Issue 15 easter 2015 by Molly's Guide

issue 15 â&#x20AC;˘ Easter 2015

for parents & carers

STEP PARENTS

Discovering the unique bond

On the road with Billy Branston

TURNING PAGES C WITH LCFm

His Amazing Potato Factory On Tour around schools

a Youth Tek go bac to school

GET OUT & ABOUT FOR FREE

Discover Lincolnshire Weekend 28th & 29th March

Cracking Days Out & Activities for the whole family this Easter

www.mollysguide.co.uk

E E R

As this edition of Molly’s Guide goes to press we are ﬁnally seeing the signs of spring about to break through and I for one am very glad. Snow is very pretty but I will be more than happy if all the winter sickness bugs, cold and ﬂu melt away with it. Perhaps I have felt it more this year because we are extremely lucky to now have two little ones to keep wrapped up warm – as our Facebook friends or Twitter followers will know the new member of the Molly’s Guide team, Willow Katherine, was born on December 10th and (following an inauspicious initial meeting) has now won the heart of her older brother as well as her parents.

Step Parenting

Billy Branston on Tour

LCFC Youth Team

Southwell Racecourse

Easter with Ruddocks

Our family’s new year’s resolution is to try new experiences and explore new places together and you can follow our journey on the new Molly’s Guide blog, Luke’s Guide, at http://mollysguide.co.uk/category/lukesguide/ Meanwhile, why not take a look at our magazine’s voucher section or the What’s On section on the website http://mollysguide.co.uk/events/ to inspire you to try visiting somewhere new too? Let me know if you particularly enjoy a day out at karen@mollysguide.co.uk – and, if you’re a teacher trying something new in or out of the classroom, we’d love to hear from you too. Plus, if you are able to get out and about in the fresh air in the next couple of months, then you’ll be able to indulge in the season’s chocolate offerings without worrying too much about your waistline – here’s hoping the Easter bunny is generous to you all!

stevensgreenmedia Editorial & Advertising: Stevens Green Media Ltd 63 Bunkers Hill, Lincoln LN2 4QS T: 01522 535068

E: info@mollysguide.co.uk

While every effort and care has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained in this publication, the Publisher cannot accept responsibility for any errors, inaccuracies or omissions it may contain. Inclusion in the directory does not imply an endorsement of the service or product. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form, or by means electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise. Or stored in any retrieval system - without the prior written permission of the Publisher. Copyright ©Stevens Green Media Ltd - All rights reserved.

www.mollysguide.co.uk

NEWS

STEP PARENTING

SNAP! Chance game sparks unique pair Becoming a stepdad is not a role I ever planned for when growing up in south London. Ambitious youngsters may strive to be a doctor, teacher or, in my case, play for their beloved football team. Others may simply want to be good, caring mums and dads. What people do not strive to be, a scenario they do not picture themselves in, is one of a stepdad. If somebody had said to me four years ago that I was about to fall madly in love with a woman, move in with her and wholeheartedly share responsibility in bringing up her young daughter, I would have hopped on the ﬁrst bus out of town. One-way ticket. No sir, not for me.

I was a single man, working hard during the week and hitting the bright lights of various towns and cities at weekends.

all-important ﬁrst email. For the record, and so there can be absolutely no doubt in all your minds as to who it was, it was her.

But then, like a clean knockout inside a boxing ring, everything changed by a punch I did not see coming.

She spoke of this daughter whom she clearly adored – a three-year-old by the name of Evie. “That’s a nice name” I remember saying. But if I am brutally honest, that is as far my interest stretched.

In short, there was a girl who sat by the printer in the ofﬁce who I took quite a shine to. So much so, I would print off everything I possibly could in order to walk past and strike up any random conversation I could with her. To this day there remains hot debate as to who sent that

Until one cold Sunday afternoon in late October. Mel had arranged a dinner date at a city restaurant for herself, me and the little one. Not exactly the type of date I was familiar with. Meeting each other for the first time was a bizarre episode that both Evie and I now look back on with giggles and laughter. I itched and perspired nervously from start to finish, barely touching my lasagne. And then the horror when Mel selfishly decided to take a trip to the ladies room – alone. I did not have the first clue as to what to say to her. After opting against the “I fancy your mother approach, I asked her: “Want to play I Spy?”

Easter 2015

“No thank you,” was her polite but equally morale damaging response.

Almost four years on, our relationship is in stark contrast from those initial and utterly awkward moments at the dinner table.

But a moment later, I noticed something I am now very familiar with. With a cheeky It’s been an incredible ride grin and excited twinkle in and it has taught me so her eye, she said: “Want a much about life, love and, game of snap? I signiﬁcantly, have cards in my about myself. “We have a bag and bet you There have been unique bond. I can’t beat me.” such as guess it is lodged highs, the joy which And that, right somewhere comes from there, is where it between me being seeing how all began. your inﬂuence a loving father, I received a call at can mould a protective older home from Mel person, brother, and best little later that week, and there have friend.” asking me to pop been tough over because Evie times, such as wanted me to read her knowing when and how to a bedtime story. Hearing dish out discipline without that she liked me was a overstepping the mark. remarkable feeling and not But ultimately, I feel an emotion I had anticipated honoured to be a part of ahead of the dinner. my stepdaughter’s life and It was better than any seal of look to our future as a family approval I’ve ever received with genuine excitement. from previous girlfriend’s After all, it was so nearly mums – although there have an opportunity that passed been few. me by. ��

��

Mark Williams, aged 31 lives in Lincoln, a Journalist by day and a Gym/Sports fanatic by night

��

�� www.mollysguide.co.uk

NEWS

MOLLY’S GUIDE BLOG

Introducing… Luke’s Guide! Can you believe it’s already the middle of March?! The last couple of months have been a bit of a blur in our house as everything we’ve done has been carried out through the haze that many a sleepless night will leave permanently hanging in front of your eyes. It’s all been for a very good reason though as we welcomed our daughter, Willow, into the world at the beginning of December.

an unmatchable energy and zeal for exploration (certainly unmatchable by those of us who’ve only had a few hours of disturbed sleep anyway).

Isn’t she gorgeous? I’ll accept that I’m probably biased… but she is, isn’t she?!

I love the way he makes new friends and interacts with people when we attend different groups, visit attractions or when just doing the weekly shop (although there’s no “just” about that anymore when one of us has to follow him as he runs up and down the aisles the whole time) and I’m looking forward to sharing his excitement with a new audience.

She’s also very lucky as she already has an excellent big brother eager to play with her. Luke is nearly two and a half and he’s quite gorgeous too isn’t he? (Does it still count as biased if it’s factual?)

A former journalist who lives in Lincoln, Karen Malpass juggles a variety of jobs but she’d rather be spending most of her time becoming better at being a mum of two and wife to one. Email her at karen@mollysguide.co.uk – she’d love to have the adult conversation! 6

Easter 2015

I have loved rediscovering the world through Luke’s eyes over the past couple of years and know that Willow will soon have me seeing it anew again too – but I also know that she is as likely to look to her big brother as her guide in future years as she is to me. That’s why it seems very appropriate to name the new Molly’s Guide blog Luke’s Guide. He certainly leads his dad and I around and about wherever we go with

I hope you’ll enjoy reading about our family’s journey too as I enjoy reading entries in many other mums’ and dads’ blogs – it’s always nice to know you’re not the only one dealing with certain situations! If there’s anything you think it’s worth us checking out in and around our city and county, then let me know – and I’d also love to hear and share your stories too.

NEWS

Enhance communication with sign language

BABY SIGN LINCOLN

Imagine how it feels to be unable to effectively express your needs. Amongst many other emotions, the one at the forefront has to be frustration. Frustration that people don’t understand, frustration that you can’t communicate to get your needs met. It is widely accepted that sign language is an invaluable way of bridging the communication gap between deaf people and their peers. Did you also know that sign language is also used by many other groups within our community? Those with hearing impairment, developmental delay, speech impediment and babies. Yes babies and young children who are yet to gain sufﬁcient control of their vocal cords to communicate through speech can express themselves through signing! They can begin learning right from birth but won’t have the dexterity to begin to sign until around four to six months. First signs are usually things that are most important to them such as ‘milk’. This can then develop onto more complex signing as they grow such as signing ‘teeth’, ‘hurt’ and ‘medicine’ for when they have teething pain. The key to success is to reinforce the signs whenever possible, use the sign every time you use the word. Make sure you don’t use the signs on their own as the point of signing with babies is not to replace the spoken language but to enhance it.

“Children naturally use gesture but signing enables them to be speciﬁc about their wants and needs.”

Photos: Paul Massey Photography

Many question the potential impact signing has on the speech of a child, research has shown that it doesn’t delay speech but in fact improves and widens the vocabulary. It’s biggest advantage though has to be reducing tantrums born from frustration. Something which is priceless for any parent! For further information contact Kirsty Summers at Baby Signing Lincoln T: 01522 398380 / 07432737469 E: kirsty@babysigning.org.uk www.babysigninglincoln.com facebook: babysigninglincoln www.mollysguide.co.uk

EDUCATION

BILLY BRANSTON

Learning all about where our food comes from The eagle-eyed amongst you may have seen a certain double decker bus travelling around the county’s roads over the past few months as Billy Branston took his Amazing Potato Factory on tour.

Since September 2014, Billy’s bus has been visiting schools across Lincolnshire to teach children all about potatoes and how great they are. The double decker bus has been converted into a fully functioning mobile classroom, and hosts a variety of activity stations for children to interact with and ﬁnd out all about potatoes and their fascinating journey from farm to fork. Company mascot, Billy Branston introduces himself to the children via an interactive video watched in the on-board cinema theatre, before they are split into groups to get stuck in to the activities provided. Each activity has been developed in line with the Key Stage One and Two frameworks to ensure that children can apply their new found potato knowledge to different aspects of their learning.

Easter 2015

The planting activity is very popular as it gives the children the chance to get their hands in soil! They start by de-stoning the soil, just as happens out in potato ﬁelds, to make sure that the potatoes don’t grow irregularly, and building a ridge before planting seed potatoes. They’re also taught about the overall growing cycle of potatoes, including the chance to experience the on-board coldstore, which is dark and cold, replicating the storage facilities potatoes are kept in prior to being packed. This whole activity allows the children to gain a full understanding of how their food is produced, from farm to fork. Continuing the hands-on experience, the sizing, grading and weighing exercise encourages children to use their numeracy skills to work out averages, replicating the work of the potato factory in grading potatoes to separate the good from the bad, and the large from the small. Nutrition and eating play an important part of the activities on board, and teaching children just why potatoes are so good for you is one of the main purposes of the Potato Bus. The children are introduced to the ‘eat well’ plate, to learn about vegetables, proteins and carbohydrates – and all about choosing foods for a healthy, balanced diet. Freshly prepared potato wedges are served up at lunchtime to reinforce this message – a very popular part of the whole Billy Branston experience! The idea was conceived by local potato company, Branston, which has worked in partnership with Tesco’s Eat Happy Project to deliver the activity to schools nationwide. It has been phenomenally well received, with schools in Lincolnshire taking up approximately 90% of bookings for the ﬁrst seven months of the tour.

The bus is fully booked for 2015 but the team is putting together a waiting list for 2016 so please email billy@branston.co.uk to register your interest.

For more information: www.billybranston.com Facebook: BillyBranston Twitter: BillyBranston www.mollysguide.co.uk

EDUCATION

NEWTON ACADEMY

Newton Academy – the Science Club for Girls A new academy aimed at encouraging young girls to pursue careers in science & technology has been launched in Lincoln. The Newton Academy – the Science Club for Girls was set up by the University of Lincoln in June 2014 to take girls on a 3-year scientific voyage of discovery. Sixty Year 6 girls from across Lincolnshire enrolled into its first cohort, and have attended the first year of Saturday Club events. The Saturday Club is a series of Saturday morning science and technology-themed workshops consisting of hands-on activities and projects, designed to work alongside the National Curriculum, that will inspire and enthuse the next generation of female scientists and engineers. The 2014 Programme included

Easter 2015

the Robotics Big Launch; Spud Science; The Chemistry Christmas Cracker; and a visit to the Big Bang Fair at the NEC, Birmingham. The Academy has been created as part of the University of Lincoln’s Athena SWAN project, acknowledging the Institution’s commitment to improving the representation of women in science, engineering, technology and mathematics (STEM). To improve the representation of female academics in some STEM areas (particularly in physics, mathematics, engineering and computer science) we have to attract more girls to these subjects at School level (e.g. currently only 20% of Physics A-level students are female). We believe that early engagement is the key to increasing the popularity of STEM subjects among our girls. The Academy, therefore, aims to inspire 10–14 year olds in STEM subjects – subjects that research shows they are less likely to pursue – opening their eyes to the

possibilities of what they can achieve, and encouraging them to consider post-16 study in STEM subjects... and ultimately, of course, to pursue science and technology careers. But most of all, the Newton Academy is all about showing young girls that science can be fun! Girls enrol in the Academy at the end of Year 6 and stay until the end of Year 9. During their three years, ‘Newton Girls’ will take part in projects that develop their confidence, their enthusiasm for STEM, and essential problem-solving and critical thinking skills. They will develop leadership skills and the confidence to challenge any preconceptions that may prevent them from pursuing and being successful in any STEM field. Lincoln University Technical College and the region’s science and technology-based industries are also involved in the Academy. For more on the Newton Academy and details of how you can sign up for future years please go to http://newton.blogs.lincoln.ac.uk/ YouTube: Newton Academy the Science Club for Girls

�

��

� � � � � � � � � ��

��

� � � � ��

� � � � � � � � � � � � � � �

��

Calling All Young Arts Explorers! Everyone has stories to tell! What are yours and how will you tell them? ��

��

OPENING IN LINCOLN THIS EASTER!

VISIT US ONLINE OR CALL TO FIND OUT MORE INFORMATION & HOW TO SIGN UP FOR THIS EXCITING NEW ARTS ACADEMY

EDUCATION

Introducing the new School Food Standards

SCHOOL FOOD STANDARDS

The School Food Plan launched in 2014 and introduced a number of measures relating to improving food in schools. Along with the high proﬁle Universal Infant Free School Meals which came into effect in September 2014, the School Food Plan also launched the new School Food Standards, which became the responsibility for the school’s governing body to follow from January 2015. The new Food Standards (www.schoolfoodplan. com/standards) replaced the more complicated nutritional standards and take a more common sense approach to food in schools. They apply to all food that is served in school to ensure children have a balanced healthy diet across the school day – breakfast, lunch, vending machines, after school clubs, tuck shops and morning break. Some of these services may be run by the school so it is important for schools as well as caterers to be aware of their responsibilities and the implementation of the standards. The Food for Life Partnership (FFLP) which is funded by Lincolnshire Public Health has been working with Lincolnshire schools and caterers since 2012 and

welcomes the new school food standards. Julia Newton, FFLP’s Local Programme Ofﬁcer in Lincolnshire said, “They allow cooks to be creative and try new varieties of foods in recipes, making it easier for them to introduce different types of fruit, veg, cereals, meat and ﬁsh. As well as responding to children’s preferences and giving them the chance to try new dishes, they give a great opportunity to offer a wider variety of foods and a better balance of nutrients as a result. Importantly, they are set out in a way that make it easy for both parents and pupils to understand. Supporting guidance also highlights the importance of using fresh, locally-sourced ingredients as well as making sure the overall dining experience is

a good one which, through the Food for Life Partnership programme, we know is essential in supporting pupils to make healthy choices, both within and outside the school dining room.” To ﬁnd out more, visit www.foodforlife.org.uk It is vital that schools communicate with other providers of food in their school to understand the range of food that is being served during the day and week to ensure standards are met. Lincolnshire County Council‘s Food in Schools team recently held a Food Standards event attended by schools, governors and in-house caterers to help inform and support schools with the introduction of the Food Standards. All school caterers should now be working to the requirements and if they hold the Food for Life Partnership Catering Mark, schools can be assured their caterer is complying with the School Food Standards

For more info & support contact Lincolnshire County Council‘s Food in Schools team T: 01522 553365 E: FoodInSchools@lincolnshire. gov.uk www.foodforlife.org.uk/whatis-food-for-life/food-for-lifecatering-mark www.mollysguide.co.uk

EDUCATION

LINCOLNSHIRE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY

All the fun of the farm at new event As preparations are made for a new event to help families learn where their food comes from, Karen Malpass speaks to its organiser Rosie Crust…

Explore it, make it, bake it – that’s just some of what the Lincolnshire Agricultural Society is encouraging children and their families to do this Spring. On Sunday, March 29th, the inaugural Countryside Lincs will take place at the Society’s home the Lincolnshire Showground, famous for hosting the annual county show in June. Where June’s established event aims to appeal to all, March’s new offering is ﬁrmly focused towards entertaining and educating children and is being organised by the Society’s new Education and Development Ofﬁcer Rosie Crust. “One of the Society’s objectives is to promote and educate about food, farming and the countryside and look for ways to get more involved in its work,” explains Rosie. “In January, as part of National Breakfast Week, we welcomed schoolchildren to the Showground to learn directly from farmers about planting, sowing and cultivating crops as well as to have a go at making their own fruit smoothies and porridge. “The new curriculum includes a cookery element through the farm to fork process and pupils growing their own vegetables in schools is beginning to get more popular and learning where your food comes from is obviously something the Society supports.”

Easter 2015

As a Lincolnshire farmer’s daughter and a former primary school teacher for nine years, Rosie understands the importance of interactive educational opportunities that take place outside of the classroom and aims to make Countryside Lincs as hands on as possible. “Agricultural societies around the UK already host similar events,” says Rosie. “We’ve taken a look at Yorkshire and Norfolk’s events for ideas but – as the biggest agricultural county in the country – we also want to make it our own. “Aimed at ages three to 13 the emphasis will be on hands on and practical activities to get everyone involved. “There will be six different zones most of which will be indoors – Bake It, Make It, Explore It, The Farmyard, The Tractor Zone and Countryside Zone – and visitors will be able to see livestock, board the Branston Potato Factory Bus, have a go at milking Annabelle with the NFU, learn about the “Going forward I’d like to offer a range of hatching process and meet baby chicks with educational days for primary and secondary the Happy Chick Company, go an Easter trail school students to encourage schools to visit and try making bread, soup the Showground. These could and cheese. “It’s all about engaging include a potato day looking As busy and full as Countryside children and families with at planting and harvesting and a pancake day following Lincs sounds, once it has food, farming and the the story of milk, ﬂour and enjoyed its ﬁrst year Rosie’s eggs.” countryside through a workload certainly won’t slow down.

fun and interactive day.”

“I’m helping with the Lincolnshire Farming Conference earlier in March as well and then there will soon be the Schools’ Challenge at the Lincolnshire Show to focus on,” says Rosie. “We’re also planning a careers in food, farming and agriculture section at this year’s Show where Louth Tractors will let people have a go at taking an engine apart.

And, as it’s hard to imagine there’s many children who wouldn’t enjoy a day that ends in a tasty treat they create themselves, they’re sure to be a success!

Open from 10am to 4pm on Sunday, March 29th, tickets for Countryside Lincs are £6 for adults, £3.50 for children and £16 for a family ticket in advance or £7, £4 or £18 on the gate.

For further information about Countryside Lincs or the Lincolnshire Agricultural Society’s educational provision call Rosie Crust T: 01522 585521 www.mollysguide.co.uk

EDUCATION

TEACHING MANNERS My Great Aunty Idie used to run a newsagents in Skegness. It was a traditional corner shop, selling penny sweets, postcards, newspapers and cigarettes, among other things. When I visited my grandma in the school holidays, we would go to see Aunty Idie for tea and I’d stand behind the counter and watch people come and go. Older children would often wander in and buy a packet of Spangles, or a Mars bar and hand their money over to pay for their treat but woe betide them if they forgot to say “thank you”.

Mind your manners... My aunt would hang onto the paper bag she’d popped the goodies into as the child tried to wrestle it from her vice-like grip. She then stared at them with an intense look, willing them to utter the ‘magic’ word. If they didn’t realise their error, she handed their money over and told them to come back when they had remembered their manners. At teatime, if Aunty Idie offered me a salmon and cucumber sandwich, or a French Fancy cake, I knew exactly what to say, “Yes please”, or, “no thank you”. I didn’t want to be on the end of her piercing gaze.

Not that my aunt had much work to do with me. I was a very polite child. I particularly remember my dad being a stickler for good manners and I was taught to be courteous from an early age. So, naturally with my own children, Lottie, 9, and Louie, 18 months, I try and instil in them a good grounding but it’s not always easy. My toddler has pretty much nailed saying please and thank you, albeit “pease” and “ta”. He doesn’t always say it in the right context – he might pass me a bottle he wants unscrewing, saying, “ta”, which actually means, “take the lid of this please” - but I know what he wants. My daughter, Lottie, is a bit more hit and miss and I have no idea why her manners haven’t stuck. I have often used my best Aunty Idie stare if she forgets to afford me the correct level of politeness.

Easter 2015

I usually gesticulate with my hand in a winding motion, as though to encourage her to ﬁnish what she is saying with the right word. It works, nine times out of ten but on the occasions it doesn’t, it really irks me. It’s like writing a sentence without adding a full stop at the end, something important, albeit quite small in the grand scheme of things, is missing and it just feels wrong. Then there’s the issue of table manners.

knife together with her fork confidently. She can do it but she finds it tricky, so she finds ways around the issue. I worry when we are eating at a restaurant that she will push her chicken onto her fork with her finger. It’s a ridiculous thing to be concerned over as when we are out she always remembers her pleases and thank yous. I remember thinking to myself, “when she’s six , wait, when she’s eight, okay, when she’s 10, we’ll have a masterclass in using cutlery. But she is 10 this year and I still haven’t tackled her single-fork eating habit. It shouldn’t matter but it’s starting to, not because it bothers my daughter, but because it bothers me, more when we eat out than anything else. Lottie’s manners reflect on me and I don’t want other parents to think I haven’t taught my daughter good manners. What if she ever has to sit down to a Silver Service sevencourse gastronomic feast, where one has to know a steak knife from one’s fish knife?

remembering mine) but are they the be all and end all? Isn’t it better to concentrate on teaching her how to be a thoughtful person and to consider others’ feelings than how to use her knife correctly, or to remind her of her Ps and Qs? I have a sneaking suspicion that the two things go hand in hand. Good manners stand a child (and the adult they will eventually become) in good stead for all sorts of social situations and interactions.

If you pour a drink for a friend before yourself - the Don’t put your elbows on the friend feels valued. The same table. Don’t cross your knife goes for offering up the last and fork. Don’t get down chocolate mini roll on a plate, from the table without asking or waiting for the last for permission “What do you think? Do manners matter? person to finish their meal to leave. Don’t scoop your peas... Share your views on our Facebook page – search before getting down from for Molly’s Guide or tweet us @MollysGuide” the table. It’s an absolute For me, knowing your minefield, That my child is encouraged manners is like greasing a bike especially when the main to be kind, to express her chain. You can still peddle purpose of a meal, even more creativity and explore her without it but you’ll go so with younger children, is wicked sense of humour is also further, more easily and with to ensure they have enough a reflection of how I parent less resistance if you slather sustenance to fuel their her but how will others notice on a layer of politeness. growing bodies. those things if they can’t get The last thing on my mind past her lack of table manners? is whether my children are Oh, wait, there’s a clue there. holding their cutlery correctly. Manners are important, at With Louie, I let him dig in least to me (I blame Aunty with his fingers, obviously not Idie for scaring me into when beans or soup are on Newspaper columnist Sam Curtis, 44, the menu, but with pizza and lives in Lincoln, in a house that’s not the likes, it’s a free for all. as clean or tidy as she’d like with her Lottie’s table manners are husband Leigh and their two children, still a work in progress. She’s Lottie, 9, and Louie, 18 months yet to master using her www.mollysguide.co.uk

EDUCATION

COMMUNITY LEARNING

Part time evening & weekend courses Community Learning provides adults with high quality courses and learning which can help to develop new skills, improve conﬁdence or lead to qualiﬁcations.

��

This term our programme offers many opportunities for you to start up a new inspiring hobby, brush up on your skills or simply learn for fun! We have a team of expert tutors who deliver an exciting programme of learning. Our part time courses run in the evenings and at weekends and vary in length from one day workshops up to 10 weeks. The centre is based at Sir Robert Pattinson Academy in North Hykeham where learners will beneﬁt from the excellent facilities available and ample free parking. This term, we are also running some courses at Navenby and at Waddington. Sir Robert Pattinson Academy provides a friendly environment in which you can learn and the resources available for your use are amongst the best. We provide a wide variety of courses delivered by experienced tutors who will ensure that you learn new skills in a caring and supportive environment. If you choose us for your learning needs you will be choosing a friendly, local, community led centre that really cares about your needs and strives to help you achieve your goals.

��

Easter 2015

If you would like more information, please telephone 01522 681861 or visit our website: www.srpa.co.uk

SPORT & HEALTH

An eye test is not just a sight test...

CLEARVIEW OPTICIANS

Your child looks up to you. But how they really see you may be different than you think. One in ﬁve children has a vision disorder. Not knowing any differently, many of these children accept poor vision and other eye ailments as normal. If left unchecked, serious long-term effects can result. Over 80 per cent of a child’s learning is based on vision. If vision problems remain untreated, kids who are packed with potential are left lagging behind in learning. Optometrists (opticians) can often prescribe corrective lenses or eye exercises, enabling young children to rapidly catch up to their friends.

��

EYE EXAM ESSENTIAL Taking your child to an optician for a comprehensive eye exam is the most important thing you can do for your child’s health. Vision screenings offered by schools, for example, are limited in evaluating a child’s overall eye health. Many serious eye conditions don’t have obvious symptoms. A thorough eye exam by an optician is the only way to know for sure. COMMON VISION CONDITIONS Short sightedness, long sightedness and astigmatism are the most common vision conditions among children. The treatment of a lazy eye and/or squint in a child’s early years is critical, as these conditions become more difﬁcult to correct as the child ages. Poor visual performance is also common and largely escapes detection in general vision screenings. A complete eye exam is required to determine visualperformance problems, including: poor coordination of the eyes, squint, eye-movement defects, poor eyehand coordination and difﬁculties controlling focus.

��

WARNING SIGNS Although many serious eye conditions don’t have obvious symptoms – a thorough eye exam by an optometrist is the only way to detect early symptoms of some eye problems in a child. Warning signs include: • sitting very close to the TV or holding objects too close • avoiding puzzles, books, colouring etc • covering one eye when looking at something • body rigidity while looking at distant objects • lack of concentration • excessive blinking or rubbing of the eyes • performing below potential • complaining of headaches, blurred or double vision, or burning and itchy eyes • marked inability to catch, build, balance or do other related eye-hand coordination activities • hyperactive or short attention span

To book a FREE eye test for your child today: Clear View Opticians, 169 Burton Road, Lincoln, LN13LW T: 01522 542121 E: enquiries@clearviewopticians.co.uk

��

�� www.mollysguide.co.uk

SPORT & HEALTH

LINCOLN CITY FOOTBALL CLUB

Lincoln City’s Youth Team support reading in Schools

Pupils at Westgate Academy Junior School and Sir Francis Hill Community Primary enjoyed a visit from apprentices from Lincoln City Football Club recently when they took time out of their training schedule to promote the importance of reading in schools. The players – all studying an Apprenticeship in Sporting Excellence as part of their 16-18 football scholarship with Lincoln City - were briefed initially by school staff in the art of one-to-one guided reading before working individually with pupils, listening to them read from their chosen books as part of their ongoing reading studies. Sandy Khanna, who oversees the reading curriculum at Sir Francis Hill, said, “The children loved meeting these young footballers. Wearing the Lincoln City tracksuit means they are role models for pupils – especially those motivated by sport

Easter 2015

– and it was lovely to see the players talking to our pupils and asking them about what they enjoyed about school and about the books they had chosen. We really hope that we can continue this partnership and the pupils can’t wait for the players to come in to our school again.” Lincoln City’s apprenticeship programme is delivered and funded by the League Football Education. The scholarship provides an education framework leading to a BTEC Level 3 in Sport alongside a technical football programme, and the LFE actively supports and encourages community engagement work among its apprenticeships. And Damian Froggatt, Academy Manager at Lincoln City, was full of praise for the initiative. “We believe that developing social responsibility is a huge part of our young footballers’ education. Whatever career path they take once they have completed their scholarship, it’s important we try to instil core life values into the players,” he said. “Plus, building community partnerships is what this football club is all about. Hopefully we have helped not only to inspire these youngsters with their reading, but also found some supporters of the future at the same time.”

“Using sport is a fantastic way to inspire young people to work hard in their education.”

More visits are planned and if your school would like to get involved please email youthadmin@redimps.com for more information.

www.mollysguide.co.uk

SPORT & HEALTH

LINCOLNSHIRE SPORT

Lincolnshire PE & School Sport Conference 2015 This academic year Lincolnshire Sport; in association with the School Sport Partnerships of Lincolnshire, will be holding our first ‘Lincolnshire PE & School Sport Conference’ on Tuesday 9th June at Bishop Grosseteste University. The day’s conference will run from 9.30am-3pm and will be a cost of £50 per person or £100 for 3 places (Headteacher, PE Coordinator and Governor). The conference will give you a detailed overview of how you can make the biggest impact with your PE and Sport Premium Funding in your school and will also celebrate the success and impact that the funding has already had on our schools in Lincolnshire. Workshops will be delivered by the following speakers; HMI John Mitcheson; Ofsted, Alison Oliver and Kay Batkin; Youth Sport Trust, Sue Wilkinson and Angela James; the Association for Physical Education (AfPE), Sian Foley; sportscoachUK, Chris Beckett; ex-Lincolnshire Headteacher, and practical sessions from Val Sabin, Louise Key, Ian Brown and Angus Drew. To confirm your place on this conference, please book via the Lincolnshire Sport website at www.lincolnshiresport.com/ primarysupport. On completion of booking you will receive a confirmation email which will enable you to provide more information on who is attending and select the specific workshops you would like to attend. For more information please contact Jo Purkiss, Sport Project Officer at Lincolnshire Sport. Email: jo.purkiss@lincolnshiresport.com www.lincolnshiresport.com/primarysupport

Easter 2015

ENTERTAINMENT

Welcome to Hartbeeps in Baby Land, it’s fun fun fun all the way! Since my little boy Noah was 8wks old these words have been a part of our lives; a special time for us to enjoy playing together. With original songs, fairytale dress-up & play; the magic captivated us. As we prepared to re-locate to Lincolnshire at the end of 2013, I was thinking about the impact of long commutes and working hours, and considering that now was the time to redress my worklife balance. I loved my career as a Children’s Speech and Language Therapist, working with little ones and their families, but wanted more time for my own family. I could see that Hartbeeps incorporated all of the key areas of development and early communication for babies, toddlers and pre-schoolers, and the opportunity for meeting other mummies and babies in such a unique way. Maybe this was something I could put my experience, love of children, and singing and performing into? Almost a year later, I am so excited to say that Hartbeeps is a wonderful adventure. We

currently provide classes in Lincoln, Tattershall, North Hykeham and Navenby. Hartbeeps puts your children at the heart of everything that we do, & so grows as they do, with our 3 age-appropriate programmes. Baby Bells; Lovely, gentle classes focus on bonding and conﬁdence. We use elements of baby yoga, massage and calming techniques to guide little ones through our magical ‘Baby Land’. They’ll meet friendly puppet characters, be introduced to age-appropriate props and discover sparkly parachutes - all designed to delight those freshly acquired senses and help babies to uncurl and release trapped energy. Baby Beeps; adventures in rhythm, baby babbles and beyond. These bouncy, baby development classes focus on early language acquisition. Every class is a

HARTBEEPS

fun-ﬁlled adventure with wacky characters, lighting effects, cool props and parachutes that you won’t see anywhere else. From the everyday to the truly spectacular, everything we do in Baby Beeps is magical. Happy House; for busy toddlers, pre-schoolers and their siblings! Expect music, drama, creative play, dance and movement all set to a fantastic soundtrack of remixed nursery rhymes, funky, original songs and familiar lullabies. Happy House is all about conﬁdence as well as physical and emotional development. Helping to prepare busy young minds for a lifetime of learning through play. Why not pop along and join our Hartbeeps family. To book your taster session or for more details get in touch with Miranda.

For more info T: 07734 865952 www:hartbeeps.com Facebook: Hartbeeps-Lincoln

Exciting, interactive & fun... Musical classes for li�le ones’ suitable from birth to 4 years Mondays The Community Centre, Clinton Park, Ta�ershall, LN4 4QZ 9.30am Happy House 10.30am Baby Beeps 11.30am Baby Bells Wednesdays Bailgate Methodist Church, Bailgate, LN1 3AR 10.45am Baby Bells 12pm Baby Bells 1pm Baby Beeps 2pm Happy House Fridays The Ark, Moor Lane, North Hykeham, LN6 9AB 10am Happy House 11am Baby Beeps 12pm Baby Bells The Venue@Navenby, Navenby, LN5 0JJ (with Pru) 10am Happy House 12.15 Baby Bells

Come and join us in our wonderland soon!

Class Ages/Stages: Happy House - Toddlers & their younger siblings Baby Beeps - Babies si�ng to toddling Baby Bells - Babies newborn to si�ng

Contact Miranda to book your taster class:

Tel: 07734 865952 Or email: Miranda@hartbeeps.com

www.hartbeeps.com www.mollysguide.co.uk

ENTERTAINMENT

Lincolnshire’s FIRST EVER Colour Dash for St Barnabas Lincolnshire Hospice NEW FOR 2015! - The five-kilometre run is an un-timed race where you will be showered from head to toe in a vibrant colour at each kilometre. With only three rules, the idea is easy to follow: 1. Wear a white T-shirt at the starting line 2. Finish plastered in a rainbow of colours 3. Raise money for St Barnabas Lincolnshire Hospice When and where? The Colour Dash kicks off on Saturday 9th May at the Lincolnshire Showground, Grange-de-lings, Lincoln LN2 2NA. Registration is at 10am and the race will begin promptly at 11am.

Don’t worry if you aren’t an avid runner! You can walk, hop or skip the 5k route! It’s all about coming together with your friends and family and having FUN! The Colour Dash is the perfect way to celebrate the lives of the people we have cared for whilst raising money for the care of future generations. Your support ensures that our patients and their families can make the most of every single second they share, regardless of how much time remains.

It’s time to get messy!

Who can take part?

The Colour Dash is all about wearing your biggest smile, raising money for your hospice and getting messy!

Everyone aged 5 years and up and runners of all abilities! Please note that this course is not suitable for pushchairs.

ST BARNABAS HOSPICE

How much does it cost? Adult (Over 16) - £20 Standard Child (5-16yrs) - £10 Standard Family - two adults (16 plus) and two children (5-16yrs) £50 Standard Raising sponsorship We are asking everyone that takes part in the Colour Dash to raise a minimum sponsorship of just £20.15. We know how hard it can be to raise sponsorship but please remember that every penny you raise will help more than 8,000 people across the county receive the end of life care hey deserve. Register online at: www.stbarnabashospice. co.uk/colourdash

www.mollysguide.co.uk

ENTERTAINMENT

LINCOLN CHILDREN’S ARTS FESTIVAL

EASTIVAL 2015 - Lincoln Children’s Arts Festival This Easter, four of Lincoln’s arts venues have come together to present a fabulous festival of events and activities for children and families.

craft afternoon and a creative clay workshop.

There’s musical fun at the Drill Hall with a family friendly ‘Stickman’ at Lincoln Drill Hall, From Thursday 26 March to concert and workshop by ‘Three Little Pigs’ at LPAC and Saturday 11 April, Lincoln Drill the wonderful classical music ‘The Ugly Duckling’ at Terry Hall, Lincoln Performing Arts group Classic Rhythm, a Family O’Toole Theatre. Add to that Centre (LPAC), The Collection Folk & Barn Dance Day and an Lincolnshire-based Rhubarb and Terry O’Toole Theatre are Easter outing of Diddy Disco, Theatre’s new show ‘The Case offering a packed hamper of the venue’s regular toddler of the Curious Suitcase’ at theatre, live music, dancing, dance parties. Or if singing’s the Drill Hall, and there are arts & crafts, dressing up and your thing, head to LPAC to theatrical treats for all ages much more! harmonize with Anna and Elsa across the festival. at ‘Sing-along-a-Frozen’ or Kicking off the festival is a explore the magic Baby and Children’s Throughout the festival, take part in the Great Easter and potential of Market at LPAC Egg Challenge, hunting for hidden eggs at all three your voice with with stalls packed interactive show city centre venues to claim a prize! with clothes, books, ‘Uluzuzulalia’. toys, DVD, maternity For budding historians, wear and gifts. For full Eastival listings pick themed family fun days at The Classic and contemporary up a festival booklet at one Collection include an ‘Anglo children’s favourites are at of the four venues or visit Saxon Invasion’ and ancient the heart of the Theatre the venue websites at: Egyptian ‘Mummy Madness’. programme, with wonderful www.lincolndrillhall.com The museum also hosts ‘If stage adaptations of David www.lpac.co.uk I Were The Easter Bunny’ Welling’s ‘Hugless Douglas’ www.thecollectionmuseum.com and ‘The Great Easter Egg and Julia Donaldson’s www.terryotoole.org.uk. Scramble’ story time sessions, a 26

Easter 2015

ENTERTAINMENT

Meet your favourite TV Stars at Lincoln Performing Arts Centre

LPAC

Photo: Stuart Wilde Photography

Lincoln Performing Arts Centre has a well-established reputation for bringing big names and top quality family theatre entertainment to the region. This season has been no exception, with the recent tour of Sid’s Show from CBeebies proving to be a huge success. “Sid was wonderful; he came into our Zing Café Bar after the show and met all of the children and their families. The show was really well received, and I think meeting him in person was the icing on the cake for the children!”said Holly Cox, Front of House & Zing Café Bar Manager In response to the overwhelming audience response, Lincoln Performing Arts Centre’s Artistic Director, Craig Morrow has selected two more shows from CBeebies for this coming season. On Saturday 10th October at 11am and 2pm is The Chris and Pui Show! See Chris & Pui from ‘Show Me Show Me’ in their new stage show with the toys and characters from their hit TV programme. Catch the ‘Gingerbread

Man’, marvel at the ‘Ugly Duckling’ becoming a beautiful swan and oooh and aaah as Miss Mouse attempts to zoom zoom zoom to the cheesy moon in her rocket. If you’ve got active children that take a bit of wearing out then you will love Tree Fu Tom on Saturday 31st October, showing at 1pm and 3.30pm. Everyone will be out of their seats to do the Tree Fu moves with Tom to make the magic and help save the day. This action packed adventure through the magical world of Treetopolis is CBeebies star, Tree Fu Tom’s ﬁrst nationwide ‘live’ tour. Be part of the magic! Advanced booking is highly recommended, so it’s a good job that both shows have gone on sale early, ahead of the season launch. Plus, there’s an early booking offer for Tree Fu Tom of just £40 for a family ticket if you book before 31 August.

Photo: Stuart Wilde Photography

Book your tickets online via www.lpac.co.uk, over the phone on 01522 837600 or in person at the box ofﬁce in Zing Café Bar within Lincoln Performing Arts Centre. www.mollysguide.co.uk

��

DAYS OUT

WATERSIDE SHOPPING

Waterside Shopping announces first-ever Family Fun Day Waterside Shopping – Lincoln’s premier retail & fashion destination – is dedicating a fun-filled day to youngsters and parents from across the region during the centre’s first-ever Family Fun Day. Set to take place on Saturday 11th April from 11am to 3pm, the area outside of Superdrug on Waterside level of the centre will be transformed into an exciting fairground for children featuring facepainting, arts & crafts & the chance to play ‘larger than life’ games. Not only will kids have the chance to create & put on a show with their very own puppets, but they’ll also get to play giant versions of Snakes & Ladders & other classics throughout the day. In addition, little ones can also showcase their creativity by designing their very own piece of ‘edible art’ with Sherbet Sand by twirling and swirling different colours and flavours into tubes that can then be eaten as a sweet treat. All activities are free to enjoy and are designed for children 2-11 years old. In addition to balloons being handed out throughout the day, children that come in fancy dress and greet Waterside promotional staff will receive a free gift.

For more information about Waterside Shopping, visit www.watersideshopping.com

��

“We look forward to having youngsters and parents from Lincoln and beyond pop in to spend some quality time together before school starts back by enjoying a giant-size game of Snakes & Ladders, getting crafty or doing a bit of shopping.

��

�� 32

Easter 2015

Chantelle Henderson, Marketing Coordinator at Waterside Shopping, commented: “The Easter holidays can often get quite boring for children, especially towards the end, so we’ve decided to invite families to the centre for a day ﬁlled with loads of fun & entertaining activities that everyone can enjoy!

��

“There will be plenty of activities to enjoy and, best of all, it’s all free!”

The Terry�

OÕToole� Theatre�

SPRING 2015� ChildrenÕs Theatre

NK Centre� Moor Lane� North Hykeham� LN6 9AX�

�

BOX OFFICE:� 01522 883311�

www.terryotooletheatre.org.uk

Pitschi, the Kitten With Dreams ��

�Saturday 21st March 3.00pm� � The Ugly Duckling� ��

Saturday 18th April 3.00pm�

�

The Arabian Nights� ��

Saturday 16th May 3.00pm�

�

Tickets: £6.00� Family Ticket [4]: £20.00� Age Guide: 3 years+

www.mollysguide.co.uk

DAYS OUT

SOUTHWELL RACECOURSE

Join in the fun at the races this Easter Southwell Racecourse hosts two Easter Fun race meetings during the Easter holidays, which won’t just feature two highly entertaining race meetings, but also a wide range of children’s entertainment on show. As it is Easter, there will also be Easter egg hunts throughout both days to help entertain the youngsters. Immediately after those two Easter Fun racedays, Southwell host their inaugural Newark Residents Evening on Friday 17th April with live music after racing from the Flipside Party band as well exhilarating jumps racing to keep what is likely to be a big crowd entertained. Looking on into the summer months now, and Countryside Evening on Tuesday 12th May is the beginning of a hectic period at the course, followed by Southwell Residents Evening which takes place on 2nd June, once again featuring Live Music after racing, this time from The Fab 4. 34

Easter 2015

Family Fun Day on Sunday 12th July is one of the two most popular days in Southwell’s calendar, with appearances from children’s TV star Peppa Pig throughout the day together with jumps racing. There will also be lots of other entertainment for the youngsters on the day, including fairground rides. Moving forward to the biggest day in Southwell’s year, The Advertiser Ladies Day, which in 2014 amassed a crowd of 8,050 people, a record for the track. Hopefully this year that total can be matched with a range of packages on offer (all of which can be viewed at www. southwell-racecourse.co.uk) some of them new, including the Summer Sizzler and VIP Lawn package together with the more established Minster

Lawn and Pink Packages which have been enjoyed by racegoers for a few years now. There will of course be the usual best dressed lady competitions on the day so ladies should come racing in all their finery as they may just leave with a prize! In the final quarter of the year, Southwell hosts their first ever Farmer’s Day on Monday 9th November before the usual December showpieces, firstly the Beer Festival weekend over Saturday 12th and Sunday 13th December before closing the year out with the Festive fixtures running into the New Year. For more information on the racecourse and to book tickets, either visit www.southwell-racecourse.co.uk or call the office on 01636 814481

DAYS OUT

VISIT LINCOLN

Discover Lincolnshire Weekend’s free attractions Families, and individuals, are being encouraged to snap-up an unmissable opportunity to plan two FREE actionpacked days – by checking out the attractions right on their doorstep!

March 28 and 29 marks this year’s Discover Lincolnshire Weekend, when locals and tourists can dip inside a wealth of historic attractions and enjoy some great walks, without having to spend loads of money. Visit Lincoln Partnership Manager Emma Tatlow said: “So many people don’t realise what great attractions we have locally, but it is well worth them getting out and about with their cameras and taking a closer look. Entrance to Lincoln Cathedral will be free on Saturday, March 28, although people also have the chance to add on a roof or ﬂoor tour, for just £4. The Guildhall and Stonebow, which have been used since 1520, house the fascinating Civic Regalia and the King Richard II sword. The Discover Lincolnshire weekend is a great time to visit – with guided tours taking place at 10.30am, 12.30pm and 2pm on both days. If you love history or art, you could visit The Collection in Danesgate or The Usher

Easter 2015

Gallery, which is close by. Better still, make time to see both and space for a coffee break in The Collection’s café. For those intrigued to know more about how county communities lived and worked down the decades, The Museum of Lincolnshire Life, is packed with interesting artefacts and displays which will fascinate the whole family. And if you want to pretend to be a real tourist – you can, without having to travel miles for the pleasure. This free weekend you’re invited to board the Tour Lincoln Open Top Tour Bus and go on a real voyage of discovery. All you need to do is go online to www.visitlincoln.com/ discover to reserve your seats! For those who prefer exploring on foot, the most difﬁcult decision will be deciding what to do. You could meet one of the city’s Green Badge Guides outside the Visitor Information Centre in Castle Hill at 11am on Saturday, March 28 and enjoy a guided tour of the Lincoln Cathedral Quarter. On Sunday, 29th there is the Jewish History Tour is on offer. Anyone interested in going along, simply needs to be outside the Visitor Information Centre in Castle Hill at 1.30pm.

“As well as historic buildings, museums & galleries, there are plenty of fun guided walks & tours to enjoy too” And, if you simply can’t resist the sort of tales that send a shiver down your spine, there’s an irresistible opportunity to enjoy a taste of the Lincoln Ghost Walk. All you need is a spare 30 minutes. Meet your guide

outside the Magna Carta pub in Castle Hill at 2pm, on the Saturday or Sunday. The above is just a ﬂavour of what promises to be an exciting weekend. There’s plenty going on outside of Lincoln too.

To get the full picture click on to www.visitlincoln.com/discover For more information: T: 01522 545458 E: visitorinformation@lincolnbig.co.uk www.mollysguide.co.uk

DAYS OUT

So much fun to be had at this hidden gem of a park...

HALL FARM

Hall Farm Park at South Kelsey, set on the edge of the beautiful Lincolnshire Wolds is the perfect day out for the whole family. Have fun playing in the outdoor and indoor play areas. Zoom down the “snow” slide, climb in the soft play, dig in the giant sand pit, bounce on the bouncy castle or pretend to be a farmer driving along on the toy tractors and ride ons. Older children (and adults) can try their best to beat Farmer Keith’s lap time on the go kart track! Try your hand at the farm yard crazy golf, meet lots of friendly animals or ﬁnd the “Pingles” on the magical woodland walk. During your visit you may be lucky enough to take a goat for a walk, feed a baby lamb or have a tractor ride with the dancing farmer to help him feed the cattle (seasonal activities). So memorable and so much fun for the whole family! After all the activity why not sit and relax in Hall Farm Park’s award winning tea room, judged as Select Lincolnshire’s highly commended tea room of the year 2015 and highly commended family friendly venue 2013 in the East Midlands food and drink awards. Enjoy a drink and tasty homemade and locally produced food in a welcoming environment inside or outside on the patio with spectacular views over the park and open countryside. For opening hours and more information visit www.hallfarmpark.co.uk or like us on Facebook.

School visits and birthday parties are both very popular and must be booked in advance. For full details and prices please ring 01652 678822 to ﬁnd out about party packages - give your children and their guests a very special day to remember!

��

�� 38

Easter 2015

Easter Holiday Activities Children & Families • Paper Crafting • Bug & Flower Making • FREE ʻDiscover & Learnʼ Easter Trail! • FREE Activity Zones in our Café and Galleries Young People (12-25yrs) FREE creative drop-in Sat Apr 4, 1-4pm For more info call us on 01529 308710 www.nationalcraftanddesign.org.uk

Image: Dinky Designers, Karen Slade

Sat 28 Mar - Sun 12 Apr

DAYS OUT

NOTTS COUNTY SHOW

“Come rain or shine, Nottinghamshire County Show is an all-weather event so even if the weather isn’t kind to us everyone can still enjoy themselves.”

Fun for all the family at the Nottinghamshire County Show

team rock the main ring. Ranked as the UKs top freestyle motor cross riders, they will be providing the thrills and excitement at the ringside. With heart stopping tricks, the display team leap 35’ in the air performing acrobatic stunts over gaps approaching 100’. From high adrenaline BMX motocross to the ever popular Between shows visitors will be able to have a closer look at dog and duck show, this year’s the bikes and meet the riders.

Nottinghamshire County Show taking place on 8 & 9 May at Newark Showground is set to be the best yet.

In its 132nd year, the family show is one of the most prestigious county shows in the country and will be jam packed with activities to keep all ages happy. Lines of livestock, big events such as headline act Broke FMX and Savage Skills, live cookery demonstrations in the Food Experience area and a range of local stalls. The headline attraction Broke FMX will see its stunt display 40

Easter 2015

New for 2015 is the Family Zone in the George Stevenson Building – incorporating a range of exciting and family orientated interactive indoor attractions. Savage Skills - the UK’s leading freestyle mountain bike stunt team – will be freestyling their moves in the performance ring with a selection of the world’s leading stunt riders. There will be circus workshops for aspiring acrobats, a range

of dance groups strutting their stuff, storytelling, play areas plus lots more. The popular sheep show – all the way from New Zealand - will educate and entertain, with its team of presenters and fantastic sheep. Audiences will learn about each breed’s attributes and how wool from the sheep’s back becomes a jumper before the shears are brought out for a demonstration. The Stuart Barnes Dog and Duck Display will also be returning demonstrating how shepherding is really done. “2015 is going to be phenomenal. No matter what age the show offers an exciting day out for everyone to see, experience, and taste the best of Nottinghamshire – be it from entertainers, farmers, producers or retailers.”

Tickets cost £15 on the gates or £10 for advance tickets online. Under 17’s go free. Advance tickets are available to book online via: www.nottinghamshirecountyshow.com/the-show/buy-tickets/

DAYS OUT

NATURELAND SEAL SANCTUARY

Half a century of Natureland What began as a commercial venture soon turned into a generational labour of love for animals, conservation, education and entertainment for those who have been at the helm of the Natureland Seal Sanctuary in Skegness during the last 50 years. This unique visitor attraction on North Parade, run and managed by the Yeadon family, is celebrating half a century of animal rescue and bringing miles of smiles to the faces of children and adults alike. Curious youngsters from local schools were present when it was ofﬁcially opened in June 1965 by Princess Margaret, and hundreds of thousands have visited since, many now bringing the third generations of their families to enjoy this delightful venue which has much to offer. Natureland developed as a seal rescue centre and has become famous for its expertise in rehabilitating orphaned and injured pups that become stranded on the Lincolnshire coastline. Between 30 and 50

are rescued every year and so far, more than 700 have been successfully released back into the sea. Duncan Yeadon, whose father John founded the centre, said is best known as a seal sanctuary but has evolved to provide greater interest for visitors and to help and shelter more types of animals. He said : “Natureland has lots of other popular exhibits such as the Aquarium, which houses unusual species including seahorses and clownﬁsh. The Floral Palace, home to tropical birds, butterﬂies and beautiful plants, the Tropical House, where insects, creepy crawlies and reptiles such as tarantulas and crocodiles are kept. Children can feed animals in the Pet’s Corner and the koi carp and they love to watch the antics of the meerkats, as

they forage for food and bask in the sunshine. The penguins are another favourite because of their amusing character. Our latest addition this year are alpacas which are already proving very popular.” To celebrate the attraction’s 50th anniversary, a special offer for this unique experience is available of a 10% discount on admission or One Child goes Free with a full paying adult (worth £5.50) with our special vouchers (pages 61 & 65). Natureland would like to thank all the past and future visitors and looks forward to welcoming new and returning visitors in the future.

Those who want to help improve the survival chances of every orphaned or injured baby seal can become a Friend of the Seal Hospital to help with treatment and nursing them back to good health. For donations between £25 and £100 or more, Bronze, Silver or Gold, friends get regular newsletters on progress, a certiﬁcate, complimentary tickets, and their name on the Friends of the Seal Hospital display board among other beneﬁts. See the website at www.skegnessnatureland.co.uk for the details. www.mollysguide.co.uk

� � � � � � � � � � ��

��

For fun activities and competitions, join our Juniors Club! Just click ‘Juniors‛ on our website and follow the instructions!

��

DAYS OUT

Join in the Easter family fun at Bransby Horses

BRANSBY HORSES

Are you trying to think of new and exciting ways to entertain your children in the upcoming Easter Holidays? Why not visit Bransby Horses? For over 40 years we have been rescuing, rehabilitating and rehoming equines that have been in desperate need of expert care. With 600 acres and just under 400 horses, ponies, donkeys and mules on site, there is plenty of chance for your children to burn off a bit of steam in the countryside air! Throughout the Easter half-term we have many different activities, crafts, demonstrations and talks for children to enjoy; such as our Easter treasure hunt! Just collect your hunt sheet from the Visitor Centre, follow the clues given and away you go! For just £3 per child, including a goody bag for every completed hunt, you can rest assured they will be occupied long enough for you to enjoy a nice take-away Stokes coffee from our Feedroom Café. Our Visitor Centre offers free parking and entry so before heading home, why not make a unique donation in the form of an adoption? With a choice of 13 animals to pick from, which we’re sure you will have met on your way round, you can help support the vital work we do for just £10 for the year. An adoption makes a great alternative Easter present for your child, with a certiﬁcate to call their own and plenty of information on why their chosen animal is in our care, they can feel proud to have helped towards the care of an animal. If you are unable to visit us during the holidays but still want your children to enjoy a bit of Bransby Horses’ fun, why not join our Bransby Horses’ Junior Club? You will receive a certiﬁcate, badge, sticker and colouring picture, for FREE!

For more information regarding the Easter Half Term, please visit our website; www.bransbyhorses.co.uk Don’t forget to also like and follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. www.mollysguide.co.uk

DAYS OUT

DISCOVER NK

North Kesteven’s top attractions will be taking part in this year’s Discover Lincolnshire weekend taking place on 28th & 29th March. This year’s Discover Lincolnshire weekend will be offering visitors the chance to get a great deal this spring by opening many of its top tourist attractions for free! Attractions across the county will be offering free admission or special discounts as part of the Discover Lincolnshire Weekend from 28th to 29th March. North Kesteven is home to a vast variety of tourist attractions from arts and heritage to aviation and countryside walks. This year, nine attractions will be taking part with special discounts and offers throughout the weekend for everyone to enjoy.

Explore, experience, discover in the heart of Lincolnshire... FOR FREE

Discover the history of Cogglesford Watermill, Sleaford and see the mill in operation for the ﬁrst time this year*. You can also take a stroll down the Sleaford riverside and discover the history of life and trade on the River Slea at Navigation House. Don’t forget by visiting both venues each family is entitled to claim your free bag of Cogglesford Watermill organic wholemeal ﬂour*. Across Navigation Wharf, stop by the National Centre for Craft and Design where there will be free activities on offer throughout the weekend and a chance to see their brand new exhibition – Sounds Matters. Take a trip to Cranwell Aviation Heritage Centre & discover the history of RAF Cranwell,

Easter 2015

��

through interactive exhibits, archive ﬁlm, story boards and artefacts. There will also be another chance to view the touring Nose Art exhibition and the chance to create your own piece of artwork to take away. Visit the UK’s only remaining eight sailed Windmill at Heckington. Heckington Windmill is free admission all weekend and is open from 12 to 4pm. Heading towards North Hykeham, why not stop by the Lincolnshire Road Transport Museum. The museum will be free admission throughout the weekend and will be open from 10am to 4pm. Just up the road, take a trip to Doddington Hall were you will be able to stroll through their gardens for free*. Experience traditional ironworking demonstrations at Welbourn Forge on Saturday 28 March from 10am to 1.30pm. This authentic Victorian workshop dating from 1864 is in full working order normally open on the ﬁrst Saturday of each month.

��

Last but certainly not least, you can visit Metheringham Airﬁeld Visitor Centre for free and is dedicated to those men and women who ﬂew and supported RAF 106 Bomber Squadron from 1943 until the end of the second world war. *Applies to Sunday 29th March only between 10am-4pm.

For further information about any of these events or for the latest Discover Lincolnshire Weekend attractions and events, visit www.visitlincolnshire.com/dlw Or contact the DiscoverNK team: 01529 308207.

��

��@��

�� www.mollysguide.co.uk

��

DAYS OUT

TATTERSHALL CASTLE

Family fun at Tattershall Castle Do you find yourself trying to find new things to do with the family every bank holiday? Why not try somewhere a bit different and enjoy spending time exploring Lincolnshire’s only medieval brick castle? Discover all six floors of the tower from underground in the basement to the very top overlooking the flat Fens. If history is your thing then take our free audio guides to bring the castle to life in your ears or if playing is the most important element of your visits then we have empty chambers (perfect for hide and seek), medieval toys, a sandpit and softplay blocks to keep the kids entertained. During the Easter weekend we have our annual Easter Egg Trail sponsored by Cadbury. Scour the castle and the ground for the clues, write them down in your trail journal then return to the parlour to receive your Cadbury Egghead. Trails are suited to all ages including those helpful adults & you get a chocolate egg at the end of it. What’s not to love? If you want a fun day of dressing up and activities then Knights and Princesses Day is the day for you. Join us on the first Bank Holiday in May for a special trail around the castle, the chance to have your face painted, decorate a sword, shield or crown and get a balloon modelled into all manner of shapes. The castle is open 11am-5pm, 7 days a week. Additional charges may apply for some activities. For further information - T: 01526 342543 www.nationaltrust.org.uk/tattershall-castle

��

�� www.mollysguide.co.uk

...and save with our discount voucher

SHOWS THROUGHOUT THE DAY Including

• Big Cat Feeding • Wolf Feeding • Reptile Handling • Meet the Lemurs • And the amazing animal show Follow us on

Easter 2015

��

on page 61

��

DAYS OUT

St Barnabas Easter Craft Fair Egg-stravaganza!

ST BARNABAS HOSPICE

Sunday 12th April 2014 10am – 4pm Branston Hall Hotel, Branston, Lincoln, LN4 1PD Hop along to our annual Easter Craft Fair Eggstravaganza situated within the serene surroundings of Branston Hall Hotel! Follow the clues left by the Easter Bunny to ﬁnd a sweet treat, take part in the interactive Bunny-Hop or try your luck on our chocolate tombola. These are just some of the attractions that will be at the St Barnabas Lincolnshire Hospice Easter Craft Fair. Browse an array of local craft stalls whilst stopping for some tea and delicious cake. This fun ﬁlled day has something for the whole family and as it’s a Craft Fair, Barnabas Bear will be holding an arts and crafts competition to see who has the best decorated Easter Egg! There will also be homemade cakes and refreshments, face-painting and a bouncy castle. As an extra special treat come and see Twiglet the Barn Owl who will be bringing some friends along to help support St Barnabas Hospice. It’s sure to be an egg-stravaganza of a day!

For further information E: ben.petts@stbarnabashospice.co.uk T: 01522 540300

Entry is 50p and all proceeds go directly towards St Barnabas Lincolnshire Hospice.

www.stbarnabashospice.co.uk/ eastercraftfair

EASTER CRAFT FAIR EGG-STRAVAGANZA

Sunday 12th April 2015 10 am to 4 pm

Branston Hall Hotel, Branston, Lincoln LN4 1PD For more information and to apply for a stall visit www.stbarnabashospice.co.uk/eastercraftfair or contact Ben 01522 540300, ben.petts@stbarnabashospice.co.uk

£1 ENTRY Stalls £40 facebook.com/StBarnabasLinc

twitter@StBarnabasLinc

Registered Charity No. 1053814

www.mollysguide.co.uk

DAYS OUT

STAY, PLAY, EXPLORE

New range of themed short break offers for visitors to Leicester and Leicestershire in 2015 Breaks include Family Fun, Family Adventure, Gourmet Taste, City Treat, King Richard III and Glorious Heritage The successful range of themed short breaks for visitors to Leicester and Leicestershire has been updated and extended for 2015. The new Stay Play Explore short breaks for couples & families include Family Fun, Family Adventure, City Treat, King Richard III, Gourmet Taste and Glorious Heritage. The breaks provide individuals, couples and families with a choice of fantastic local visitor attractions and activities, and high quality accommodation. The breaks are £129 and offer savings of up to 40 per cent on standard admission and room rates. Highlights of the 2015 breaks include the return of the hugely successful Family Fun break, a new stylish City Treat offer and 52

Easter 2015

a King Richard III break to coincide with the reinterment of the King in Leicester in March 2015. Co-ordinated by Leicester Shire Promotions, the Stay Play Explore breaks can be booked online at www.stayplayexplore.co.uk Martin Peters, Chief Executive of Leicester Shire Promotions said: “We’ve added more fantastic partners and experiences to provide great value breaks for couples and families looking for a fresh, inspiring destination to visit this year. We’ve also increased the capacity of the breaks in 2015 as they sold out on a few peak times last year including most school holidays. Consequently, we would advise booking early if you’re planning to visit at any peak times to avoid disappointment.” For more information: www.visitleicester.info www.goleicestershire.com or Twitter: @l_p_l

CITY TREAT - perfect for birthdays, romantic getaways, shopping trips or just an escape away, you can indulge in foodie experiences such as chocolate tasting at Cocoa Amore, cocktail tasting at Maiyango, lunch at Mem Saab or The White Peacock restaurants or catch a movie in style at Phoenix.

FAMILY FUN - a family of four can visit world class attractions including National Space Centre, Conkers, Twinlakes, Twycross Zoo and Snibston Discovery Park (closing March 2015 to be replaced by Stonehurst Family Farm) - and enjoy overnight accommodation including breakfast at a choice of 4 star family friendly hotels, FAMILY ADVENTURE – an activity-ﬁlled break to suit all the family - experience any 3 of 5 amazing adventure activities including tobogganing & sno-tubing at Swadlincote Ski Centre, ranger-led activities at Conkers, outdoor activities at Leicester Outdoor Pursuits Centre, crazy golf and pedalos at Bosworth Water Park and activity sessions at Rosliston Forestry Centre.

GOURMET TASTE - savour mouth-watering cuisine and fabulous local produce - with a range of hotels and guesthouse accommodation - including cheese tasting at The Melton Cheeseboard, Pork Pie demonstration at Ye Olde Pork Pie Shoppe, brewery tour at The Belvoir Alehouse, cream tea at Scalford Hall and gourmet platters at The Red Lion Inn.

KING RICHARD III - discover the fascinating truth behind the death and discovery of the last Plantagenet King of England with a visit to the award-winning King Richard III Visitor Centre or Bosworth Battleﬁeld Heritage Centre, take in a Blue Badge Guided Walk, pick up books and souvenirs from the Visit Leicester Centre, enjoy cream tea at Mrs Bridges Tearooms or lunch at The White Peacock restaurant.

GLORIOUS HERITAGE - explore over 500 years of glorious heritage around Leicester & Leicestershire, from national centres of remembrance & brewing, to battleﬁelds & the discovery of King Richard III’s remains including King Richard III Visitor Centre, National Brewery Centre, National Memorial Arboretum, Bosworth Battleﬁeld Heritage Centre and Snibston Discovery Museum.

��

�� S PLU��

��

�� www.mollysguide.co.uk

ACTIVITIES & HOBBIES

Another school break...

RUDDOCKS OF LINCOLN

It only feels like ﬁve minutes since we celebrated Christmas, yet the Easter holidays are nearly upon us! We hear your voice drop, see your head in your hands, ‘how on earth do I keep the children entertained for a whole fortnight?!’ Do not despair. Spending quality time with the family, & being able to enjoy it, is in fact a lot easier than you think… On Sunday 29th March Countryside Lincs will be at the Lincolnshire Showground for a jam-packed day of entertainment relating to our beautiful countryside. It is about inspiring the minds of young people & informing them about Lincolnshire’s heritage, which is actually pretty interesting! Countryside Lincs have gone all out with their entertainment, from Falconry displays to fresh bread demonstrations. Our favourite Farmyard animals are joining forces on the day & there will be an eggciting egg hunt (get it?)

“We Love getting into the Easter Spirit.” Baskets of decorated polystyrene eggs, each one unique in its own right are a fun activity for children of all ages. Look like Easter royalty by designing your very own embellished crown. Plus the children won’t question your authority when wearing that! Our ever successful Art & Craft workshops continue this Easter.

It is recommended that you engage in some form of messy craft activity to get the most out of the day- every child’s dream & their parents’ worst nightmare! Ruddocks have their own stall at the show where there will be the ever popular Rag Rugging, animal Decopatch, a fossil dig & for those who love creepy crawlies, a bug dig! For those interested, ticket prices are as follows: Child- £3.50, Adult- £6 & Family Pass- £16. Available to purchase from Countryside Lincs’ website or in-store at Ruddocks of Lincoln.

For further information visit our website www.ruddocksoﬂincoln.co.uk www.mollysguide.co.uk

��

�� 56

Easter 2015

��

ACTIVITIES & HOBBIES

PASSION 2 DANCE

Dance inspired fun for all the family The dance studios are now going into our third year of business and we are continuing to grow. Inspired by a love of dance and all things sparkly, we offer classes for your budding ballerinas starting from the age of 18 months. Our extensive timetable also includes classes which introduce different styles such as Tap, Jazz, and Freestyle. Coming soon; we are pleased to announce childrens yoga. We offer fabulous themed and personalised VIP Children’s Birthday Parties, with themes such as Frozen, Princess, One Direction and Monsters High. With dancing, games, Little Princess Spa along with a dedicated party room with beautiful themed table and settings. Importantly Mum and Dad get to relax and enjoy the special day. Making special memories with your Princess. With dance workshops and special events also running through the school holidays, we have something for everyone…..

For further information - T: 01522 691292 www.passion2dance.co.uk

��

� ��

��

� ��

��

“Dance-inspired ﬁtness and fun for all the family”

��

�� www.mollysguide.co.uk

��

Easter 2015

ACTIVITIES & HOBBIES

Hirebike scheme expands in Lincoln

ACCESS LN6

Lincolnshire County Council’s bike hire scheme – hirebike – is expanding in spring, with additional stations and bikes. 100 bikes will be available to rent from 19 stations across the city – with six new locations being launched by April. The new locations include: • University of Lincoln campus (Ropewalk) • St. Marks Shopping Centre • Carrington Drive • Tritton Road (near Downtown) • Bracebridge • Brant Road • Hykeham Green Since the scheme ﬁrst launched in August 2013, more than 3000 bikes have been rented. A ‘hirebike Lincoln’ app is now available on Android, and a casual day tariff has been introduced for city visitors. There are two tariffs available for anyone wanting to rent a bike: 1. Annual membership – ideal for residents and commuters 2. Day tariff – for visitors or casual users To get started, visit www.hirebikelincoln.co.uk, or call 01522 370143 within ofﬁce hours.

Annual members will be required to deposit £5 of hire fees when joining. Bikes are then free for the ﬁrst 30 minutes of every rental and £1 per hour. It is capped at £4 per rental. Day users will not be required to deposit any funds, but must purchase the amount of credit required for that day. Under the daily tariff, bike rentals cost £2 per hour, capped at £5 per rental. Hirebike is funded by Access LN6 at Lincolnshire County Council until 31 March 2015. From 1 April 2015, the annual membership fee will increase. Please visit the website, or call the team, for current prices.

Rent a hirebike from £1 per hour New day tariﬀ for visitors

More bike stations launching Spring ‘15

Visit www.hirebikelincoln.co.uk or call 01522 370 143 to get started www.mollysguide.co.uk

CUT OUT & SAVE

Money saving vouchers for you & your family

VOUCHERS

 ��

�

��



��



��

www.mollysguide.co.uk

CUT OUT & SAVE

VOUCHERS

Money saving vouchers for you & your family

molly’sguide

Name ................................................................................

Address.............................................................................

...........................................................................................

Email .................................................................................

Please complete prior to redemption

www.mollysguide.co.uk

molly’sguide

Name ................................................................................

Address.............................................................................

...........................................................................................

Email .................................................................................

Please complete prior to redemption

www.mollysguide.co.uk

molly’sguide

Name ................................................................................

Address.............................................................................

...........................................................................................

Email .................................................................................

Please complete prior to redemption

Easter 2015

www.mollysguide.co.uk



www.mollysguide.co.uk



CUT OUT & SAVE

VOUCHERS

Money saving vouchers for you & your family  ��

��



��

Birthday Parties



��



��

www.mollysguide.co.uk

CUT OUT & SAVE

VOUCHERS

Money saving vouchers for you & your family

molly’sguide

Name ................................................................................

Address.............................................................................

...........................................................................................

Email .................................................................................

Please complete prior to redemption

www.mollysguide.co.uk

molly’sguide

Name ................................................................................

Address.............................................................................

...........................................................................................

Email .................................................................................

Please complete prior to redemption

www.mollysguide.co.uk

molly’sguide

Name ................................................................................

Address.............................................................................

...........................................................................................

Email .................................................................................

Please complete prior to redemption

Easter 2015

www.mollysguide.co.uk



www.mollysguide.co.uk



CUT OUT & SAVE

VOUCHERS

Money saving vouchers for you & your family 

��

�

��



��



��

www.mollysguide.co.uk

CUT OUT & SAVE

VOUCHERS

Money saving vouchers for you & your family

molly’sguide

Name ................................................................................

Address.............................................................................

...........................................................................................

Email .................................................................................

Please complete prior to redemption

www.mollysguide.co.uk

molly’sguide

Name ................................................................................

Address.............................................................................

...........................................................................................

Email .................................................................................

Please complete prior to redemption

www.mollysguide.co.uk

molly’sguide

Name ................................................................................

Address.............................................................................

...........................................................................................

Email .................................................................................

Please complete prior to redemption

Easter 2015

www.mollysguide.co.uk



www.mollysguide.co.uk



��

FLEXIBLE PART-TIME PGCE.

Our part-time PGCE course is our most flexible route to becoming a primary teacher.

APPLY NOW TO START WITH US IN MAY 2015. www.bishopg.ac.uk/teaching