Primary Times Wiltshire Christmas 2016

in Wiltshire Issue 107

8 Dec 2016-10 Feb 2017

Taking the first Also Winter outdoors Summer holidays

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Wiltshire Council asks households to consider fostering to help some of the local children who need a loving home. Page 2.

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Taking the first Wiltshire Council encourages people to consider fostering and help some of the hundreds of local children who need a loving home.

“I t is quite demanding but it’s one of the most fulfilling things I’ve ever done,” says Alan Case. With his wife, Wendy, Alan has cared for nine children over the last three years as part of Wiltshire Council’s approved fostering scheme. The council has around 400 children in its care but only 180 are looked after by a Wiltshire Council foster carer.

Whether there’s been a family crisis, the serious illness of a parent or a longer term reason why they cannot return home, children find themselves in council care for a range of reasons.

Wiltshire hopes to recruit 20 to 30 new households per year to provide a loving home for these children.

“Fostering is a real team effort,” Alan continues. “It’s 24/7, so it’s not like a job. Each child is completely different and comes with their own set of circumstances. We’re here to look after children, to give them a home and the love and attention that they deserve, so they can then go onto their onward journey.”

According to Laura Mayes, cabinet member for Wiltshire Council’s children’s services, “We need more foster carers so that local children who need a foster family can be cared for locally.

These children range from newborn babies to older teenagers and groups of siblings, both of whom we particularly need people to foster.”

The types of foster placements vary and people can get involved at a number of levels. In addition to the 180 fostering households, a number of foster carers have 2

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approval to look after children they know, such as family members. Some foster carers provide care in an emergency situation for a short period until appropriate accommodation can be found, or the child can return to their family. This is often during the evening or at weekends. These carers are paid a retainer for holding an emergency bed and an allowance for looking after a child.

Meanwhile, some children need to be matched permanently with carers so they can grow up in a safe and secure family environment.

Other carers provide support and accommodation for a young parent and their child and help to assess them. They offer practical and emotional support to the young parent, while they develop the skills to help them take care of their child and stay together as a family where possible.

Finally, Family Link and SEND Specialist carers are approved to provide short

breaks for children with additional needs and disabilities.

“I understand it may be difficult for some people to take that next step, but the support and help is available for those who take on this important and rewarding role,” says Laura.

All carers are paid a weekly allowance based on the age of the child, which currently ranges from approximately £144 per week for a child under 4, to about £262 per week for a 17-year-old. The

scheme sets out a series of “levels” that carers can be paid at, reflecting the challenge and complexity of what they will be asked to do.

A new, simpler payment system has been introduced to make it easier for prospective foster carers to see how much they are entitled to per week, based on the types of fostering they might get involved with. It allows foster carers to progress and receive increased payments as their skill and experience develops.

The fostering team holds regular drop-in information sessions where you can find out more about becoming a foster carer. There is no need to book.

The next information session is on Tuesday 31 January, 7pm, County Hall, Trowbridge.

Fostering for Wiltshire T: 0800 169 6321 E: fostering@wiltshire. gov.uk W: www.wiltshire.gov.uk/

PRIMARY TIMES

As you tidy the wrapping paper away after Christmas Day you’ll already be thinking about the new year ahead.

So we’ve taken a peek at the range of holidays available for families as the weather warms up. It may be a few months away, yet, but nothing fans the feelgood factor more than the thought of a good break, so check out our feature on page 6 for a few holiday ideas.

Of course, tearing the kids away from the TV (or console) over the winter holidays is always a challenge. But we have a few ideas that make the great outdoors exciting again in our feature about outdoor play in the colder months (P4). Go ahead and take the leap! iin Wiltshire Issue 107

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ider ds to cons househol l children Council asks the loca Wiltshire to help some of Page 2. fostering a loving home. who need money!

Theatre

CHILLY THRILLS P4 Tori Chubb discovers exciting outdoor activities for children this winter.

YOUR BIG BREAK P6 Eric Blair mulls over a few holiday ideas from beaches to eco-tourism to glamping.

the editor

-10 Feb 2017 8 Dec 2016

e rst Taking th Also ors Winter outdo ays Summer holid

THEATRE P7 ROUNDABOUT P8 PINBOARD P11 ADVERTISING FEATURES P12 PUPILS’ PAGE P14 CLASSIFIEDS P15

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While we make every effort to ensure information published is accurate, readers are encouraged to check details of all events in advance and neither Trinity Mirror Ltd nor its contributors are liable for the consequences of any errors. Primary Times would like to thank all the schools in the county for their assistance in distributing the magazine and their contributions to its contents. We would also like to thank all the advertisers who have supported this publication and therefore made it possible. Please support their endeavours when and where you can. The copyright on all written material, logos and advertising artwork produced by our studio remains with Trinity Mirror Ltd. Primary Times currently publishes more than two million copies per issue under franchise.

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Don’t let the children stay cossetted indoors this winter, says Tori Chubb. There are lots of ways they can still have fun outside.

Chilly thrills

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e’ve all been there. The family has eaten, the weather presenter has run out of adjectives for “chilly” and “wet” and it’s all too easy to curl up in front of the TV, letting the kids reach eagerly for their preferred brand of electronic tablet. Attempts to march the children out for a bracing walk are met with rebellious cries which would challenge the leadership skills of the most experienced sergeant major.

But we shouldn’t let the winter keep us indoors for months on end. Children need outdoor activity as much as ever at this time of year. As the RSPB ‘Every Child Outdoors’ report points out, the amount of time and contact children have with nature is falling rapidly. A recent survey of UK parents by the Wildlife Trust found that three quarters of children spend less time outside than prison inmates, and that they are becoming increasingly disconnected from nature as a result.

There’s a wealth of medical and behavioural evidence to suggest we should encourage children to enjoy the fresh air. The English Outdoor Council, for example, stresses the benefits of outdoor play, which include improved communication, enhanced mental health and the ability to assert personal control.

The key to getting the children outdoors in winter is preparation.

Remember the old adage, “There’s no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing”. Make sure you’ve planned enough activities to keep you all moving, but don’t overdo it. Layer up and remember the woollies and waterproof footwear.

A warm drink helps: perhaps a flask of hot chocolate or mulled apple juice. Start with a short walk and engage children’s interest with a light hearted competition or 4

CHRISTMAS 2016

door pleasure you can Beachcombing is an out images Tori Chubb do any time of year. All

scavenger hunt. You can print out a ready-made trail or be creative with your own. Take a camera and let the kids record what interests them.

Don’t underestimate your garden as a resource. Channel your inner caveperson and build a bonfire. Use a metal bin, or even a barbeque. Hand out the marshmallows, or pop some popcorn, making sure you have some heatproof gloves to hand for holding the pot! A fire is always fun but, if in doubt, why not hone your safety skills with one of the increasingly popular forest schools throughout the region? Check the Wiltshire Wildlife Trust’s website for forthcoming Bush Club Weekends, as well as other ideas and events, from nature clubs to DIY activity and colouring sheets for quick and easy ways to spot nature on your doorstep.

Further afield, younger children could try the ‘My Wild Child’ sessions run by neighbouring Avon Wildlife Trust.

Den building is a classic activity, and a good way to introduce the use of simple tools. This can be immensely rewarding, building confidence and helping children to understand risk assessment.

There are many opportunities for den building, such as a special den building area in Leigh Woods, near Bristol, which is open to the public and even has a café on Saturdays. Westonbirt Arboretum in Gloucestershire also offers den building areas, although admission fees do apply.

Outdoor activity needn’t exclude technology either.

Geocaching remains popular and involves hunting via a GPS linked app for hidden boxes. Pokémon Go! remains a good way to get the most computer dependent child outside. Willsbridge Mill in Bristol has a lovely walk, a stream for paddling and a Pokémon gym.

It’s also home to one of South Gloucestershire’s Audio Bat Trails.

Members of Libraries West can hire a Bat Sonar pack from any South Gloucestershire Library and listen for bats as they fly over the river after dark. Download a star map app before you go and do a

spot of star gazing. For a daytime app, try Avon Wildlife Trust’s 30 Days Wild app. Just click and you’ll be given a fresh idea for connecting with nature – they also have an app showing you your nearest nature reserve if you need inspiration on places to go.

Orienteering increases confidence and decision making skills, as well as being a useful life skill. The Mendip Centre in North Somerset offers a reasonably priced trail plus advice on getting started, but once you’ve gained experience there are other free trails that you can try (search free orienteering trails).

Further afield, beachcombing is an under rated winter activity.

Storms turn up all sorts of treasures and artistic children might enjoy drawing a beach view from under a blanket.

But what if your inner sergeant major has deserted you and you’re still struggling to get them out of the door? If all else fails, don’t be afraid to resort to bribery. The promise of cake in the café can be a salvation for everyone!

Hope Nature Centre W: www. hopenaturecentre.org.uk Wiltshire Wildlife Trust W: www. wiltshirewildlife.org Wiltshire Outdoor Learning Team W: www.wolt.org.uk Avon Wildlife Trust W: www.avonwildlifetrust.org.uk English Outdoor Council W: www. englishoutdoorcouncil.org Leigh Woods W: www.nationaltrust. org.uk/leigh-woods The Mendip Centre in North Somerset W: www.mendipsnowsport.co.uk/orienteering PRIMARY TIMES

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CHRISTMAS 2016 5

Swimming at Fowey Hall

Polurian Bay

Your big

break

The summer might seem a long way off, but winter’s the best time to start planning for your holidays. Eric Blair looks at the options.

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hether it’s lying on the beach all day, visiting bustling cities, trekking through the great outdoors or speeding around on rollercoasters, everyone’s got their own ideas about what makes for a perfect summer holiday. These days, there’s more choice than ever – and not just in terms of destinations. There are many types of accommodation and activities, too. The good old package holiday remains popular, of course, but the rise of the internet and the proliferation of cheap air flights mean that it’s even easier – and sometimes cheaper – to build a bespoke holiday for yourself. With all this in mind, here are a few of the options available to families looking to plan their big summer break.

CAMPING Once you’ve invested in all the gubbins, camping is probably the cheapest and most flexible option when it comes to holiday accommodation. Campsites across the UK charge as little as £5 a night for a pitch – although, of course, the lower the price, the more basic the facilities on offer are likely to be. And if you do have all the gear yourself, you’re pretty much free to go where you please as and when you want to. It’s a great way to enjoy – and introduce your kids to – the great outdoors and you’ll find campsites a-plenty by the seaside or in areas of great natural beauty.

On the downside, of course, you’re at the mercy of the elements and, if you’re doing it yourself, there’s all that gear to deal with, tents to put up and down, meals to cook over the gas stove etc. Alternatively, many campsites offer the option of hiring a tent or chalet on site, while glamping offers a seriously upmarket variant complete with yurts and luxury facilities. Ffi: www.pitchup.com, www.classicglamping.co.uk HOLIDAY PARKS They’ve been around for donkey’s years and if they once had a reputation for being a bit old-fashioned in a ‘Hi-de-Hi’ kind of way, holiday parks 6

CHRISTMAS 2016

necessarily, but the likes of booking.com mean that it’s possible to balance the different demands of your family members – the one who likes beaches, the one who likes museums, the one who likes chilling out in a spa – by piecing together a holiday around B’n’Bs in the places that you’d each like to go. The Youth Hostel Association, too, is well worth joining if you fancy this kind of peripatetic holiday – you’ll find hundreds of family-friendly places to stay in the UK (and across Europe, for that matter) via their website.

Ffi: www.airbnb.co.uk, www.booking.com, www.yha.org.uk

Why not try a Balkan holiday in Sozo pol?

have undergone a renaissance of late, with the likes of Center Parcs and old favourites like Pontins and Butlins upping the ante in terms of accommodation, catering and activities. Woolacombe Sands, for example, is a family-run park on the North Devon coast which offers a range of accommodation in modern on-site caravans and chalets (although you can bring your own caravan or tent if you prefer). As well as its great location close to Exmoor and only a short walk from the beach, the park also boasts indoor and outdoor swimming pools, a children’s park, crazy golf, arcades, bowling, a daily kids’ club and a clubhouse offering nightly entertainment – so there’s always something to do, no matter what the great British summer might be doing weather-wise.

Ffi: woolacombe-sands.co.uk

While it’s hardly a secret any more, Bulgaria’s Black Sea coast offers everything that you’d expect of a beach holiday and if you steer clear of the bigger and often overcrowded resorts – like the notorious Sunny Beach – you can still find places that work to a less frenetic pace, especially if you look to the north and south of the main BurgasVarna ‘strip’. Prices are reasonable and, once there, you’ll find that your money goes a little further than it does in more frequented European holiday resorts. The eastern coast of the Adriatic is also growing in popularity and 2017 might well be the year to discover some of the further flung islands of Croatia or the relatively unspoilt beaches of southern Albania before everyone else does. Ffi: www.balkanholidays. co.uk

PACKAGE HOLIDAYS When it comes to a summer holiday, there’s a lot to be said for letting someone else do all the hard work for you. Package holidays to continental Europe first really started taking off in the 1960s and many of the resorts which first attracted British holidaymakers remain at the top of the list – especially when it comes to beach holidays. Spain and Greece, for example, are still firm favourites, but it’s also worth considering other destinations.

B’N’B As the guesthouses and B’n’Bs along the seafront at Weston-superMare and Tenby attest, staying in small, family-run accommodation remains a popular option. The rise of Air B’n’B has also opened up all sorts of opportunities for relatively cheap and cheerful accommodation. You can obviously find somewhere to stay for a whole week or a fortnight, but there’s also the possibility of making it up as you go along. It’s not a cheap option,

THE LAP OF LUXURY Many top-notch hotels now welcome children so the whole family can spoil themselves rotten. Very often, too, these high-end hotels aren’t so far from home. Both Fowey Hall and the Polurrian Bay Hotel in Mullion – both on the south Cornish coast – appear in TripAdvisor’s top ten luxury family hotels in England.

A wee bit further afield, meanwhile, Coillabus Eco Luxury Lodges on the Isle of Islay in Scotland add green credentials into the mix, giving families the chance to stay in a turfroofed guest cottage in a location that offers magnificent views across to Kintyre and Ireland. Ffi: www. foweyhallhotel.co.uk, www.polurrianhotel.com, www.coillabus.com ECOTOURISM Although it might sound a bit ‘worthy’, ecotourism covers some of the most exciting and adventurous family-friendly holidays on offer. These range from spending time with initiatives like the Samboja Lestari Orangutan Volunteer Project in Borneo or Routes Kilimanjaro in the Serengeti in Kenya and Tanzania to staying in a tree house in Norfolk which runs on almost 100% renewable energy.

Such experiences, of course, don’t come cheap, but if you’re after a summer holiday that will also have the makings of being the experience of a lifetime, ecotourism could well be the word you need to drop into your Google search.

Ffi: www.ecocompanion.com PRIMARY TIMES

FAMILY & CHILDREN’S SHOWS ★ SALISBURY, SWINDON, TROWBRIDGE & BEYOND

WILTSHIRE THE ARC THEATRE College Rd, Trowbridge BA14 0ES. 01225 756376, www.arctheatre. org.uk The Snow Baby Sun 11 Dec, 2pm, £8 (adult)/£6 (child) • The tale of Doris and her Bear Man: how will she cope on the snowy hill when he disappears in a storm?

Features tabletop puppetry, imaginative storytelling and music.

Dick Whittington Wed 14-Fri 16 Dec, 1.30pm & 7.30pm, £6 (adult)/£5 (child) • BTEC performing arts present the tale of Dick and his trusty cat.

Mother Goose Thu 12-Sun 15 & Thu 19-Sun 22 Jan, see website for times, £10 (adult)/£8 (child) • Trowbridge Players present Mother Goose by Ben Crocker.

Prepare to be transported to the land of the snow geese – a real ‘Frozen’ wonderland of trolls, snowmen, woolly jumpers and even the occasional moose.

THE ATHENAEUM 18-20 High St, Warminster BA12 9AE. 01985 213891, www.theath. org.uk A Christmas Cracker Sat 10 Dec, 7.30pm, £8 (adult)/£6 (child) • Annual Christmas concert from the Warminster Community Choir, plus the Warminster Military Wives and Frome Town Youth Band. Part of the show will be dedicated to a retrospective of the year and songs to celebrate the lives of those who are no longer here.

Cinderella Sat 17-Sat 24 Dec (no performance Tue 20), 2pm & 7pm, £11 (adult)/£9 (child) • Join Oddity Theatre in a wonderful fairytale world where poor Cinderella is doomed to spend her life looking after her ugly stepsisters.

Fortunes soon change in this festive pantomime, though, with the help of Buttons and a magical

Cinderella, The Wyvern Theatre, Sat 10 Dec-Sun 8 Jan. PRIMARY TIMES

Fairy Godmother.

Cats Thu 16-Sat 18 Feb, 7pm plus 2pm Sat, £12 (adult)/£10 (child) • Youth production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s classic musical based on TS Eliot’s ‘Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats’. Performed by the Little Sparrows Theatre Company.

THE NEELD COMMUNITY AND ARTS CENTRE The Neeld Community & Arts Centre, High St, Chippenham SN15 3ER. 01249 446699, www.thelittleboxoffice.com Rapunzel & her Witch Mon 12 Dec, 11am & 2.30pm, £5 • Comic and child-centred retelling of the Grimm tale featuring two signing actors from the Krazy Kat Theatre Company. Music, puppet figures and singing as well as fully integrated sign language.

PHOENIX THEATRE New College Swindon, New College Drive, Swindon SN3 1AH. 01793 611470, www.theatre.newcollege.ac.uk Aladdin Thu 15-Fri 16 Dec, 7.30pm, £6 (adult)/£2 (child) • New College Performing Arts’ annual traditional Christmas pantomime.

Set in China’s old Peking, the story is centred around the poor Widow Twankey, her son Aladdin and their adventures together. Expect plenty of laughter and sing-a-long songs.

SALISBURY ARTS CENTRE Bedwin St, Salisbury SP1 3UT. 01722 321744, www.salisburyartscentre.co.uk Arabian Nights Thu 22 Dec, 2pm and 5pm, £7.50 (adult)/£6.50 (child) • Meet Scheherazade, the greatest storyteller of them all.

She has a feast of adventures and fantasies to tell, involving genies, villains, heroes and princesses.

Story Pocket Theatre’s exciting new adaptation is told with puppetry, music and theatrical magic.

SALISBURY PLAYHOUSE Malthouse Lane, Salisbury SP2 7RA. 01722 320333, www.salisburyplayhouse.com Aladdin Sat 3 Dec-Sat 7 Jan, see website for times, £10.50-£25 • From the writer and director of last year’s smash hit ‘Cinderella’, a family pantomime packed with song, dance, comedy and spectacular sets.

The Night Before Christmas Mon 5-Sat 31 Dec, see website for times, £9/£7 (groups of 6+) • “Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house, not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse …”

Join Father Christmas on his journey through the night sky delivering presents on Christmas Eve.

Carols by Candlelight Tue 13 Dec, 7.30pm, £20 • Festive music, performed in period costume by The Locrian Ensemble.

Come & Sing The Pirates of Penzance Sat 14 Jan, 7.30pm, £18.50 • Join G&S4U and D’Oyly Carte soloists and take on the roles of pirates, policemen or one of the Major General’s daughters.

Fun for all ages with prizes for the best costumes.

SWINDON ARTS CENTRE Devizes Rd, Old Town, Swindon SN1 4BJ. 01793 614837, www.swindontheatres.co.uk A Christmas Carol Tue 6 Dec, 7.30pm, £17 (adult)/£15 (conc) • The European Arts Company faithfully recreate Dickens’ famous performance of his classic Christmas tale. Follow Ebenezer Scrooge through his past, present and future as he learns the true meaning of Christmas. SOLD OUT Jack & the Beanstalk Fri 9 Dec, 7.30pm, £7 • Rising Aspirations students travel to an enchanted land for this year’s pantomime.

Expect high-energy routines, toetapping songs and lots of laughs.

Santa Claus & the Night Before Christmas Wed 14-Sat 24 Dec, see website for times, £14-£17 • It’s Christmas Eve and while most children are hanging up their stockings, there are a few boys and girls in Swindon who are not.

They don’t believe in Santa and so cheeky elves Charlie and Kara must help Santa prove that he is real. Expect magic tricks, stories, songs and the chance to meet Santa after the show and receive a free gift.

Monstersaurus Sun 12 Feb, 11am & 2pm, £15 (adult)/£12.50 (child) • A brand new show from the creators of ‘Aliens Love Underpants’.

Young inventor Monty creates a whole world of whacky inventions and incredible monsters, but now he has made them all, how is he going to get rid of them? Expect an energetic show full of thrills, spills, magic and mayhem, with original music and plenty of audience participation.

TROWBRIDGE ARTS Trowbridge Town Hall, Market St, Trowbridge BA14 8EQ. 01225 774306, www.trowbridgearts.com Jack Frost Sat 17 Dec, 11am & 3pm, £10 (adult)/£8 (child) • Moon on a Stick bring Jack Frost to life using puppetry, live music and storytelling. Follow him on a snowy adventure as he spreads winter wherever he goes.

Trowbridge Arts Youth Company Weekly from Mon 9 Jan-Mon 20 Mar, 6.30-8pm, £60 per child per course • An

Come and Sing The Pirates of Penzance, Salisbury Playhouse, Sat 14 Jan.

opportunity for all children aged 10 to 16 to explore theatre and their creativity. Devise your own performances and use scripts to inspire further work.

THE WYVERN THEATRE Theatre Sq, Swindon SN1 1QN. 01793 524481, www.swindontheatres.co.uk Cinderella Sat 10 Dec-Sun 8 Jan, see website for times, £19£31.50 • Family pantomime starring ‘Coronation Street’’s Ryan Thomas as Prince Charming.

Expect laugh-out-loud comedy, spectacular sets and costumes, dazzling song-and-dance routines and lots of audience participation.

Great Jaydini Christmas Show Thu 22 Dec, 11am & 2pm, £15 (child)/parent/guardian free • Following sell-out performances throughout the year, professional magician the Great Jaydini returns for a special festive show.

Lots of magic plus food and a kids disco.

Swindon Schools Dance Festival Mon 30 Jan, 3pm & 5.30pm, £10 (adult)/£7 (child) • Primary and secondary schools from Swindon and beyond come together to perform dances they have been preparing together, inspired by number one singles.

Mr Bloom’s Nursery Tue 14 Feb, 2pm, £17.50 • Mr Bloom and the Veggies embark on their first ever live tour. They’re getting the nursery ready for a very special occasion – a member of the royal family is paying them visit! Can you lend a hand and help them get the allotment ready in time? Song, play and interaction for little ones and their families. A pre-show buffet of veggie food and party music takes place in the Wyvern restaurant from 1.15pm, £7 per child, accompanying adults free.

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ROUNDABOUT Your ultimate family diary of what’s on, where & when

arts and crafts in the Arctic Corner, an enchanted Christmas Tree show and an Edwardian Christmas at Longleat House.

Deadlines: List your school’s events in Primary Times for free. We work a half-term in advance so we’re now collecting information for February, March and April: deadline Friday 6 January. If your event is to raise funds for a school, a charity or your community, and is open to the public, we are keen to list it here. Please send all your events information and news/feature ideas to the editor at: mike.gartside@localworld.co.uk PLEASE CHECK BEFORE YOU TRAVEL While we make every effort to ensure these listings are accurate and up to date, event information can sometimes change after we’ve gone to press. Please check with the venue or organiser before you set off to an event to make sure it’s going ahead as planned . . . and tell them you saw it in Primary Times!

DECEMBER UNTIL SUN 11 DEC A GEORGIAN CHRISTMAS No.1 Royal Crescent Museum, Bath BA1 2LR. 01225 428126, www. no1royalcrescent.org.uk, 10.30am5.30pm, included in standard admission prices • Discover how the Georgians celebrated Christmas on a seasonal trail through the house. Expect a different festive theme in each room and Christmas floral displays. Also special late openings until 8pm Thu 8-Sat 10 Dec. UNTIL SUN 11 DEC BATH CHRISTMAS MARKET City centre, Bath, BA1 1LY, 0906 7112000, www.bathchristmasmarket.co.uk, 10am-7pm (Mon-Wed)/10am-8.30pm (Thu-

A Lacock Christmas, Until Sat 31 Dec.

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CHRISTMAS 2016

UNTIL TUE 3 JAN BATH ON ICE Royal Pavilion, Royal Victoria Park, Marlborough Lane, Bath BA1 2NQ. 0749 605 3136, www. bathonice.com, 10am-9pm, golf from £4.50 per person, ice skating from £7.25 per person • Outdoor ice rink and glow-in-the-dark minigolf. Take a spin on the ice then enjoy mulled wine and wood-fired pizza in the café.

Christmas on Roves Farm, Sat 10-Sun 11 Dec.

Sat)/10am-6pm (Sun), free • Traditional wooden chalets selling everything from felt decorations to wooden toys, local food and drink, leather goods, jewellery and more.

the elves and real-life reindeer.

Each child receives a gift and mini Christmas tree.

UNTIL SAT 17 DEC LETTERS TO SANTA Central Sq, The Shires Shopping Centre, Court St, Trowbridge BA14 8AT. 01225 777255, www.shirescentre.co.uk, 8am-6pm/10am4pm (Sun), free • To up their chances of receiving that special gift, children can post their very own letter to Santa in the Shires’ post box. Include your postal address in the letter to receive a reply from the man himself.

UNTIL SAT 31 DEC CHRISTMAS AT LACOCK Lacock Abbey, Lacock, Chippenham SN15 2LG. 01249 730459, www.nationaltrust. org.uk/lacock-abbey-fox-talbotmuseum-and-village, 11am-4pm, included in standard admission prices • Choose your favourite community-decorated tree at the Christmas tree festival in the abbey cloister, follow the family trail around the village and abbey grounds, see the Great Hall beautifully decorated and have an audience with Father Christmas.

UNTIL WED 21 DEC CHRISTMAS GOTHIC COTTAGE Stourhead, Stourton BA12 6QF. 01747 841152, www.nationaltrust. org.uk/stourhead, 11am-3pm, included in standard admission prices • Visit the festively decorated lakeside cottage and enjoy a roaring fire and warming drinks.

UNTIL SUN 1 JAN CHRISTMAS ICE SKATING Whitehall Garden Centre, Corsham, Rd, Lacock SN15 2LZ. 01249 730204, www.whitehallgardencentre.co.uk, see website for times, from £5.99 • Festive ice rink in a clear-roofed building for all weather skating.

UNTIL THU 22 DEC CHRISTMAS AT DYRHAM – A WYNTER SEASON Dyrham Park, Dyrham SN14 8ER. 0117 937 2501, www.nationaltrust. org.uk/dirham-park, 10am-4pm, standard admission prices apply • Learn about what Christmas was like in the 17th century. Please note that Father Christmas will not be at the park this year, but expect an outdoor deer trail and plenty of festive family activities instead.

UNTIL MON 2 JAN BEHIND THE SCENES Fashion Museum, Assembly Rooms, Bennett St, Bath BA1 2QH. 01225 477789, www.fashionmuseum.co.uk, 10.30am-5pm, included in standard admission prices • A century of women’s fashions, from a white muslin Regency dress to a drill uniform from the Second World War, on display against a backdrop of the stored collection for a rare behindthe-scenes look.

UNTIL SAT 24 DEC FATHER CHRISTMAS FAMILY GROTTO Whitehall Garden Centre, Corsham, Rd, Lacock SN15 2LZ. 01249 730204, www.whitehallgardencentre.co.uk, see website for times, £12 (child)/£2.50 (adult) • Create festive memories for you and your family as Father Christmas returns to his magical grotto. Hear a festive story, meet

UNTIL MON 2 JAN FESTIVAL OF LIGHT Longleat Safari Park, Warminster BA12 7NW. 01985 844400, www. longleat.co.uk, 10am-7.30pm, see website for ticket prices • One of Europe’s largest lantern festivals, this year’s 50th anniversary celebration features glowing Beatrix Potter animals in a magical display. There’s also Santa Express,

UNTIL SUN 12 MAR DRAWN TO THE LAND Lacock Abbey, Lacock, Chippenham SN15 2LG. 01249 730459, www.nationaltrust. org.uk/lacock-abbey-fox-talbotmuseum-and-village, 10.30am5.30pm, included in standard admission prices • Award-winning documentary photographer Sophie Gerrard presents a series of photographs of female farmers in Scotland.

THU 8 DEC SMILEY COYOTES American Museum in Britain, Claverton Manor, Claverton, Bath BA2 7BD. 01225 460503, www. americanmuseum.org, 10.30am12noon, £8 per family • Join Noeline Beasley for engaging craft activities for parents/carers as well as children – all inspired by items from the museum’s collection. Enjoy forest school activities in the grounds, singing, storytelling and refreshments.

THU 8 & FRI 9 DEC MAKE AND PLAY FOR UNDER-5S Wiltshire Scrapstore, Unit 5, Griffin Farm, Bowden Hill, Lacock, Chippenham SN15 2PP. 01249 730011, www.wiltshirescrapstore. co.uk, 10am-11.30am, £5.50 per session, please book in advance • Sessions providing a range of different materials to enable exploration, creativity and messy play.

FRI 9 DEC UNDER-5S FRIDAY The Salisbury Museum, The Kings House, 65 The Close, Salisbury SP1 2EN. 01722 332151, www.salisburymuseum.org.uk, 10am-11.30am, normal admission charges apply • Festive arty fun for ages 2 to 5 with artist Suzie Gutteridge.

SAT 10 DEC

BY GEORGE IT’S CHRISTMAS The Salisbury Museum, The Kings House, 65 The Close, Salisbury SP1 2EN. 01722 332151, www. salisburymuseum.org.uk, 10am4pm, £2 donation per person • PRIMARY TIMES

PLEASE CHECK BEFORE YOU TRAVEL . . . AND TELL THEM YOU SAW THE EVENT IN PRIMARY TIMES!

ROUNDABOUT SUN 11 DEC WILTSHIRE YOUNG MUSICIANS CHRISTMAS SHOWCASE Wiltshire Music Centre, Ashley Rd, Bradford on Avon BA15 1DZ. 01225 860100, www.wiltshiremusic.org.uk, 1.30pm & 7.30pm, £6 (adult)/£3 (child) • Plenty of Christmas cheer and music to get you in the festive mood from local young musicians.

Midwinter Archaeology Walk, Stonehenge, Wed 21 Dec

A distinctly Georgian-flavoured festive celebration in honour of famous Georgian John Constable.

Expect Father Christmas and his real reindeer; comedy duo The Festive Footmen; seasonal storytelling from Salisbury Library; music from members of Salisbury Baroque; unusual gifts and cards in the museum shop and festive food from The King’s House Cafe.

SAT 1O DEC YOUNG CURATORS CLUB: GEORGIAN CHRISTMAS The Salisbury Museum, The Kings House, 65 The Close, Salisbury SP1 2EN. 01722 332151, www.salisburymuseum.org.uk, 10.30am1pm, standard admission prices apply, advance booking required • Celebrate a year of the Young Curators Club and find out what Christmas was like in the past.

SAT 10 DEC YOUNG WAHNS – PREHISTORY Wiltshire Museum, 41 Long St, Devizes SN10 1NS. 01380 727369, www.wiltshiremuseum.org.uk, 10.15am-12.15pm, £4 per child, book in advance • Learn more about the Bronze age galleries plus Christmas-themed crafts inspired by the museum’s collections.

SAT 10-SUN 11 DEC SANTA SPECIALS Swindon & Cricklade Railway, Blunsdon Station, Tadpole Lane, Blunsdon, Swindon SN25 2DA. 01793 771615, www.swindon-cricklade-railway.org, see website for times, £8 (adult)/£10 (child)/£5 (under-2s) • Ride the train to Santa’s grotto and receive a festive gift.

SAT 10-SUN 11 DEC TEXTILE DEMONSTRATIONS Stonehenge, Amesbury, Salisbury SP4 7DE. 0370 3331181, www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/ Stonehenge, 10am-4pm, £18.20 (adult)/£10.90 (child) • Interactive demonstration from experts on the Neolithic period. See how ancient techniques were used to craft natural materials and fibres into useful items.

SAT 10-SUN 11 DEC CHRISTMAS SHOPPING Lacock Abbey & Fox Talbot PRIMARY TIMES

Museum, Lacock, Chippenham SN15 2LG. 01249 730459, www. nationaltrust.org.uk/lacockabbey-fox-talbot-museum-andvillage, 11am-4pm, free • Festive retail therapy in the village.

Browse the range of National Trust decorations and gifts and taste a sample of Frome-based Friary Vinters’ alcoholic drinks at the pop-up shop in the Manger Barn.

SAT 10-SUN 11 DEC SANTA CRUISE ON THE KENAVON VENTURE Devizes Wharf, Canal Centre, Couch Lane, Devizes SN10 1EB. 01380 721279, www.katrust. org.uk, 11am-12noon, £7.50 • Take a long trip along the canal including mulled wine and a mince pie for adults and orange juice, sweets and a present from Santa for children.

SAT 10-SUN 11 DEC CHRISTMAS ON THE FARM Roves Farm, Severnhampton, Swindon SN6 7QG. 01793 763939, www.rovesfarm.co.uk, 10am4.30pm, £12 (child)/£7 (adult) • Hours of festive fun including Santa’s grotto, interactive nativity plays, glittery crafts and meeting the farm’s resident donkeys in their stable. Price includes gift from Santa.

SAT 10-SUN 11 DEC MEET FATHER CHRISTMAS Stourhead, Stourton BA12 6QF. 01747 841152, www.nationaltrust. org.uk/stourhead, 10.30am-2pm, standard admission prices apply plus £5 per child • There are presents for every child in the magical grotto, plus a special story from the jolly man in red. Families can make Christmas crafts, write letters to Father Christmas and make festive decorations together while local choirs sing carols.

SAT 10 AND SAT 17 DEC VICTORIAN CHRISTMAS STORYTELLING Trowbridge Museum, The Shires Shopping Centre, Court St, Trowbridge BA14 8AT. 01225 751339, www.trowbridgemuseum. co.uk, 11am/11.30am/1pm/1.30pm, £3 per child • Victorian festive exhibition and traditional storytelling with Father Christmas plus a gift for each child.

WED 14 DEC CHRISTMAS LATE-NIGHT EVENINGS Stonehenge, Amesbury, Salisbury SP4 7DE. 0370 3331181, www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/ Stonehenge, 5-8pm, free • Visit the café, shop and exhibition after hours for Christmas treats and festive fun, plus music, mince pies and mulled wine. Please note that the monument will not be open.

WED 14 DEC NEW COLLEGE CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION Christ Church, Old Town, Swindon SN1 3HG. 01793 524481, www. swindontheatres.co.uk, 7.30pm, £3.50/£4 on the door • The music department at New College presents its annual Christmas concert of festive music from traditional carols to favourite hits.

Father Christmas and make festive decorations together while local choirs sing carols.

SAT 17-SUN 18 DEC SANTA SPECIALS Swindon & Cricklade Railway, Blunsdon Station, Tadpole Lane, Blunsdon, Swindon SN25 2DA. 01793 771615, www.swindoncricklade-railway.org, see website for times, £8 (adult)/£10 (child)/£5 (under-2) • Ride the train to Santa’s grotto and receive a festive gift.

SAT 17-FRI 23 DEC CHRISTMAS ON THE FARM Roves Farm, Severnhampton, Swindon SN6 7QG. 01793 763939, www.rovesfarm.co.uk, 10am4.30pm, £12 (child)/£7 (adult) • Hours of festive fun, including Santa’s grotto, interactive nativity plays, glittery crafts and meeting the farm’s resident donkeys in their stable. Price includes gift from Santa and activities.

SAT 17 DEC-MON 2 JAN CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY FUN Bristol Aquarium, Anchor Rd, Bristol BS1 5TT. 0117 929 8929, www.bristolaquarium.co.uk, 10am5pm, standard admission prices apply • Join the fish and staff over the festive holidays for family fun.

See website for updates.

WED 14 & WED 21 DEC THE ROYAL BALLET: THE NUTCRACKER (AS LIVE) Wiltshire Music Centre, Ashley Rd, Bradford on Avon BA15 1DZ. 01225 860100, www.wiltshiremusic.org. uk, 7.15pm, £15 (adult)/£3 (child) • Livestream of the classical ballet danced to Tchaikovsky’s iconic score.

SUN 18 DEC SPARKLE Fashion Museum, Assembly Rooms, Bennett St, Bath BA1 2QH. 01225 477789, www.fashionmuseum. co.uk, 1-4.30pm, included in standard admission prices • Be inspired by some of the sparkly designs on display, then make a sparkle decoration to take home.

TUE 15 DEC SMILEY COYOTES American Museum in Britain, Claverton Manor, Claverton, Bath BA2 7BD. 01225 460503, www. americanmuseum.org, 10,30am12noon, £8 family • Join Noeline Beasley for engaging craft activities for parents / carers as well as children – all inspired by items from the museum’s collection.

Enjoy forest school activities in the grounds, singing, storytelling and refreshments.

SUN 18 DEC MUSIC, LIGHTS & MERRIMENT Old Farmyard, Avebury, Marlborough SN8 1RF. 0370 3331181, www.nationaltrust.org.uk/avebury, 4-6pm, free • The popular Circle of Lights display returns, plus traditional carols from the Devizes Wind Band, hot drinks, mince pies and late-night festive shopping.

SAT 17 DEC SNOOPY & CHARLIE BROWN: THE PEANUTS Salisbury Arts Centre, Bedwin St, Salisbury SP1 3UT. 01722 321744, www.salisburyartscentre.co.uk, 11am, £5 • Charlie develops a crush on new nextdoor neighbour, the Red Haired Girl, while Snoopy embarks on an epic adventure in a fantasy world.

SAT 17-SUN 18 DEC MEET FATHER CHRISTMAS Stourhead, Stourton BA12 6QF. 01747 841152, www.nationaltrust. org.uk/stourhead, 10.30am-2pm, standard admission prices apply plus £5 per child • With presents for every child in the magical grotto and a special story from the jolly man in red. Families can make Christmas crafts, write letters to

SUN 18 DEC HOLIDAY HOMECOMING American Museum in Britain, Claverton Manor, Claverton, Bath BA2 7BD. 01225 460503, www. americanmuseum.org, 1-4pm, included in gardens-only admission • Help the museum celebrate a magical end to their Christmas season with festive carols, Christmas crafts and Santa Claus.

MON 19-TUE 20 DEC CHRISTMAS HOUSE TOURS Avebury Manor, High St, Avebury, Marlborough SN8 1RF. 0370 333 1181, www.nationaltrust.org.uk/avebury, 1.30-3.30pm, £15 • Admire the house’s decorations and learn more about Christmas through the ages and then enjoy a cream tea with a special festive twist.

TUE 20 DEC IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE Salisbury Arts Centre, Bedwin St, Salisbury SP1 3UT. 01722 321744, CHRISTMAS 2016

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ROUNDABOUT »

PLEASE CHECK BEFORE YOU TRAVEL . . . AND TELL THEM YOU SAW THE EVENT IN PRIMARY TIMES!

www.salisburyartscentre.co.uk, 8pm, £8 • Screening of this classic festive tale in which an angel helps compassionate but despairingly frustrated businessman George Bailey by showing what life would have been like if he had never existed.

WED 21 DEC MIDWINTER ARCHAEOLOGY WALK Stonehenge, 3 Stonehenge Rd, Salisbury SP4 7DD. 01980 664780, www.nationaltrust.org. uk/stonehenge-landscape, 1-4pm, £8 (adult)/child free • Explore the downs and learn about the ancient archaeology of this heritage site.

Talking points include the Cursus, the many and varied barrows and an ancient avenue connecting ceremonial centres. Walk approx.

3 miles.

WED 28 DEC STICK UP THE NEW YEAR Roman Baths, Stall St, Bath BA1 1LZ. 01225 477785, www.romanbaths.co.uk, 11am-3pm, included in standard admission prices • Welcome in the New Year and make fridge magnets using an image from the Roman Baths.

JANUARY SUN 1 JAN NEW YEAR’S DAY WALK Stourhead, Stourton BA12 6QF. 01747 841152, www.nationaltrust. org.uk/stourhead, 11am-1pm, £10 (adult)/£5 (child) • Join head ranger Kim and garden/estate manager Alan for a walk through the ancient woods and parkland.

Discover how the historic estate is looked after and finish with warming mulled wine and mince pies.

SUN 1 JAN WEST OF ENGLAND YOUTH ORCHESTRA/NATASHA MARSH SOPRANO Wiltshire Music Centre, Ashley Rd, Bradford on Avon BA15 1DZ. 01225 860100, www.wiltshiremusic.org. uk, 7.30pm, £15 (adult)/£9 (child) • Conductor Tim Redmond leads

Wiltshire Council holds a drop-in information session for anyone interested in becoming a foster carer, County Hall, Trowbridge, Tue 31 Jan & Tue 28 Feb.

10

CHRISTMAS 2016

Make a fridge magnet based on any image from the Roman Baths in Stick up the New Year, Bath, Wed 28 Dec.

a New Year’s Day programme of much-loved film scores, including music from ‘Star Wars’, ‘Batman’, ‘James Bond’, ‘ET’ and ‘Star Trek’.

FROM SAT 7 JAN THE MAKING OF AN INVENTOR TRAIL Lacock Abbey & Fox Talbot Museum, Lacock, Chippenham SN15 2LG. 01249 730459, www. nationaltrust.org.uk/lacockabbey-fox-talbot-museum-andvillage, 11am-4pm, included in standard admission prices • Find out more about William Henry Fox Talbot, inventor of the first photographic negative, in a self-led family trail around the grounds.

prices apply • Wrap up warm and enjoy a lambing activity tractor ride. There are lots of other animals to meet too, including pigs, donkeys, goats and even a Highland bull.

SAT 14-SUN 15 JAN BRONZE CASTING Stonehenge, Amesbury, Salisbury SP4 7DE. 0370 3331181, www. english-heritage.org.uk/visit/ places/Stonehenge, 10am-4pm, £18.20 (adult)/£10.90 (child) • Interactive demonstration from experts on the Neolithic period.

See how ancient techniques were used to cast bronze into useful items and tools.

SAT 7 JAN SATURDAY ART CLUB Holburne Museum, Great Pulteney St, Bath BA2 4DB. 01225 388572, www.holburne. org, 10.30am-12.30pm, £10 per child • This session’s theme is 3D landscapes so you’ll explore the museum’s collection of Dutch landscapes in order to design and make your own pop-up stage set.

TUE 31 JAN WILTSHIRE COUNCIL FOSTERING County Hall, Bythesea Rd, Trowbridge BA14 8JQ. 0800 169 6321, www.wiltshire.gov.uk/fostering, 7pm, free • Drop-in information session where you can find out more about becoming a foster carer. No need to book.

SAT 7-SUN 8 JAN, SAT 14-SUN 15 JAN, SAT 21-SUN 22 JAN, SAT 28-SUN 29 JAN, & SAT 4-SUN 5 FEB WINTER WARMER WEEKEND Stourhead, Stourton BA12 6QF. 01747 841152, www.nationaltrust. org.uk/stourhead, 11am-3pm, free • Pop into the entrance hall of the house to enjoy a warming log fire, traditional board games and dressing up. Get to know the Hoare family through their portraits and take a look at the inner hall which is usually closed to visitors.

FEBRUARY

SAT 7-TUE 24 JAN LAMBING TIME Roves Farm, Severnhampton, Swindon SN6 7QG. 01793 763939, www.rovesfarm.co.uk, 10am4.30pm, standard admission

SAT 11-SUN 12 FEB NEOLITHIC BUSHCRAFT Stonehenge, Amesbury, Salisbury SP4 7DE. 0370 3331181, www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/ Stonehenge, 10am-4pm, £18.20 (adult)/£10.90 (child) • Interactive demonstration from experts on the Neolithic period. See how ancient techniques and skills were used to survive in the wild.

SAT 11-SUN 19 FEB WW1 BI-PLANE AT STONEHENGE Stonehenge, Amesbury, Salisbury SP4 7DE. 0370 3331181, www. english-heritage.org.uk/visit/ places/Stonehenge, 10am-4pm, £18.20 (adult)/£10.90 (child) •

See an exact replica of a 1917 WW1 bi-plane and discover stories about Stonehenge and the Wiltshire landscape during the Great War with the dapper Edwardian Chaps. You’ll also get the opportunity to take a seat inside the plane.

TUE 28 FEB WILTSHIRE COUNCIL FOSTERING County Hall, Bythesea Rd, Trowbridge BA14 8JQ. 0800 1696321, www.wiltshire.gov.uk/ fostering, 7pm, free • Drop-in information session where you can find out more about becoming a foster carer. No need to book.

ONGOING EVENTS STINGRAY BAY Longleat Safari & Adventure Park, Longleat, Warminster BA12 7NW. 01985 844400, www. longleat.co.uk, normal admission charges apply • See the new aquatic attraction and get up close and personal with the stingrays gliding around the pool.

ROMAN BATHS TRAIL Roman Baths, Stall St, Bath BA1 1LZ. 01225 477785, www.romanbaths.co.uk • Pick up an activity sheet from reception and follow the Roman Bath trail or Meet The Romans trail.

ROUNDABOUT AND THEATRE LISTINGS BY ELLEN WHITE

PRIMARY TIMES

ADVERTISING FEATURE

d r a o b n i P

Parents’ & teachers’

news, education & contacts

The light fantastic

Art for all After-school art clubs are really taking off across the region and you can make sure your child is enjoying their creativity by signing them up to one of South West Art Workshops after-school clubs. From Chinese calligraphy to willow weaving, South West Art Workshops supply every kind of workshop you can imagine – and even some you can’t.

The company is passionate about art and wants to inspire the next generation to stretch their imaginations and have fun.

Run by two mums in Gloucestershire, South West Art Workshops supply artists and tutors to schools for after-school art clubs and specialist arts weeks across the South West. They handle everything on the school’s behalf and the club is run from the school so there are no rushed trips in the car. Phone or email to discuss what they can offer your school.

Ffi: South West Art Workshops T: 01453 799270 E: enquiries@swartworkshops.co.uk

Grange of attractions Studley Grange Garden and Leisure Park near Swindon makes for a perfect destination this winter. There are 30 species of butterflies in a specially designed hot house and a menagerie of animals in the farm park, and with a craft village and soft play area as well, there is plenty of fun for visitors of all ages.

This winter the farm park recently welcomed its own lambs and piglets.

The flock of Dorset sheep are the only breed able to give birth all year round.

The popular soft play area at Studley Grange features a newly refitted indoor adventure zone. An exciting range of animal-themed, safe, soft climbing frames, slides and dens keep children occupied and give them plenty of entertainment.

Meanwhile, Chocolate Comforts/ Cake Creations is a charming boutique filled with handmade chocolates and fresh cakes while Sparkle Dreams features paper crafts. Studley Grange is located just off junction 16 of the M4.

Ffi: Studley Grange Garden and Leisure Park W: www.studleygrange.co.uk

PRIMARY TIMES

For the first time, Blenheim is being illuminated for an unforgettable after-dark festive trail through parkland landscaped by ‘Capability’ Brown.

The gardens have been turned into a winter wonderland as part of a magical Christmas trail which runs until 2 January.

The scented Fire Garden features a circular carpet of dancing flames against the backdrop of glittering ancient woodland. You’ll find Christmas trees that sing, a swaying lawn of fibre optic colour and sparkling hedgerows.

The lake will be aglow with brightly lit boats filled with snowflakes and presents while fountain jets dance and the woodland springs to life in time to much-loved Christmas music.

Other highlights include the fairy-lit arbour and the lakeside boathouse – a temporary home for Santa. Unfortunately, Santa can’t meet visitors on the trail, but be sure to give him a wave as you pass by.

The hour-long discovery trail has been specially designed for visitors of all ages.

Ffi: Blenheim Palace W: www.blenheimpalace.com

Wonderful Woolacombe

Boasting simply stunning views, Woolacombe Sands is a third-generation family-run holiday park situated on the side of Woolacombe Valley.

It offers a great choice of accommodation to suit all budgets – all with breathtaking ocean or countryside views.

Whether it is swimming in the indoor or outdoor swimming pools, a round of crazy golf, enjoying the arcades and bowling or just relaxing in the club house with nightly live entertainment, Woolacombe Sands Holiday Park has so much to offer that you will never be short of things to do come rain or shine. Take a look at the website for more information.

Ffi: Woolacombe Sands Holiday Park W: www.woolacombe-sands.co.uk

Festively fishy From Saturday 17 December to Monday 2 January, Bristol Aquarium is offering you the chance to enjoy a very merry ‘Fish-mas’. You can meet Santa Claws’ moults, take on a crab cracker trail and make a crafty starfish to put on your Christmas tree at home. Festively dressed, giant, cuddly costume character Charlie the Clownfish will be on hand and there’ll be thousands of sea creatures waiting for their festive meal so you can help feed them their Brussels sprouts!

It’s a chance to discover the wonders of the deep in the heart of the city and explore more than 40 naturally themed displays that are home to thousands of amazing aquatic creatures, including tropical sharks, rays, seahorses, puffer fish, piranhas and much more.

Bristol Aquarium also features a giant botanical house, known as the Urban Jungle, showcasing hundreds of exotic plant and tree species from around the world.

Ffi: Bristol Aquarium W: www.bristolaquarium.co.uk

Get ahead, get a hat Wear A Hat Day takes place on Friday 31 March 2017 and is the UK’s premier brain tumour awareness event. Brain tumours kill more children and adults under 40 than any other cancer, yet just 1% of the national spend on cancer research is allocated to the disease. Brain Tumour Research is the only national UK charity that invests its funds in long-term research.

Wear A Hat Day is a great way for schools and families to show support and raise money for this research by taking part in hat-filled fundraising events. Schoolchildren maximize their fundraising by selling exclusive hat-shaped pin badges: with new designs each year, they have become collector’s items.

To get involved, register at www. wearahatday.org and start planning your event. Event ideas and fundraising tips can also be found on the website. Many schoolchildren make hats, have hat competitions, parades, fashion shows etc and the charity publishes the best photos on social media.

Ffi: Wear A Hat Day W: www.wearahatday.org

CHRISTMAS 2016 11

Adver tising Featu re

The Great Outdoors made magical

CHRISTMAS AT

Treat the taste buds

BLENHEIM

• JRC Buffet is a restaurant like no other.

You’ll find hundreds of delicious, freshly prepared dishes.

Their stylish restaurants are perfect for special occasions or just catching up with family and friends. With so much choice, parents can introduce new dishes to their children and even the fussiest eaters will find new dishes they’ll love. Kids will enjoy watching JRC’s chefs prepare delicious meals from fresh ingredients at the spectacular live cooking stations, which add a sense of occasion to any meal.

At the sushi bar you’ll see chefs preparing authentic Japanese sushi using recipes that have been handed down from generation to generation, while at the teppanyaki bar expert chefs prepare meals with flair, creativity and a touch of showmanship, transforming your choice of fresh ingredients into delicious creations on the sizzling hotplate.

Originally from Japan, yakatori grill is very popular throughout the world. Nothing beats the taste of fresh king prawns, squid and marinated meats grilled over real flames by JRC’s yakatori chef.

You’ll find that food cooked at the noodle and wok bar is as healthy as it gets, as it uses a very small amount of oil, and at the dim sum bar, each dim sum has been handmade and filled with ingredients from traditional recipes.

Don’t forget to leave room for one or a few desserts. Remember you can enjoy as much as you like for one set price. A trip to JRC is great value and great fun at Christmas and well into the New Year.

An illuminated trail through festive gardens Grand Christmas Cascade Santa’s Boat House Scented Fire Garden Pea-lit Arbour The Great Lake Vista Seasonal Food and Gifts and more...

25 NOVEMBER– 2 JANUARY blenheimpalace.com/christmas 08716 204 029 Calls cost 13p per minute plus your phone company’s access charge. Not open every day, check website for full details. ©LW

Ffi: JRC Buffet W: www.jrc-globalbuffet.com

Adver tising Featu re

Wiltshire’s story

Sat 17 December - Mon 2 January

One child free per coupon when accompanied by one full paying adult. Not in conjunction with any other offer, family tickets or e-tickets. Photocopies are not accepted. This voucher has no cash value. Displays, talks & feeding demonstrations are subject to change.

Valid until 31/01/2017

Open daily. Children under 3 years go FREE!

12 CHRISTMAS 2016

• Wiltshire Museum is just two minutes from the Market Place in Devizes. Its award-winning displays feature spectacular treasures dating to the time of Stonehenge and worn by people who worshipped inside the stone circle. Displays of tools, pottery and jewellery lay out 500,000 years of Wiltshire’s story before your eyes. All the galleries have activities for young visitors and the opportunity to interact with the collections in fun and engaging ways.

The museum has amazing costumes in the galleries, made by volunteers from NADFAS; the outfits in the Story of Devizes gallery are something very special indeed. Why not visit and take some photos ready for your Christmas calendars? Accompanied children under 16 are free.

Young WANHS (Wiltshire Archaeological and Natural History Society) is a club for 7- to 14-year-olds which takes place on the second Saturday morning of each month. It arranges walks and talks, including site visits to excavations. On Saturday 10 December Young WANHS will be taking a journey through the Bronze Age and there will be Christmas-themed crafts, inspired by the museum’s collections. There are also craft activity sessions suitable for children aged 11 and under on Wednesday 21 December. Contact the museum for more information and to book places.

Winter opening (Sunday 27 November to Monday 6 February 2017): Tuesday to Saturday 10am to 5pm (last admission 4.30pm).

Closed Sundays and Mondays (except for school and group bookings). See the website for opening hours during Christmas/New Year.

Ffi: Wiltshire Museum T: 01380 727369 E: hello@wiltshiremuseum.org.uk W: www.wiltshiremuseum.org.uk

PRIMARY TIMES

Adver tisin g Feature

Discover Space • Located in Laser Quest in Swindon, SpacePlay offers an indoor multilevel adventure play frame with ramps, tunnels, slides, balls, viewing porthole and a wobbler seesaw, all based around a clean space-age theme. SpacePlay is ideal for ages up to a maximum of seven years – by which point Laser Quest might be more appealing.

For younger space adventurers, there’s a toddler play area with soft alphabet squares, mirror wall and a spaceman Velcro puzzle wall. Accompanying adults are able to sit and enjoy a drink or a bite to eat whilst keeping an eye on the children.

SpacePlay is the perfect venue for your little one’s birthday party, offering excellent facilities, private party rooms and unbeatable value. Birthday parties cost just £7.99 per person and include 60 minutes of play time, hot or cold party food in your own private party room, unlimited squash and party invitations.

Look out too for free weekly activity programmes and special events, including mini discos, cookie decorating and arty fun.

SpacePlay is open seven days a week from 10am until late. You’ll find it in Laser Quest on the Shaw Ridge Leisure Park, five minutes from junction 16 on the M4.

Ffi: SpacePlay Laser Quest Shaw Ridge Leisure Park, Swindon T: 01793 758758 W: www.lqswindon.co.uk

Adver tisin g Feature

Creative courage • Every child has all kinds of abilities and capabilities but unless they explore them, experiment and learn to express themselves, they may never realise the talents within them.

Stagecoach sets out to inspire children to unleash their potential, teaching the performing arts and so much more. It’s about taking on a challenge and being unafraid to express yourself, having the courage to be yourself and let other people know it, being creative and expressive and building life-long friendships. Stagecoach calls it “creative courage for life”.

Stagecoach Performing Arts in Chippenham and Melksham offers classes in singing, dancing and acting and is offering a two-week trial during the school spring term for youngsters aged four to 18.

Classes are small, which means every child is given attention and allowed to realise their potential at their own pace. The teachers all have performing arts experience and are there to lead and support youngsters as they conquer fears and rise to new challenges.

Principal Natalie Collins has a passion for the arts and has a fantastic team of experienced teachers at her school. This term the students will produce a 40-minute show in early stages and an hour show in main school. They will perform the shows in a professional theatre with lights, costumes and microphones.

Classes run during school term time on a Thursday and a Sunday.

Ffi: Stagecoach Performing Arts T: 0808 208 5134 W: www.stagecoach.chippenham

PRIMARY TIMES

GOLD FROM THE TIME OF STONEHENGE See 500,000 years of Wiltshire’s Story Just 2 minutes from the Market Place

41 Long Street Devizes, SN10 1NS T: 01380 727369

Seasonal variations in opening times - please contact us or check our website before travelling hello@wiltshiremuseum.org.uk

www.wiltshiremuseum.org.uk

CHRISTMAS 2016 13

Hello Kids!

I am so looking forward to the New Year and have lots of projects planned. Maybe you have some ideas about everything you’re looking forward to after Christmas.

It’s given me an idea for my next competition. Children who send me pictures on the subject Things I want to do in 2017 could win a fabulous book from the editor’s overflowing cupboard.

So get your crayons out and send me your pictures to: Arty Barty, Primary Times, 1 Temple Way, Bristol, BS2 0BY, or email high resolution jpegs to my editor at: mike.gartside@localworld. co.uk Don’t forget to give me your name, age, full home postal address and the name of your school. Deadline: Monday 9 January.

Have fun!

Arty NB. Please see T&Cs at primarytimes.net/ avon/home-intro/tcs

Arty Barty I was so impressed by your pictures about My favourite thing at Cattle Country Adventure Park. It was so hard to choose a winner but well done to these lucky two, who win a family ticket to the Gloucestershire attraction.

hool, Newent klenash Junior Scuntry is the Alexia Agnew, Pic at Cattle Co ng thi rite ou fav Alexia’s to include all the . She’s made sure magnificent castleshield above the door. Great work! details, even the Josie Ellis, 6, Linden Primary School, Gloucester Josie says her favourite thing at Cattle Country is the exciting tractor ride to the witch’s house, and she’s represented it here beautifully. I love all the bright colours and the lollipops on the outside of the house.

Keira Marchant, 8, Amesbury CofE School, Wiltshire Keira’s goat is so vibrant! The firework-style explosion behind him makes him really stand out.

I love the shiny gold horns, too!

WINNER!

WINNER!

Kasper Grzegorczyk, 7, Bridge Learning Campus, Bristol Kasper has drawn a wonderfully realistic guinea pig enjoying time in his cage. Really lifelike: well done!

Winnie rides again Primary Times reviews the new releases.

A right Christmas stink A word of advice to John Dougherty’s Santa this Christmas: perhaps the badgers have been too naughty to get presents this year. Or any year for that matter. The idea that the jolly bearded one should deliver presents to the evil and wicked badgers while they are actually (a word that the author himself uses to great effect) in prison stretches credibility. But then, if he had taken my advice we wouldn’t have a right rollicking adventure, where Santa gets kidnapped and bagged up by the cunning badgers, meaning that our stinky siblings from Kerfuffle Island have to save the day – Christmas Day, no less.

The theme that Santa gets in a pickle and needs helping out is a common one, repeated elsewhere on this page, but Dougherty deploys it with such slapstick fun and vigour that readers of all ages are sucked in quicker than a runaway sleigh spiralling to catastrophe. Before the crisis is resolved we tangle with supermarket trolleys, wobbly skiing trees and sardonically captioned mugs of tea. Ho Ho Ho, or, as the badgers would say, Hur, Hur, Hur! (Mike Gartside) Stinkbomb & Ketchup-Face and the Great Kerfuffle Christmas Kidnap John Dougherty, £6.99, Oxford University Press, www.oup.com

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CHRISTMAS 2016

A jolly, bright and beautiful storybook, illustrated by the talented Korky Paul, this is a splendid Christmas present for fans and a lovely addition to their collection of Winnie books. The familiar characters and magic word “Abracadabra!” won’t disappoint. The pages are packed with amazing detailed drawings to delight and readers are in for a special treat with the fold-out letter to Santa and the spectacular pop-up on the last page.

Winnie and Wilbur go an another adventure on the witch’s broomstick when they have the enormous pleasure of meeting Santa himself, as he gets stuck in their chimney on Christmas Eve. They join him on his sleigh to help him deliver all his presents to the children and end up having a magical Christmas night to remember. (Sarah Trevelyan) Winnie and Wilbur Meet Santa Valerie Thomas and Korky Paul, £12.99 Oxford University Press, www.oxfordowl.com www.winnieandwilbur.com

PRIMARY TIMES

PRIMARY TIMES

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CHRISTMAS 2016

PRIMARY TIMES