The Ten Best Ways to Enjoy autumn at Westonbirt
Wrap up warmly – Prepare for crisp autumn days and nights by pulling on your favourite woolly jumper, knitted hat and gloves; perfect for a walk through the trees!
The race is on – Download the free TreeQuests app to take part in the exciting digital quest around Westonbirt at autumn. Challenge friends and family to run from tree to tree, and complete a number of interactive challenges to win as many gold medals as possible.
Capture the spirit of Westonbirt – Why not take part in one of the popular one-day photography workshops? Develop your technique and snap away to capture the best of autumn at Westonbirt on camera.
Become a leaf collector – Collect as many different fallen leaves as you can and try to find one in every colour. Don’t forget to sniff out the Katsura tree too, which smells like candyfloss!
Get closer to nature – Immerse yourself in autumn by making a chair in the heart of Silk Wood. Take in the seasonal colours while trying your hand at a new skill during the six-day course and revive some of the oldest traditions of English chair making.
Practice your survival skills – Autumn is the perfect time of year for young adventurers to try their hand at den building, survival skills and enjoy twilight walks. Don’t miss the popular bushcraft and survival youth club and book a place for your teens (14-18 years).
Pack a picnic – Why not sit back and relax with an autumnal picnic? Take in the dazzling display of colour at Westonbirt with a warm thermos and some tasty treats in the heart of the arboretum.
Hold autumn in your hands –Get off the beaten track and take your family on an adventure. See, feel and smell autumn on the family trail by comparing the different colours, shapes and textures of autumn leaves.
Challenge with conkers! – Take on mum and dad or challenge your friends to a competition! Find several specimens just outside our Great Oak Hall and let battle commence!
Get cosy after a long walk – Indulge in a steaming mug of hot chocolate in the cafe or tuck into a delicious bowl of locally made soup to warm up after hours of exploring the arboretum.
www.forestry.gov.uk/westonbirt-events.
Steve Backshall
Steve Backshall will be embarking on a UK wide speaking tour Steve is best known as a CBBC Deadly 60 series presenter in which he comes face to face with some of the natural world’s most impressive predators.
15th Oct Inverness, Empire Theatre – 01463 234234
16th Oct Blackburn, King Georges Concert Hall – 0844 847 1664
18th Oct Edinburgh, Festival Theatre – 0131 529 6000
19th Oct Perth, Concert Hall – 01738 621031
22nd Oct Harrogate, Royal Hall – 01423 502 116
24th Oct Newcastle, Tyne Theatre & Opera House – 0844 2491000
25th Oct Basingstoke, The Anvil – 01256 844244
26th Oct Bristol, Colston Hall – 0844 887 1500
27th Oct Sheffield, The Crucible Theatre – 0114 249 6000
28th Oct Bradford, St George’s Hall – 01274 432000
29th Oct Coventry, Warwick Arts Center – 024 7652 4524
30th Oct Guildford, G Live – 0844 7701 797
31st Oct St Albans, Alban Arena – 01727 844488
1st Nov Birmingham, Town Hall – 0121 780 3333
5th Nov Malvern, Forum Theatre – 01684 892277
6th Nov Reading, The Hexagon- 0118 960 6060
7th Nov Tunbridge Wells, Assembly Theatre – 01892 530613
8th Nov London, Richmond Theatre – 0844 871 7651
13th Nov Salisbury, City Hall- 01722 434434
14th Nov Exeter, Corn Exchange – 01392 665866
15th Nov Cardiff, St David’s Hall – 02920 878444
Boutique Family Yoga Camp between Bath and Glastonbury
12-13 September A Wellbeing Retreat on a private estate in Somerset designed for anyone who enjoys boutique camping, yoga, ch’i kung, archery, mindfulness, dancing and heavenly healthy food and a rich program for kids.
Tickets are priced at £125 for adults (age 17+ years); a Student ticket is priced at £115; an Accompanied Teenager (age 13-17 years) ticket is priced at £90. Children under 12 years can attend free of charge, but they still require a ticket. A Camper Van is priced at £25 www.kalicamp.co.uk 01373 812525
Kidzapalooza
From 12-13 September, Kidzapalooza will be turning Tempelhof Airport into a children’s wonderland full of surprises and amazing encounters. This one-of-a-kind experience, presented by Lollapalooza Berlin is an exciting family adventure that can’t be found anywhere else in Europe. www.lollapaloozade.com, Supervision by a trained team and caregivers; baby corner with quiet areas and changing facilities; kid-oriented food and drinks; on-site sale of noise-protection headphones; central reception and information point for parents and kids
Liverpool Pirate Festival at Albert Dock set to be most explosive yet!
Liverpool Pirate Festival returns to Albert Dock Liverpool with a blast on September 12 and 13, 2015 – promising to be the most explosive one yet! New for this year will be the live music stage at Salthouse Dock, featuring a special appearance from Cook and Line from CBeebies’ Swashbuckle (Saturday only, 12.15-12.45pm, 1.45-2.15pm, and 3.30-4pm). Visitors will also be treated to breathtaking live-action battles at the centre of Albert Dock, theatrical sword fights, real-life buccaneers of the seas and the popular children’s fancy dress pirate parade (starting at The Pumphouse, 1pm, both days). For more information on this and all upcoming events at Albert Dock, please visit www.albertdock.com.
Jellyfish at Sea Life Blackpool
Jellyfish contain a special type of protein, which gives them the ability to glow in the dark.They are also boneless with no right or left side, only a top and bottom! Located on Blackpool’s famous Promenade, Sea Life Blackpool has been welcoming guests for an amazing underwater adventure for over 20 years. From shoreline to the deep sea, visitors learn all about how they can help to protect the amazing species living underwater near and far with over 50 dazzling displays and 2,000 spectacular aquatic creatures.
Jellyfish are just one of the amazing species on show at SEA LIFE Blackpool, with this year also welcoming the launch of Stingray Adventure. The display offers customers the chance to get up close and personal with various breeds of mysterious and graceful stingrays.To find out more visit www.visitsealife.com/blackpool
The Magna Carta Embroideries on display at History Stitch
At Guildford House 12th September to 10th October The Magna Carta Embroidery panels are the official embroidery of the Magna Carta 800 year and were commissioned by Runnymede Council and designed and created by Pirbright resident, Rhoda Nevins, a member of the Royal School of Needlework. www.magnacartaembroidery.com
Golden days and Silver Nights in glorious Northumberland
Wild, unspoilt rural Northumberland is one of the best places to see the seasons changing in all their glory. And with its rolling hills and rugged coast, this part of the countryside is at its most hauntingly beautiful in autumn and winter. As well, there’s so much to see and do here that’s totally unique to Northumberland!
You can watch one of autumn’s great spectacles as thousands of pale bellied Brent Geese return to their winter home on the Holy Island of Lindisfarne www.lindisfarne.org.uk
You can gaze in wonder at the silver-starred skies above you. Northumberland – in particular the Dark Sky Park, is a star gazers’ heaven, with lots of fascinating astronomical events arranged for enthusiasts of all ages on many evenings each week at Kielder Water and Forest Park’s observatory (www.visitkielder.com)
You’ll find fantastic guided walks through 700 miles of Northumberland National Park footpaths and rights of way (www.northumberlandnationalpark.org.uk); boat trips out to sea; wildlife safaris; local food festivals: arts exhibitions; incredible Roman fortifications at Hadrian’s Wall, spooky castles, Halloween fun and games, and a spellbinding Winter Wonderland in Kielder Forest that is a total sell out every year!
9 & 10 September Aviva Tour of Britain Cycle Race arrives in Northumberland
English Heritage is offering visitors two for one entry at the following sites on the days of the Tour of Britain in Northumberland: Etal Castle, Warkworth Castle, Housesteads Roman Fort, Prudhoe Castle. More information on English Heritage in Northumberland www.visitnorthumberland.com/english-heritage
For details of wonderful hotels, beautifully equipped self-catering cottages, warm, comfortable pubs and inns, caravan and camp sites, including great wild camping sites, go to www.visitnorthumberland.com. Bamburgh Castle Hotel at Seahouses (www.bamburghcastlehotel.co.uk is in a perfect location overlooking Seahouses harbour. The Lindisfarne Inn at Beal (www.lindisfarneinn.co.uk) is positioned at the end of the causeway to Holy Island and The Hogshead Inn at Alnwick – Northumberland’s newest inn www.hogsheadinnalnwick.co.uk are all comfortable, friendly places to stay with great food.
Guest House close To Hadrian’s Wall A warm and friendly welcome awaits you at the Four Wynds bed and breakfast, just outside Greenhead village on the Hadrian’s Wall Trail, the Pennine Way and Cycle Route 72. http://www.four-wynds-guest-house.co.uk/
WWT London Wetland Centre
Bat Walks Thursdays 3, 10, 17, 24 September WWT London Wetland Centre is one of the best places to watch bats in London as we have about seven species that hunt on their site. Adults and children over 8 years. Children must be accompanied by an adult. £10, price includes admission into the centre for the bat walk only. Doors open approximately 15 minutes before the start time stated on the ticket and will be shut 15 minutes after the start time. To book your place, call 020 8409 4400.
Weekends: Saturday 5 September – Sunday 18 October Incredible Journeys are made during migration seasons by birds big and small, some travelling many thousands of kilometres to find food and shelter. Discover more about the mysteries of migration. www.wwt.org.uk/wetland-centres/london/
Saturday 12 September Introduction to Wildlife Photography 10am – 4pm
Confused or frustrated by the buttons and settings on your camera and want to really take control of your photographic creativity? Or have you just bought a new camera? This is the course for you. Photographer and author Iain Green will guide you through your camera’s various automatic settings – and then show you how to turn off the ‘automatic ‘ mode but still get fantastic photos. £60.00pp, plus paid admission to the Centre. 020 8409 4400.
Drayton Manor Theme Park
Drayton Manor Theme Park’s Adult and Toddler Ticket – enjoy a day out with your little one, priced at just £20. The specially priced ticket allows one adult and one child aged three and under into the award-winning attraction and is available from Monday to Friday during Staffordshire term time* so you can take advantage of shorter queue times leaving more time to explore and have fun.
There’s also the 15-acre zoo, which is home to over 100 animals from all over the world, including a pair of Sumatran Tigers and a mischievous meerkat mob. List of upcoming dates the Parent and Toddler Ticket 8th-11th September, 14th-18th September, 21st-25th September, 28th September-2nd October, 5th-9th October, 12th-16th October, 19th-23rd October. www.draytonmanor.co.uk
Nostalgia on wheels
Classic vehicles have such enduring popularity – and there will plenty of them on parade at the Rural Life Centre on Sunday 20 September.
The Tilford-based museum of village life will reach beyond the specification data for each vehicle, to the distant days when these beauties ruled the road. Auto-jumble will be on sale and the Old Kiln Light Railway will be in operation.
Plus Woodturners’ open event, with members displaying their skills and inviting visitors to have a go. www.rural-life.org.uk or phone 01252 795571.
