SCOOP

Looking for a real Christmas tree near you in Surrey or Hampshire?

Buy your real Christmas tree from Alice Holt Forest, near Farnham this year for a wonderful experience and the highest quality, sustainably-grown British Christmas trees. From 25 November, 9am - 5pm 7 days a week. Come and choose your real Christmas Tree from hundreds of potted and cut firs and spruce in the fresh, wintery air of the beautiful forest. Make a day of it and get in the festive mood whilst you visit. Why not take advantage of a hot takeaway drink or food from the cafe, enjoy the Gruffalo Spotters trail with the children (trail ends 19th December), or take a peaceful wintery walk around the forest.

Contactless payments are encouraged along with bringing your own blanket or sheet for a more sustainable Christmas purchase. The cafe is open from 10am - 4pm.

What makes these Christmas trees so special? Quality: High-quality trees are grown in Britain - so you can be proud of your superior quality tree

Experience: Choose your tree from a beautiful forest location to kick off your Christmas celebrations. Expertise: Christmas tree experts can help you choose the right tree for your home

Support your forests: The money raised from your Christmas tree helps maintain the forests for wildlife, for you, and for future generations

forestryeng.land/aliceholt-trees Facebook: aliceholtforest

Enjoy activities for all ages at Watts Gallery – Artists’ Village

Our new temporary exhibition ‘Uncommon Power’: Lucy and Catherine Madox Brown explores the work of two creative women who grew up at the heart of the Pre-Raphaelite world.

Visit Limnerslease, the recently reopened home of our founders, artists Mary and George Frederic Watts and see their studios.

In Print: Into the Night is a free exhibition in Watts Contemporary Gallery featuring contemporary printmakers who are inspired by the beauty of night-time.

Treat yourself and loved ones to unique and thoughtful presents from our Shop.

Families and Young People There’s plenty on offer for everyone: make decorative festive crafts, follow winter woodland trails, cosy up for fireside storytelling, and meet Father Christmas in Limnerslease.

The Tea Shop Housed in the original commercial centre for the Compton Potters’ Art Guild, this is an idyllic location to catch up with friends over seasonal treats.

We look forward to seeing you soon! See our advert on page 15 for more information.

Animal Encounters

Merrist Wood College in Guildford offers a variety of animal encounters activities. This festive season we are offering animal encounter gift vouchers for our popular events: Junior Keeper Days, Animal Encounter Tours and Meet the Meerkat Experience. These vouchers can be purchased via our website www.merristwoodevents.co.uk

Britain’s Christmas Singalong - It’s a new Christmas tradition!

Doorstep Carols is back this year – and with an ever-growing list of mega organisations jumping on board, it looks set to be Britain’s biggest ever carols singalong.

Carols on the doorstep brought people together in the midst of the pandemic last year. Broadcast on over 30 local radio stations, it led to wonderful scenes of families singing on doorsteps, sharing mulled wine over the fence with neighbours and children playing instruments in front gardens. An estimated 125,000 people took part, raising over £10,000 for MIND UK and local charities, with collections at street level.

This year, Doorstep Carols 2021 is a supercharged nationwide event, taking all of the street magic of last year across the country whilst also reaching out to those who are isolated. Around 25 local BBC radio stations and BBC Sounds will again broadcast the pre-recorded backing tracks to well-known carols and Christmas songs so that the nation can sing in unison. Streets taking part are encouraged to use the opportunity to raise money for a charity of their choice.

A host of national organisations and celebrities are jumping on board as this event grows, supporting the British public in what is expected to become a record-breaking singalong. Internationally renowned British conductor Suzi Digby and Sir Tim Rice are also backing the event.

For more information visit www.doorstepcarols.co.uk and to find out how to tune in, download the words and music and sing along on December 15th at 6pm!

Cough, Cold and COVID in Children – what to look out for and where to seek further help

The NHS is seeing an increase in children with coughs, colds and COVID with further increases being expected in winter months. The website offers advice on when to keep your child off school in relation to COVID and COVID symptoms.

Paediatrician Dr Patrick Aldridge, from Frimley Park Hospital, said: “Most viral illnesses typically clear up within seven days, without the need for medical support. For most children, treatment with paracetamol and/or ibuprofen, with sugary fluids when they’re not eating, are usually enough to help.

“I would encourage parents and carers to access the NHS Frimley Healthier Together website for up-todate advice at their fingertips”.

The website provides advice and support from local healthcare professionals and paediatricians to help parents recognise what might be wrong.

Each illness has a traffic light system to help parents manage their child’s symptoms at home, with red flags for when they might need to seek more specialist help, from their GP, 111 or visit the emergency department.

For more information: frimley-healthiertogether.nhs.uk Facebook: @Frimley.healthiertogether Instagram: @Frimley.healthiertogether

Jack and the Beanstalk arrives at Guildford Spectrum

Guildford Spectrum celebrates the return of its annual ice pantomime this December with a performance of the well-loved fairy tale, Jack and the Beanstalk. The popular family attraction located on Stoke Park Guildford, will be transported to a winter wonderland this Christmas with fun filled festive shows running from Thursday 9th to Sunday 12th December.

The pantomime will feature performances by some of the regions rising skating stars, with the cast formed entirely of young talented skaters drawn from Spectrums acclaimed skating programme. The cast will recreate all the magic of the fairy tale, following young and daring Jack on an adventure of a lifetime to a place high up in the clouds where no one has been before!

What makes Spectrum’s ice pantomime so special is all those who take part in it. It is a real community event brought together by an incredible array of talent, lavish costumes, and sets. This year Spectrum has pulled out all the stops, turning the Ice Rink into a theatre with sounds, lights, and effects which can be seen in the West End. Prepare to be amazed by flying jumps, dizzying spins and energetic dance routines that will be a visual extravaganza for all ages!

The show runs at 12.45pm and 6pm on Friday 10th December and 1pm and 5pm on Saturday 11th and Sunday 12th December. A preview performance runs at 6pm on Thursday 9th December. A wide range of food and refreshments will be available at every performance for everyone to enjoy. Tickets are available to book now, including tickets for families and groups. Customers can book online at guildfordspectrum.co.uk, or by calling the box office on 01483 443333.

Still one of the region’s best value Christmas shows, this adaptation of a classic story promises to have all the ingredients of a truly spectacular family treat, and one not to be missed!