, LutonMore info: www.lutonhooestate.co.uk/ Bank Holiday Bands Sunday 1 May & Monday 2 May Wrest Park, Silsoe Enjoy music at Wrest Park. More info: www.english-heritage.org.uk/ visit/places/wrest-park/ Teddy Bears’ Train Ride Sunday 1 May & Monday 2 May Leighton Buzzard Railway, Page’s Park Station, Billington Road, Leighton Buzzard Accompanied children travel free of charge if they bring a bear for a ride, and they can meet the Station Bears. More info: www.buzzrail.co.uk Mad Hatters May Day Festival Sunday 1 May, 11.30am4.30pm Shuttleworth Collection, Old Warden Aerodrome, nr Biggleswade Morris and Maypole dancing displays at this Mad Hatter themed event, Crafts and storytelling, take a picnic in the magical grounds of the Swiss Garden, and be entertained by Alice in Wonderland themed characters. More info: www.shuttleworth.org Star Wars Day Wednesday 4 May, 3.30pm5.15pm Potton Library Star Wars craft The Book’s the Thing Wednesday 4 May, 7.30pm, Sandy Library Thursday 5 May, 2.30pm & 6.45pm shows, Bedford Central Library Saturday 7 May, 7.30pm, Houghton Regis Library Wednesday 11 May, 2.30pm, Kempston Library Monday 16 May, 7.30pm Leighton Buzzard Library, UK library theatre tour of Hamlet to coincide with 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s death. Hour long production, suitable for children aged 10+. Tickets from https://librariantheatre.com/ Dawn Chorus Walk

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May/June 2016

Saturday 7 May, 8am start Swiss Garden, Shuttleworth Collection, Old Warden Aerodrome, nr Biggleswade Enjoy an early morning walk around the Garden. More info: www.shuttleworth.org Family Fun Time: Let’s Party – Luton Carnival is 40!

Saturday 7 May, 11-11.45am, Leagrave Library; Saturday 7 May, 2.15 -3pm, Marsh Farm Library Saturday 14 May, 11-11.45am; Luton Central Library, Saturday 14 May, 2.15 -3pm; Stopsley Library.

Luton will be celebrating 40 years of carnival this year. Share tales of dressing up, costumes and parties.

Ages 3+, free.

Steam Fair & Country Show Saturday 7 & Sunday 8 May, 10.30am-5pm Stotfold Mill, Mill Lane, Stotfold Now in its 14th year, steam fair, country show and arena attractions including the ever popular Traction Engine Tug of War! More info: www. stotfoldmill.com/steam-fair Mad May Dash Sunday 8 May, 10am2pm Forest of Marston Vale, Station Road, Marston Moretaine 4km walk, jog or run through fabulous woodlands, meadows and wetlands at Marston Vale Millennium Country Park.

More info: www.bhf.org.uk/ get-involved/events/runs/ mad-may-dash Season Premiere Sunday 8 May, gates open at 9am with flying at 2pm; finishes approx 5.40pm. Shuttleworth Collection, Old Warden Aerodrome, nr Biggleswade Live music, vehicle parades and a wonderful flying display of visiting and Collection aircraft. www.shuttleworth.org Around the World Day Saturday 14 May, 10am4pm Priory House Gardens, High Street South, Dunstable Fantastic day of music, dance, sport, education and games highlighting different traditions and cultures from around the world. More info: www. dunstable.gov.uk Beautiful Butterflies Saturday 14 May, 2-4pm Dunstable Downs, Whipsnade Explore the Downs with the Rangers team and discover butterflies in the area they call home. £4 per person. More

www.familiesbedfordshire.co.uk

info: www.nationaltrust.org. uk/dunstable-downs-andwhipsnade-estate Mayfly Saturday 14-Sunday 15 May, 9am-5pm Shuttleworth Collection, Old Warden Aerodrome, nr Biggleswade Aeromodellers weekend. More info: www.shuttleworth.org Fun Dog Show Sunday 15 May, doors open at 10am, first class at 10.30am.

Blunham Playing Fields, Barford Road, Blunham In aid of Teddybears Playgroup Blunham.

At Home with Shuttleworth (May & June) Saturday 21 May, gates open at 10am & Saturday 18 June Shuttleworth Collection, Old Warden Aerodrome, nr Biggleswade Get up close to the aircraft and vehicles in a new event this year at Shuttleworth.

Make & paint’ with Airfix & IPMS Brampton; Swiss Garden tours and re-enactor historians! More info: www.shuttleworth.org Family Fun Time: Elmer Day Saturday 21 May, 11 -11.45am, Leagrave Library; Saturday 21 May, 2.15 – 3pm; Marsh Farm Library; Saturday 28 May, 11 -11.45am, Luton Central Library; Saturday 21 May, 2.15 – 3pm, Stopsley Library. Our favourite patchwork elephant is 27 years old this year. Join us to celebrate Elmer’s special day with stories and colourful crafts. Ages 3+. Free.

Spring Fayre Saturday 21 & Sunday 22 May, 10am Jordans Mill, Holme Mills, Langford Road, Broom Craft, food stalls & more. More info: www.jordansmill.com Sea Creature & Mermaid Crafts Saturday 21 May, 10.30-12 noon; Wednesday 25 May, 3.30-5pm, Wootton Library.

Underwater themed crafts.

Pretty Muddy 5k & Race for Life 5k & 10k Saturday 21 May (Pretty Muddy) from 10am onwards & Sunday 22 May, 11am Dunstable Downs, Whipsnade Road, Dunstable Muddy obstacle race and Race for Life events, in aid of Cancer Research UK. More info: http:// raceforlife.cancerresearchuk. org/choose-your-event/

dunstable.html Steam Fair Sunday 22 May, 11-4pm Stockwood Discovery Centre, London Road, Luton Enjoy a host of visiting steam engines as well those from Stockwood’s own collection. www.lutonculture.com Harpur Run and Fun Day Sunday 22 May Priory Country Park, Barkers Lane, Bedford Join Olympic Gold Medalist, Tim Foster MBE, who will be opening the Harpur Run & Fun Day as part of the 450th anniversary celebrations of the Harpur Trust. More info: www.harpurtrust.org.uk Gifts for all occasions craft fair #5 Sunday 22 May, 11am-3pm The Weatherley Centre, Eagle Farm Road, Biggleswade Over 60 Stalls, raffle & refreshments.

Plus a special appearance from Footballer Minion. All profits to St. Trizah School in Nakuru, Kenya. A trip to support children who have HIV/AIDS or orphaned via teaching, playing, renovating and building. Free entry. More info: http://bit.ly/GFAOCF5 Springwatch at the Lodge Sunday 22 May - Tuesday 31 May RSPB, The Lodge, The Heath, Potton, Sandy Discover nature with the whole family. £1 per trail sheet. More info: www. rspb.org.uk/thelodge What would Elmer do?

Saturday 28 May, 11-11.45am, Luton Central Library; Saturday 28 May, 2.15-3pm, Stopsley Library For ages 3+. More info: www.lutonculture.com Trees in spring & summer trail Saturday 28 May – Sunday 5 June Rushmere Country Park. Linslade Road, Leighton Buzzard. £2 per person.

Arts and Crafts of Stotfold Exhibition Sunday 29 May, 12.30pm-5pm Stotfold Mill, Mill Lane, Stotfold Opportunity for local people to display their work and going back to the 19th century when lace making and straw plaiting provided employment. Free entry. More info: www.stotfoldmill.com Luton Carnival Sunday 29 May Wardown Park, Luton 40th anniversary of popular Luton Carnival More info: www.carnivalarts.org.uk/

What’s on Wrest at War Sunday 29 March -Monday 30 May, 10am-6pm Wrest Park, Silsoe Take cover as this explosive, action packed weekend propels you into war time Britain. More info: www. english-heritage.org.uk/visit/ places/wrest-park/ Family Puppet Show: The Elves and the Shoemaker Tuesday 31 May, 1.30pm for 2pm start Rufus Centre, Steppingley Road, Flitwick Presented by the Theatre of Widershins. Suitable for 3+. £4.50 per seat. More info tel: 01525 631900.

Alice through the Looking Glass Tuesday 31 May, 11am – 11.45am, Bury Park Library; Tuesday 31 May, 2.15 – 3pm, Luton Central Library; Wednesday 1 June, 11 – 11.45am, Leagrave Library; Wednesday 1 June, 2.15 – 3pm, Stopsley Library; Thursday 2 June, 11 – 11.45am, Marsh Farm Library; Thursday 2 June, 2.15 – 3pm, Lewsey Library. Follow Alice through the looking glass and share in her adventures.

Ages 5+. Free.

Under the Sea Tuesday 31 May, 2.30-3.30pm, Toddington Library Underwater themed crafts.

Train the Troops Tuesday 31 May - Friday 3 June, 11am-5pm Wrest Park, Silsoe Become a home-front hero and discover Wrest Park’s secret wartime past with this hands on experience of soldiers on the front line. More info: www.english-heritage.org.uk/ visit/places/wrest-park/ Higgins Arts & Crafts Tuesday 31 May, Wednesday 1 June & Friday 3 June Higgins Bedford, Castle Road, Bedford Details tbc. More info: www. thehigginsbedford.org.uk/

June Writing competition – deadline for entries Wednesday 1 June Organised by the John Bunyan Museum & Harpur Trust More info: www. harpurtrust.org.uk/450th/ writing-competition/ The Spirit Of Carnival Wednesday 1 June – Friday 1 July Stockwood Discovery Centre, London Road, Luton

An exhibition commemorating the 40th anniversary of Luton International Carnival. Free, donations welcome.

Bad Guys Wednesday 1 June, 11.30am & 2pm Luton Library Theatre, St George’s Square, Luton Join Comedy Club 4 Kids & CBeebies stars the Three Half Pints as they trip and stumble their way through a brand new comic misadventure, packed with songs, slapstick, silliness and accidental derring do! For children aged 5 – 11. £7 Amazing Fun Crafts Wednesday 1 & Friday 3 June, 10-4pm Biggleswade Library.

Crafty drop-in for everyone.

Become a Nature Detective Wednesday 1 June, 10am12 noon & 1.30pm-3.30pm Stotfold Mill, Mill Lane, Stotfold Go hunting for leaves and flowers in the Nature Reserve using our I-Spy sheets. Suitable for ages 5-11. £2 per child.

Booking essential. Email events@stotfoldmill.com or www.stotfoldmill.com Discover Dinosaurs!

Thursday 2 June, 9am-12 noon Rufus Centre, Steppingley Road, Flitwick Dinosaur inspired arts & crafts, games, learning interesting facts about dinosaurs & fossils. Suitable for children aged 4-9 years old. £12 per child.

Must prebook: 01525 631900.

Marston Mud Thursday 2 June, sessions at 10am, 11am & 2pm Forest Centre, Station Road, Marston Moretaine Time to get muddy! £4 per child. Booking essential tel: 01234 767037.

The 26th St Philip & St James Charity Golf Day Friday 3 June Mowsbury Golf Club, Kimbolton Road, Bedford Golf day and dinner to raise money for The Kings Arm Project and The Alzheimer’s Society. More info: Mike Chappell, Chairman St PJGS tel 07973 703340 The Elves and the Shoemaker Friday 3 June, 2pm Queens Park Community Centre, Bedford Free! Suitable for ages 3+ (55 mins). Part of June Arts Jam. Pre-book: http:// fullhouse.org.uk/whats Much Ado about Nothing & Macbeth

Friday 3 June (Much Ado) & Saturday 4 June (Macbeth), 7pm Pavilion at the Park, Bedford Park, Bedford Open air theatre by Oddsocks Theatre.

Tickets: www.eventbrite.co.uk Under the Sea Saturday 4 June, 11.00am – 11.45am, Leagrave Library; Saturday 4 June, 2.15pm – 3.00pm, Marsh Farm Library; Saturday 11 June, 11.15am – 11.45am, Luton Central Library; Saturday 11 June, 2.15pm – 3.00pm, Stopsley Library. Share stories of mermaids, octopus and other creatures from under the sea. 3+. Free.

Bedford’s Big High Street Show Case!

Saturday 4 June High Street, Bedford Bedford businesses will take to the streets to showcase their products and services, entertainment and live performances! More info: www. lovebedford.co.uk Bedford International Kite Festival Saturday 4 June - Sunday 5 June, 10am-6pm (5pm on Sunday) Russell Park, Bedford 14th annual international kite festival.

Free. Kite demonstrations and stalls, workshops, food & drink, entertainment and music. More info: www. bedfordcornexchange.co.uk/ outdoorevents Fly Navy Day Sunday 5 June, gates open at 9am, flying at 2pm Shuttleworth Collection, Old Warden Aerodrome, nr Biggleswade Exciting naval acts, visitng aircraft, live Music from Biggleswade Sea Cadets, ‘Make & paint’ with Airfix & IPMS Brampton (free). Plus, Swiss Garden tours at 12 noon & 3pm (free). More info: www. shuttleworth.org Gardeners’ Question Time & Plant Sale Sunday 5 June, 1-4pm Stotfold Mill, Mill Lane, Stotfold Experts from the Letchworth and District Gardeners’ Association will help solve your gardening problems. Interesting and unusual plants will also be for sale. More info: www. stotfoldmill.com Skydive for the Forest Sunday 5 June Sky dive to raise money for the Forest of

Marston Vale. More info: http:// marstonvale.org Big Lunch Food Festival Sunday 5 June,11am-4pm The High Street, Leighton Buzzard Fabulous foodie Festival to celebrate the Big Lunch! www. leightonlinslade-tc.gov.uk/ big-lunch-2016/ The Big Lunch Sunday 5 June, 12 noon4.30pm Bedford Park, Bedford Organised by the Road Victims Trust and supported by Pavilion in the Park. Live music, craft stalls, entertainment HULA dog competition, and mini Olympics! More info: www.evensi.uk/the-biglunch-bedford-park-bedford Bookstart Rhyme Time: Under the Sea Monday 6 June, 2.15pm -2.45 pm, Lewsey Library; Tuesday 7 June, 9.30am – 10am, Bury Park Library; Tuesday 7 June, 11am -11.30am, Luton Central Library; Tuesday 7 June, 2.15pm – 2.45pm, Marsh Farm Library; Wednesday 8 June, 9.30am -10am, Stopsley Library; Wednesday 8 June, 9.30am -10am, Leagrave Library; Wednesday 8 June, 10.30am -11am, Leagrave Library; Thursday 9 June, 10.15am – 10.45am, Marsh Farm Library; Thursday 9 June, 11am – 11.30am Luton Central Library; Thursday 9 June, 2.15pm – 2.42pm, Stopsley Library.

Celebrate Bookstart Week by exploring Under the Sea. Manor House String Quartet Evening Sunday 11 June, gates open 6pm, concert begins 7.30pm.

Shuttleworth Collection, Old Warden Aerodrome, nr Biggleswade Bring a picnic and enjoy an open air classical concert performed by the Manor House String Quartet.

Suitable for ages 5+. More info: www.shuttleworth.org Classic Motor Rally Saturday 11 June, 10 am to 4 pm Priory Gardens, High Street, Dunstable Vintage cars and bikes along with charity stalls. More info: www.dunstable.gov.uk Ear Trumpet Saturday 11 June, 11am & 2pm The Castle Mound, Bedford Free, just turn up! Suitable for all ages. Part of June Arts Jam.

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What’s on Flitwick Carnival Saturday 11 June, 12 noon7pm The Millennium Park, Dunstable Road, Flitwick Carnival fun for all the family with a seaside theme! More info: www. flitwick.gov.uk/flitwick-towncouncil/flitwick-carnival/ Capability Brown weekend Saturday 11 - Sunday 12 June, 11am-5pm Wrest Park, Silsoe Celebrate landscape designer Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown’s 300th birthday, with timed tours of the grounds at Wrest Park.

Children can try landscaping themselves with specially designed sand pits. More info: www.english-heritage.org.uk/ wrest or call 01525 860000.

A Boy And A Bear In A Boat Saturday 11 June, 3.30pm Leighton Buzzard Library Theatre, Lake Street, Leighton Buzzard. Adapted from the award-winning novel by Dave Shelton and featuring live music and movement, A Boy and a Bear in a Boat is a funny, thoughtful and thrilling adventure. Tickets tel: 0300 300 8059.

Spring and Artists Fair Sunday 12 June, 10.00 am – 4.30pm RSPB, The Lodge, The Heath, Potton, Sandy Price: £3 per car entrance fee. More info: www.rspb.org.uk/thelodge A Mano Thursday 16 June, 6.30pm The Place Theatre, Bedford Suitable for ages 6+ (50mins). Part of June Jam. More info: http:// fullhouse.org.uk/whats The Railway Children Thursday 16 June, gates open at 6.30pm, performance at 7.30pm.

Wrest Park, Silsoe Chapterhouse Theatre Company present The

Railway Children at Wrest Park. Tel 0370 333 1183 to book.

Dunstable Live Saturday 18 June, 3pm- 8 pm Grove House Gardens, Dunstable Five hours of the best 80’s tribute acts More info: www.dunstable.gov.uk Outstanding Orchids Saturday 18 June, 2-4pm Dunstable Downs, Whipsnade.

Learn about the rare and beautiful orchids that grow in the chalk grassland with the Rangers. £4 per person. More info: www.nationaltrust.org. uk/dunstable-downs-andwhipsnade-estate A Boy and a Bear in a Boat Saturday 18 June, 11.30am & 2.30pm Central Library, Bedford Sunday 19 June, 11.30am & 2pm John Bunyan Museum, Mill Street, Bedford Free. Suitable for ages 7+ (60mins). Part of June Arts Jam What She Said Saturday 18 June, 7.308.30pm Luton Library Theatre, St George’s Square, Luton Join Next Generation Youth Theatre’s all female dance company in a celebration of women. Funny and brilliant! In partnership with Women’s Aid Luton. More info: www.lutonculture.com Winning Pictures Saturday 18 June, 11am – 11.45am, Leagrave Library; Saturday 18 June, 2.15pm – 3pm, Marsh Farm Library; Saturday 25 June, 11.00am – 11.45am, Luton Central Library; Saturday 25 June, 2.15pm -3pm, Stopsley Library Fun activities based on your favourite picture books. 5+. Free.

Bugsy Malone Thursday 23 June, 7pm, Friday

Pink Pig Photography www.pinkpigphotography.co.uk

Professional photography Family and newborn with a personal approach specialists Studio based children’s birthday parties

01525 633774

24 June, 7pm, Saturday 25 June, midday, 3pm & 7pm Leighton Buzzard Library Theatre, Lake Street, Leighton Buzzard. Join Bugsy, Blousey and Tallulah for an unforgettable theatrical experience. A slapstick musical comedy, Bugsy Malone follows the rivalry between two gangs and the washed up, wellintentioned, one-time boxer who steps in to take control of Fat Sam’s gang and give Dandy Dan and his boys what they’ve got coming. Tickets tel: 0300 300 8059.

A Midsummer Night’s Dream Saturday 25 June, gates open 5.30pm, performance starts 7pm The Swiss Garden, Shuttleworth Collection, Old Warden Aerodrome, nr Biggleswade Outdoor theatre performed by Chapterhouse Theatre Company. More info: www.shuttleworth.org

Out of Office Challenge Friday 24 June St John’s Hospice, St Johns Road, Moggerhanger Get together with work colleagues for a day of volunteering, team building and networking. Teams will compete for points throughout the day, with exciting prizes for the winning team. More info: www. sueryder.org/care-centres/ hospices/st-johns-hospice Summer Frenzy Saturday 25 June 2.30-6.30pm Templefield Lower School, Malham Close, Flitwick

The Sorcerer’s Apprentice Sunday 26 June, 11.30am & 2.30pm Luton Library Theatre Irresistible blend of music, puppetry and storytelling. For ages 3-7. More info: www.lutonculture.com Sunday Band Concerts Sunday 26 June & every Sunday until 14 August, 2 pm4.15 pm Grove House Gardens, Dunstable Traditional band concerts. More info: www.dunstable.gov.uk Vintage Vehicles Rally Sunday 26 June Leighton Buzzard Railway, Billington Road, Pages Park, Leighton Buzzard Old and unusual road vehicles. More info: www.buzzrail.co.uk

Holiday Activities Bouncy Castle Party Arts & Crafts Pool Inflatable Swimming Crash Course 01582 866141

This facility is managed in Partnership with

Parkside Drive, Houghton Regis, Bedfordshire LU5 5PY Find us online www.sll.co.uk

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