HEY! Magazine Mid Somerset edition by Tina Veater

FREE • MID SOMERSET EDITION • ISSUE 50 • MAY 2017

Sponsored by

www.bishopspalace.org.uk Adult: £6.99 advance £7.99 on the door Conc: £5.90 advance, £6.90 on the door Child (5-18): £3.35 01749 988111 Under 5's: FREE

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WELCOME Director Tina Veater 07834 542955 | tina@ignyte-uk.co.uk Editorial Team Tina Veater info@ignyte-uk.co.uk Advertising Team Zoe Jenkins Theresa Saadeh Jane Groves 01761 410141 | info@ignyte-uk.co.uk Graphic Designer Pamela Evans Published by Ignyte Media Ltd Printed by Flying Colours Ltd, Weare, Somerset Business Address: Ignyte Media Ltd, Unit G5, Second Avenue, Westfield Industrial Estate, Radstock, BA3 4BH 01761 410141 info@ignyte-uk.co.uk While every care has been taken to ensure the data contained in the publication is accurate, neither the publisher nor its editorial contributors can accept, and hereby disclaim, any liability to any party for loss or damage caused by errors or omissions resulting from negligence, accident or any other cause. Ignyte do not officially endorse any advertising material included within this publication. All right reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in any retrieval system in any form without the prior permission of the publisher. Distribution: We deliver to 7500 families through primary schools and other outlets in the Wells, Shepton Mallet, Glastonbury and Street areas. The next edition is in July & is filling fast.

Myself and the team hope you all had an amazing Easter and May Day break and enjoyed lots of fun and exciting things. The sun has been trying itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hardest to make an appearance and I am sure we are all looking forward to spending more time together outdoors. It will be time to make the most of enjoying trips to the seaside, fun days out, time at the park and BBQâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s. Read our feature about National BBQ Week and hints and tips about cooking up the perfect grill! No-one likes a burnt burger! June 18th is Father's Day when we celebrate our Dads and all the wonderful things they do for us. Make sure you read the article with ways you can treat him for almost free. We have some amazing prizes in this issue, so make sure you take time to enter at www.familymatters-uk.co.uk. Camp Bestival are giving away a family camping ticket to this fantastic festival and we also have tickets to see Jess Glynne at Wincanton Racecourse. You can also win tickets to Wookey Hole and Splashdown too. As the sun gets higher in the sky, it also becomes stronger and it is vital we all make sure we apply sunscreen. Looking after your skin is as important as your teeth or health. We have an article about keeping safe in the sun and also read our first aid kit feature to make sure you really are ready for summer. We love to highlight what local schools have been up to and also the achievements of our readers, so please do make sure you get in contact with us if there is anything you would like to include in the magazine. You can do this via email, by phone or even leave us a message on our facebook page. We would love to hear from you! Have a great May half term, enjoy the better weather and most of all, have fun together!

Tina

Hey Magazine

@hey_tweeter

www.familymatters-uk.co.uk

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HAYFEVER (ALLERGIC RHINITIS) H

ayfever, or seasonal allergic rhinitis, is a condition in which people experience an allergic reaction to different types of pollen during the year. Hayfever is common in the UK, affecting around 1 in 5 people at some stage. Tree pollen often triggers symptoms during the spring, grass pollen is in the air in late spring and summer and pollen from weeds is around from early spring into late autumn. Hayfever can also be caused by mould spores, from late March until November, usually peaking in late summer and early autumn. It is common for people to be allergic to more than one pollen. A person who has perennial rather than seasonal rhinitis experiences allergy triggers all year round, from allergens such as house dust mites, mould, animal dander and feathers.

“Hayfever is common in the UK, affecting around 1 in 5 people at some stage.” WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF ALLERGIC RHINITIS?

The body’s immune system interprets the allergen, such as pollen, mould or dander, as an invader and responds by releasing a chemical called histamine into the bloodstream. Histamine causes inflammation (swelling and redness) of the sinuses, nose and mucus membranes of the eyes, and triggers sneezing. The swelling reaction is designed to block the allergen from entering the body and sneezing is a method to expel it out of the body. Histamine also allows extra fluids to enter the nasal tissue, resulting in congestion, itching and a runny nose. People with allergic rhinitis have sudden sneezing, a watery nasal discharge, puffy eyes and fatigue. Hayfever symptoms often start during childhood or teens, but can develop at any age.

HOW DO I FIND OUT WHAT CAUSES MY ALLERGIES?

The season in which your allergy occurs will narrow the list of possible culprits. To pinpoint the cause, your doctor may arrange for you to have a skin test to determine which substances or allergens cause a reaction. The skin test involves placing extracts of potential allergens in a grid on your arm or back, and then pricking your skin so the

extract can enter the outer layer of skin or epidermis. Those areas that become red and itchy indicate which substances trigger a defensive (allergic) response by your immune system. Your doctor may recommend a blood test to check the levels of antibodies produced by the immune system. Elevated levels of certain antibodies can identify particular allergies.

WHY DO ONLY SOME PEOPLE GET SEASONAL ALLERGIES/HAYFEVER?

It is not known why some people get allergies while others do not. However, there is some evidence to suggest that hayfever and other types of allergies are hereditary (passed on from parents to children). People who suffer from asthma oreczema are also more likely to develop hayfever or perennial (year-round) allergic rhinitis.

WHY ARE MY ALLERGIES BETTER ON SOME DAYS AND WORSE ON OTHERS?

While the pollen seasons for particular plants are very consistent within each geographical region, the weather plays a large role in determining how heavy the pollen count (and other potential allergens including mould) will be, both seasonally and daily. The severity of your allergic reaction will generally mirror the rise and fall of the specific allergen count to which you are allergic.

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TOO TIRED TO LEARN N

ew research has confirmed what we have long suspected - that lack of sleep among primary school children is having a devastating effect, with nine out of 10 teachers complaining that pupils are too tired to learn. The poll, conducted as part of The Sleep Council’s “Better Brains With More Sleep” awareness project, which aims to teach children about the importance of a good night’s sleep, also reveals that more than half - 55% - of teachers agreed that the brightest children in the classroom are the best slept and most wide awake. And while many parents with young children worry about the effect that computers, gaming and mobile phones are having on their offspring, 88% of the 250 teachers questioned felt that distractions in the bedroom, such as games machines and TVs, are at the root of the problems, along with the fact parents are not strict enough about enforcing bedtimes. Jessica Alexander of The Sleep Council says: “As part of our project we wanted to establish just how much of an issue lack

of sleep has become among young school children. Even we have been taken aback by the sheer scale of the problem.” The issue has now become so widespread that nearly a quarter of teachers admitted they’ve had to resort to letting very tired children nap in a corner of the classroom. Nearly two thirds - 65% - say the problem is so serious they fear for their pupils’ long-term progress, while nearly half said lack of sleep made children unruly and badly behaved. More than two-thirds of teachers say that up to a quarter of their pupils regularly came into school looking tired, and a further one in five said between a quarter and half the class is regularly affected. Less than four in 10 teachers - 38% - felt a poor diet was to blame for sleep-related problems. When asked how they dealt with the problem, more than six in 10 said they contacted the parents but worryingly, a small minority - six per cent - say they ignore it as they just don’t have time to deal with it. Jessica adds: “Lack of sleep would appear to be an

MILLFIELD

HOLIDAY COURSES

issue across all primary school age groups which is a real concern. Our schools project will be looking to raise awareness among schoolchildren themselves, but will also involve them monitoring the sleep habits of their parents. “Hopefully this will in turn remind parents that they need to ensure their children get a decent night’s sleep if they are to do well at school.” The National Association of Headteachers (NAHT) policy advisor SiÃ´n Humphreys says: “Schools cannot succeed without effective partnerships with the home. A tired and irritable child will not thrive, particularly in the active and pacey modern classroom. NAHT is particularly concerned about the still small but rising numbers of pupils who stay up late engaged in online gaming.” The Sleep Council’s free ‘Good-Night Guide for Children’ booklet is filled with hints and tips for parents on how to help their children get a good night’s sleep. It can be downloaded from www.sleepcouncil.org.uk or requested by calling the leaflet line on 0800 018 7923.

WEST SOMERSET RAILWAY STEAMING TO THE SEASIDE

photograph courtesy of Julia Amies Green Photography

Travel with the West Somerset Railway this summer, to enjoy 20 miles of Steam train travel through the Quantock Hills and along the coast. With so many places of interest along the route, including medieval Dunster with its Castle, Cleeve Abbey & the historic harbour town of Watchet, it’s a journey not to be missed.

SUMMER 2017 Athletics, Badminton, Cricket, Football, Golf, Hockey, Mini-Multis, Multi-Activity, Netball, Rugby, Squash, Tennis BOOK ONLINE NOW

millfieldenterprises.com/courses

Book your day rover tickets through our website in advance of travel to receive a discount! For more information on how to make the most of your visit, and to see our full events programme, please visit our website or phone us on the number below.

www.west-somerset-railway.co.uk or phone 01643 704996

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STAY SAFE IN THE SUN T

he weather is warming up, the days are longer and there's more time to be outside doing all kinds of fun things! But if you're going to be out in the sun, especially on a hot day, you need to stay safe. Let's find out how.

PRIME TIME

Always wear sunscreen and take frequent breaks from the sun by going indoors or moving into the shade. These steps are especially important between 10:00 in the morning and 4:00 in the afternoon, when the sun's rays are strongest. Put on sunscreen 15 to 20 minutes before going out in the sun. The letters SPF stand for sun protection factor, and the number rating tells you how much longer you can stay in the sun without getting sunburned. But this isn't always true, so reapply sunscreen at least every 2 hours, just to be safe. Be sure to put sunscreen all over your body. This includes some places you might not think of, like the tops of your ears, the back of your neck, the part in your hair, your face, and the tops of your feet. Don't forget that your eyes need protection from ultraviolet rays, too. Always wear sunglasses in the bright sun, and make sure they have a label saying that they block UV rays.

Half Term

OPEN DAILY

New family trail 29th May

'nature ninjas' 2nd June 'Creepy Crawlies' family fun Friday

Come on down to the Palace this Half Term for a range of fantastic family activities based on a Creepy Crawly theme. Get stuck in to our 'Nature Ninjas' session or get creepy-crafty on Family Fun Friday! Follow our new Creepy Crawly Family Trail and head over to The Dragon's Lair play area to let off some steam. All alongside 14 acres of gorgeous gardens to explore and a child-friendly cafe with new children's menu. Children under 5 go FREE!

The Bishop's Palace, Wells BAS 2 PD 01749 988111 www.bishopspalace.org.uk

DRINK UP!

When you're sweating, you lose water that your body needs to work properly. So drink up and don't wait until you're thirsty — drinking before you feel thirsty helps keep the water level in your body from dropping too low (dehydration) when it's hot or you're sweating a lot with exercise.

GOT THAT HOT FEELING?

If you're out in the hot sun or you're exercising on a hot day, it's easy to get heat exhaustion. Kids get heat exhaustion when their bodies can't cool themselves fast enough. A kid with heat exhaustion might feel overheated, tired, and weak. Heat stroke is a more serious heat-related illness and can cause someone to stop sweating; to have red, hot skin; and to have a high temperature. The person might become uncoordinated, confused, or even lose consciousness. It requires emergency medical attention. The good news is that the sun doesn't have to be your enemy if you wear your sunscreen, drink your water, and take breaks when you start to feel too hot. And don't forget your sunglasses!

Whitsun Family Fun at the Palace! This May Half Term, don’t miss a range of entertaining and educational activities taking place for families at The Bishop’s Palace in Wells. Kicking off on 29th May (Bank Holiday Monday) with a ‘Nature Ninjas’ activity day in the Community Garden, children will be encouraged to try their hand at pond dipping, minibeast hunting, seed sowing and following a specially designed garden trail! On Friday 2nd June, it’s Family Fun Friday and the theme is “Creepy Crawlies”. Take the little ones along to the Stable Yard Room for creative crafting of Wiggly Spiders, Wriggly Caterpillars and Funny Frogs. When they’ve finished their artistic creations, they can let off steam in the Gardens by following the new Creepy Crawly Trail! If that hasn’t tired everyone out, then it’s time to visit the Dragon’s Lair play area where kids can let their imagination run wild and explore the themes of the Palace in the most fun way! All activities are included with the standard admission ticket.

FATHER'S DAY 28th JUNE TEN WAYS TO SPOIL DAD

1. BREAKFAST IN BED

6. PUT ON A SHOW

It’s a classic treat but also a winner. Let him relax while you bring him his favourite morning meal.

Sing and dance for your dad! Perhaps choose a song about children and fathers, Will Smith’s ‘Just the two of us’ is one of the best!

2. PAINT HIS PORTRAIT Spend time with your dad by painting or drawing him, then presenting your masterpiece as a gift.

3. WRITE HIM A POEM

7. LET HIM WATCH WHAT HE WANTS ON THE TELLY! At least for an hour or so, then get out of the house.

Rather than buying a card, create a poem for him that describes what he means to you.

8. GO FOR A WALK

4. TAKE PHOTOS

10. INTERVIEW HIM

Enjoy a family photoshoot so you can look back on the day in years to come.

5. GIVE HIM HUGS Not just one, but lots all through the day.

Enjoy being outdoors, together. Find out more about him... Ask him about his childhood, his passions in life and hopes. Perhaps write up your findings and give the article to your dad as a gift.

NATIONAL BBQ WEEK N

ational BBQ Week returns for a 20th time on May 29th. It will once again be looking to encourage even more grill thrills and gastro grilling, by ensuring that as many people get involved and go for the grill. Here are our BBQ tips:

BE A GRILL MASTER

Start with a clean, oiled grill and well stoked coals that are already white hot by the time you start cooking. Avoid flipping meat fillets over and over, cook one side and then the other and then allow to rest – the juices will regroup for max flavour. Keep an area aside for any vegetarians too. And, if possible, offer non-meat foods that benefit from your smoky grill like aubergine, courgettes, bell peppers, large mushrooms and halloumi cheese.

CHOOSE A THEME

Make your barbeque stand out with a theme. It could be Jamaican, Hawaiian, Aussie, French, oceanic, tropical, a foragers’ feast (think a lovely salad with edible flowers and the like) or a regional feast featuring local meats and cheeses. Choosing a theme might encourage your guests to both bring and sample new and interesting foods.

DECORATIONS MAKE THE DIFFERENCE

You don’t need to spend a lot to dress your barbeque up and either expand on your chosen theme or just add to the atmosphere. Check out charity shops for interesting tableware, tablecloths

and candle holders. Dot citronella candles around the garden, although take care to put them beyond the reach of children.

GO LARGE WITH CONDIMENTS AND SIDE DISHES

Even if you decide to keep your offering to the classic burger, sausage and chicken combo, you can still pep things up with a selection of unusual condiments and tempting side dishes. Take a trip to your local farm shop and you’ll see there’s a wealth of chutneys and pickles out there. Many are inexpensive and might even be made in your local area. Side dishes could include herbed couscous, potato salad with wild garlic, gazpacho, rustic bread, a selection of mezze or tapas – let your imagination go!

PREPARE A SIGNATURE DRINK

The food will be the centrepiece, but a tasty drink will be welcome too. You could prepare an old fashioned lemonade, a refreshing cocktail or sangria. It doesn’t have to be complicated and it could make for a nice change from soft drinks, beer and wine.

PLAY GAMES

If your barbeque is an all-dayer, will include lots of kids or you just want some non-foody fun, lay on some games. From traditional lawn games, to something like giant snakes and ladders or even an egg and spoon race, games can fill lulls in the day and keep kids occupied.

CHILDREN UNDER 4 GO

FREE

NEW ENCOUNTERS MORE BIRDS BIGGER DISPLAYS Witness world-class flying demonstrations, relish 22 acres of woodland and wildflower meadow and over 130 birds of prey. An inspiring day out for the whole family.

Wolvershill Road, Banwell, Weston-super-Mare LOCATED NEAR ANDOVER, HAMPSHIRE, JUST OFF A303

01264 773 850 www.hawkconservancy.org @HawkConservancy

@hawkconservancy

CHARITY NO: 1092349

PUZZLES 1

Crossword

Find the answers to the questions below and fill in the crossword. ACROSS 3. The capital of Thailand 5. Lima is the capital of this country 6. The capital of this country is Helsinki 9. Chinas capital is? 11. Our capital is? 13. Capital of Eqypt?

5 7

ough th r h t e y

12 13

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yo ur w a

DOWN 1. Copenhagen is the capital of this country 2. What is the capital of Spain? 4. Havana is this country's capital 5. Capital of France? 7. The capital of Ireland? 8. The capital city of Germany? 10. Athens is the capital of this country 12. The capital of Keyna is?

Colo ur me in!

HEY! competitions WIN ONE OF THREE FAMILY TICKETS TO THE SOUTH WEST’S FAVOURITE WATERPARK ATTRACTION! With summer just around the corner Splashdown on Tower Park, Poole is open every day right round until the end of September with all the flumes flowing and the slides sliding. It’s a great place for some good old fashioned fun for the whole family. Take a spin and choose a tune on Infiinity, with its funky lights and disco sound effects. Plunge down the Grand Canyon or pick up speed on super-fast Velocity and don’t forget to say hello to our resident dragon in his lair! With loads of other exciting flumes, toddlers pool with its 3D reef effect, interactive splash-zone and starter flume; it’s most definitely flume time. Book online www.splashdownwaterparks.co.uk or for opening times call 01202 716000.

For your chance to win a ticket for your family (up to 4 admissions) just answer this question. Which ride at Splashdown may have a dragon living in it? A) Cave of Dragons B) Dragon’s Lair C) Dragon’s Den

WIN A FAMILY TICKET TO WOOKEY HOLE! Deep in the heart of the Mendip Hills you will find Wookey Hole, the UK’s largest cave system. For centuries people have been marvelling at these astounding caves and their natural beauty. NEW for 2017 is Chamber 20. Recently blasted tunnels now give you access to this amazing chamber, which opens up previously unseen caverns and formations. Visiting Wookey Hole Caves also includes over 20 fantastic attractions in the one ticket price! With access to Circus Shows, Kids Play Areas, Mirror Maze, Penny Arcade and much much more, Wookey Hole is a great day out, whatever the weather! Explore The Unexplored and visit Wookey Hole today!

For your chance to win a ticket for your family (up to 4 admissions) just answer this question What is Wookeys new caving experience called? I N T E R N A T I O N A L

AIR DAY

2 for 1 Kids Offer *NAZF070

ROYAL NAVAL AIR STATION YEOVILTON SATURDAY 8 JULY 2017

27 may - 3 jun Find hidden hearts for your chance to win an animal adoption Learn how to make animal enrichment treats Enter our animal photo competition

A SPECTACULAR FAMILY DAY OUT!

SAVE WITH ADVANCE TICKETS

TICKET LINE 0330 100 3656

Advance Ticket Prices: Adult 16+ yrs £22 (£28), Child 5-15 yrs inc £7 (£10), Child U5 Free

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HEY! competitions Win a family camping ticket to

Camp Bestival From dressing up in this year’s theme, Pop Stars & Rock Stars, to cavorting with your nearest and dearest, the possibilities for creative play are everywhere at Camp Bestival’s tenth anniversary festi-holiday wonderland. So, delve into the innovative and inspirational; get creative and be free this 27th - 30th July 2017. This amazing four-day camping experience has super activities along with a fantastic line up. It really is the all round family festival. From Dick and Dom, Mr Tumble and the Giant Bubble Show to Madness, All Saints, Sara Cox and Right said Fred, there really is something for everyone. And keep the party going with a wonderland of attractions and destinations including The World's Biggest Bouncy Castle, Giant Kids’ Disco with The World’s Largest Disco Ball, Tudors On Tour, Bollywood, Dingly Dell, Dressing Up Area, Fancy Dress Parade, Pimp My Trolley & Beard and Moustache Competition, Face Painting Tent, Maypole Dancing, Morris Dancers, and the Soft Play Tent (Under 5s). Keep checking www.campbestival.net and their Facebook and Twitter pages for all the latest info. Camp Bestival 2017 Weekend Tickets are on sale now via: Ticketline / 0844 888 4410. The prize is a camping ticket for 2 adults and up to 4 children.

27th - 30th July 2 adults and up to 4 childre n!

To win this amazing prize simply answer this question: Where is Camp Bestival held?

Win a family ticket to see Jess Glynne at Wincanton Racecourse Make sure you’re ‘Right Here’ on 1st July as The Jockey Club Live and Wincanton Racecourse are delighted to welcome Jess Glynne, one of the UK’s hottest chart stars, to the racing heart of the community. This open-air concert at Wincanton Racecourse offers an experience unlike any other this summer with a show-stopping headlining performance by one of the UK’s biggest artists. The racecourses have world-class customer facilities, featuring an array of award winning restaurants that cater for all tastes, be it Fine Dining through to delicious bistro food. The Jockey Club venues welcome over 2million people a year for some of the UKs biggest racing events so you can be sure a fantastic evening. Tickets are also available at www.thejockeyclublive.co.uk and are priced at £35 adult /£20 child (under 18). Please note child tickets are limited. All T&C’s are available on www.wincanton.thejockeyclub.co.uk. There will be hospitality packages available to suit all budgets. The prize is 6 tickets, for adults or children.

To win this amazing prize simply answer this question: Name another music act that are performing at The Jockey Club Live racecourses?

HOW TO ENTER

To be in with a chance of winning these fantastic prizes, simply visit www.familymatters-uk.co.uk and click on the Competitions button, complete the form and enter your answers. It couldn’t be easier! Closing date for entries: 23rd June 2017 WINNERS FROM THE LAST ISSUE: Katie Green, Tomas Crabtree, Gertie Blewitt, Brooke Lepage

From the Doctor’s Surgery,

DON’T LET MAN’S BEST FRIEND GET UP YOUR NOSE I

n the UK, pets follow dust as the second largest cause of allergy within the home. Any animal with fur can be the cause of an allergic reaction but the worst offenders are cats and dogs. It doesn’t matter if you have previously had a pet and were not allergic to it before, pet allergies can develop at any time. Couldn’t be further from the truth. It often surprises people that pet allergies are not caused by an animal’s fur. The allergens are found in animals’ saliva, sweat and urine. Once the saliva dries, it becomes airborne easily. Saliva, urine and sweat dry easily on an animal’s fur and skin, which is then shed around the house, and onto clothing. Small rodents’ bedding quickly becomes saturated with urine and is stirred up when the animal moves around its cage, or the cage is cleaned out.

SYMPTOMS

Symptoms include frequent sneezing, a runny or blocked nose, itchy, red or watery eyes, irritated skin and a cough. Other, less common symptoms are the loss of your sense of smell, facial pain caused by blocked sinuses, headaches and earache. Patients who have eczema or asthma are more likely to suffer from allergies. If these patients find their allergies are being troublesome, often their chest or skin will flare up also. Even if your symptoms are mild, they can still interfere with your work, your social life or your child’s activities at school. If you think you have a pet allergy, your first port of call should be a pharmacy. In my experience as a GP, many cases can be controlled using simple over-the-counter medication. Antihistamines are available in both tablet and liquid form and can be used either as required or on a regular basis. Frequent sufferers may find regular treatment more beneficial to keep symptoms at bay.

For more severe cases, prescription-strength antihistamines may be prescribed by a GP. Eye drops and nasal sprays are also available over the counter and can be combined with antihistamines or taken on their own. As with antihistamines, stronger prescription strength treatment could be made available by your GP for more troublesome symptoms.

CONTROL

You should also take steps to reduce sufferers’ exposure to allergens, especially young children. The best measure is remove any pets from the house. However, as animals are often an integral part of the family, this might not be an option. Regular outdoor grooming of dogs (not by the sufferer) greatly reduces shedding of hair and should be done regularly. Bathing a cat once or twice a week can reduce allergens in the home by up to 90%. All animals should be kept out of bedrooms, especially at night. Confining a cat or dog to one area of the house is unlikely to be 100% effective as allergens are still transferred on clothes and shoes, but it can reduce symptoms. If you come into contact with animals outside the home, change your clothes, shoes and wash your hair when arriving home. Wash animals and their bedding at least once a week. Remove carpets from the rooms animals frequent or hoover regularly with a HEPA high-filtration vacuum-cleaner. Open windows or use air filters to ventilate your house. Don’t allow pets to lick your hands or face. Wash hands after petting an animal, especially before eating or touching the face – use hand wipes if you’re out and about.

by Dr Alexandra Phelan

THE ESSENTIAL SUMMER FIRST AID KIT FOR FAMILIES S

chool’s out and that hopefully means lots of fun and adventures for children and adults alike. However, it’s also a good time to make sure you have an up-to-date first aid kit for any scrapes, bruises and minor injuries, whether you are at home or away this summer. Below I’ve listed the 10 essential first aid items for families this summer. 1. PLASTERS: You need a variety of different sizes and shapes to cover cuts, and waterproof are the best if you’re out and about. 2. BANDAGES: Perfect for twists and simple sprains. Pack triangular bandages and also crêpe rolled bandages. When applying a bandage, ensure it’s not too tight. A simple test is to press down on the skin, or a finger or toenail, below the area of the bandage. It will appear pale initially when you remove the pressure but the colour should return within a couple of seconds. If it doesn’t, the bandage is too tight and should be reapplied. 3. TOOLS: Don’t forget safety pins, scissors, tweezers (essential for taking out splinters and stings before they get infected) and sticky tape. 4. THERMOMETER: Preferably a digital one. Remember, the normal body temperature is 36.5 to 37.5 degrees Celsius. Anything above this could indicate a fever. 5. CREAMS: It’s always a good idea to have a few simple creams on standby. A simple antiseptic ointment can be useful for minor cuts and grazes as well as a cream or spray to apply to insect bites or stings. A mild steroid cream, hydrocortisone, can be bought without prescription and can be useful for simple rashes. A word of caution though, this should not be used on the delicate skin of the face and should always be used with caution when treating children. 6. PILLS: You will need painkillers such as paracetamol (or infant paracetamol for children), ibuprofen and maybe consider

travel sickness pills. Anti-histamine tablets (or liquid for children) are useful for mild allergic reactions, such as following an insect bite.

7. ANTISEPTIC SOLUTION: You’ll recognise these as well-known brands such as Dettol, TCP and Savlon, all of which contain germ killing agents for use on minor skin cuts and grazes, bites and stings. 8. RE-HYDRATION SOLUTION: Sachets of rehydration mixture, containing a blend of salts and sugars, can be mixed with water and drunk in cases of sickness and diarrhoea, and can be a great help in terms of getting people up and about again. 9. GLOVES: If you are giving someone first aid, be sure to protect yourself from infection via blood or vomit by wearing gloves. Some gloves contain latex, so if you are concerned that someone in your family may have a latex allergy, look for latexfree gloves instead. 10. FIRST AID MANUAL: Keep a manual handy of the most common injuries, such as burns, stings, cuts and breakages. The Red Cross and the St. John’s Ambulance Service both provide apps you can download to your device so you have a handy guide to first aid on the go. Have a great and safe holiday!

Dr Alexandra Phelan is a working NHS GP and Online Doctor with Pharmacy2U. For more information go to www.Pharmacy2U.co.uk.

May 20 - 21

What’s On

The Wizard of Oz Outdoor theatre production at Hawk Conservancy Trust from 6pm. A wonderful evening of entertainment for all the family. Tickets £15.

May 21

Cheeki Monkeys Pre-Loved Sale at Chilcompton Village Hall Chilcompton from 10 am to 12 pm. Adults £1, children free.

June 2

Creepy Crawlies’ at The Bishop’s Palace, Wells Visit the Stable Yard Room for creative crafting of Wiggly Spiders, Wriggly Caterpillars and Funny Frogs.

June 3

May 27

Paw Patrol visit West Somerset Railway Minehead from 10am – 4pm. Come and see Chase & Marshall from PAW Patrol at Minehead Railway Station. There will be lots to do for the whole family.

May 27

Tractor Ted Bouncy Fun! At Farrington’s from 10am to 3pm. Tractor Ted and his Friends will be in Cowtastic Farm Park for a day of fun!

May 27 - 29

Home Farm Fest in Chilthorne Domer, Somerset School in a Bag with over 100 bands/artists and performers. Lots for the whole family.

May 27 - June 3

Father’s Day at Cholderton Charlie’s Farm Quote "Challenge Dad" on the door and Dad will receive FREE ENTRY onto the farm for the whole day!

May 29

Somerset Bugfest at RSPB Ham Wall, near Glastonbury 2pm – 4pm. Learn about everything that slithers, crawls and buzzes - go on a bug hunt and find out more about the hidden world of mini beasts.

Sing (U) at Midsomer Norton Town Hall from 2.30pm Tickets £5 for adults, £3 for children or £12 for Families (2 adults, 1 or 2 children). Almost Summer BBQ Party at Farrington’s from 10am – 4pm Lots of summer salads, sauces, meat rubs, marinades, craft beers, ciders and much more. Tractor Ted Big Machines Weekend, Bowood House & Gardens 11am – 5pm. This really is the perfect day out for all the family! Total heaven for young children (and often for Dads too)! Biaza Love Your Zoo Week at Noah’s Ark Zoo Farm Come and find all the hidden hearts in the animal enclosures for a chance to win an Animal Adoption. Sheep Shearing Day at Cholderton Charlie’s Farm See the flock of Rare Breed sheep get their annual ‘hair cut’ throughout the day. There will also be face painting, wool spinning displays and BBQ too!

June 9

June 9 - 11 June 18 June 18

June 24

May 29

Open Day at HorseWorld from 10.30am to 4pm A great opportunity to see what goes on at HorseWorld's Welfare Department.

May 31 - June 3

Armed Forces Day, Wiltshire Armed Forces & Veterans Celebrations from 10 am to 4 pm at Trowbridge Town Park. A fun day for the whole family.

Nature Ninjas at The Bishop’s Palace, Wells Come along to the Community Garden for activities including pond dipping, minibeast hunting, seed sowing and a garden trail! Royal Bath & West Show, Shepton Mallet Celebrate the very best of Great British Agriculture, Entertainment, Food and Drink and much, much more for the whole family.

June 2 - 4

June 24

July 1

Sky Hunters at Sunset, Hawks Conservancy Trust 6.45pm. An evening of flying demonstrations including falcons, vultures, owls and kites. Tickets £33.50, Adult and £19.95, Child.

Pirates and Princesses at Bowood House & Gardens 11am to 5pm. Dress up as a pirate or your favourite princess and join in all the fun and games.

To read more about these events or find out what else is on, visit

www.familymatters-uk.co.uk

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News and Reviews LATEST SCHOOL NEWS

EVENTS

DIARY DATES

BOOK WEEK 2017 AT ASHCOTT SCHOOL It has been an exciting book week for the children at Ashcott Primary School with a wide range of book related activities happening throughout the week. At the start of the week the children were visited by published children’s author and poet A. F. Harrold. He shared some of his amusing poems with the children before delivering a fun poetry workshop with each class. Ashley Harrold can be seen in the photo with some of the children along with Sue Rye from Wells Festival of Literature who have helped to fund Ashley’s visit. On Tuesday 14th March, children came to school dressed as their favourite book character for the day. Children had the chance to visit the ‘Book Café’ and select what they would like to read from the reading menu. A ‘monster gazebo’ was set up in the library for the children to read stories and poems by torchlight. Children from Year 6 known as ‘Reading Stars’ organised a book swap and managed to accumulate nearly 200 books for children across the school to choose from. On Thursday 16th March, a ‘Bedtime Story Evening’ was held in the school hall. Children came back to school with a cushion and a favourite bedtime story to share with their family and friends. Children drank hot chocolate whilst they listened or read stories together by candlelight. At the end of the week, parents were invited in to school to read with their children and their ‘buddies’ in their GEMS groups (houses/teams). The children and staff would like to thank Miss Stevens for all her hard work in organising such an exciting book week!

Classrooms available, parking for coaches, toilets, disabled facilities, picnic area and our mini-marshes discovery zone

Teachers - Sign your pupils

up to nature at RSPB Avalon Marshes near Glastonbury

To find out more contact: jane.allen@rspb.org.uk Tel: 01458 860494. For our full programme visit: www.rspb.org.uk/schoolvisits

Programme: EYFS and Key Stage 1 • Brilliant Birds • Discovering Pond Minibeasts • Discovering Land Minibeasts • Seasonal Sensory Walk • Plant Detectives (KS1) Key Stage 2 • Rocks and Soils • Investigating Minibeasts • Living Things and their Habitat • Pond Habitat Study • Discovering Birds

Half day visits costs from £3.50 per primary child all year round.

YOUR SUCCESSES

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VISIT TO CARYMOOR ENVIRONMENTAL TRUST

LEARNING EXPERIENCE’S AT BALTONSBOROUGH

Children in Years 3 and 4 from Ashcott Primary School visited ‘Carymoor Environmental Trust’ near Castle Cary this week, as part of their topic about the Iron Age, and took part in a ‘Crafty Celts’ session. After an introduction to life in Iron Age times, they immersed themselves in hands-on experimental archaeology workshops. During the day they dressed up as Celts and tried out a range of fun activities, including toasting food over an open fire! Other activities included weaving willow hurdles and making their own models of round houses to bring back to school. One child commented: “It was the best trip and everyone’s still talking about it!” The children and staff at the school all agreed that the visit helped to bring history to life.

At Baltonsborough CE VC Primary School and Little Pips, we try to find the most engaging activities so that the children really enjoy their learning. Here they are, upside down! Our Pearmain children have been looking at Survival as part of their Learning Experience. The children you can see were acting as cavemen and creating cave art. Lambrook children were navigating around the village to find their missing teacher (with adult support of course), whilst Camelot children were preparing spaceships for a mission to the moon. Russet children are turning their classroom into a rainforest. During the week of June 5th, we are having a World of Work Week. We are working with several organisations and parents to provide workshops, designed to give the children a clear link between the skills they are learning now and their future aspirations. If you really enjoy your work, and would like to come in and talk to the children about it, please ring Michelle Heap on 01458 850526.

DENTAL PRACTICE VISITS EVERCREECH Shepton Mallet Dental Practice visited Holly Class children from Evercreech Church of England Primary School. They demonstrated good brushing with a giant set of teeth. They stressed that children should be brushing their teeth twice a day and with an adult until they are 8 years old. They also talked about food and drink that are good and bad for our teeth, in particularly fizzy drinks that contain damaging acids. They also spoke about the dangers of added sugar and sweeteners in food and drink and how some things are made to look healthy even when they are not. The children were all very interested in the visit and could identify other types of food and drink that may also be bad for their teeth.

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CAMP FIRE TREATS FOR EVERCREECH

GYMNASTS AT EVERCREECH

The children from Holly Class at Evercreech CofE Primary School took part in a camp fire on one of their outdoor learning days. As you can see they all enjoyed this outdoor learning experience, especially the toasted marshmallows.

Year 1 and 2 Gymnasts from Evercreech Church of England Primary School attended the Somerset Key Steps Gymnastics Championship Finals in Yeovil. They were all fantastic and finished fourth out of eight other teams. A big well done to them all.

ST CUTHBERTS VISIT FROM SECRET WORLD St Cuthbertâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Infants started back on the wild side. On the first day back the children had an animal mufti for Secret World. Secret World ran workshops for the children and brought a polecat for them to meet. The following day the school was visited by Zoolab and they got to meet a giant millipede, tarantula, tree frog and two mice.

THE BATTLE OF BRITAIN COMES TO EVERCREECH The pupils from Mulberry Class at Evercreech Church of England primary School have been working hard to produce miniature Spitfire and Messerschmitt aircraft for their recreation of The Battle of Britain. The children showed great enthusiasm whilst taking part in this project, it was a huge success and the children produced some truly magnificent models.

BROWNES GARDEN CENTRE

Summer Bedding and Hanging Baskets now in stock COME AND RELAX IN OUR COFFEE SHOP AND THEN SELECT FROM OUR LARGE SELECTION OF CONTAINER GROWN SHRUBS, CONIFERS & PERENNIALS ROSES, FRUIT & ORNAMENTAL TREES HUGE SELECTION OF TERRACOTTA & GLAZED POTS, PLUS ALL YOUR GARDEN SUNDRY REQUIREMENTS Open 9am - 5.30pm Mon to Sat, 10am - 5pm Sun Coffee Shop open every day 10.30am - 4pm

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WOW

EMAIL US YOUR WOW! PHOTOS AND DETAILS TO INFO@IGNYTE-UK.CO.UK

WHAT AN ACHIEVEMENT Tyler Higgins aged 8 achieved his stage 4 swimming certificate from Millfield Easter Swim School. Well done Tyler!

Samuel Hopkins age 8 from St Benedicts Junior School has achieved his 5th Kup certificate in Taekwondo. Well done Sam.

Amy Hopkins age 6 from St John’s Infants School has achieved her stage 4 swimming certificate. Well done Amy.

Amy also achieved her stage 9th Kup certificate in Taekwondo. Great work Amy.!

Cherry Class at Ditcheat Primary School all wore their Easter Bonnets on the last day of term. What fantastic bonnets they are!

Oakhill School would like to say a big ‘Well Done’ to Leah Moore and Phoebe Burrows who recently had their hair cut off in aid of the Little Princess Trust who make wigs for children who have lost their own hair through illness. We are very proud of Leah and Phoebe, not only for having their hair cut, but the amount of money they have raised off their own backs is amazing – over £1,050!

Has your child been awarded a certificate, or won an event? Have they achieved something they would like to tell everyone? Then make sure they are included in the next issue of HEY! JUST SEND US AN EMAIL WITH THEIR NAME, AGE, SCHOOL THEY ATTEND AND ACHIEVEMENT. IT’S THAT EASY! EMAIL INFO@IGNYTE-UK.CO.UK

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