COUNTRY CHILD Spring 2022
Essential For Rural Families
Issue: 46
MEET THE TEACHER Farmer Paul and forest education
RAISING A FEMINIST Inspirational heroine led fairy tales
FLYING THE NEST
One reader and her sons Autism journey
MUM RAGE
What is it and how to cope
PARTY POLITICS Hassle-free party planning
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Welcome to Spring
are I say it? Dare I say that we can feel a sense of normality coming in to land? I think it is safe to say it you know. It really does feel longer than two years of uncertainty, pandemic, home schooling, exams, safe guarding the NHS and politics to name a few, but I really hope that we can look forward to new endeavours and celebrations. As a women I feel our motherly plates have been over flowing, and also for fathers too! However may I say firstly how proud I am of all my fellow mothers out there that have been juggling both work, families, mental health and external parameters outside their control. We did good, no matter how you may feel, we did it and we came through the other side. And that is why this issue is unashamedly celebrating the female population. Young or old, fact or fiction, we've got you. Firstly turn to page 19 for a treat or two for that day that comes round once but a year to thank you the matriarchs in your world. Then check out a wonderful piece from author Nicholas Jubber on pages 8 and 9 who has talked about raising a feminist in the modern world. He has some great suggestions for inspirational heroine led fairy tales that we can share with both daughters and sons. Lastly we have been talking to Psychotherapist Cristelle Hayes, about how to tackle the more commonly parental emotion of Mum Rage. What
is it and how can we manage it. Turn to page 21 for some great advice to deal with the days that overwhelm. As parents we always look to get our children out in the great outdoors (its kind of Country Childs thing) and this issue we are fortunate to hear from two advocates of the fun and benefits nature has to offer. Our first guru is on page 23 and is from Mud and Guts Outdoor Adventure Company with his tips on engaging our young ones. And our second is 'Farmer Paul' who with his experience now teaches and champions forest school education at a UK school Turn to pages 30 and 31 for this piece. This year we will see the end of our last year before we hit our teens next year in being 13. Covid put stop to our 10th anniversary but we hope to plan belated celebrations but what is party etiquette? On pages 14 and 15 our 'Party Policitics' piece offers a party experts opinion on throwing a hassle-free birthday. As the years have gone on one by one, we were thrilled to pick up again, after eight years, with one reader and her sons journey with Autism. Elizabeth Falconer has always tried to dispell the mtyh of this condition being a hindrence. Again, their story shines in success and achievements on pages 12 and 13. As we go into this year with hope and optimism we hope you and your family see the same light, whatever your journey. Take care for now.
Meet the team... Follow us
@countrychildmag @countrychildmagazine @countrychildmag
Neither Country Child Limited (trading as Country Child Magazine) nor any of its predecessors, affiliated companies, directors or employees, shall be liable for the accuracy or reliability of any of the content (including advertisements) published in Country Child Magazine or other information accessed directly or indirectly from Country Child Magazine, nor shall they be liable for the quality of any products, information or other materials displayed, purchased or obtained by any consumer, as a result of an advertisement or any other information or offer in connection with the service or products. Country Child Limited shall not be responsible for any errors or omissions contained within any content (including advertisement) published in Country Child Magazine.
PUBLISHER
Jo Leigh jo@countrychild.co.uk
Media Sales Matthew Cull
matthewcullmedia @gmail.com
Cover Photography by
Millie Pilkington
CONTRIBUTORS:
Jamie King,, Cristelle Hayes, Hanne B, Elizabeth Falconer, Lisa Forde and Nicholas Jubber
CREATIVE ARTWORK: jovincentart.co.uk
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Contents
Spring 2022
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Flying the Nest A look back on a sons Autism journey
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Great Outdoors Mud and Guts founder shares his wild top tips
Photo Credit Millie Pilkington
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Interior Ideas Eggscellent Interior Inspiration
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Family Ramblings Tales of hilarity from Hanne B
30 Meet The Teacher An Interview with ‘Farmer Paul'
19 What's in Store for Mothers Day
7 Family Ramblings - Hanna B tells tales of hilarity. 8 & 9 Raising a Mini Feminists - Discussing amazing fairy tales with strong female heroines. 11 What's in Store - For Mum this Mothers Day. 12 & 13 Flying the Nest - Elizabeth Falconer revisits her sons journey with Autism. 15 Food Glorious Food - Recipes and the top best buys. 14 & 15 Party Politics - How to plan your child’s hassle-free birthday party! 19 What's On - A focus on after dark delights for Spring. 21 Mum Rage - Psychotherapist Cristelle Hayes explains Mum Rage. 23 The Great Outdoors - Mud and Guts shares their tips for getting out into the wild. 25 Window Shopping - Country Child find some exceptional multiple bedroom homes. 27 Interior Ideas - Easter Eggtravaganza! 29 Open For Business - News from the parental industries, near and far. 30 & 31 Meet the Teacher - An Interview with ‘Farmer Paul’ on Outdoor Learning. 32 Top Marks - News from the local schools. 5
Great stories begin here Y O U A R E I N VI TE D TO J O I N U S FO R O U R FO R T H CO MING O P E N MOR N I N G S - B O O K Y O U R S CH O O L V IS IT T O DAY #G reatSto ri e sB e g i n He re
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28/01/2020 15:13
Family Ramblings... Written by Hanne B
ARTWORK: JOVINCENTART.CO.UK
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t’s springtime! I base that announcement not on the weather. I haven’t the faintest what is going on there. No, I base my observations on the fact that I can say with some confidence that I have finally hoover’ed up the last stubborn pine needles from the carpet and that I can once again see the back of the freezer. We have spent the past few months consuming leftovers from Christmas. We had 22 guests. Apparently, my cooking brain only has two settings; seating for four or seating for 100. Karen called yesterday with another indication that we have moved in to the vernal season. It is time for the annual springtime cricket game on her parent’s lawn. Surprisingly, in spite of last year’s disaster involving my ‘wannabe Retriever’ Cockapoo and the cricket ball, we are invited. It took some time convincing my son that no matter what recent Oxford University studies show, he does need the occasional break from Fortnite so as to avoid developing rickets. It took an equal amount of time convincing my daughter that there is only so much slime you can make. Actually, my logic is no match for hers, so I changed tac and bribed her with
the promise of Karen’s mum’s brownies. Everyone, even Victoria, has turned up for this little annual event. ‘You didn’t bring the dog then?’ Karen’s dad winks at me as he often does in a ‘ah bless’ sort of way. I look at his three retrievers Huey, Louie and Dewey, sitting side by side along the drawn up line on the lawn. ‘Yours can do this too, with a bit of training, you know.’ He winks again and I judge it only polite to wink back. The game is under way. Girls against boys, as always, and the boys are keen to bring the trophy home after years of defeat. My daughter is batting and my son is fielding. I watch my daughter from the non-strikers end as she skies the ball and I feel proud as punch, but only for a moment until I spot, my son running backwards, eyes fixed on the ball and steering straight towards the three dogs. They, of course, are not intending to move as no one has told them to do so. Behind them, Victoria is helping Karen’s mum arrange the cakes and sandwiches in a wonderful display. Beautiful little vases with daffodils and tulips adorn the table, which is covered in a lacy white tablecloth. Victoria, astute as she is, spots the impending disaster and
shouts, in her panicked state, the only word she knows to get Huey, Louie and Dewey off their bottoms ‘Fetch!!” Now, where does one securely tie three dogs on a lawn? There are loungers and chairs out, of course, but their light frames would not stand a pull from three hunting dogs. No, Karen’s dad has sensibly found a “safer” and sturdier pole on which to attached the leads; the corner leg of the dining table. It turns out, even an elongated dining table, full of brownies, cucumber sandwiches, scones and sponges (Karen’s mum has the same cooking settings as I do), is no match for three dogs who have just been told to ‘fetch’. On our way home, I try to explain to my inconsolable daughter that the fivesecond rule doesn’t apply when a dog might have licked the food that has been dropped. My son suggests that next year we join dad at the Tottenham match instead…as long as he gets to bring his phone.
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anne Bonczoszek is a local author whose first Children’s book ‘Esther’s Invisible Grandma’ is available via facebook.com/invisiblegrandma. Hanne lives in Salisbury with her husband, her two children and a Cockapoo named Enzo.
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Raising a Mini Feminist Author Nicholas Jubber discusses amazing fairy tales with strong female heroines that you could consider reading to your kids.
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young woman bundles an ogre into an oven, then knocks down another with a hatchet. Another heroine sends a predatory male down a hill in a barrel studded with nails. A princess slays a couple of ogres so she can heal her beloved with their lard… These might sound like the sort of shiny ‘new’ tales you’d find in your local Waterstones, but they’re from centuries past. They remind us that history isn’t always linear: some long-ago storytellers were much more progressive than we expect, although all too often their work and lives were suppressed. Here are a few of the ‘traditional’ tales that should strike a chord with any mini-feminist:
‘Finette Cendron’ by the Baroness d’Aulnoy The author of this seventeenth century tale was exiled from France and possibly worked as a spy in Madrid, before setting up a storytelling salon in Paris. Her heroines are as dynamic as she was. None more so than Finette Cendron, whose tale mashes up several well-known fables. Finette is a princess, but her parents lose their kingdom and abandon their daughters. Spying an ogre’s castle, Finette leads her sisters there, tricks the ogre into his oven and cuts off the ogress’s head with a hatchet. Her ungrateful sisters insist she clean the castle while they go off to party. Thanks to a secret chest, she joins them at the ball, leaving behind a velvet slipper, which enables a handsome prince to track her down. Yes, she’ll marry him, she says - but only if her parents’ kingdom is restored. So she marries the prince as his equal - and they live happily ever after….
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‘Fairer than a Fairy’ by Charlotte-Rose Caumont de la Force A member of the Baroness’s circle, de la Force married a younger man whose family tried to keep them apart by locking her husband in a castle. So Charlotte-Rose hustled her way into the castle, disguised as a bear! Sadly, the ruse didn’t work out, and she ended up spending her later years in a convent, writing her tales. In this one, two princesses find themselves imprisoned by a wicked fairy, so they help each other fulfil the tasks they’ve been set. When one of them is about to be executed, the other one rescues her. The tale ends with a double wedding as the two friends discover one of their lovers is the other one’s brother.
‘Green Meadow’ by Giambattista Basile One of Europe’s earliest fairy-tellers, Basile knew about dynamic women - his sister was the leading Italian singer of the early seventeenth century. One of his most appealing stories is ‘Green Meadow’, in which a prince is mortally wounded in a tunnel he uses to visit his beloved, Nella. Fortunately, Nella overhears a couple of ogres in a wood and discovers their lard is the only cure. So she butchers one of the ogres, heals her lover and marries him. There are many other tales with brilliant heroines from all around the world - such as Morgiana, who outwits the thieves with painted crosses and scalding oil in ‘Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves’ (tellingly, the story’s original title was ‘The Stratagems of Morgiana’); or Gerda in ‘The Snow Queen’, who travels across the snowy plains of Lapland to rescue her friend Kai. These are precious nuggets, worth showing to younger readers, for their messages about the timelessness of female self-determination, along with the brilliant wit and warmth of the tales. Nicholas Jubber is the author of The Fairy Tellers: A Journey into the Secret History of Fairy Tales, published by John Murray Press, priced at £20 and available online and from all good bookshops.
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Boarding and day school for girls and boys aged 2-13 years
Sandroyd School Rushmore Park, Tollard Royal Salisbury, Wiltshire, SP5 5QD 01725 530 124 admissions@sandroyd.com www.sandroyd.com Country Child - Sandroyd - Spring 2022.indd 1
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What´s in Store For Mum
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1. Mum Personalised Embroidered Hot Water Bottle - Pure Wool £60 thefinecottoncompany.com 2. Stars Necklace £16.95 acornandwill.co.uk 3. Wellness by Manuel Peppermint & Eucalyptus Single Wick Candle £25 frenchbedroomcompany.co.uk 4. The Essence of Mother Goddess Durga Print £25 namoh.co.uk 5. Personalised In Case We Forget Memory Book £34.95 marthabrook.com 6. Fantastic Women Book. Discover some of the bravest and most inspirational women out there with these stunning portraits by Daniela Henríquez. £12.99 laurenceking.com 7. Veuve Clicquot Rose Champagne Mothers Day Gift £72 sparklingdirect.co.uk 8. Gorgeous 100% cotton canvas make up cosmetic accessory bag for Mum £12.50 craftyclara.co.uk 8. Gold Mother And Baby Giraffe decorative ornaments £59 ellajames.co.uk
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“ Falconer is a valuable member of the team. He has incredible customer service skills. Always keen to get stuck in and help where he can.
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Employer Report
Photo Credit Millie Pilkington Spring 2014 12
Flying the Nest Elizabeth Falconer updates Country Child on her sons journey with Autism.
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irst featured in Country Child back in Spring 2014, we caught up with the Falconer family to see where their son is now in overcoming the stigma around the disability.
My son is flying, in fact soaring! The quote opposite was from a recent report from his job. Yes work! I am going to take you briefly on this journey. A different peregrination of his young life. Reverse to several years earlier. Reports flowed from age three onwards, through medical personnel or teachers. Descriptive terms used like; odd, quirky, eccentric, strange and even naughty. However by eight years old a diagnosis came of Asperger’s syndrome. This is a form of Autism.
Autism Acceptance Birds have a unique ability to take advantage of a weather phenomenon known as thermals. Thermals give birds a lift. They gain height using little energy flying great distances. Autistic individuals often see the world differently, yet if they tap into their ‘thermals’ they reach heights never thought possible. Thinking about the positive aspects of Autism can change how we view disabilities. This is not watering down the hardships, obstacles and difficulties. Every Autistic person is different. I do not intend to over simplify challenges. Instead celebrating what has become the reality of our lives. Falconer was homeschooled from fourteen. Unable to fully function in the way mainstream schools are set up. This created a chance to increase his life skills. Education took on a whole new meaning. He showed a great attention to certain details, retaining and recalling facts. Being homeschooled allowed time for interests and obsessions more, weaving favourites into other
important subjects. The long-term memory and visual skills are akin with a bird’s eyesight. Skills strengthened like, money management, baking, household chores, dog walking, gardening. He thrived! He throughly enjoyed learning and generated a profound erudition. Normal barriers to learning were thrashed, he was encouraged and motivated rather than enervating. Many of the skills being learnt and attributes of Autism became a real benefit for a future job. A very brief summary of outstanding achievements reached through the teenage years. Falconer has recognised qualifications in education. He learnt to drive and passed his driving test in six weeks. Additionally he now runs his own home and works full time. The obsessions and determination like a peregrine falcon driven to the prey, makes such goals attainable. We all like happy endings and positive progress reports. This brief journey is to inspire, especially those who have disabilities and to the assiduous parents. We want to change the stigma and opinions of some employers. We want to see opportunities of inclusiveness. Falconer accepts differences, less likely to judge, incredibly honest, loyal and shows commitment. There can be great difficulties with Autism, mainly perceived by others. With the right intervention they can flourish. We would like to change the thinking in some schools, and how to support such ones more. See the benefits they add to the world, they have a great deal to offer. We could all benefit if we understood Autism more. They look at the world in a unique way, this is original, no pretending, it is refreshing and inspiring. We should let these people really be themselves. Accept them, don’t try and change them to conform in a neurotypical way. They cannot pretend they are Autistic, this is who they are. True comfort for all in Autism acceptance. Yes it does take time, it is a journey! Embrace who they are. Accept Autism. Fly with them!
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GIDDY KIPPER GIFTS Unique hand crafted items for your home or to give as a gift Hand painted vintage style jars Coastal themed glass bottles Illustrated slate coaster sets Mandala canvas paintings Hand-made soaps in decorative boxes Decorated re-cycled tins cans The ideal place to find that special gift See the full range of items at our Etsy shop https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/GiddyKipperGifts
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Food
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Perfect Pair
Two major players offer an innovative new weaning 'must-have'
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heeky Rascals sources innovative baby and nursery kit who are teamiong up with BabyBrezza to offer tasty solutions for the all-important weaning process (and beyond) thanks to their innovative One Step Food Maker Deluxe, said to be the only food maker that automatically steams and blends homemade baby food in one easy step. Now also including the useful ‘Essential Guide to Weaning’ from expert Zenia Deogan, making delicious and creative recipes has never been easier! The BabyBrezza One Step Food Maker Deluxe is the perfect piece of kit for any parent taking on the weaning process, and now with the support of Zenia, parents enjoy the benefits of a perfect partnership. Whether parents choose to steam and blend, steam only or blend only, when bringing the weaning process to life, they can be assured that BabyBrezza is doing the hard work for them. The advanced twelve-piece system doesn’t just prepare baby’s food it also serves and even stores food as the machine comes with three reusable food pouches and filling funnels. Suitable for both frozen and fresh foods, a simple push of the start button will have perfectly blended food prepared in minutes. RRP: £159 cheekyrascals. co.uk/product/baby-brezzafood-maker-deluxe/
Lizzie’s Mother’s Day Blondie Recipe
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ith Mother’s Day just around the corner, Great British Bake Off quarter finalist, Lizzie Acker, has created a delicious vanilla-based Blondie recipe that is easy and great fun for kids to make under supervision. Ingredients:: 180g unsalted butter 150g light brown sugar 150g dark brown sugar 2 eggs 3 tsp Nielsen-Massey Vanilla Extract Pinch of salt 250g plain flour ½ tsp baking powder 200g white chocolate chips
Decoration:: 200g white chocolate Pink gel food colouring (or any colour) Sprinkles / freeze dried fruit Decoration:: Equipment:, Pan, Bowl, Baking paper, 8-inch square tin and Piping bag 20 minutes prep, 30 minutes to cook, serves eight to ten people.
Preheat the oven to 180°c. Place the butter in a pan and cook until it starts to simmer and slightly browns. In a bowl place the light and dark brown sugars, vanilla extract, and pinch of salt and mix. Once the butter has browned, pour into the bowl with the sugar ingredients and stir to mix, then allow to cool slightly. Mix the eggs into the sugar and butter mixture. Fold the flour and baking powder into the mixture until there are no more. pockets of flour visible. Mix in the chocolate chips. Put into a lined tin and place in the oven for 30 mins. After 30 minutes take out of the oven and allow to cool. Meanwhile melt the 200g of white chocolate and add the food colouring. Allow to cool slightly and then add to the piping bag. Pipe on your messages and decorations before the Blondie sets. You can decorate with sprinkles, edible glitter, or freeze-dried fruit, it’s completely up to you. Cut the Blondie into square shaped individual portions to eat with your mum on Mother’s Day!
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Party Politics Top tips for planning your child’s hassle-free birthday party!
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arty planning can be a minefield - and kids party planning even more so! Should you invite the whole class? Do you need to invite siblings? Do you have to cater for parents? How much should you spend on the goody bag? The list goes on and on... And with parties firmly back on the cards after two years of restrictions, children's parties are expected to be bigger than ever before. Party planning etiquette expert Lisa Forde, of leading stationery shop, Dotty About Paper,
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has the answer to every stressed-out parent's questions as she's been in the party planning business for almost two decades. “Organising a party at any age should be an exciting time but when it comes to the politics surrounding guest lists and trying to stay within budget, it can zap the fun out of it all quite quickly,” said Lisa. “You may think, kids’ parties are simple affairs - balloons, cake, presents, done. But there’s a lot more to it than that.”
WIN WIN WIN
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otty about Paper is a stationery specialist based in the beautiful market town of Bridgnorth, Shropshire, who offer a fantastic range of different themes and styles for every event, all printed onto quality materials! To WIN a £50 Voucher to spend at their online store email the answer to the question below to info@countrychild.co.uk by the 1st April 2022.
What is Lisa's suggested gift budget for the birthday girl or boy?
Check them out → dottyaboutpaper.co.uk
Lisa has answered some of the top questions all parents want to know: Should you invite the whole class? “The answer simply is no,” explains Lisa. “You’re not obligated to invite the entire classroom if that doesn’t work for your family. But bear in mind it would be unfair to invite nearly the whole class and miss a couple of children out so maybe stick to less than 10. If you’re not inviting everyone, it’s worth talking to your child about discretion surrounding the party and remind them that they should keep the party talk to themselves to stop any friends feeling left out. And maybe hand out your party invitations to parents discreetly.” Should you invite siblings and do you have to cater for parents? “There was a TikTok that went viral recently of a mum of five saying she always brings all children to parties, even if just one is invited, which caused quite a conversation,” Lisa said. “Some party venues charge per child and numbers need to be confirmed in advance so if you don’t want to invite siblings and you’re only inviting one parent, you need to make this clear on your party invitations to avoid any awkwardness on the day of the party. Most parents don’t expect to be fed at a children’s party - but they’re often happy to help hoover up any leftovers if invited!” Do you have to give out goody bags? “Goody bags aren’t a necessity but some children will be expecting them if they are used to receiving them at other parties which can make things awkward,” Lisa explains. “They’re also a
great way of signalling that the party is at an end and people should start making a move to leave. If the budget doesn’t cover goody bags, the most important thing is a thank you card, thanking guests for attending - and why not send guests home with a slice of homemade birthday cake?” What should you do if your child receives an expensive gift? “This can be very tricky but you need to remember that you don’t give to receive,” Lisa adds. "Receive gifts gratefully and don’t consider refusing the gift because it’s too much. Instead, ensure to explain to your child that it’s a very special present and make sure they say thank you. When it comes to that child’s birthday, don’t feel you need to reciprocate. Stick to your budget. If it helps, you could always speak to the class parents at the start of the year to discuss a rough budget for parents - £10 a head maybe?” As the party host, should you reprimand an unruly child at the party? “This is another difficult one! Parties are an exciting environment, and sometimes that excitement can spill over into an unruly mess. It’s always awkward telling off someone else’s child for their behaviour, but as the host, you’re within your rights to take an unruly child gently to one side and ask for them to calm down. If their parents or guardians are at the party, it’s also ok to subtly suggest that things might need to come down a notch or two. Another great tactic is to have a ‘quiet’ game in your back pocket to restore order to the party, such as Silent Statues, where you see who can stand still and quiet for the longest - and a small packet of sweets for the winner always helps!”
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10 July to 6 August 2022
Discover over 500 courses for all ages. Fully catered accommodation and entertainment also available. Request a brochure today for a summer to remember. 01672 892388 | summerschool.co.uk
Become a Lumenator
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undreds of local people will come together to create amazing outdoor art in the Dorset Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty this year, creating a collective connection to Dorset's remarkable landscape, as part of UK-wide celebration of creativity. Producer Activate Performing Arts and outdoor arts company Walk the Plank are recruiting one thousand local people to participate in a mass gathering in Dorset called Green Space Dark Skies. The production will see people come together with artists and creatives to forge powerful collective connections to the local landscape. The artworks will be created at dusk by participants from the local area, known as Lumenators. Guided along pathways or waterways and carrying smart lights, that are sensitive to the night-time environment, the beautiful digital choreography will be captured on film and available to watch online afterwards. The artwork will imagine a new way of seeing the local landscape in Dorset and inspire people to care for the planet for future generations. Saturday 11 June To become a Dorset Lumenator register greenspacedarkskies.uk/ get-involved/
What's On After Dark Entertainment
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ate for your Diary - The streets and spaces of Salisbury and beyond will be filled with music, theatre, film, dance, spoken word, visual arts, family and free events, curated by Wiltshire Creative’s Gareth Machin, Associate Artist violinist Harriet Mackenzie and Festival Producer Lucy Babb, and associate curators. 27 May to 18 June.
Run Family Run
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orset Neon Run isn’t time chipped so you can run, jog, walk, or dance at your own pace around the course. There’ll be plenty of entertainment on the night to keep the atmosphere pumping. On the night, registration is open from 6.30pm, and runners will set off by 8.30pm. Please note: The Dorset Neon Run is open to anyone over the age of 12, however, under 16s must be accompanied by an adult. If you want to get the little ones involved then check out a new addition for 2022 (and something we’re sure you’ll all be excited to get involved with) is the Family 2k, which takes place slightly earlier in the day. The course adapted from the main event, registration opens at 4pm, and the fun run begins at 5.30pm. Make sure you dress extra colourfully as, of course, the sun won’t have set yet! Saturday 23 April. dorsetneonrun.com
Suggestions on this page are in line with social distancing rules applicable at the time of going to press. They may change so please check before travelling.
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Maternal Rage Country Child asks psychotherapist Cristelle Hayes - What is it & how to deal with it?
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aternal anger is when we become overwhelmed with rage and struggle to access the calm and patient side we usually experience as a parent. We may shout at our kids or throw things around the room or handle our children a little too roughly or be too harsh with our reactions to situations. The problem is that we expect motherhood will be a joyful and blissful experience, but motherhood is much more complex than that. There is also a lot of stress and anger. Mothers get angry when in a place of lack, lack of self-care, lack of time to ourselves, lack of sleep or lack of support. Mothers are angry at the mental load, at juggling careers and family responsibilities as well as defending themselves from constant criticism and judgment from society. Other common triggers to maternal anger include, children not listening, bedtime and mealtime battles and sibling fighting. I recently became overwhelmed with rage when I caught my husband having a nap when I was feeling desperate for sleep. There is a lot going on to provoke maternal anger. Yet, without minimising the very real reasons for our anger we need to manage it around our children, so it doesn’t impact on them. We can deal with maternal anger by reflecting upon and getting to know the triggers. Reflect on what is going on in moments when you are in a rage. Are you in a place of lack, and if so, how can you get what you need, so you are not running on an empty
tank? Create a plan for when the anger rises. Work out what helps you regulate your emotions. Simple ways we can regulate our emotions include stopping and pausing on what is going on, stepping away, and validating how you are feeling. Drink a cold glass of water, take ten deep breaths, notice your environment, and noticing the sensation of your feet on the ground. Take a moment to send a message to a friend or do a simple mindfulness exercise. As long as your children are safe, do what you need to do to look after yourself and reset. Remind yourself that this stuff is hard. Offer yourself compassion. Remind yourself of the times when you have displayed patience and parented in the way you wanted to. Look at photos of your children happy and smiling. This can all add some perspective to times when it can get too intense. If the anger is getting too much and is affecting your relationship with your children, please reach out to a GP or a therapist for support. Article by Cristalle Hayes, existential and traumabased psychotherapist and author of Angry Mother Assertive Mother: From maternal anger to radical repair, published by Rethink, out now, available on Amazon
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The Great Outdoors Outdoor adventure company Mud and Guts shares their Top Tips for getting out into the wild for 2022!
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ounded by Jamie King in 2012, Mud & Guts, is an outdoor adventure company based in Wiltshire that reconnects modern children aged 6-13 years old with the joy of being outside. Mud & Guts takes fun as a starting point and provides an exhilarating education alternative to hours and days spent in front of a screen. Jamie is as passionate about fun as he is about the natural world. It is the combination of these two things – the exhilarating freedom of stepping out of modern life, and back into the elemental – that makes the Mud & Guts experience so unique. ‘I want the children who come on a Mud & Guts adventure to come away infused with a little bit of magic’, he says. ‘Having fun with their friends, connecting with their environment, breathing fresh air deep into their lungs – these are the things that made me happy as a boy, and still do to this day. On a fundamental level, I just want to pass that on.’
Get out early for the dawn
chorus. Sunrise is now around 7 so if you are out 20 mins beforehand you will hear it grow & grow.
Keep bird feeders topped up. Birds are starting to court and nest. They need plenty of food to sustain themselves & their new born chicks when they arrive.
Get out and find the largest snowdrop drifts. They have been spectacular this winter. But look, don’t touch.
Get your bike serviced & ready for to enjoy the spring and summer months.
Go to the coast. Take a walk along the coast path. End of winter or early spring always has dramatic and fast changing weather. Also the best time of year to see seals. If you are fortunate enough to see them, stay at least 20 meters away and keep noise and movements to a minimum.
If the skies are clear go for a full moon walk, even if it's just around your garden. The moon is much higher in the sky at this time of year, so therefore gives off a brighter light for longer than in the summer months. March full moon is the 18th & April is the 16th. For children’s parties Mud & Guts can either bring the fun to you or you can join Mud & Guts at one of their woodland bases in Wiltshire for days of den building, fire lighting, game playing, tree climbing and rope swinging fun. Full days and half days are available during Half Terms and Holidays.
Clear nights with no moon are excellent for stargazing. If you look to the southern sky just after sunrise you will see Venus. She will be at her brightest in the early months of the year. But will be the morning star until the end of August.
For all information on Mud & Guts Parties, Woodland Days please visit mudandguts.co.uk and get in touch with Jamie and his team. ARTWORK: JOVINCENTART.CO.UK
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An impressive six bedroom detached family home, with a nearby 2 acres field nestled below Old Sarum.. A much loved family home for many years, providing extensive and versatile living accommodation amounting to 2,019 square feet. To the ground floor there is a 20ft bay-fronted reception room, dining/family room, a separate kitchen, utility room and conservatory. Over the first floor there are four good-sized bedrooms and two family bathrooms with an additional two double bedrooms up on a second floor. Plus garage and ample off road parking, for least four or five vehicles. myddeltonmajor.co.uk/
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A character filled, versatile 6 bedroom property with separate detached one bedroom cottage with gardens and large parking are on the High Street and Burton Bradstock. Offering huge potential this former bed and breakfast is currently arranged into two self-contained apartments. One being a two bedroomed home with a large annex, the other a self contained two bedroom flat offering the ideal investment opportunity or to create a fantastic family home in this ever popular village.
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Ben Kerslake, Head Chef at Frome Nursing Home, has been announced as a finalist in Vegetarian for Life's 2021 Awards for Excellence in Vegetarian and Vegan Care Catering. After 31 years, the La Fleur de Lys Hotel & Restaurant in Shaftesbury is for sale as owners Mr and Mrs Griffin-Shepard decide to take a step back from the hospitality industry to concentrate on family.
Complete Childcare
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he Cedars School in Aldermaston is a focal point of its community with hundreds of years of history behind it. To the thanks and delight of many, it is being rescued to serve the community once again in an important and wholesome way. The well-known site is to be converted into a nursery - continuing its history of nurturing the next generation through their crucial early years. The historic building is being taken over by new owners determined to give the nursery an authentic and traditional feel - one that will match the quintessentially British rural village it is situated in. The school was acquired by Complete Childcare, a Berkshire centred childcare group with 15 day-nurseries. With renovation plans now well underway, it’s
Free Spirits
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he alternative education movement is rapidly growing. Roughly half of all UK alternative schools are Steiner/Waldorf schools; others include Montessori schools, Forest schools and home education co-operatives. Free Spirits Education is a new Community Interest Company registered with Ofsted on the Wiltshire/ Hampshire border in the picturesque village of West Tytherley. Owner Gemma Gammon says "I have worked in education for 19 years, as a state primary school teacher, special needs teacher and a private tutor. I have studied Business Management and am currently working towards a Diploma in Steiner/Waldorf Education, as to me, it feels like the best way to educate children. Steiner/Waldorf education aims to provide an unhurried and creative learning environment in harmony with different phases of a child’s development and children stay in Kindergarten until age 6 or 7, similar to the Scandinavian education system. Many of us have an innate sense that children learn best through free play, exploration, discovery and imaginative experiences, with plenty of time spent outdoors. I am passionate about children having access to natural,
expected that Complete Childcare will welcome local families to look around the new nursery from as soon as Spring. The team is looking to recruit new teachers and staff to help bolster their professional resources around Berkshire. For more: completechildcare.co.uk meaningful and enriching educational experiences. We respect them as individuals, cater for all aspects of development and allow learning at each child’s pace through play and exploration in a stress-free, aesthetically pleasing, ergonomic environment. Free Spirits Education encompasses the best of all the alternative education approaches into a unique learning environment." To find out more, go to: freespiritseducation.com
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Meet the Teacher An Interview with ‘Farmer Paul’ on Outdoor Learning
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aul Crosdil, affectionately known as 'Farmer Paul', teaches pupils his outdoor learning programme in West Sussex. Given Paul's background in farming, horticulture, and even as an animal trainer on the set of blockbuster movies (such as Harry Potter) and TV shows, Farmer Paul brings a sense of magic to outdoor learning that delights pupils and brings them closer to the natural world. We sat down with Farmer Paul to learn more about his role based at Conifers Independant Day School and the school’s ambitions for its outdoor learning programme, which includes a Forest School strand of the curriculum.
What is the best part of your role at Conifers school?
Helping our students to connect with their natural environment is a really cherished part of my role at Conifers. I work with all our year groups as part of
our outdoor learning programme, showing them how to develop their abilities and knowledge about how to grow plants with the seasons, nature and the environment we live in. They love learning about insects, bees and birds, and I use every opportunity I can to teach them all about where their food comes from, and the labour needed to produce it. I am also passionate about protecting the environment, so I really enjoy teaching our more senior pupils about carbon footprints and what we can do to reduce ours.
Can you tell us about the outdoor learning programme and Forest School at Conifers?
We have an extremely popular outdoor learning programme at Conifers, which is designed to connect our adventurous students with their natural environment. Come rain or shine, there are weekly lessons for all pupils in our natural outdoor areas, which includes a shallow stream, woodland walk, den buildings and many magical places to explore. Our rural grounds which include the Paddock, and Forest School areas, provides the perfect arena for adventurous pupils to work together to problem-solve and overcome challenges. We also have allotments at Conifers, which pupils work together on as part of our outdoor lessons. The students prepare the planting beds, learn about seasonal crops, and help to grow and harvest produce. In addition to our outdoor learning programme, I am involved with the Forest School at Conifers, which teaches pupils valuable outdoor skills, such as bushcraft, how to start campfires, how to cook food outdoors, whittling, and other exciting outdoor crafts. The outcome we witness is wonderfully motivated, happy children who are engaged and full of positivity when they return to the classroom.
Are there any new developments on the horizon for outdoor learning at Conifers? We have plans to develop our outdoor learning offering at Conifers with a wonderful new meadow extension on the nearby Cowdray Estate. The new development will include beautiful garden areas and a pond which will serve as a natural habitat for local wildlife. Our students have been involved in the project from the beginning, having already helped to prepare key garden areas and worked to catalogue the abundant wildlife in the meadow. So far this includes rabbits, field mice, frogs, toads, birds of prey, bees, wasps, butterflies, moths, bats, and many great insects! This is an ongoing project, and our pupils will continue to help develop the meadow as part of their learning for many years to come. I am a keen advocate for protecting our environment and teaching the younger generations about the importance of doing so, as well as the impact of their carbon footprint on our precious planet.
How has your farming background impacted your teaching?
I arrived at Conifers back in 2018 with a mission to help build on the school’s ambitious outdoor learning programme and with a passion to support children in their study of the natural world around them. I am from a farming family, with my early experiences having inspired my love for the great outdoors. I started out mostly as a cattle and dairy
farmer before acquiring my own farm, and later even worked with a department of the Swiss government as an ambassador for Swiss cows. These experiences have provided me with a great deal of knowledge and skills about animals and the natural world, and has helped fuel my passion to impart what I know to the next generation.
What can you tell us about training animals on blockbuster movie sets?
Given my background in working with animals, I took on the incredibly exciting but challenging role of training animals on the sets of popular movies, TV shows and music videos. Filming is a highly regulated industry, and for over 20 years I met many movie stars and trained several animals on sets including poultry, pigs, goats, sheep, cows, bulls, deer, and foxes. Films I have trained animals for include the likes of Harry Potter, Shakespeare in Love, Saving Private Ryan and Band of Brothers. I have provided similar services during pop music video shoots for acts such as All Saints and Everything But The Girl, as well for TV adverts for companies such as Anchor butter (dancing Jersey cows) and Mercedes. Paul Crosdil teaches pupils of all year groups as part of the outdoor learning programme at Conifers in West Sussex, a leading independent day school for 2- to 13-year-olds nestled in the heart of the South Downs National Park.
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Village, primary, pre prep, private or state we want to know your school news, email: info@countrychild.co.uk
STEAM Week
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troud School children will soon be taking a giant leap into the cosmos during STEAM Week, with an exhilarating timetable of extra-terrestrial learning. Whilst they might not be able to solve the answer to the ultimate question of life, the universe and everything, which apparently is 42, they have a week of STEAM activities where they will explore space and astronomy, the solar system, phases of the moon and space travel. Launching STEAM week is World Book Day, where the theme is Space. Children will be coming into school dressed as characters or space explorers from their favourite nonfiction books and where the children will explore a multitude of activities to develop their love of science, technology, engineering, art and maths. See STEAM Week in action at Stroud's Open Morning on Wednesday 9 March 2022 at 9.30am.
Getting A'Head'
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he Governing Body of Hazlegrove Prep School has announced that Mr Ed Benbow has been appointed as the next Head of Hazlegrove Prep School in September 2022. Ed is currently Deputy Head at Cothill House and was Head of Boarding at Pinewood School. Ed is a Mathematics teacher and a keen coach who loves to develop pupils’ talents in rugby, cricket and hockey at Cothill. Hazlegrove provides the ideal return to the West Country for Ed who grew up very near to the School, he was educated locally at Perrott Hill and Sherborne prior to his degree at Durham University. Ed had a very successful career in the City before following his calling to teaching. Outside the classroom, Ed is a keen sportsman, and continues to run marathons and take on new challenges when he gets the opportunity. He is also a talented musician and continues to play French horn and the piano. Ed is married to Amanda and has a son and a daughter who will be moving to live at Hazlegrove. Amanda is currently an
educational psychologist, having previously been an early years teacher. Mr Stephen Edlmann, Senior Warden of the Governing Body said, ‘Ed stood out in a very strong field due to his passion for education and his clear alignment with the values and ethos which lie at the heart of Hazlegrove.’ Ed said of his appointment, ‘Amanda and I feel hugely honoured and excited to be joining Hazlegrove in September. We were so impressed by the children and staff and can't wait to work alongside them and be part of such a nurturing family. We look forward to meeting up with the Hazlegrove community over the coming months.’
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