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Ongoing

Forest Adventures with Zog

Take a fun-filled forest adventure at Salcey Forest and Fineshade Wood by grabbing a trail activity pack for just £4. Kids can unleash their imagination and become like Zog by wearing wings and completing exciting challenges to earn golden stars. Along the way, they can use magic glasses to search for hidden letters. Once the trail is completed, children can take a selfie with Zog, do a crayon rubbing and earn a certificate.

W: www.forestryengland.uk/zog

The Pinnacle Climbing and Caving Centre

Holiday Kids Camps and Clubs, Weekdays in school holidays. Brilliant activities to keep the little ones entertained at The Pinnacle Climbing and Caving Centre where they will have the best fun possible. They will feel the sheer exhilaration of climbing up walls under the close supervision of highly qualified climbing instructors, go bouldering (scrambling up and around walls without ropes), explore the caving system in search of fossils and even fit in an abseil.

T: 01604 875 996

W: www.thepinnaclecentre.co.uk

Redwell Leisure Centre

Redwell and Waendal Leisure Centres in Wellingborough offer local residents the chance to stay fit and active. W: www.Placesleisure.org for information.

Walking Trails at Salcey Forest

Situated just 7 miles from Northampton Salcey Forest has walking trails to keep the family fit and active. Details are on their website

W: www.forestryengland.uk/salceyforest/

Daventry Country Park

Daventry Country Park is a popular park ideally situated in the urban fringe of Daventry, within one mile of the town centre and easily accessible by car, bicycle or on foot with the benefit of cycle ways and footpaths from the surrounding areas. Daventry Country Park, NN11 2JB.

W: www.daventrydc.gov.uk/

Daventry Leisure Centre

The centre is open with a reduced list of activities and available spaces.

W: www.everyoneactive.com/

Gruffalo Sculptures at Fineshade Wood

If you venture into the deep dark wood, you may bump into Gruffalo and his creature friends from Julia Donaldson’s classic story. See handcrafted sculptures of fox, mouse, owl, squirrel and snake alongside the Gruffalo. Head to the trails to find them all on your next visit.

W: www.forestryengland.uk/ fineshade-wood/gruffalosculptures-fineshade-wood

Winter at Lyveden

Explore the outdoors at Lyveden this winter, grab your coat and lace up your winter boots to step into a winter landscape at Lyveden on crisp, cold days. Whether you want a short stroll around the grounds, or a longer walk along the Lyveden Way, a 10-mile waymarked path through sheltered woodland, open fields and pretty villages, there are plenty of ways to see more of the Northamptonshire Countryside.

W: www.nationaltrust.org.uk

SPLAT Holiday Club

A fun and exciting childcare option during every school holiday at Lodge Park Sports Centre, Corby. For children in Year 1+, Ages 5-12 Years.

T: 01536 400033

February

Saturday 11th

Lambing Festival

Visit the heavily pregnant ewes in the lambing shed, bottle feed the newborn lambs and you may even see a birth! Runs 11th-26th February, 9.30am-6pm. Pre-booking essential. West Lodge Rural Farm, on A6 between Market Harborough and Desborough.

W: www.westlodgeruralcentre.co.uk

All You Need is Love Trail

During the week of Valentine’s Day find some love tokens hidden around the museum to collect a lovely prize. 12-4pm. £2. Running until 19th February. Abington Park Museum.

W: www.northamptonmuseums.com

Paw Prints and Poo Trail

Take your young nature detectives and look around the outdoor spaces for nice and nasty nature clues. Booking not needed. Normal admission charges apply. Running until 26th March. Canons Ashby National Trust.

W: www.nationaltrust.org.uk/

Rushden Library Lego Challenge

Go along to Rushden Library. Each session you will be given a theme and random selection of parts and challenged to be as creative as possible! 10am-12noon.

W: www.northamptonshire.gov.uk

February Family Fun

Fabulous fun at Wicksteed Park this half term, selected Rides and attractions will be open such as Wicky’s Theatre Show, Wicky’s Farmyard, the Carousel & Sway Rider, Train, Crazy Golf & Astroslide. Don’t forget you can grab a cup of coffee at the Carousel Café or treat yourself a delicious slice of pizza at the Pizza Parlour! Wicky’s Emporium & Farmyard Giftshop will also be open so why not take a browse at our wonderful toys! Running 11th-19th February, 10am-4pm.

W: www.wicksteedpark.org

Sunday 12th

Delapré Abbey Re-Opens

With free entry for under 18’s and 900 years of exciting history to discover, Northampton’s historic Delapré Abbey throws open the doors to the House this February half term for little ones and their grown-ups to explore together. Delapré’s hands-on approach to bringing history to life makes it a unique family day out. A week of family fun and activities including storytelling. Visit the website to book tickets and find out more.

W: www.delapreabbey.org

Snowdrops

Go along to the snowdrop trail at Rockingham Castle on 12th and 19th February. The perfect chance to take beautiful photos and explore nature with friends, family and your four legged friends!

W: www.rockinghamcastle.com/

Tuesday 14th

Make a Pine Cone Feeder

Prepare to get a bit messy with this fun, hands-on activity. Take your feeder home to hang outside for garden birds. Upton House and Gardens near Warwickshire. Other dates available.

W: www.nationaltrust.org.uk/

Indoor Climbing

Have you heard about RockeeZ?

RockeeZ Climbing Clubs are for children 4-16 yrs old, and run every day after school and at weekends. The sessions are 1 hour long.

What do the children do in these clubs?

RockeeZ get to experience the buzz of being on the walls, the exhilaration of reaching the top, and learning the basics of climbing, whilst having fun and making friends in our fabulous indoor climbing centre.

Are RockeeZ clubs run by professionals?

Enthusiastic, highly experienced and qualified instructors guide and motivate the kids every step of the way.

For more information go to the website, www.thepinnaclecentre.co.uk, or give our really friendly team a call, 01604 875 996.

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Valentine’s Day Workshop

Create a Valentine’s card and a token of love for someone special. Choose from making a heart brooch, sweetfilled love bug or cuddly pom-pom heart as well as creating a pop-up card. All materials supplied. Booking essential for this children’s event. 12–1pm, 1.30–2.30pm, 3–4pm. £4. Abington Park Museum. W: www.northamptonmuseums.com

Wednesday 15th

Bushcraft - Tool Use

Learn how to use a selection of tools including loppers and gimlets to turn elder sticks into crafts such as beads, jewellery and many more! 10-11.30am. Nene Park.

W: www.nenevalley.net/

Thursday 16th

Trainer Upcycling

Take along your old trainers to decorate and create your own individual customised look taking inspiration from the Trainers: A Global Obsession exhibition. Booking essential. 10am12pm and 1-3pm. £4 per person. W: www.northamptonmuseums.com

Lego Robotics Workshop

Hosted by JuniorSTEM this is an exciting way to learn programming and engineering. You will be taught each step over the 90 minute session. At the end of this you will have created a fully functioning Lego robot. Chester House Estate, Irchester, Wellingborough.

W: www.nenevalley.net/

Friday 17th

Tracks and Signs

Find out all about creatures that live in Ferry Meadows using the signs that they leave behind them. You will also get to take your own plaster of Paris track home with you. 10am-2.30pm. Nene Park.

W: www.nenevalley.net/

Saturday 18th

Construction Club at Brixworth Library

LEGO, DUPLO, Mega-Blocks and more, build whatever you want and let your imagination run wild! 10am1pm. Ages 4-12.

W: www.northamptonshire.gov.uk

We take great care to ensure this information is correct at the time of going to press. However, we would advise parents to phone and check details prior to making a long trip …or promise!

Sunday 19th

Snowdrop Walks

Enjoy the snowdrops at Deene Park on 19th and 26th February. 12-4pm.

W: www.deenepark.com/

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Saturday 4th

Season’s Craft Workshop

Make trees and sensory jars showing how the seasons change from one month to the next throughout the year. Materials supplied. Booking essential for this children’s event suitable for 4-7 years. 11am-12.30pm and 1-2.30pm.

£4 per person. Abington Park Museum.

W: www.northamptonmuseums.com

Saturday 11th

Brickish Weekend

The National Space Centre is hosting a weekend dedicated to the little plastic brick that makes imagination reality. Explore galleries packed with amazing creations, thanks to The Brickish Association. See spacecraft, iconic movie scenes, huge magical train lay outs, amazing mathematical machines, and LEGO© sets from past, present & future. Also on 12th March.

W: www.spacecentre.co.uk/

Sunday 19th

Northampton and Lamport Railway

Mums ride for free on Mother’s Day on the Northampton and Lamport Railway. W: www.nlr.org.uk/

Sunday 26th

Sulgrave Manor Open Season

Sulgrave Manor near Banbury opens today for the 2023 season. W: www.sulgravemanor.org.uk

The Fast Show

The season-opener for all performance and modified car enthusiasts inc RWYB and clubs. Santa Pod Raceway. W: www.santapod.co.uk

Friday 31st

Wear A Hat Day

Get involved in Wear A Hat Day, one of the UK’s most popular annual charitable family-friendly fundraisers. Help children to explore their individuality and creativity, learn to work together and think of others – in a really fun way. All while raising funds to help find a cure for brain tumours –the biggest cancer killer of children and adults under the age of 40. Register now for your free fundraising pack: W: www.wearahatday.org

d aventry Leisure Centre

A soft play birthday party at Daventry Leisure Centre will give kids memories that will last a lifetime! Parties combine adventure, fantastic fun, and safety, all in one go. Across one 90-minute session, your child and their friends can climb, explore and play games. Adults will need to supervise children (recommended age limit is 8 years old), who must wear suitable clothing and no shoes, with storage available for shoes as you go in. Run by Everyone Active, parents are guaranteed an enjoyable, stress-free experience!

T: 01327 871144 W: www.everyoneactive.com

Special offer:

Anyone booking a children’s party before March 31st, 2023 will be rewarded with a six-month subscription to Kids Pass. Use Kids Pass to receive up to 40% off cinema tickets, kidseat-free deals, up to 57% off family days out including theme parks, and up to 10% off holidays, plus more…