Summer Activities

SUMMER TIMES

It may be different than usual, but with the gradual loosening of restrictions we can still look forward to six weeks of summer fun for all the family!

HOPE NATURE CENTRE

Hope Nature Centre is gearing up for a busy summer of sunshine (hopefully), ice cream and smiles, with a range of events planned, alongside the continued improvements being implemented across the 15-acre Animal Park. “Alongside our exciting new additions and refurbishments, we’re currently putting together an exciting array of events for the summer and beyond” said assistant manager Jane Ord. “We’re hoping to be able to run one of our famous fun days, as well as offering a range of animal experiences, to allow people to get up and close with our wonderful Animal Park residents.” For more information and to pre-book tickets, head to the website.

• hopenaturecentre.org.uk.

Based just outside Trowbridge in Southwick Country Park, the charity has invested heavily in the attraction over the past 6 months, with a whole range of new additions and refurbishments. These include a brand-new adventure play area, new animal enclosures, a new outdoor seating terrace and tractor play area, as well as refurbishing and extending the café. The latest of these to launch is a brand new aviary, which opened at the start of June, featuring an array of colourful birds.

Hope Nature Centre is looking to offer animal experiences this summer

STONAR HOLIDAY CLUB

Stonar School in Atworth will be running a Holiday Club for children aged between 3 and 11 from Monday 12 July. Open to both existing pupils and those attending other schools, children will benefit from a range of daily outdoor and activities on their vast 80 acre campus, run by a team of experienced, friendly and welcoming staff. A varied programme of activities includes sports, forest school, arts and crafts, drama, music and much more.

Stonar’s Holiday Club is open to all children aged 3-11 The school offers three different sessions - half day, short day and full day, to provide flexibility for parents, with discounts available if a full week is booked. The onsite catering team will also provide a fresh, healthy snack and lunch each day, meaning parents don’t have to make the dreaded lunch box each day! To find out more and to book online visit the website or for further information email admissions@stonarschool.com.

• stonarschool.com/prepschool-2-11-/holiday-club

DRIVE-TECH LTD

Drive-Tech Ltd are Skid Control, Karting and 4x4 Off Road experts. Based at

Castle Combe Circuit (within easy reach of the M4 & M5) their ultimate driving experiences will help you build individual skills, increase your confidence, improve your personal safety, raise your awareness and provide white knuckle tension, all at the same time!

Any motorsport fan would love pushing their driving skills to new limits and there are options for everyone aged 10 and over – perfect for entertaining the kids during the school holidays.

Junior Karting is for kids aged 10 – 15) and allows boys and girls to learn top class racing skills under the professional supervision of experienced instructors. Junior Karting sessions can be done as a ‘one off’ or drivers can progress and eventually get to race in Junior Championship Kart Races, it’s completely up to you. Gift vouchers, starting at just £40, open dated and valid for 18 months make great gifts too. For details see the website or call 01249 783010.

• drivetechltd.co.uk

Kids karting is great fun for juniors aged 10-15

HAYNES MOTOR MUSEUM

There’s lots of fun to be had at Haynes International Motor Museum with handson family activities running on selected days throughout the school summer holidays. With help from the Museum team, you can uncover the fascinating stories, facts, and quirky characters behind the very first cars through to Formula 1. Plus, look out for special activity days as part of the brand-new Williams F1 exhibition to find out “Why an F1 car doesn’t fly like an aeroplane” with the Museum’s friendly Education team and their working wind tunnel. With brand new exhibitions to explore there is plenty to keep the whole family entertained from learning how a car works to Paint a Mini, the Top Trumps trail and brass rubbings. There is also a fantastic outdoor playground for mini motorists with coin-operated go-karts, an interactive garage and mini road system. Plus, if you are feeling competitive, the onsite Karting at Haynes track (booked separately) is also open for a fun family race. Special summer activities will take place on selected dates only, so please check the Museum’s social media channels and website for further details.

To book your family day out visit the website or call 01963 440804.

There are lots of hands-on activities to try at HIMM

WILTSHIRE MUSEUM

You can explore 500,000 years of Wiltshire’s story at Wiltshire Museum, Devizes. It features spectacular treasures dating to the time of Stonehenge and worn by people who worshiped inside the stone circle – a mustsee before visiting Stonehenge or Avebury. There are also fascinating displays of Roman treasure, the Story of Devizes and the Making of the Kingdom of Wessex.

The Museum’s summer exhibition “Ways of Seeing Wiltshire” features a large number of works from a collection recently acquired by the Museum, all around the theme of the Wiltshire landscape - from chalk hill figures to prehistoric remains. As with the recent Covid lockdowns, the period between the two World Wars (1919-1938) saw less travelled ways increasingly valued. The surrounding countryside encouraged artists to look beyond the hedgerows, railed fencing and wire strung posts to the diversity of the landscape and architectural materials. Covid-safe measures are in place and pre-booking is recommended. Entry for children under 18 is FREE. Check the website for opening times and booking info.

• wiltshiremuseum.org.uk.

The museum is hosting the Ways of Seeing Wiltshire exhibition this summer

COURT FARM COUNTRY PARK

Open for more than 30 years as a visitor attraction, Court Farm Country Park near Weston-Super-Mare is looking forward to a fun filled summer of entertainment for all the family. The park has been voted runners up in the Farm Attraction Of The Year competition twice in recent years, an accolade that the attraction’s owner, Peter Gwyn, puts down to the friendly atmosphere and excellent facilities. With over 25000sq ft of undercover attractions and playgrounds, all visitors can enjoy a day in the countryside come rain or shine.

If its animals you want – they have loads, from Shetlands and sheep to piglets and pygmy goats! Budding adventurers will love the Safari Jeep track. There are two large indoor adventure playgrounds, which suit all ages of children and there are lots of friendly animals on show too. With twice daily bottle-feeding shows kids can marvel at the antics of the farm’s baby animals, whilst the Tractor rides and a whole host of other goings on will leave your kids begging to come back soon. Court Farm Country Park is open daily from 10am to 5.30pm.

Court Farm Country Park has lots of animals to meet

WILTSHIRE SCRAPSTORE

For an Aladdin’s cave of craft materials look no further than Wiltshire Scrapstore. Situated on Bowden Hill on the outskirts of Lacock, it is an award-winning, environmental and community charity. They collect clean, unused materials from business, industry and the community otherwise destined for landfill.

Wiltshire Scrapstore actively promote and enable learning and enjoyment through creative activities, thus enabling industry, young people, families and community groups to work together for a more sustainable future.

Everyone at the charity is committed to finding a new purpose for unwanted materials. They have a large, talented team of volunteers that produce and upcycle many items from donated resources. They also offer creative workshops (and birthday parties) both inhouse and out in the community and have recently restarted their early year Make & Play sessions. They have also announced dates for their popular themed summer workshops. early booking is advised as places are limited - see the website for details.

• wiltshirescrapstore.org.uk

Wiltshire Scrapstore hold popular summer workshops

PICNIC IN THE MEADOW

Frome Town Council’s Picnic in the Meadow is taking place on Sunday 11 July, 11am-2pm, and will be taking place in accordance with Covid restrictions.

Feel free to bring a picnic and a rug and really enjoy the meadow, all the organisers ask is that you take your rubbish home with you. There will also be an opportunity to support local charity Active and In Touch who will be running a cream tea stall or why not avoid a soggy sandwich and allow Event Horizon to create you a tasty picnic, anything from a grazing box with charcuterie, salady bits, to tartlets or scotch eggs, including sandwiches built with a filling of your choice. To secure your picnic box pre-order in advance by messaging Events Horizon on Facebook or emailing kerenhayden@gmail.com. They will also have plenty of goodies for sale on the day too.

The picnic is a wonderful opportunity to enjoy the meadow, enjoy some nature-inspired activities and for kids to play in one of the area’s nicest open spaces. Activities are set to include: river dipping, sports day style races, mini beast scavenger hunt, archery, axe throwing, creative crafts with clay and kapla, willow crowns and creating your own bug hotel.

• frometowncouncil.gov.uk