2 From your Editor… In this issue: We're ready to party. If you are too, Sally J Hall has some fun theme ideas for your News & Views: 4 event. If you have creative flair you’ll run with her ideas and if you want initial inspiration, look no further. Parties: 6 With better weather on the horizon it's a good time to introduce children to Competition: 9 outdoor sport. Sports Journalist, Adrian Warner, presents some of the options. If you are concerned about the so-called ‘summer slide’, Brain Training, by Liat Education: 10 Hughes Joshi has some fun common sense ideas to keep children’s brain cells busy. Our half term What's On listing is fulsome and there are more events on line at Clubs & Classes: 12 www.familiesherts.co.uk. Half Term What’s On: 13 Lastly, enter the competition for a chance to win a family ticket to Willows Farm Village, where children will have a magical experience in the brand new Peter Rabbit Playground. Next Issue: July/August 2016 Copy deadline: 3rd June

Where are we? Baldock, Bishops Stortford, Shelley Borehamwood, Chorleywood, Harpenden, Hatfield, Hemel Hempstead, , Hitchin, Kings Langley, Knebworth, Letchworth, Radlett, St Albans, Stevenage, Ware, Welwyn GC. Families Herts, PO Box 434, Pick it up from cafes, playgroups, nurseries, Pinner, HA5 9AH schools, activity groups, selected shops, Tel: 020 8428 6384 surgeries, leisure centres and libraries. Email [email protected] or call to request copies for your venue. www.familiesherts.co.uk Image credit: ©lotosfoto1 www.depositphotos.com

Next issue: SUMMER SPECIAL To advertise your summer camp or activity call 020 8428 6384 or email [email protected]

Say you saw it in 3 News & Views

Calling all Young Writers! Be a Museum Explorer! Is your child excellent with words? Do The ‘Museum Explorer Passport’ is back across they like telling stories? Or do you want to Bedfordshire, and Essex, with encourage their creativity? If the answer is 40 museums taking part. In Hertfordshire, ‘yes’ to any of the above, then it is time for museums taking part are British Schools them to put pen to paper. The National Young Museum (Hitchin), Lowewood Museum Writers’ Awards judges are looking for the (Hoddesdon), and Mill best short story of under 500 words based (Hatfield), Royston Museum, St Albans around this year’s theme of ‘The Mash-Up’. Museums Service, Watford Museum and The winner of the competition will receive Welwyn Roman Baths. £500 worth of books for their school and a The scheme encourages children to explore trip to Disneyland Paris! the collections within the museums and The annual awards, run by tuition company beyond. Pick up a free passport from your Explore Learning, are now in their 8th year. local participating museum. Children will get This year’s judge is renowned author of the a passport stamp at every museum they visit. Charlie and Lola series of books, Lauren Child. For every exciting ‘mission’ they complete they To find out more and to enter, either pick will get a special sticker. up a form from your nearest Explore Learning The passports can be used from May and centre or visit www.explorelearning.co.uk/ throughout the summer holidays. youngwriters Find out more at www.museumexplorerpassport.com

Centre 4 Excellence Happy Birthday Ma’am Does your child mispronounce words, often Her Majesty the Queen’s actual 90th birthday ask you to repeat things or struggles to was on April 21st and her official birthday is focus when there is background noise? usually celebrated in June at The Trooping Perhaps they find it difficult to follow more of the Colour. Of course this year is special than two instructions or have problems as it is Her Majesty’s 90th. So, as she ends spelling or reading. These could be signs of a her 9th decade and enters her 10th, how will condition called Auditory Processing Disorder, you celebrate? Street Parties are a traditional sometimes mistaken for Dyslexia, ADD and way of communities celebrating significant Monkey Music ADHD or ASD. events and to help you organise, Oakman The sound training programmes offered by Inns and Dr Rob Schafer have launched Monkey Music, Harpenden and St Albans, have Centre 4 Excellence help to improve auditory www.ourstreetparty.org. Street parties are announced two new venues in St Albans for skills and the main cognitive skills essential a wonderful opportunity to spend time with the Summer term: Thursdays at Trestle Arts for learning: memory, processing, sequencing, your neighbours and for children to play Base, and Fridays at Homewood Road United attention and focus. Children’s reading skills together in their traffic free street. To find out Reformed Church. Both venues have free can leap one to two years after three months more, sign up for a free information pack or parking and there is a lovely café at Trestle of work. At Centre 4 Excellence they believe join a meeting go to www.ourstreetparty.org Arts Base. every child can unlock their potential. or call 01442 332 603. Monkey Music classes are tailor-made for To contact call Florence 07919 067343 or children and families. The 30-minute sessions email [email protected] captivate children with a combination of catchy music, songs, percussion instruments, visual props and high energy. There is plenty of opportunity for children to get hands- on making music and exploring their own learning. Join our Family! Work with Families Online in Herts Adults attending Monkey Music often say We are preparing to celebrate the launch of a that the sessions are a family highlight for fantastic new website this summer. Destined their babies and children and for them too! to become the number 1 resource for local To find out more or book a free class go to families, www.familiesonline.co.uk will soon www.monkeymusic.co.uk, email have over 300 local sites across the UK. Like [email protected] or our magazines, the local sites in Herts are call 01582 620446 guaranteed to give users the very best ideas for spending time with their family locally. We have a number of home-based work opportunities available for Area Managers to run our local sites. As an Area Manager you will enjoy a fun and flexible role which fits around you and your family life, whilst affording you a great challenge – and the opportunity to make money! There are no set up costs involved, you will be and social media marketing industry. trained by industry experts and you will To register your interest, please email: develop valuable new skills in the digital, print [email protected]

4 Snappy Tag™ makes labelling clothes painless

Labelling clothes was a time-consuming chore, because I thought this would mean sewing or until Snappy Tag TM, the one-click labelling ironing! In the package there was a Snappy system, came along. Forget sewing or ironing Tag applicator, tags with my name on and tag on adhesive labels. Snappy Tags look like small backs. The instructions were really clear - it buttons and are very simple to use. The names literally only took me 30 seconds to work are laser etched onto the Snappy Tags and are them out. Also, you can remove the tags guaranteed not to fade or wash off. with the applicator once you’ve outgrown Families asked 11-year-old, Isaac, to try the clothes, and then re-use the same tag on them out when he had to label his clothes for another item – you’ll need to buy more backs. Find out more and buy Snappy Tags at Scout camp! I’d highly recommend Snappy Tag – and so www.snappytags.co.uk Isaac’s verdict: “I was fed up when my would my mum – because she HATES sewing mum told me I’d have to label my own gear and ironing even more than I do!”

The Sky’s the Limitless

Limitless Academy of Performing Arts is a new part-time theatre school in Stevenage. The talent behind Limitless is three friends who are also professional actors: Ruth Burton, Peter Hepplethwaite and Peter McNally. To support the local community and to make professional performance education accessible to all youngsters, they are offering two full scholarships per term for disadvantaged students. The three have big dreams for Limitless, Peter says: “The fun for singing studio. We want to nurture talents and us comes from the work, and this is what we enthusiasm so that, whatever their end goal, hope to nurture in our students: pride in what they really can be Limitless.” they do, a sense of achievement, the glow of Find out more at creating something of their own. What we www.limitlessacademyarts.com or call offer reaches beyond the drama, dance or 01438213064

Holiday Fun at Re:Play in St Albans

Re:Play are open every school holiday and will be running throughout the summer. Re:play has been established since 2005 and they pride themselves on providing a safe, stimulating and fun place for children. They have lots of activities going on including: arts & crafts, team games, sports, imaginative areas, den building and competitions. In addition to the regular daily activities there are special outings and workshops. Indoors there is a wide range of toys and equipment. The amazing outdoor facilities have tennis courts, playing fields and a park! Re:Play maintain a strict adult to child ratios and places are limited. Parents have total flexibility, choosing half days, full days or extended days, as they require. Places must be booked in advance. The Re:Play staff team are highly experienced, qualified and thoroughly vetted. Re:Play also provide Breakfast and After School Clubs to five St Albans schools. Contact Re:Play on 07913 323608 or email [email protected]

Hertford Museum Celebrates Oak Apple Day Most of us have probably not heard of Oak Apple Day but it used to be a national holiday held annually on the 29th May. It was declared a public holiday by Parliament in 1660 as a special day to celebrate the restoration of the monarchy. It was also known as Shick Shack Day, Oak and Nettle Day and, outlandishly, as Pinch-bum Day! The latter name arose when people who omitted to wear an oak leaf were liable to be pinched. Oak Apple Day was abolished in 1859 but this year it is being celebrated at Hertford Museum on 28th May from 10.30am-3.30pm. It’s free and you can drop in any time to meet the re-enactors, join in free craft activities and lots more. Please note: no pinching allowed! Find out more at www.hertfordmuseum.org

Say you saw it in 5 Parties

Parties can go with a swing if you choose a theme that your little ones Seven party can have fun with. Pirates themes kids Invitations: Create a treasure map with “X marks the party spot” and a pirate poem with will love plenty of “aaaaaahhhhhhhs!” Wear: Dress as a pirate and make eye patches By Sally J. Hall to wear. Play: Fill a wooden chest with torn up newspaper and pop in some lucky dip gifts. Eat: Give them chicken, vegetable or fish Jungle fingers and let them eat with their hands and make jelly with pomegranate seeds in it to Invitations: Make animal themed invitations; look like sunken treasure. these can be as simple or artistic as you like. Wear: Come as your favourite animal or get Disney your guests to bring an animal toy. Invitations: Use stickers of Disney characters Play: Have a Safari game in the garden where and glitter. you hide pictures of animals which the kids Wear: Offer accessories such as paper crowns have to spot, then play Sleeping Lions. and a sash made from coloured paper. Old net Eat: Create a Bush Tucker Trial with the use of curtains make good veils. jungle themed plates and cups. Play: Create a Disney piñata by covering a balloon with papier maché and turn it into a Circus Mickey Mouse head. Invitations: Create a big, red clown’s shoe or Eat: Serve drinks in plastic goblets for a castle circus ticket as the invitation. theme and make cucumber sandwiches for Wear: Dress as circus folk; ballet costumes Princes and Princesses. double as acrobats, riders can wear jodhpurs and boots and all the kids can be clowns with Superhero some face paint. Invitations: On Superhero coloured Play: Buy modelling balloons and then play invitations, write: “Dear SuperZac, please some tumbling games. come to my Superhero party.” Eat: Make popcorn, have hotdogs and burgers, Wear: Make simple masks for each child and a and don’t forget the ketchup and mild badge with their name and super power. You mustard. can also make capes from plastic tablecloths. Play: Create a super hero obstacle course from Football ropes, pop-up tunnels, boxes and cushions, Invitations: Make football shaped invitations. then have a quiz about superhero powers. Wear: Whether it’s their school PE kit or a Eat: Add cake toppers with “Boom!” “Pow!” duplicate of their favourite team’s uniform, ask and “Zap!” on them to cupcakes. the kids to dress for a game of football. Play: Ask a coach from a local team to teach Tea Party skills such as keepy-uppy. Invitations: Make invitations festooned with Eat: Use paper cloths in your team’s colours flowers from wrapping paper and doilies. with matching napkins. Eat football ground- Wear: Make accessories such as fascinators or style food such as burgers and chips. hats and bow ties. Play: This theme really suits all those old- fashioned party games like Pass the Parcel and Sally J. Hall is a writer and editor who has Musical Chairs. written for all the main parenting titles as well as The Independent and The Mail. Eat: Tea can be a traditional one with little She is author of Eco Baby and contributing sandwiches and dainty cakes. author to Watch My Baby Grow (Dorling Look for cardboard tiered cake stands and use Kindersley). pretty cloths and bunting.

6 Your business or service could advertise here. call 020 8428 6384 or email [email protected]

Say you saw it in 7 Parties

Singing Starlets Singing Starlets provide party a Singing Starlets party an entertainment for babies, entertainer will provide up to toddlers and preschoolers. A two hours of fun during which finalist in the Netmums Party children will sing and dance, entertainer awards, they have make music, do action songs, also received glowing reviews play musical instruments, meet from parents, nurseries, children's puppet friends, pop bubbles, Debutots Parties are an centres and even Ofsted. At have fun with a parachute and Adventure play traditional party Debutots Adventure Story games. Subscribe to Parties for 1–7 year olds use Celtic Harmony: Indoor the Singing Starlets original stories, games, imaginary Archery Parties! YouTube Channel to characters and places for an see them in action. unforgettable treat. Create a Come and celebrate your To find out more personal package for your child birthday with a two hour Archery call Terri on 07803 from a favourite story, character Party at The Archery Barn! Your 907136, email or animal, or choose from one party will be led by experienced singingstarlets@ of their original party themes. Celtic Harmony Archery gmail.com or visit Fun, informal and relaxed, with Instructors so you can experience www.singingstarlets. minimum hype and volume. the thrill of pulling back a bow co.uk Find or more from Laura on and shooting an arrow into the 01707 861437 or email target! Then put these new skills [email protected] to the test in a friendly Archery competition with your friends, Adam Ants shooting at 3D Targets. Celtic Adam Ants provide costumed Harmony holds the Adventure entertainers for either one or Cinnamon Square Mark for the high standard of two hours. Parties include music, Archery tuition. Organise your Cinnamon Square bakery café dancing, games, magic tricks, Indoor Archery Party today and in Rickmansworth hosts unique balloon modelling and puppetry. take a look at the video online baking parties for 5s and over. Older children will enjoy a disco at celticharmony.org/archery or Parties include baking and fun party with games and prizes. Try give our friendly admin team a experiments like discovering a teddy making party or a sports call on 01438 718543 or go to why and how bread rises. Older party complete with medals and www.celticharmony.org children (9+) can choose from trophies. Tables and chair, face a Cupcake or Chocolate Making painters, bouncy castles available party. Buy KiddieKraft baking for hire. Kool Kidz Parties kits for a party bag alternative; 020 8959 1045 personalised free and delivered A Kool Kidz’ party goes with a www.adamantsparties.co.uk nationally from £4.95 each for swing from beginning to end. orders of 15 and over. To find out Choose from: Traditional (3 years more call 01923 778353 or go to +), Sports (relay races, football, www.cinnamonsquare.com unihockey, team-games), Themed Hatfield Park Farm Parties party games. Plus, you will all be (a twist on the traditional party; Looking for a venue for a able to enjoy the Farm, Bloody superheros, fairies and more), children’s birthday party? The Hollow Children’s Play Area, Disco (with lights, snow machine Kid’s Cabin, an outdoor shelter, Goat Pass and a tractor and and games, dancing competitions is available to hire for do-it- trailer ride. and prizes), Pedal Go Kart (races, yourself parties at Hatfield Park The Kid’s Cabin is available for timed laps, games with a medal Farm. £100 (including VAT) a day (11am for the birthday child). Two Take your own food and party to 4pm) and includes up to 30 hour parties with a break for decorations to personalise the children and 10 adults. Additional food followed by more fun. One Kid’s Cabin for your child’s special adults are charged at £5 per hour after school parties also celebration. In your private person and children, aged 3-15 available. 01582 723449 enclosed area right at the centre years are £2.50 each. www.koolkidzgroup.co.uk of the Farm there is plenty of To find out more email info@ indoor and outdoor space for hatfieldparkfarm.co.uk or visit www.hatfieldparkfarm.co.uk

Little Cookies Cooking parties for children of all ages. 3-9 year olds make their own birthday tea and those aged 10+ can host a three course dinner party! Little Cookies offers lots of menu options. They provide all the ingredients, equipment and know how. Most allergies catered for. 01727 839444 / www.little-cookies.co.uk

8 Competition

For more information about Willows Activity Farm and the Peter Rabbit Adventure Playground visit www.willowsactivityfarm.com, follow @WillowsFarm on Twitter or use the hashtags #Beatrix150 and #IMetPeter for all the latest updates. To enter this competition go to www.familiesherts.co.uk Closing date: 26th June Win a family day out at the brand new Peter Rabbit™ Adventure Playground

Willows Activity Farm in St. Albans now lucky Families Herts readers the chance to win includes the brand new, one of a kind, Peter a day out to meet Peter Rabbit and his friends! Rabbit Adventure Playground for children to This extensive new attraction at Willows explore. To celebrate, Willows are offering four Activity Farm has been designed to engage young imaginations and stimulate curiosity and physical activity. It is bound to be loved by children and their grown-ups who will all be thrilled at meeting Peter Rabbit and Lily Bobtail as they have fun in the new playground. The new area features ten activities themed around the world-famous and much-loved stars of the animated CBeebies series, including the Peter Rabbit Secret Treehouse, built around a 100-year-old ash tree, and the Benjamin Bunny Treetop Adventure, where children can climb and play. Children will discover acres of adventure based on their favourite characters; the Mrs Tiggy-Winkle Kitchen (with real pots and pans), the Jemima Puddle-Duck Coop and the Jeremy Fisher Musical Pond. Little visitors can wend their way through the Garden Maze and explore the Mr. McGregor Shed After all the adventures there’s delicious food to be enjoyed at the Peter Rabbit Burrow Café. This exciting new play attraction opens in the 150th anniversary year of the birth of Beatrix Potter, author of the original Peter Rabbit™ books. Willows Activity Farm is offering four families the chance to win a family day pass (admits four).

Say you saw it in 9 Education

Brain Training How to keep your child’s brain ticking over the summer holidays

By Liat Hughes Joshi

The summer holidays are a well-earned break but such a lengthy spell away from school means learning can slip back, with children often forgetting core skills they previously learnt. The good news though is there are fun ways to prevent this so-called ‘summer slide’, whilst still leaving masses of time for relaxing and playing. The Summer Reading Challenge This runs in UK libraries and is designed to encourage children’s reading through the holidays. Those who finish six books over the six-week period receive rewards and a certificate and it’s completely free! http://summerreadingchallenge.org.uk Send postcards Kids can share holiday news with grandparents or friends via a postcard and practise their writing. Younger ones can practice letter formation, whilst older children could incorporate stronger vocabulary. Break out the board games Many board games incorporate maths. Practise counting with Kerplunk and Snakes and Ladders, or for junior school kids, Monopoly involves money, addition, subtraction and multiplication. Keep a holiday scrapbook Get them started with keeping a record of their most exciting moments of the summer. Even a word or sentence under a picture or stuck-in memento is a great start. Add learning to everyday activities Daily life is full of educational opportunities. It might be weighing and measuring ingredients when baking cakes or budgeting in the toy shop. Begin a blog Tap into their interests and suggest they blog about them – it could be sports-related, about cooking or outings they’ve been on. Ready, get set, go for some Olympic learning Capitalise on Olympic interest by suggesting reading the sports section of the paper or setting up a medal winners’ league table by country. Work on non-academic skills that are useful too Improving their swimming, doing their shoelaces up, or getting used to becoming a shade more independent by, say, walking to post a letter or to the corner shop, are all worthwhile ideas.

Liat Hughes Joshi is a parenting journalist and the author of four books including 'New Old-fashioned Parenting' and 'How to Unplug Your Child' (both published by Summersdale) and 'Raising Children: The Primary Years (Pearson)'.

10 These Streets are made for Walking Walk to School Week organised by charity, Living Streets, is 16-20 May. The week is a drive to get children walking to school to improve fitness levels and well-being. The theme this year is ‘Strider’s Walk in the Wild’ with the walking habits and natural environments of different animals being explored each day. Tuesday 17 May is ‘Happy Shoesday’ when children and their teachers can donate £1 to wear their ‘happiest’ shoes for the day. The money raised will help to support the work that Living Streets do with schools, disability groups and local communities as well as the campaigning work they do to make Britain’s streets safer for all. Find out more at www.livingstreets.org.uk

Say you saw it in 11 Clubs & Classes Kicking off How to get your little ones involved in sports clubs and which outdoor activities to choose from.

By Adrian Warner

Most parents agree that getting young children involved in sport from a young age will help them to keep fit and get into the habit of enjoying regular exercise. Sport can also help kids learn important life lessons such as how to deal with winning and losing. It also encourages them to make friends and learn how to be part of a team. Outdoor sports are a great way for children to get some fresh air and have fun with their friends. But how do you choose which sport is right for your child? It’s important for children to get a flavour of a range of sports available 4. Hockey – For children, the game will be much gentler than that and decide for themselves which one they prefer. Sport should always for adults and sticks and pitches are smaller. Some clubs have a game be fun, especially for small kids, so to help you decide which one to called “Quicksticks” which is suitable from seven years, which is a four-a- introduce your child to, here are five outdoor options they will love: side game that can be played anywhere and uses a bigger ball for safety. 1. Football - There are a number of clubs around the country that 5. Multi-Sports – If you are not sure which sport to choose, look offer coaching during the school holidays for boys and girls aged from out for multi-sports sessions run by companies or local authorities where five to 11. These are usually a morning or afternoon class where young kids can try out a variety of sports such as athletics, rugby, football, children are introduced to the basic skills of the sport. netball, tennis and cricket. These are often available in the summer holidays and are a great way for kids to find out what they really like. 2. Rugby – Firstly, don’t panic: the first years of rugby are not about scrums, mauls and tackling and you don’t need to worry about the complicated rules of the game either. Boys and girls alike are encouraged to play a simple, non-contact game together involving tags, in which tackles are replaced by touching a player or removing a tag from their Adrian Warner has been a sports journalist for 30 clothing. The focus here is on developing passing and running skills. years and has reported from 13 Olympic Games and 5 World Cups for Reuters, London’s Evening Standard 3. Tennis – Children from three years old can learn the basic rules and skills of tennis using smaller courts and nets and with child-sized and the BBC. He also lectures in Sports Journalism at rackets. Some clubs will also have squash and badminton courts, so your the University of Bedfordshire. child can try out a range of games with friendly coaches.

12 What’s On at Half Term

The Sorcerer's Apprentice Theatre 3 Jun - 11.30am, 1.30pm Music, puppetry, storytelling in GORDON CRAIG THEATRE a toy shop setting filled with magical surprises! Ages 3-7. Lytton Way, Stevenage SG1 1LZ Cost: £9 01438 363200 www.gordon-craig.co.uk THE RHODES ARTS Peter Pan COMPLEX & BISHOPS 26-28 May - 7.30pm STORTFORD MUSEUM A musical adaption of the timeless tale by JM Barrie. 1-3 South Road, Bishops Cost: £17. £15.50. £14 Stortford, CM23 3JG 01279 651746 HERTFORD THEATRE www.rhodesbishopsstortford. org.uk The Wash, Hertford, SG14 1PS 01992 531500 The Curious Adventures of www.hertfordtheatre.com Pinocchio 31 May – 12noon, 2pm Pinocchio Patrick Lynch from CBeebies 28 May - 5pm presents the story of Pinocchio. Ballet Theatre UK: Follow Who nose? He might even Pinocchio, the cheeky puppet, become a real boy. Ages 4+. on his epic quest to prove that Cost: £8. Conc £6. Family £24 dreams really do come true. Ages 4+. THE SANDPIT THEATRE Cost: £18. Conc. £15 Bear Behaving Badly Sandringham School, The 29 May - 1.30pm & 4.30pm Ridgeway, St. Albans, AL4 9NX Chaos and hilarity in this fun 01727 799565 production that educates www.sandpittheatre.co.uk children about healthy eating and MapDance 2016: 10 Year being active. Ages 4+. Anniversary Tour Cost: £15. Conc £13. Family £52 10 May – 7.30pm An evening of dance works THE ABBEY THEATRE performed by the University of Chichester’s MA dance company. Westminster Lodge, Holywell Age 7 +. Cost: £7 Hill, St Albans, AL1 2DL 01727 847472 Junior Recital Evening www.abbeytheatre.org.uk 18 May - 6pm An evening of musical talents Let Us Entertain You from students aged 11–14. 28 May Suitable for all ages. A special fund raiser for Cost: £3 / £2 Macmillan. Organised by 14 year old Elouise. The day will include: A Midsummer Night’s Dream 8, 9 Jun - 7pm Children's Fun Musical One of Shakespeare’s much loved Workshops tales about fairies, enchanted Dinky Dancers (21 mths to 4 yrs) forests and adventures of young - 10.30-11.30am lovers. One for all the family Fun dances with ribbons and Cost: £5 / £3 feathers. A parent must stay. Musical Theatre (8-12 yrs) - Fame! The Musical 11.45am-12.45pm 18 Jun – 2.30pm, 6.30pm Cheerleading (6-12 yrs) - Spotlight Youth Theatre present 1-2pm Musical Theatre and Fame!, the world famous musical Cheerleading will end with following students at the New a short performance at the end. York School of Performing Arts. Parents can re-join the session. Suitable for teens. Sessions: £10 per child Cost: £12 / £9.50 Musical Variety Show WYLLYOTTS THEATRE 3pm, 7.30pm Enjoy over 15 acts from 1940s Wyllyotts Place, Darkes Lane, nostalgia to current pop plus Potters Bar, EN6 2HN dance and comedy sketches. 01707 645005 Cost: £12.50. Under 12s £10. www.wyllyottstheatre.co.uk Proceeds to Macmillan Cancer Great children's films Support scheduled during half- term: Kung Fu Panda 3 (PG), THE RADLETT CENTRE Zootropolis (PG), The Jungle 1 Aldenham Avenue, Radlett, Book (PG) WD7 8HL Plus, some great comedy for 01923 859291 grown-ups. See advert on www.radlettcentre.co.uk this page.

Say you saw it in 13 What's On at Half Term

Museum Events MILL GREEN MILL & Crafty Capers the basics and develop technique MUSEUM 2 Jun - 2-4pm as you are taught by experienced Craft activities with a Roman Archery Instructors. Suitable for Bush Hall Lane, Mill Green, theme. Ages 3-11 (with adult). ages 7 years plus and adults. CHILTERN OPEN AIR Hatfield, AL9 5PD Drop-in. Held in the Archer Barn MUSEUM 01707 357850 Cost: £1 (Plus museum entry Archery Big Weekend Newland Park, Gorelands Lane, www.welhat.gov.uk charge for non-residents) 5 Jun - 10.30am-1.30pm Chalfont St Giles, Dinosaurs! Go along and try your hand at Bucks HP8 4AB 31 May-2 Jun WELWYN ROMAN BATHS archery as part of the Archery 01494 871117 Dinosaur-themed holiday GB Big Weekend. Held at the www.coam.org.uk activities. Welwyn Bypass, Welwyn, AL6 9FG Celtic Harmony Archery club set Daily 10am-5pm (last entry Contact museum for times www.welhat.gov.uk in a beautiful woodland location. 3.30pm) and costs Gladiator Fridge Magnets Expert instruction to help you £10. Conc £9. 4-16 yrs £6.50. 30 May – 2-4pm hit the targets as you progress Under 4s free. Family discounts ROYSTON & DISTRICT Create a fierce gladiator magnet around the course that has 18 available. Special event prices MUSEUM & ART GALLERY to guard the contents of your targets. No need to book, just may vary fridge! 5 Lower King Street, Royston, turn up and have a go. Enchanted Museum (Museums Cost: £3 per child. SG8 5AL Cost: £2 for 6 arrows at Night) www.roystonmuseum.org.uk 14 May – 4-8.30pm Crafty Kids GOSLING SPORTS PARK Families can enjoy storytelling in 1, 4 Jun - 10.30am-12noon Camps & Stanborough Road, the museum’s historic buildings, Craft activities for ages 4+ based lit up by candle, lantern and Welwyn Garden City, AL8 6XE around the museum's collections. Courses 01707 331056 firelight. Fancy dress competition Cost: £2 per child with prizes. Advance booking www.goslingsports.co.uk Toddler Music & Dance advised. BERKHAMSTED BASECAMP Go Kids Camp Workshop 31 May-3 Jun - 9am-4pm. Roman Gladiators 3 Jun - 10.30-11.30am 01442 358115 29-30 May enquiries@ Multi-sport camps For under 5s with parents/carers. for ages 4-16. Sports include Meet costumed re-enactors & Book in advance. berkhamstedbasecamp.co.uk learn about life in Britain in the www.berkhamstedbasecamp.co.uk Football, Skiing, Trampolining, Golf, Netball, Fencing & 1st century AD. BaseCamp Dodgeball. Early and late Medieval Life 1-3 Jun - 9.30am-4.30pm. The Abbey, Sumpter Yard, clubs available 11-12 Jun Additional hours available. St Albans, AL1 1BY Cost: £25 per day (£20 members) Life in 15th century England. Holiday activities designed to 01727 860780 What did people wear, what was develop children's sporting, www.stalbanscathedral.org HERTS YOUNG MARINERS it like to wear a knight’s helmet, artistic and social skills. Family Discovery Morning BASE what did people eat? Ages 3-5 or 5-11. 2 Jun - 10am-12.30pm Working Heavy Horse Show Venue: , 231 Windmill Lane, Cheshunt, Learn all about the history of 19 Jun Doctor's Common Road, EN8 9AJ pilgrimage with a fun trail to Arena events and parades. Berkhamsted, HP4 3DW 01992 628403, www.hymb.com follow. Ages 3-11 (adult must Demonstrations of traditional Cost: £32 per day Half-Term Activities stay). Arrive before 11.30am to farm work. Meet a variety of Tennis & Racquets Camp 31 May-3 June complete all the activities working horses. 31 May-3 Jun - 9am-4pm. Kayaking, archery, canoeing, climbing, stand up paddle MUSEUM Additional hours also available HERTFORD MUSEUM A chance for youngsters to boarding, fencing, caving, St Michael's Street, St Albans, 18 Bull Plain, Hertford, improve their tennis and eye raft building. No experience AL3 4SW SG14 1DT hand co-ordination while necessary. 01727 751810 01992 582686 having fun. Other racquet Cost: £15 per session. £120 for www.stalbansmuseums.org.uk www.hertfordmuseum.org sports included: table tennis, the week Meet Queen Boudicca Oak Apple Day badminton, touch tennis. Players 28 May - 2-4.30pm KOOL KIDZ CAMPS 28 May - 10.30am-3.30pm are grouped by age and ability to Meet the lady herself and hear Meet re-enactors, free craft ensure a great experience. Sandridge Primary School her story. Adult to stay activities. Drop in. Ages 4-14 years. Woodcock Hill, Sandridge, with child. Donations welcome Venue: Langley Tennis Club, St Albans, AL4 9EB Cost: Free. Museum entry charge High Woodhall Lane, Hemel www.koolkidzgroup.co.uk Half Term Crafts for non-residents Hempstead, HP3 8RW 31 May-3 June 31 May-2 June - Viking Invaders Cost: Day £40. Week £160. Multi activity camp for ages 10.30am-3.30pm (last entry 31 May - 10.30am-12.30pm, Additional hours extra. 4-12. Days are jam packed with 3pm) 2-4pm fun and activities to suit all. Half Make crafts inspired by nature. Discover some fascinating facts CELTIC HARMONY or full days. Drop in. about the Norse invaders and Cost: £1.50 per child Brickendon Lane, Brickendon nr make a Viking ship. Ages 6-11. Hertford, SG13 8NY RE:PLAY HOLIDAY CLUB Book in advance. LOWEWOOD MUSEUM 01438 718543 07913 323608 Cost: £6 (£5 for Young Friends) www.celticharmony.org [email protected] High Street, Hoddesdon, Viking Homes 31 May-1 June EN11 8BH Discover Archery Course 1 Jun - 10.30am-12.30pm, A long established holiday and 01992 445596 1, 2, 3 – Jun – 10am-12noon, 2-4pm after school club for children www.broxbourne.gov.uk 12noon-2pm Make a model of a Viking home. Experience the thrill of pulling aged from 4-11 years. Re:play is Family Fun Ages 6-11. Book in advance. back a bow and shooting an open during every school holiday 2 Jun - 12-3pm Cost: £6 (£5 for Young Friends) arrow into the target. Take and offers activities, outings and Make a witch pet. part as a family or watch your fun for kids and flexibility for Cost: £1 per child children learn a new sport. Learn parents. Read more on page 5.

14 Fun Days Out Mons -10am-5.30pm, Last entry Spy Kids Half Term WHITWELL STEAM AND 4.30pm. 31 May-5 Jun COUNTRY FAIR All the fun of the farm. Entry Break codes, go undercover, Mansell's End Farm, Bury Lane, includes a free tractor and trailer foil espionage & reveal double- CELTIC HARMONY Codicote, SG4 8XY ride (when running) and entry agents! There’ll be missions to Brickendon Lane, www.whitwellsteam.com to Bloody Hollow play area. The complete all week. Brickendon nr Hertford, 11-12 Jun - 10am-5pm miniature train ride incurs an SG13 8NY Funfair. Steam engines, classic additional charge. ST ALBANS STEAM AND 01438 718543 cars, tractors. Dog and Shire Cost: Adults £5, Children £2.50, COUNTRY SHOW www.celticharmony.org horse displays. Craft stalls. under 3yrs free. Entrance to Live Like a Celt Oaklands College Cost: £7. Child £4. Family £18 Bloody Hollow only £1 pp aged (St Albans Campus), 29-31 May 3 and up. Explore ancient Britain. Make Hatfield Road, SUMMER FAYRE St Albans, AL4 0JA bannock bread from grain to loaf, Oaklands College, Hatfield Road, join in Celtic workshops, warrior www.hertssteam.org St Albans, AL4 0JA Knebworth Park, Knebworth, training, meet the owls and go 4-5 Jun - Opens 10am. www.oaklands.ac.uk SG3 6PY back to the time of heroes and Steam engines, vintage vehicles 12 Jun - 11am-5pm 01438 812661 giants with the storyteller. and tractors, fairground, stalls, Fun Fair, inflatables, craft www.knebworthhouse.com Cost: £15. Lunch extra £5. Under refreshments. Steam engine stalls, music, equestrian and 3s free Adventure Playground and parade at 2pm falconry displays, fashion show, Dinosaur Trail Cost: £6. Senior £5. Child £3. competitions. Sheep shearing, GOSLING HIGHLAND 28 May- 5 Jun – 11am-5pm Family £15 tractor rides, pony rides. GAMES Summer jousting for Fathers’ Day Meet the pigs, goats, sheep, 19 Jun - 12.30pm, 2.30pm SHEPRETH WILDLIFE PARK Gosling Sports Park chickens, alpaca, wallabies Treat Dad to a great day out! Stanborough Road, Station Road, Shepreth, and emus. The Knights of Arkley will be Welwyn Garden City, Nr Royston, SG8 6PZ Free entry & parking jousting in front of the House. AL8 6XE 01763 262226 Knights on war horses gallop 01707 331056 www.sheprethwildlifepark.co.uk BUNTINGFORD CARNIVAL at full tilt across the arena and www.goslinghighlandgames.com Love Your Zoo Day High Street, Buntingford, demonstrate their skills in hand 29 May - 9am-5pm 30 May SG9 9AD to hand combat to the delight of Scottish-themed family fun Learn about the role zoos play www.buntingfordcivic.org.uk the crowds. day. Pipe bands, highland in conservation. Activities 18 June Cost: Jousting - £34 Family (4 dancing, traditional heavy throughout the day. Cost: The theme for this year is persons). Gardens, Dino Trail, athletics event with hammer Normal admission applies. (Tesco Animal Antics. Playground - £9.50 Adult, Sen, throw, caber toss and putting vouchers not accepted on event Child. Supplement of £3.50 to the stone. Plus, junior version days). ALBAN STREET FESTIVAL include the house. of the athletics in which all are St Peter's Street, in, St Albans, WILLOWS ACTIVITY FARM welcome to enter! PARADISE WILDLIFE PARK AL3 5DJ Coursers Road, London Colney, www.enjoystalbans.com White Stubbs Lane, Broxbourne, HARPENDEN FUNFAIR St Albans, AL2 1BB 19 Jun - 12-6pm EN10 7QA Harpenden Common, 08701 299718 Live music, dancers, street 01992 470490 St Albans Road, Harpenden, www.willowsactivityfarm.com performers, face painters, www.pwpark.com AL5 1DT Spring Special inflatable football pitch, food, Otter Weekend www.harpenden.gov.uk 28 May-5 Jun - 10am-5.30pm entertainment. 28-29 May 27-30 May Sheep shearing, sheep racing and Fun and games for all whilst Roll up, roll up for all the fun of acres of springtime fun. Make SHENLEY VILLAGE FETE raising awareness and funds for the fair. sure to visit the new Peter Rabbit conservation charities. Harris Lane Playing Field, playground. Harris Lane, Shenley, HERTFORDSHIRE COUNTY Cost: £17 2-15 yrs, Senior £14. Enter the competition to win a Disabled/Carer £10. Discount WD7 9EG SHOW Family Ticket to Willows Activity www.shenleyvillage.org with online booking. Farm on page 9. The Showground, 19 Jun – 12.30pm Dunstable Road, Redbourn, GUNPOWDER MILLS Arena displays, stalls, games. AL3 7PT Beaulieu Drive, Waltham Abbey, Festivals & Fetes 01582 792626 COTTERED VILLAGE Essex EN9 1JY 01992 707370 www.hertsshow.com FESTIVAL www.royalgunpowdermills.com 28-29 May - 8.30am-5.30pm HARPENDEN CARNIVAL £9.75. Concs £8.75. Child £7.75. Cottered Village Hall, in, Agricultural show and family Under 3s free. Family tickets Harpenden Common, Cottered, SG9 9QR entertainment. Arena displays. available. St Albans Road, Harpenden, www.buntingfordcivic.org.uk National Festival Circus. Heritage Steam Weekend AL5 1DT 26 Jun - 11am ‘til late afternoon Cost: Ticket valid for 1 day. 14-15 May www.harpenden.gov.uk Events include: dog show, Advance purchase 20% discount. Find out about Victorian and 11 Jun - 12-5pm vintage vehicles, car boot sale. On the Day: £18.50. 5-15yrs £9. Edwardian steam traction engine All the usual carnival fun plus Local gardens will be open to Under 5s free. Family £46. Senior builders. Plus, a ‘Thomas’ land some exciting new family visitors and there will be various £16.50. Free car park. train, a 7 ¼” railway ride. attractions. Incorporating displays taking place in the arena celebrations for the Queen's adjacent to the Village Hall. Wild West Weekend HATFIELD PARK FARM 90th birthday. 28-30 May Living history in an authentic Hatfield, AL9 5NQ western town plus re-enactors 01707 287101 Go to www.familiesherts.co.uk stage a shoot-out on Sun www.hatfieldparkfarm.co.uk For more What’s On events. and Mon. Open Tues-Sun and Bank Holiday Remember to check with event or venue in case details have changed.

Say you saw it in 15 What's On www.familiesherts.co.uk

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