families oxfordshire issue 44 july - august 2011

F R E E

Issue 44 • July - August 2011 • www.familiesox.co.uk

Oxfordshire

Issue 44:July August.qxd 22/06/2011 23:21

news & views

JULY / AUGUST 20112


3JULY / AUGUST 2011

In this issue:

News & Views 3-5

Holidays 6-9Summer camps 10

Childcare 12-13

Books 14Learning 15

What’s on 18-19Competition 20

Editor: Felice VermeulenContact: [email protected]

Next issue September / October 2011: Back to schoolCopy deadline 05 August 2011.

To advertise in Families Oxfordshire:Call 01235 206657 or email [email protected]

Circulation: We distribute free copies in hundreds of schoolsand nurseries throughout Oxfordshire. If your school, nurseryor parent group would like copies of Families Oxfrdshire letus know and we’ll sort things out.

Copyright: Families Oxfordshire July 2011Disclaimer: Colour transparencies and any other originalmaterials submitted for publication are sent at owner's ownrisk and while every care is taken, neither Families nor itsagents accept liability for loss or damage. We take care inpreparing this magazine but publishers and distributorscannot be held responsible for the claims of advertisers norfor the accuracy of the contents nor for any consequence.

Families Group: Families Oxfordshire is part of a groupestablished in 1990 and headed by Families South West. Allfranchised magazines in the group are independently ownedand operated under licence.

Families Readers’ PanelWe contact members of the Panel fromtime to time to ask their opinion and/orrecommendations on a range of subjectsfrom parenting to products and services.The information is used anonymously inthis magazine only. In return, membersare entered into a draw for a book tokenfrom Mostly Books in Abingdon.To join email: [email protected]

Summer days out 16-17

WIN

WIN

COMPETITION WINNERSBUSHCRAFT - 3 DAY RESIDENTIAL

SUMMER CAMP Gemma Guthrie-James, Thame

Vera Lyon, Abingdon

Bushcraft – day experienceJames Lockhart, Oxford Lynn Gorton, Finstock

Miamoo travel set Harriet Turner, Abingdon

Nicky Farmer, Little MiltonRachel White, Wantage

River Cottage bookJessica Maude, Watlington

Lynsey Blackmore, FreelandDanielle Sones, Bampton

CONGRATULATIONS!

FAMILIES JULY / AUGUST 2011

MINI sponsors big new youth arts festival A brand new festival for young people, Mesh – Oxford International Youth Arts Festival, willbe taking place this summer thanks to the support of MINI Plant Oxford. (see What’s On page18)

The festival, organised by Pegasus, its youth theatre members and partner The North WallArts Centre, will take place in the last two weeks of July and feature around 100 youngpeople from Oxford with almost another 100 from Europe andbeyond. Visiting groups come from twinned cities Leiden (Holland),Grenoble (France) and Perm (Russia) as well as from Bonn(Germany), Sisak (Croatia) and Gaza (Palestine).

The programme involving all the young participants will includestreet theatre, a costume parade and performances at Pegasus andThe North Wall from each of the groups and a finale at the OxfordTown Hall. The participants will also take part in a platform debate.www.pegasustheatre.org.uk 01865 812150

Contented Childcare now in OxfordshireContented Childcare is a new, high quality nanny agency run independently by fully qualified

Chiltern Trained Nanny Aimee Lay. Aimee says: "The aim of ContentedChildcare is to provide an outstanding personal and professional

service. We offer service with a personal approach. We visitthe family at home and then tailor the service to the

particular childcare need of each individual family.We then design a detailed Nanny Handbook forthe chosen nanny. All our nannies are highlyvetted and all references & qualifications checkedthoroughly. Contented Childcare only looks at

nannies that are qualified, have extensivechildcare experience and most importantly have

a passion for caring for children.”www.contentedchildcare.co.uk 01235 850436

Splashing success for WaterbabiesWater Babies has once again been crowned Best National Baby & Toddler DevelopmentActivity in the prestigious national What’s On 4 Junior awards, which are nominated andvoted for by parents. “We’re just overwhelmed by the amazing response of all ourclients in voting for us,” says local mum Saz Sunthareswaran, whoruns the Waterbabies classes across Oxfordshire.“To have won this national award – again – totally reflects on thededication of the whole team.”Water Babies’ uniquely structured programme, designed to makethe most of babies’ natural affinity with water, teaches waterconfidence and safety techniques from birth. With progressivetraining, babies can be taught potentially life saving skills such as turning onto their backs or,following a sudden submersion, swimming to the nearest solid object. www.waterbabies.co.uk 01869 325 499


4 JULY / AUGUST 2011

news & viewsLifeline for ChildLineVolunteer counsellors at ChildLine SouthWest have launched a campaign to savethe Exeter base, which is under threat ofclosure. Many children in the South Westare dependant on the service. Closure mayhave devastating effects on some of them. Commenting on the campaign, ChildLineSouth West volunteer counsellor AmandaParsons, said: “We are working with localorganisations and othersupporters to find aviable alternative wayof providing the sameservice – reducing theoverheads andunlocking newfunding – so that theNSPCC can make the savingsthey need without losing some of the 98best volunteer counsellors in the UK and 10permanent staff and the valuablefundraising generated in the region as aresult of having a local base.

Campaign manager James Barisic said: “Wewant to hear from any individuals ororganisations who can help keep this vitalservice open in Exeter for the benefit ofchildren everywhere.”

Offers of support can be sent [email protected] orwww.petitionbuzz.com/petitions/saveclsw

Phoenix rises to claim heartsawardPhoenix Trading, the UK’s leading directsales greetings card company, were thewinners of this year’s ‘COMPANY WITHHEART' Award at the Direct SellingAssociation’s (DSA) annual conference. Thisis a completely new DSA award and it wasto be presented to a member companywho has: "Gone the Extra Mile through theirphilanthropic activities, charitable impactand community engagement".

Since 1995Phoenix Tradinghave raised morethan £1 million fora range ofcharities large andsmall includingover £35,000 in

May this year for Children’s Hospices UK.

Tess Brooker, local independent PhoenixTrader based in Oxfordshire said: “I wouldlike to say a huge thank you to all ourcustomers who have supported ourcharitable events and purchased our charitycards (including our Christmas cards) overthe past 15 years. You have all contributedto Phoenix winning this prestigious award.” www.phoenix-trading.eu/web/tessbrooker01993 200809

CyclettaOlympic Gold medallist Victoria Pendleton will be taking part in Cycletta sponsored by SkyRide, a unique series of women-only, mass participation events, created for women to cyclefor fitness and fun and to inspire more women to take up cycling. Two events are scheduledin 2011; Cycletta North on October 2, at Tatton Park near Manchester and Cycletta South onSeptember 11, at Whipsnade Zoo, Bedfordshire. The Cycletta events will take place on a 40km course, a distance specifically designed toprovide a fitness challenge, while remaining fun, achievable and accessible. Cyclists of allabilities will be tackling the challenge, fromcommitted enthusiasts looking for a blaston traffic free roads, to women who areeager to regain their confidence back in thesaddle. The Cycletta experience will beginfrom registration, with regular training tips,equipment and nutrition advice, includingpersonal anecdotes of support from thecurrent Olympic gold medallist.www.cycletta.co.uk

To learn more about cycletraining and find localinstructors, go to:www.ctc.org.uk The Cyclist's Touring Club(CTC) is Britains national cycling organisationwith over 65,000 members and affiliatemembers. For information more specific toOxfordshire and a handy guide on how tomaintain your bike visitwww.oxonctc.org.uk 0844 736 8450

Isis Cyclists CTC (Cyclists’ Touring Club)is aninformal member group of the CTC, whichruns short bike rides in Oxford for women.http://isiscyclistsctc.wordpress.com

Bikeability is ‘cycling proficiency’ for the 21stcentury, designed to give the nextgeneration the skills and confidence to ridetheir bikes on today’s roads.www.bikeability.org.uk

Cyclox is the Cycling Campaign for Oxford. Itworks with councils to get the best deal forcyclists, and promotes cycling to the public,

to show how cycling is quick, fun, cheap,healthy and convenient. Cyclox providescycle training and organises summer cyclerides. www.cyclox.org 07792 375423

WitneyBUG is a Bicycle Users’ Group thatwas founded in 2008 to represent and workfor people cycling in Witney. WitneyBUG isan active member of cyclenation, the UKfederation of cycle campaign groups answholly reliant on the support of itsmembership. [email protected]

Sustrans is the sustainable transport charityresponsible for developing the NationalCycle Network. Routes in Oxford are shownon the National Cycle Network map, which isavailable from newsagents and bookshopsor direct from Sustrans.www.sustrans.org.uk 0117 926 8893

Mobile bicycle repair shop Back on Trax isOxford's longest established mobile cyclerepair company. www.backontrax.co.uk07919 44 54 64 (Monday – Friday)0777 332 5552 (Tuesday-Saturday)

In response to the Government’s proposalsto extend paternity leave and introduceshared parental leave, Rob Williams, ChiefExecutive of the Fatherhood Institute, said:

“For the first time, couples who want toshare their parenting more equally will beable to work within the leave system ratherthan against it. Having a specified period ofparental leave which can be shared meansparents can decide for themselves what isbest for the child – and minimise disruptionin their workplace. And with 4 weeks ofpaid leave now allocated to the father on a‘use it or lose it’ basis, there will be muchmore incentive - and it will be morefinancially viable - for fathers to take thistime off to spend with their child.

“Evidence shows that children do betterwhen fathers take time off work in their first

year of life. We also know that sharedparenting leads to stronger and moredurable couple relationships and alsoreduces the gap between future earnings ofmothers and fathers. And there is a wealthof research that shows additional paternityleave is helpful to employers; boostingproductivity and performance and oftenenabling mothers to take shorter maternityleave.”www.fatherhoodinstitute.org 0845 634 1328

Paternity leave helps equal parenting


JULY / AUGUST 2011 5

FAMILIES JULY / AUGUST 2011

How Can I Help You?Ever thought of owning your ownbusiness - one that's professional,

simple, hugely rewarding and fun?Are you ambitious, self-motivated

and enjoy helping others?

This could be for you!

The catch?Hard work &determination!

The rewards? The chance to buildyour own successful home-basedbusiness with an income for life.

To find out more please call

Michele Poynteron 01865 882405

Win Easy2name labelsEnsuring that children come home each daywith exactly what they went to school withis a problem all parents will appreciate. Soto make life easier, Easy2name havecreated an Off to School set containing allthe labels you will need to label every itemof clothing and equipment. The set comescomplete with a personalised shoe bag thatis also suitable for swimming or spareclothes.

There are 30 stick on labels which are idealfor stationery, lunchboxes and sports

equipment, 10 shoelabels, 30 “Easytapes”that are simply ironedonto all sorts of fabric, apersonalised shoe bagand a bag tag which isgreat for naming sportsbags, school bags orinstrument cases.

We have 5 Easy2NameOff to School sets togive away, each set is

worth £17.90. To enter email:[email protected] or send a postcardquoting Easy2Name to Families Oxfordshire,P.O Box 167 Wantage OX12 8ZJ . The closingdate is Wednesday August 17.

Don’t forget to include your name, fulladdress and telephone number. Pleasestate clearly the name of your child andwhether you require the shoe bag in red orblue.

In addition, every Families reader can get10% off by entering ‘Families Oxfordshire’when placing an order online or bytelephone.www.easy2name.com 01635 298326 Winners agree to the possibility of their name being published inthe September-October 2011 issue of Families Oxfordshire and onthe Families website. No correspondence will be entered into.Entries open to Oxfordshire residents only. Your details will not beused for any purpose other than this draw.

Wildlife walkabout in Letcombe ValleyThe Letcombe Valley community nature reserve, nearWantage, has a new path and kissing gates courtesy of agrant from the Big Lottery Fund Awards For All. During arecent wildlife discovery day children were able to enjoythe reserve by making bird boxes, taking part in mini-safaris to find insects, birds and wild flowers and listen tostories about wildlife from award winning story tellerPeter Hearn. “It was great to see so many people having fun at ouropen day,” said Helen d’Ayala, manager of the naturereserve and Community Wildlife Officer with the Berks,Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust. The wildlife discovery continues this summer with a Bat Walkand Night-flying Moths Survey event on Saturday 13 and Sunday 14 August. www.bbowt.org.uk

Photo Wendy Tobitt, BBO

WT

Eleven years ago, Magdalen College Schoolopened its doors to its first seven-year-olds,welcoming them into the newly formed J1(year 3). This summer sees those first boystaking their A-levels and moving on to beginthe next stages of their lives. Their teacherElizabeth Stapleton, still the teacher wholooks after the littlest boys when they joinMCS, looks back at what it was J1 like forthese boys.

Back then they wrote: “My new class isexcellent. Everything we do together isreally good fun… Our new classroom iscompletely new; our teacher is new, thepupils are new... We have a new tv in ourclassroom... J1 is cool!”

Staff too were enthusiastic, in spite of someinitial trepidation. Back in 2000 they wrote:“Your ‘little chaps’ have found the key toopen the hearts of so many staff andvisitors… They will maybe realise when theyare older what a responsibility it was tohave been the very first J1s in the history ofMagdalen College Junior School.” On a final visit back to their very firstclassroom, the boys found things weresurprisingly familiar. One rememberedreading “The Lion Book” – MichaelMorpurgo’s Butterfly Lion, a classic still

enjoyed by J1s today. When asked for theirfondest memories of J1, they rememberedbeing allowed to watch England play Brazilon television, dressing up for book day,making a wooden truck in DT (a traditionthat continues and is as loved now as it wasthen). Meeting the Queen in Oriel Squarewas a highlight. Yet almost as muchexcitement was generated by the memoryof kicking a football that (accidentally) brokethe Master’s bedroom window, and beingcovered for by the gap year student!

Of the original seventeen, twelve boys havebeen right through the school. A-levels loomand, grades permitting, two are destined forOxford, four for Cambridge, two for Durham,one for UCL, one for Brighton, one for QueenMary’s, London, and one for St Andrews.www.mcsoxford.org 01865 242191

From First to Last – Magdalen waves farewell to its first J1s


JULY / AUGUST 2011

HOLIDAYS

6

The sun is out and the school holidays are almost here. What are yougoing to do – ideally without spending a fortune – in the lovely, longsummer ahead? Joanna Moorhead shares her top ideas.

“That was the best day of my life,” says mydaughter Miranda, 12, of our trip a coupleof summers ago to a pick-your-own farm.She loved everything about it: choosingwhich farm to go to beforehand, lookingonline at what would be in season on ourvisit, running around picking strawberrieswhen we got there, and making jam andpuddings with her fruit when we got homeafterwards. There are more than 600 pick-your-own farms across the UK; to find somein your area, seewww.pickyourownfarms.org.uk

Choose a night when the sky is very clear,and there’s no moon. Before you go out,look online or at a book about theconstellations, and choose a shape to lookfor that should be visible at the time ofyear, and in the area you’re facing (check

Sand sculpting is bigger than ever before –each summer, the papers groan withphotographs of wonderfully-crafted figures,buildings and entire kingdoms on beachesnear and far. But it doesn’t have to be aprofessional art – why not take yourchildren on a beach day out with sculpturein mind? Start with a flotsam and jetsam-collecting session, since this will add plentyof fuel to your ideas, and then set off. Ifyou’re being competitive, give everyone atime limit for the creation of theirmasterpieces.

Everyone loves a rounders match (or youcan make it cricket). Simply phone a fewother families, identify your park or spacefor the match, choose your day, and pitchup with the bats and balls, the post-markers, and the rugs and picnics for lunch.Make sure the teams are well-balanced interms of age, ability etc, and play hard! It’sa wonderfully bonding experience.

ELEVEN SIMPLE BUT FABULOUS

3. Organise a rounders match

1. Try sand sculpture

2. Stargaze!

4. Visit a pick-your-own farm these before you go). Look out for thebrightest star in the night sky, Sirius. Ifyou’re an amateur at stargazing, start witha (relatively) easy constellation to spot,such as the Big Dipper. It might take awhile to work things out, but stick with it –and once you’ve identified a constellation,you’ll always find it easy to spot. Alwaysmagical.


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HOLIDAYS

You don’t need any more space than awindow-box, or a tiny space in yourgarden, for a veggie grow-bag – and yourkids will love deciding what to plant,sowing the seeds, remembering to waterthem and then charting their progress fromseedling to stomach. Potatoes are an idealstarter veg if you’re new to growing.

Dust off your helmet, pump up your tyres,and head for a spin through a local park,along a canal bank, or along a cycle track. Ifyou’re not sure what routes are available inyour area, check out www.sustrans.org.uk.Or, if you really don’t have any old bikeshanging around that you can crank backinto service, why not investigate thepossibility of hiring them for a day (or evena week) and exploring your neighbourhoodin a whole new way? And if your kids aretiny, invest in a baby seat – my childrenloved nothing more, as toddlers, than thechance to ride across the common singingnursery rhymes on the front of my bike.

Den-building courses abound (seewww.forestry.gov.uk or google them), andtaking your kids on a course can give themideas for dens for the entire summer. Butyou don’t need a tutor: den-building is asnatural as breathing to most kids. Look forspaces that are especially conducive todens – woods, of course, are ideal. If you’reconfined to the garden, find some props toget them started – a huge cardboard box isperfect. If you’ve not got one to hand, tryasking a local builder or large store whetherthey have any packaging you could have.

...or even, if your kids are tiny, wildpaddling? Nothing beats the fresh, cool,vibrant feel of wild water on your face oreven just between your toes. Some of myhappiest summer days as a mother havebeen spent picnicking, and paddling, andeven swimming in the streams and brooksaround where my parents lived in westYorkshire. For ideas of where to go to findwild water near you, seewww.wildswimming.co.uk. If you’re anabject townie who really can’t get tosomewhere with a stream or river, make dowith a lido instead – www.lidos.org

You might own a dog already, of course, inwhich case just skip this idea and go takehim or her out for a walk instead! But ifyou’re not a dog-owner, and if you have achild or children, chances are that a dogwould be a welcome guest – so why notinvite one over, for the day or even for theweekend? We regularly foster two dogs,while their owners are away: my childrenlove the chance to take them for walks andto bath them and feed them. It’s all the funwithout the ties – and without enthusiasmever waning. To find your dog, just askaround: dog-owners need breaks too.

Kids love fishing! If you know an adult whoenjoys fishing, get your child to chat withthem – or go to visit the local riverbank orlake where people fish, and let your childask the fishing folk questions. If your childseems keen, this might be a good time toinvest in a fishing kit – but if you’d like totry it out without a big outlay, or your kidsare young, go for a dipping net. Andremember that, if you and your child takeup ‘proper’ fishing, you’ll need a licencefrom the Environment Agencywww.environment-agency.gov.uk

Everyone has a park with a boating lake ora river somewhere within striking distance,so why not throw caution to the wind andtry out the boats? Make sure the kids wearlife jackets (which should be available fromthe hire attendant), and take it in turns torow. So what if you end up going round andround? It’s all part of the fun.

US THINGS TO DO THIS SUMMER

11. Go cycling

10. Build a den

7. Row a boat

8. Go fishing

5. Go wild swimming...

6. Plant veggies

9. Borrow a dog


High Ropes are offering allFamilies Oxfordshire readers HALFPRICE HIGH ROPES TICKETSat weekends throughoutthe summer holidays(8 Jul – 3 Sep 2011).

The offer applies torecreational high ropesonly. Terms and conditionsapply. Please use promocode FAMILYOXF01 whenbooking online.

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HOLIDAYS

JULY / AUGUST 2011

Pony Care Fun at Wendlebury Gate StablesHazel Offord from Wendlebury Gate Stables near Bicester offersPony Care Fun Days, new learning experiences around ponies in asafe and fun environment. Children aged four to 12 can spend aday learning the basics of pony care. Sally Godden, Headteacherat St Leonard’s Primary School took a groupof children and was enthusiastic about thebenefits of the experience. The childrenwere thrilled by the hands-on contact withthe ponies and admired the cute crop ofnew foals. Also available are one to one riding lessonson a wide range of experienced horses andponies. All ages and abilities are catered for.www.wgstables.co.uk 01869 320665

MAD Academy is pleased to announce special classes thissummer holiday at Wyevale Garden Centre, Bicester. Each classwill have a special theme and will be a fantastic combination ofhigh energy, fun games, activities and of course lots of music anddancing. The classes will be held on Monday 25 July, 1 Augustand 8 August. Wyevale Garden Centre is a great place to takechildren. It has an indoor and outdoorsoft play area plus a large restaurantwith children’s meals and plenty ofparking. To book your Mad Academy class callSophie on 01869 369502www.madacademy.com

HALF PRICE HIGH ROPES TICKETSHigh Ropes’ new tree-top forest adventure is the first of its kind inOxfordshire. Visitors get a bird’s eye view of the woodland nearAbingdon as they climb, balance, zip and crawl through the trees.There are wooden bridges, balance beams, tunnels, Tarzanswings, zip slides and a 42ft parachute drop. The course has different levels of difficulty, ensuring there issomething for everyone. Spectatorsare welcome to see their friendsand loved ones monkeying aroundin the trees. Participants need to be10 years+, over 140cm and besupervised by an adult.www.highropesoxford.com01865 727378 or 0799 9579830

Leckford Place, the 11-16 section of d’Overbroecks Collegein Oxford, is offering four creative and fun holiday coursesdesigned for children between 8 and 14. Mark Olejni, Head atLeckford Place says: “Above all, we want participants to have a

great time – but also to learn a lot in the process.And the idea is that, after a week packed withcreative pursuits of many kinds, they will leave firedup with enthusiasm, impatient to do more.” The singing, art, drama or jewellery making coursesare available from 15 - 18 August.Each course will culminate in an event, be it aperformance or an exhibition, to which family andfriends are warmly invited.Contact Anne Brooks to book your space01865 302620 www.doverbroecks.com

Summer SORTED!If Joanna Moorhead’s eleven ideas on page 6 & 7 weren’t enough, don’t despair. Here’s a

local holiday guide, filled with ideas for days out, camps, workshops and other activities.

Make your choice and snap up those last remaining spaces quickly!


9JULY / AUGUST 2011

HOLIDAYS

Summer Music JamboreesSalt Box Music Company have a programme of activitiesthroughout Oxfordshire with music classes for children throughoutthe summerholidays,Salt Box MusicfounderMichelleKeating says:“the popularSalt Box MusicJamboree islarger than ourweekly groupsessions and isopen to babiesand children up to 8 years of age, keeping the whole familyentertained.” The 45 minute music class includes songs, globalpercussion, musical games, props & puppets & music from aroundthe world for everyone to get their feet tapping to.The Jamborees cost £4.50 for the first child and £2.50 per sibling.Booking is essential. Salt Box Music also hold weekly classes throughout Oxfordshire.www.saltboxmusic.co.uk 01993 704207

Ice cool animals in AugustWhenever you visit, there are always lots of new things to seeand do at the Cotswold Wildlife Park and Gardens. Recentnewborns to be admired include zebra foal Rodney and threefemale baby camels, as well as two new arrivals, giraffes Icarusand J.Children can follow a trail to help them learn about the animals. Aclimb in the tree house in the adventure playground is not to bemissed and all the family cantake a leisurely ride on the everpopular railway around the park.There’s a full diary of specialevents right up to the end ofDecember.If you decide to visit the park onWednesdays in August, you’ll beable to see the keepers feedsome animals ice pops! (Animal friendly ones with lots of yummy things hidden inside.)

Don’t forget to bring a picnic and chill out in the park along withthe 250 different species of animals, insects and birds. www.cotswoldwildlifepark.co.uk 01993 823006

The Pottery PlaceThe Pottery Place in Witney is the original paint your own pottery,mosaic and craft studio, perfect for a family day out. You can get

crafty and creative in their studio with a choice ofpainting, mosaics and Decopatch. Friendly staff is onhand to give advice and refreshmentsare served.

Craft workshops are run everyweekday morning during the school

holidays, from 25 July until 26 August.There’s also a mobile studio that can bebrought out to any venue or summer event. www.thepotteryplace.co.uk 01993 704234

Stagecoach Summer Holiday Workshops Stagecoach branches in Oxford, Banbury and Abingdon areoffering all year round quality training for four to eighteen year-olds in the disciplines of dance, drama and singing in a safe andhappy environment. Skills learnt by Stagecoach students don'tdisappear when the curtain falls - they are skills for life.

Stagecoach's first Oxford centre opened in 1991 and the schoolhas grown ever since. Weekly sessions now take place at fivecentres in Oxford, based in North Oxford (Summertown) andHeadington.All 2011 summer holiday workshops will be held in The Theatreat Headington.

After a successful summer term, Principal Maya Sprigg and herteams in Oxford are now looking forward to the summer holidayworkshops. For children age 8 - 18, there is ‘Churchill’s Children’, a showbased on evacuees to the Oxford area during the blitz, and acolourful version of ‘Arabian Nights’ for juniors, age 4 - 9.

Call Maya Sprigg on 01869 2786000 oremail [email protected].

In Abingdon, Julia Howson is offeringFootloose and Cinderella [email protected] 0845 1130320Melissa Allen in Banbury will runAllsorts [email protected] 01869 249318

Photo Monty Smith


10

SUMMER CAMPS

JULY / AUGUST 2011

HOLIDAY CAMPS IN OXFORDSHIRETHE BUSHCRAFT COMPANYWhatBushcraft camps for kids are a great way forthem to engage with the natural world, to

interact withdifferent peopleand make newfriends, and toexperiment with allsorts of new skillsand ideas. There is somethingfor everyone at TheBushcraft Company,

where traditional wilderness survival meetshigh-octane adventure sports, for theultimate Summer Camp experience. Daysare packed with activities, from camp craft,fresh water swimming, shelter building,orienteering, wilderness cooking tomountain biking and archery.

WhereResidential summer camps at Cornbury Parknear Charlbury.

When Each week from 25 July to 26 August andyou can choose from five day or three daycamps.

For whoChildren aged 7-12 and 12-15

ContactThe Stable Block, Cornbury Park, CharlburyOX7 3EH, 01608 [email protected]

CAMP ENERGYWhatA typical day at Camp Energy includes avariety of fun activities in extensivegrounds, arts and crafts in the on-sitefacilities or trips to places of local interest.On offer are a host of Fun and SportyActivities, Creative Design, Day Trips,Specialist Activity Weeks.

WhereCamp Energy is held at of Summer FieldsSchool based right in the heart of Oxford.Comprising of 70 acres of parkland, in-house bushcraft site, 9 hole golf course,climbing wall, outdoor pool and flume, aswell as the River Cherwell for all the watersports. A second location is St Hugh's,conveniently situated off the A420 betweenOxford and Swindon.

WhenEach week from 11 July – 26 August(excluding weekends)

For whoFun bunch 4-7; Action Gang 8-10;Academy 11-13

ContactCamp Energy, Prama House, 267Banbury Road, SummertownOxford OX2 7HT.01865 339339 [email protected]

SUPERCAMPSWhatSuper Camps offers a variety of holidaycamps and courses at excellent venuesacross England. The mix of camps andcourses available at each venue depends onthe facilities and space that each site offers.

WhereSuper Camps Multi-Activity Day Camps forchildren aged 4-14 are running during thesummer holidays at Cranford House School(Moulsford), Headington School(Headington), Oxford High School(Summertown) and Radley College (Nr.

Abingdon). There are 40+ sportsarts and crafts ativities on offer

from Motor Quads andClimbing to FriendshipBracelets and Clay Modeling. See Supercamps’ web site

for additional RAW, Sportsand Passion For...special

camps

WhenFirst camps start on 11 July and run until 26August (dates vary from site to site).

For whoMulti-Activity Day 4-14. RAW Adventure Camps 8-14 RAW Extreme 11-16 Mad About Sports Coaching Weeks 8-14 A Passion For... Holiday Workshops 6-16

ContactSuper CampsPark House, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxfordshire OX14 4RS01235 [email protected] www.supercamps.co.uk


11JULY / AUGUST 2011

MORE NEWS

Create fashion By Joanna Parry Whether you are a complete beginner or atalented dress-maker, iFashionDesign offersworkshops for young designers which arefun, friendly and fashion-filled. With after-school, bespoke and holiday workshops theyprovide young fashion designers with aspace to get creative – have fun, socialiseand learn new skills such as designing andmaking clothes, creating textiles and prints,figure drawing, recycling and customising,sewing techniques and arts and crafts with afashionable twist. Their workshops for 8 – 14years are perfect for budding designers tohave fun and get creative with clothes, bags,hair-bands, accessories and jewellery. Nowthe company are offering a business

opportunity for mums across the country - ina climate of fewer jobs and frequentredundancies more people are looking tofranchising and Claire Gray, who set upiFashionDesign says that those interested ina franchising opportunity do not need abackground in fashion or business as thecompany offers comprehensive training, plusall the materials and support needed to setup and run your own business. “We wereconfident that our unique workshops wouldappeal to young people,” says Claire. “Ourmission is to inspire young people, get themmaking friends and fill them withconfidence.” To learn more about thisfranchise opportunity and become a part ofthe iFashionDesign team visitwww.ifashiondesign.co.uk/franchising

Your child in a mobileclassroom? by Joanna MoorheadUp to 72,000 families across the UK will failto get their first choice of primary schoolthis September, according to predictions.The disappointment is likely to be greatestin areas where there is most pressure forschool places. There, around a fifth of pupilsare unlikely to get a reception class place attheir first choice school. A rise in birth rateshas contributed to the current pressure onplaces and 70 per cent of councils are nowplanning to install mobile classrooms inplaygrounds, or to erect new buildings, tocope with the shortfall.http://tinyurl.com/choosingschool

Independant resilienceby Joanna ParryAccording to the Independent SchoolsCouncil (ISC), the number of children inprivate education fell this year, dropping forthe second year in a row, as fees rose.Information from the ISC shows the averageparent will pay £13,179 in annual fees thisyear which is a 4.6 per cent increase on lastyear. With the economic climate and theCoalition’s cuts already forcing families totighten their belts, affording privateeducation is becoming a challenge.Although, while the economy has forcedsome private schools to shut and boardingschools are looking more and more to

foreign pupils to fill their numbers, privateschool pupils fell by only 786 this year.School leaders are insisting that the figuresactually show a positive result for the privatesector in the face of enormous pressure onfamily incomes. “ISC independent schoolsare showing remarkable resilience against adifficult economic background, reflecting thehigh quality of education that our schoolsoffer to parents and the value for moneythat this represents,” says David Lyscm, ISCchief executive. He continued to say that theaverage fee rise was the second lowestsince 1994 and showed that independentschools were "very sensitive to the needs ofparents and doing everything they can tokeep fees to a minimum".

ABINGDON PREPARATORY SCHOOL15 October Open Morning 09.30am-12pm01865 391570www.abingdon.org.uk/prepCOKETHORPE SCHOOL8 October Open Morning 9.30am-12pm 01367 240618 www.ferndaleschool.co.ukD’OVERBROECK’S COLLECGE LECKFORD PLACE27 September Open Evening 5.30pm-8pm 01865 302620 www.leckfordplace.comMANOR PREPARATORY SCHOOL8 October Open Morning 10am-12.30pm01235 858458 www.manorprep.orgMAGDALEN COLLEGE SCHOOL24 September Open Morning 9.30-12pmOpen Afternoons available by appointment01865 242191 www.mcsoxford.orgOUR LADY’S ABINGDON 15 Oct Open Morning 10am-1pm01235 524658 www.olab.org.ukRYE ST. ANTONY21 September Open Day01865 762802 www.ryestantony.co.uk

SCHOOLS’ OPEN DAYS

Changes to SEN by Joanna MoorheadUnder new government proposals specialeducational needs statements will bereplaced with a ‘health and care’ plan andparents will be given a personal budget tospend on implementing it. The aim is togive parents more power. The new plansare being piloted from September 2011,and will be introduced nationally next year.http://tinyurl.com/5vv339f


DANCECHILDCARE

JULY / AUGUST 2011JULY / AUGUST 2011

Your Options for Holiday Childcare

Arranging suitable childcareduring the school holidayscan be a huge challenge

for working parents. Manyfamilies get a hand fromgrandparents and other relatives,but if you do not have the luxuryof family close by then we canhelp you explore the differentoptions for holiday childcare andactivities.Good quality childcare canprovide your children with funand new experiences duringschool holidays, withopportunities to make newfriends, stay fit and healthy andmaybe even learn a new skill atthe same time.

Holiday plays chemes/clubsHoliday play schemes offer organised playand activities for school aged childrenduring the school holidays, at affordableprices.

Activities on offer are designed to stimulateand educate children, and include sports,outdoor and indoor games, arts, crafts anddrama, swimming and day trips.

These clubs can be offered as part of aschool's extended services, or run byprivate or voluntary organisations. Based onschool premises, or in youth clubs, villagehalls, community centres or sports/leisurecentres, they usually open five days a weekduring school holidays, and offer childcarefor children aged 5 to 11. Though some doalso cater for older children. On average,holiday plays chemes cost £20.00 per day,but this varies.

Community playschemesCommunity play schemes (which tend tobe run by local councils or voluntaryorganisations) are sometimes held for twoweek periods in the summer holidays incommunity centres, schools or village halls.They provide morning and afternoonsessions and cater for children 5 - 12 years.There is usually a nominal charge to covercosts.

Childminders and daynurseriesSome childminders and day nurseries willoffer places during school holidays,depending on whether they have freespaces.

Childminders offer childcare in their ownhome, and usually work from 8.00 am to6.00 pm but many are flexible. They willcharge anything between £2.50 and £7.50an hour depending on location. Your localFamily Information Service (FIS) can giveyou a list of childminders with placesavailable. 0800 096 0296http://tinyurl.com/childcarefinder

Day nurseries care for children and babiesfrom three or four months old up to schoolage. They tend to cost from £150 to £200per week, again depending on location.

Nannies and home-basedcarersNannies are employed by parents to lookafter children in the family home either ona live-in or live-out basis. They shouldeither be qualified childcare professionals orshould have at least two years’ experienceof caring for children. They can look afterchildren of any age, and their hours areusually flexible. Nannies' fees will start at

Get ready for school!

12

Our Sep/Oct issue will contain

our indispensable guide to

clubs & classes and

schools’ open days!To be included call

01235 206657 or [email protected]

Copy deadline 5 August


13JULY / AUGUST 2011

around £6.00 per hour, but this tends tovary greatly. You will also have to pay yournanny's tax and National Insurancecontributions.

To cut costs, you might also want toconsider a nanny share. Not only will thiscut the costs by nearly half it will alsoprovide a playmate for your child. You canonly operate a nanny share with one otherfamily. If a nanny takes on children fromthree families or more they would have tobe registered as a childminder.

Holiday campsA number of organisations offer adventureand holiday camps for children. Some ofthese are residential, while others aresimply day camps. Activities offered includesport, arts and crafts or camping trips.The British Activity Holiday Association isthe trade association for providers ofactivity holidays and courses in the UK.Member centres have all agreed to abideby the BAHA Code of Practice and arecommitted to high standards of safety,value for money and customer service.www.baha.org.uk

RegulationIf a childcare setting caters for childrenyounger than eight years old or opens formore than two hours a day on more thanfive days a year, they need to be registeredwith Ofsted. All registered providersoffering childcare will have been issued acertificate from Ofsted providing details ofthe number of children, age range andqualifications of the staff or provider.

Anyone who works with children and youngpeople will also have had to have had apolice check (CRB check). If you recruitchildcare direct, for instance employ an aupair or nanny from a website which offersCV listings, such as Best Bear, then it isalways recommended that you ensurereferences are thoroughly checked.

Provided by Best Bear www.bestbear.co.uk

Sun safeShadeProtect children by providing areas ofshade, under trees, umbrellas or canopies.Babies should be kept out of the direct sun.

Cover upWhen outdoors, protect their skin withloose fitting clothes, and a wide brimmedhat that shades their face, neck and ears.

SunglassesBuy good quality, wraparound sunglassesfor children, as soon as they can wearthem.

HatsEncourage children to wear hats with brims,especially if they are not wearingsunglasses. The wider the brim, the moreskin will be shaded from the sun.

SunscreenUse at least a factor 30 sunscreen andchoose a broad spectrum brand that has afour or five star rating. Apply to areas thatcannot be protected by clothing, such asthe face, ears, feet and backs of hands.Choose sunscreens that are formulated forchildren’s and babies' skin. These productsare less likely to contain alcohol orfragrances that might irritate the skin andcause allergic reactions. Apply sunscreengenerously and regularly. Sunscreen caneasily be washed, rubbed or sweated off –so reapply often throughout the day.

Good habitsRead stories and sing songs about sunsafety to teach children to look after theirskin.Don't forget nursery!Give children a hat to wear, cover theirexposed skin and provide sunscreen for thenursery staff to apply.

Provided by Kids Unlimited Nurserieswww.kidsunlimited.co.uk


14

BOOKS

JULY / AUGUST 2011

Reading and summer activities: the bane of parentseverywhere as the Summer holidays loom large.Here are some suggestions, from Mostly Books’Mark Thornton, for all ages to help mums and dadswean their children (occasionally) from the gamesconsoles. www.mostly-books.co.ukPull-back Busy Car BookFiona Watt ISBN: 978-0794530716 This is a fantastic book for pre-schoolersthat children can interact with and enjoyagain and again. Follow the car on its

journey to the seaside, throughtown, the countryside and alonga motorway, and see all thesights along the way. As well asexciting pictures and lots ofthings to spot there is a realpull-back car that allows childrento engage with the delightfulstory. With four differentembedded tracks throughout the

book, children can watch the car run roundthem on its journey. A perfect gift toengage and entertain young children.

Stanley's StickJohn Hegley & Neal LaytonISBN: 978-0340988183In the hands of any small boy a stick can bepicked up anywhere and suddenly becomesanything from a rocket to a wand. This isthe basis for the wonderfullyimaginative 'Stanley's Stick',which is a collaborative picturebook from poet John Hegleyand illustrator Neal Layton.Perfect for small boys withimaginative minds - aren't theyall!

The Deeping SecretsVictor Watson ISBN: 978-1846471186This is a classic children's mysteryadventure, set in a quiet rural village inNorfolk against a backdrop of the SecondWorld War. When the local railway isbombed there's talk of spies in their midstand Molly is upset that her carefree Easterholidays with her friendsmight be spoilt. Moreinterested in buried treasurethan spies, the group offriends embark on midnightpicnics in their barn to plantheir adventures, only to findevents taking an unexpectedand intriguing turn. Charming,fun and realistically imagined,'The Deeping Secrets' isperfect for children 9+ wholike adventure stories.

“One does not say ‘suh’ Mummy! Miss Kaysays it should be ‘SSSSS’. We must say itproperly.” Another parent stands corrected. This conversation is taking place all over theUK. Children are learning to read withSynthetic Phonics and learning a new wayof saying the letter sounds.

Whether learning through Jolly Phonics,Letters and Sounds (the DFE programme),or other phonic programmes, a whole newgeneration is growing up on ‘mmmm’ and‘nnnnn’ and ‘ssssss’. Children are learning‘pure sounds’ or ‘precise pronunciation’. This may leave parents somewhatbewildered as they were not taught to readin this way.

It is a fact: saying separate sounds in wordsdoes not come naturally to us. But in anyclassroom today you will hear a funny‘robot talk’: ‘c’ ‘a’ ‘t’ for cat and ‘d’ ‘o’ ‘g’ fordog etc.

So why are teachers insisting on teachingthe ‘precise pronunciation’ of the sounds ofthe alphabet? Why is this important?

In Synthetic Phonics the letters on the pageprompt sounds which are then pushed or‘blended’ together. In order to recognise aword when you are ‘blending’ soundstogether, you need to hear them as theyappear in the word. Take the word ‘mat’:the sounds in the word are not ‘muh’ ‘a’tuh’.

If you push the sounds ‘mu’ ‘a’ ‘tuh’together - you get ‘muhatuh’ (not ‘mat’).The sounds in the words are ‘mmmm’‘aaaa’ ‘t’. We need to say the soundsprecisely to recognise the word ‘mat’.

The reverse process happens when childrenare taught to spell. First they need to‘segment’ (isolate) the sounds in the wordand write letters that represent thosesounds. Again, if they pronounce theminaccurately they are likely to misspellthem.

A classic example is when a child spells theword ‘jumper’ as ‘jump’. If they pronouncethe letter ‘p’ as ‘puh’ they may think theydon’t need to add the ‘er’ at the end of theword.

So precise pronunciation is at the very coreof Synthetic Phonics. How can parents get to learn precisepronunciation?

Where can they hear these new sounds?The best place to look this up is on YouTube. Search ‘Sounds of the English PhonicCode’ and you will be able to hear me saythe sounds. This video clip is specificallydesigned to help parents practice thesounds that children are taught in school.Visit www.phonicbooks.co.uk you candownload a free chart with thecorresponding spellings for the sounds. Youwill also see books that your children canread independently and successfully whenlearning to read with Synthetic Phonics. The best time to do it would be when thekids are in bed – then you won’t have themlooking over your shoulder correcting you! www.phonicbooks.co.uk

Tami Reis-Frankfort is Reading Specialistand Director of Phonic Books

A Small Free Kiss in theDarkGlenda Millard ISBN: 978-1848770270From the sparkling opening pages, thisnovel for teens is both actionpacked and sensitivelywritten. The survival skills ofSkip and Billy mean theybecome strong and adept atliving in a changing world. Agreat exploration of howindividuals who don't fit incan be excellent inextraordinary situations. It's atough and stark read in places, short, but itwill not only have you turning the pagesbut will stay with you for a long time.

Do you say ‘SSSS’ or ‘SUH’ for snake? By Tami Reis-Frankfort

The Queen Must Die K.A.S Quinn ISBN 978-1848870529When 21st century New Yorker Katie falls asleep under her bed whilst readingletters from Queen Victoria's children, she doesn’t expect to wake up to ayoung girl accusing her of being an assassin. Katie quickly has to adapt tounexpectedly traveling through time and stay hidden whilst her two newfriends - Princess Anne and the Doctor’s son James - try to help her find a wayback home. But soon she realises she must help them too because theQueen's life is in danger. A great mystery and adventure story (with a slightsupernatural twist) and the first in a trilogy, so look forward to more!


LEARNING


Very few people in the UK seem toknow that September 26, is theEuropean Day of languages. What

could be the reason, when the rest ofEurope actively celebrates it?

Is it a touch of xenophobia? Or is there alittle seed of fear deep within oursubconscious, associated with our 11 yearold self sitting in the back of French classwondering what on earth future perfect andpast participles are, let alone what we aregoing to say if the teacher asks us aquestion?

Thankfully, many primary schools in Englandare now introducing basic French to ourchildren from the age of 7. This isconsiderably earlier than when we were atschool, but is it early enough?

In Norway, Malta and Luxembourg childrenstart learning a second language from thefirst year of primary school, and in parts ofBelgium and Spain they start at the age ofthree. In the Netherlands there are evengovernment funded bilingual schoolsteaching simultaneously in Dutch andEnglish.

“The best thing of all would be to startlearning a second language atkindergarten” says Professor Rohde at theUniversity of Cologne. Professor Rohde andother researchers have found that childrenat kindergarten learn a second languagethe same way that they have learned theirmother tongue; without any inhibitions,unconsciously and as part of everydaysituations, making the whole process fun.

Whilst a few nursery schools in the UK arestarting to introduce some second languagelessons, the benefits of learning a second

language at home in everyday situationsare substantially higher. Even if yoursecond language vocabulary is limited to afew words and your accent is noticeablyEnglish, “it is your enthusiasm that counts”say experts like Carey Myles. Learning alanguage together is a fantastic opportunityfor both parent & child, and is a greatbonding experience as a child will imitatenot just the words that they hear but alsothe attitude of the adult.

As an adult there are some very simple andfree ways to refresh your memory withouthaving to hit the dictionary and text books.Listening to foreign radio stations via DigitalRadio or Internet Radio is a fantastic start.Even if you don’t understand a single wordinitially, simply hearing it in the backgroundfor a few weeks will allow the language tostart to break into your subconscious. Youwill start to pick up the odd word and thengradually whole sentences, and with manyof the songs being played in English youwill get frequent breaks.

For activities with your children, books,flash cards and nursery rhymes arefantastic. Children in particular love flashcards, they are a great way of makinglearning fun and many games can bederived around them. Dual language booksand flash cards are considered better thanones just in the second language as they

utilise the principle of subliminal absorptionwhich allows you to map the words acrossthe two languages both consciously andsubconsciously without the need for adictionary.

A fabulous idea for young children is to getthem a foreign language teddy bear. Theredoesn’t need to be anything special aboutthe teddy, although a culturally relevantone is a nice extra dimension. The key isthat the childbelieves that theteddy can onlyspeak the otherlanguage.Provided theadult introducesthe teddy bear inthis context andinvolves it in allthe languageactivities andgames that they play together, then thechild will eventually start talking to theirteddy in that language, believing that theteddy cannot understand English.

The main thing to keep in mind is thatparents don’t really teach children to speakany more than they teach them to walk orsmile. A child will develop the foundationsof a second language if they are simplygiven exposure, encouragement, andmotivation.

Author Alison O’Dornan is the founder ofDiglot Books, specialists in dual languagebooks and flash cards for pre-schoolchildren.www.diglotbooks.com 01494 853933

See also the official site for the EuropeanDay of Languages http://edl.ecml.at

EUROPEAN DAY OF LANGUAGES

by Alison Dornan


SUMMER DAYS OUT

16 JULY / AUGUST 2011

MAKE THE MOST OF FESTIVALSa survival guide for families

There are loads of festivals all over the country to choose from these days,ranging from tiny to humongous, with each of them offering something a bitdifferent. Here Romany from Festival Kidz (www.festivalkidz.co.uk) shares hertips for not only surviving a festival, but also making it a really enjoyable andmemorable experience.

Towersey, 25–19 AugustLocal Towersey Festival runs for four days inAugust at the village of Towersey, nearThame. You can camp and get in thefestival spirit, or take advantage of daytickets and choose what you really mustsee. As well as adult bands and showsthere’s lots going on specifically for kids –including crafts, story telling, performance,dancing and workshops, as well as eveningshows just for families. But that’s not all –there’s also a market with over 100different stalls selling everything fromgarden herbs and handmade soaps tojewellery and clothing; food stands; a realale festival; face painters; a climbing walland much much more. 01629 827016 www.towerseyfestival.com

Harvest, 9–10 SeptemberHarvest (Kingham, Oxfordshire) is a festivalthat champions the best of British food andmusic. This year the line-up includes currentradio favourite Eliza Doolittle and big namesfrom the world of food such as HughFearnley-Whittingstall and Tommi Miers.The festival will be hosting the British StreetFood Awards and a Daylesford CookerySchool alongside a variety of bands, DJs,culinary masterclasses and gardeningworkshops. And there’s plenty for the familywith shows from Charlie and Lola, andFantastic Mr Fox, kids’ cookery classes andcraft workshops. The Boutique Babysittingservice will also be there, if you want toleave your kids for a bit under supervision.There are three main camping areas or youstay in a luxury yurt, teepee or bell tent,and enjoy extras such as breakfast in bedand butler service.Day tickets are also available.0207 292 7121www.alexjamespresentsharvest.com

Food and snacks – Festival food is veryexpensive over a whole weekend and it’soften a bit exotic for little tastebuds, so whynot freeze some easy meals in advance anduse them to keep your coolbox cold,reheating them to eat once they start tothaw? You can do the same with pints ofmilk so it stays fresh all weekend. Freshpasta cooks in a couple of minutes so isvery useful, too. Plenty of tasty snacks likeavocados, bananas and breadsticks help tocounter the ice-cream demands!Transport – Festival sites are large and littlelegs will get tired so make sure you bring abuggy, wagon, carrier or hipseat.Weather wear – Waterproofs and wellies,sun hats and sunscreen, warm jumpers andt-shirts… British weather is sounpredictable. Dressing in appropriateclothes for the weather will improve yourenjoyment of the festival no end.Shmangle – This is a multi-purpose fleeceblanket with waterproof outer and a hood.You can use it as a picnic blanket, wrap itaround like a cape or use it as an extralayer over your sleeping bag – brilliant!

Why not try something new?Festivals are an opportunity to let routinesslip for a few days, lose inhibitions and gowhere the mood takes you. You will neversee everything you planned to, but chancesare you’ll see many unexpected equallyamazing things if you slow down and letthe festival pace carry you along. Try yourhand at the great range of workshopsoffered and you never know, you may evendiscover some hidden talents!

Looking for inspiration about where to go?In the next column you’ll find a few localones to get you started.

Packing essentialsIdeally, everything you take should becompact and multi-purpose. If you have aton of stuff (as most families will) thenyou’ll be pleased to know that mostfestivals offer a wheelbarrow or trolley hireservice.Ear defenders - good quality ear defendersfor kids are an absolute must. Children’sears are very sensitive and exposure to loudmusic at festivals can cause permanentdamage.First aid – plasters for blisters, someparacetamol (for you and the kids), hayfever tablets if needed, any regular meds,something for upset stomachs and maybeeven hangovers (well, nobody expects youto be a saint!).Toiletries – you may be planning to forgoshowers for the whole weekend, but you’llstill need toothpaste and lots of WET WIPES,which are terrible for landfill so please buybiodegradable where possible. For showersyou’ll need a towel, shampoo and soap –try showering early afternoon to avoid thequeues.Loo roll – Festival toilets always seem torun out. For little ones a travel potty is areally good idea. You may also want tobring your own personal toilet such as thebrilliant Boginabag (which convenientlydoubles as a camping stool).Lights – A torch is useful, as is a lantern forthe tent. Good glowsticks are great forhelping you keep an eye on your kids oncedark falls and also double as a lantern inyour tent or for loo trips.Travel games – something that your childcan play with while you catch a band willcome in handy. It depends how old yourchild is, but the Usborne dry-wipe activitycards are great. Choose something smallthat they can do on the picnic blanket.



Why not indulge in a daycation or two tosome of the beautiful destinations below?

Basildon Park, nr Reading: thismagnificent 18th-century country house is astar of the Big Screen, and its intriguingexhibition takes a look ‘behind the scenes’at the filming of Jane Austen’s ‘Pride &Prejudice’. Enjoy guided tours of the house(Mondays, and 11am to 12pm on otherdays) and discover more about the amazingcouple who restored the mansion fromdereliction in the 1950s; don’t forget topeep into the Conservation Room to seeconservators in action as they clean andrepair precious items. In the authentic1950s kitchen, you can often see cookerydemonstrations and food tastings takingplace.

Outside, way marked trails takes visitors onpicturesque walks through the gardens andinto the surrounding parkland and ancientwoods, whilst in the garden youngervisitors can ‘camp out’ in the Hazel Hideoutand play with giant games. Every Friday,guided walks reveal more about BasildonPark’s hidden nature, whilst the BasildonBingo quiz encourages children toinvestigate the grounds’ wildlife.

This summer, Basildon Park pulls out all thestops with its Fabulous Fifties programme,featuring an exhibition of glamorous gowns,talks by fashion curators*, and a weeklychildren’s summer craft school (Wednesdaysfrom 27 July to 24 August). On 23 July*,Ratty, Mole, Toad and Badger take centrestage in a production of ‘The Wind in theWillows’, preceded by a children’s actingworkshop.

Basildon Park, Lower BasildonReading, RG8 9NR 0118 984 3040

Greys Court, nr Henley: soak up theatmosphere of this intimate family homeand find out about its role at the heart ofthe nation’s W.I. movement. A colourfulfamily guide containing simple craft andrecipe projects is on offer to youngervisitors, who can also enjoy baking andjam-making demonstrations in the kitchen.Outside, the gardens reveal sumptuousscent and colour from roses and lavender.The pretty walled kitchen garden isbrimming with fruit and veg, much ofwhich is for sale daily. Families can explorethe Medieval ruins, wildflower meadow,orchard and woodlands following self-guided trails.

Children are invited to design and plant uptheir own ‘Secret Garden’ with the gardenteam on 10 August*, whilst ‘Get YourWellies On’ leads them beyond theboundaries of the gardens, to discover howfood finds its way from the estate onto ourplates (24 August*).

A packed summer programme includesspecial evening tours of the house(8 and 22 July*), and sparkling nights ofmusic and comedy from outdoor theatreproductions, as well as Greys Court’spopular Music & Moonlight event – thechance to dress up, picnic and enjoy liveentertainment (30 July*).

Greys Court, Rotherfield GreysHenley-on-Thames RG9 4PG 01494 755564

*Ticketed events, to be booked in advance. Normal admission charges apply for entryto the properties listed above.

www.nationaltrust.org.uk.

New research by the National Trusthas identified the South East asbeing the top ‘daycation’ hot spot in

the UK. The term ‘daycation’ has beencoined by the Trust following research thatrevealed a new trend in the way people areusing their holiday time.

Traditionally, many Brits have taken a two-week annual holiday. However, high prices,the stress of travelling and the inability toswitch off from work means that, over thepast five years, 15% less people in theSouth East are doing this, with 46% notplanning a fortnight’s break this year.Instead, they are opting for multiple daysout with family and friends, with over aquarter of those polled hoping to take atleast ten single days off, or ‘daycations’.

The physical and psychological benefits ofdaycations have also been revealed by theresearch, showing that they reduce stress,improve wellbeing, help to bond familyrelationships and strengthen socialnetworks.

Many National Trust sites in the South Eastappeal to visitors who want to escape thepressures of working life, and the inspiringdestinations give them plenty of choice,from the grandeur of magnificent countryhouses, to more intimate homes which cantransport visitors to an otherwise long-lostera.

Fragrant country gardens, meadows andwoodland are ideal places in which towander and relax, and most properties arenot far from motorways. All of them offer arange of activities and attractionsthroughout the summer.

EMBRACE THE NATION’S LATEST HOLIDAY TRENDand enjoy summer ‘daycations’ with the National Trust


We have made every effort to ensure our listings are accurate and up-to-date. However, please call venues to confirm.

25 Station Road Didcot OX11 7NE 01235 515144 www.cornerstone-arts.org.uk15 Jul 7.30pm & 16 Jul 2.30pm – 7.30pmVOYAGE OF DREAMSWatch 100-strong cast of dancers from dance and dramatraining centre, Dance Connection, as they set sail on avoyage through the world of dance.17 Jul 12 noon – u 5s 1.30pm – 5-8 year oldsCUSHION CONCERT FOR LITTLE ONES - TUBAAha! This time Mister Mark features the tuba – thelowest pitched of all brass instruments, making a deep,rich sound when you put your lips to it and BUZZ!Take an adult and a cushion.

.CORNERSTONE ARTS CENTRE

PEGASUS THEATRE

THE THEATRE

Magdalen Road Oxford OX4 1RE01865 812150 www.pegasustheatre.org.uk 20 – 30 Jul MESH – OXFORD INTERNATIONAL YOUTHARTS FESTIVAL MESH Festival is a new biannualinternational youth arts festival, which will be hosted,curated and run by young people for young people. 21 Jul 4.30pm & 8.30pm MESH – AFTER GILGAMESHby Pegasus Youth Theatre Companies (Oxford, UK)Verse drama with dance and song, featuring ancientgods, barbers and weavers alongside the soldiers,citizens and generals in the last Iraq war. War, leaders,life and death, what has changed in 4,000 years?29 Jul 4.30pm MESH – FREE STREET THEATRE &PARADE 140 young performers from the UK, Europeand beyond are taking to the streets with street theatreand a costumed parade through Oxford City Centre.Venue: Oxford Castle, Bonn Square, and fromCornmarket to Oxford Town Hall.29 Jul 7pm MESH – THE VISIT (FINALE) by all MESHgroups. Friedrich Dürrenmatt’s The Visit is a tragi-comicplay about a town suffering grinding poverty. Its citizensand mayor are corrupted by the wealth of a formerresident who returns to wreak revenge for an injusticedone in the past. Venue: Town Hall.

MILL ARTS CENTRE

KENTON THEATRE

Spiceball Park Banbury OX16 5QE01295 252050 www.themillartscentre.co.uk

3 Aug 2pm BEAUTY AND THE BEAST by Multi-StoryTheatre Company. An old woman who claims to be aprincess and a reluctant security guard use music, song,puppetry and projection to play out the traditional taleof Beauty & the Beast. Nothing is quite as it seems inthis lively and inventive version.Ages 4 – 9 & their families

10 Aug 2pm EAST O’ THE SUN WEST O’ THE MOONBY MULTI-STORY THEATRE COMPANYIn this traditional Norwegian tale, a white bear comesknocking at the cottage door and the daughter of thehouse agrees to join him in his icy palace. The girldiscovers that the bear is in fact a handsome Prince. Butshe has broken a spell and the Prince is whisked away.All her powers are needed to save him from the TrollCastle. Ages 4 – 9 & their families12 Aug 2pm MOON MAGIC BY MAGIC CARPETTHEATRE The Mill becomes a space shuttle, theaudience are the passengers, on a thrill packed trip tothe moon. Everyone's help is needed to get back toearth. Ages 5-11 & their families

OXFORD PLAYHOUSE &BT STUDIO11-12 Beaumont Street Oxford OX1 2LW 01865 305305 www.oxfordplayhouse.com16 Jul 11am, 2pm & 4pm LITTLE RED ROBIN HOOD

Why is Robin Hood wearinggirls’ clothes and what islurking behind the trees? Is itthe Sheriff of Nottingham orthe big bad wolf? Watch thismerry mix up in the forestinvolving glove puppets, falseteeth and a frying pan. Twoclassic tales are interwoven ina fast and funny family showwith generous helpings ofslapstick, clowning andmusical delights.Ages 4+30 & 31 Jul 11am & 2pmTHE DUST MANThe Dustman lives on theother side of the mirrorwhere cats talk andeverything floats. This is theplace where dreams comefrom. At bed-time he comesout, takes you by the handand you fly off together in thewind. Go through the invisiblemirror and become part ofyour own dreams. See theflying coat, the swimmingfish and learn how the nightgot put into a saucepan.Ages 5+

6 Aug 12 noon & 3pm TRAVELS WITH GRANDDADMeet Granddad, eccentric traveller and storytellerextraordinaire. Enter his battered Bedouin tent to hearmagical tales of adventures in real and imaginaryworlds. Sound, light, objects and exquisite puppetscreate a classic performance, enthralling and delightingthe whole family. Ages 3+19 -31 Jul AS YOU LIKE IT Performed on an Elizabethan-style stage, a troupe oftravelling players breathes new life into this firmfavourite among Shakespeare's comedies. Celebratingthe incomparable delights of love, As You Like It runsthe glorious gamut of pastoral romance: cross-dressingand love-notes; poetry and brilliant conversation; gentlesatire, slapstick and passion. Venue: Old SchoolsQuadrangle, Bodleian Library 30 Aug 7pm & 31 Aug 11am & 4pm MR STINKChloe doesn’t like school very much. She isn’t as cool asthe other kids. No iPhone, no DSand no friends. Then she meetsMr Stink – the local tramp. Yes,he smells a bit but he’s the onlyperson who’s ever been nice toher…but is there more to himthan meets the nose? Ages 7+2 Sep 10.30am & 1pm & 3 Sep10.30am, 1pm & 4pmTHE VERY HUNGRYCATERPILLAR & OTHER ERICCARLE FAVOURITES Watch yourfavourite storybooks come to lifeon stage. The tales of The Very Hungry Caterpillar, LittleCloud and The Mixed-up Chameleon, are beautifullyretold in a glowing stage adaptation with puppetry.Ages 2+

George Street, OX1 2AG0844 847 1585 www.newtheatreoxford.org.uk

18 – 23 Jul GREASE Dust off your leather jackets, pull on your bobby-socksand get ready for the most fun-filled, high octane rock‘n’ roll party of the year! It’s the original high-schoolmusical, featuring all the unforgettable songs from thehit movie including ‘You’re The One That I Want’, ‘GreaseIs The Word’, ‘Summer Nights’, ‘Hopelessly Devoted ToYou’, ‘Sandy’, ‘Greased Lightnin’ and many more.18 - 20 Aug GUYS AND DOLLS JR.Following the huge success of last year’s StageExperience production of Fame, the New Theatre’ssummer youth theatre project returns with a productionof Guys and Dolls Jr. Hugely successful open auditionswere held in March, resulting in a cast and crew of over150 local children. This promises to be another greatopportunity to see the wealth of talent that Oxfordshirehas to offer, live on the New Theatre stage.

NEW THEATRE

New Street Henley-on-Thames RG9 2BP 01491 575698 www.kentontheatre.co.uk15 Jul – 17 Jul HENRY’S ARABIAN NIGHTS!In days of old when Knights were bold - princesses triednot to get their heads chopped off! It all happens in theTudor court, where a bored and slightly spoiled KingHenry will be entertained by traditional stories (fromArabian Nights) by each of his wives. Who will have herhead chopped off and who will be Queen Supreme?Family-friendly musical comedy.

2 Spring Street Chipping Norton OX7 5NL 01608 642350www.chippingnortontheatre.co.uk

16 Jul 11am MR MARK'S CHILDREN'S CONCERTS:THE CLARINET Join pianist Mr Mark who will explore anew and different musical instrument explaining itsworking in an informal, fun filled concert. Mr Markencourages children to participate and to use theirminds, hands and voices. Children must be accompaniedby an adult. Age 6 and under.23 Jul 11am TOM THUMB by Lyngo Theatre Company‘Here I am!’ Tom stays one tiny step ahead of everyoneto save his brothers from mum, dad and the monster.With feathery spinning birds, a scary ogre head, flyingfiery houses and a portable forest, this originally Italianshow, performed entirely on a kitchen table, is a weewonder. Ages 6+

WHAT’S ONWHAT’S ON

18

Spiceball Park Banbury OX16 5QE01295 252050 www.themillartscentre.co.uk

26 Jul 2pm ROBIN HOOD by Garlic Theatre CompanyWatch this merry mix up in the forest involving glovepuppets, false teeth and a frying pan. Why is RobinHood wearing girls’ clothes and what is lurking behindthe trees? Is it the Sheriff of Nottingham or the big badwolf? Two classic tales are interwoven in a fast andfunny show. Ages 4 - 8 & their families28 Jul 2pm RAT TAT TAT BY JACTITO THEATRECOMPANY It's Chinese New Year and the Emperor isthrowing a party for all the animals with a big surprisefor the first to arrive. All are invited: Dragon, Dog, Tiger,and Pig to mention a few - it's a race to the Palace. Butwho will take 'Rat-A-Tat-Tat the little Rat - she doesn'tknow the way? Ages 4 - 8 & their families2 Aug 2pm MAGNIFICENT FLYING MACHINEby Garlic Theatre CompanyHave you ever dreamed of having wings? Follow thewacky adventures of Proffessor Bix Horn as he flies bythe seat of his pants and tries to build a flying machineout of the most unlikely things. Ages 4-8 & their families

MILL ARTS CENTRE (CONTD.) OXFORD PLAYHOUSE &BT STUDIO (CONTD.)

Mr Stink & Chloe


Send your diary dates for September - October by Wednesday 17 August 2011 to [email protected] 19

10 Aug 11am, 2pm, 3.30pm INVENTING ISOBEL Ourfriend Isobel is a great inventor, or so she thinks.Ages 4-7. Science Oxford Livewww.scienceoxfordlive.com 01865 81000016 Aug 10.30am - 11.30am THE ORANGE HAT CIRCUSADVENTURE Enjoy the summer holiday with Peggotythe Hen. Ages 6 months - 5 years.The Theatre Chipping Norton 2 Spring Street ChippingNorton OX7 5NL www.chippingnortontheatre.co.uk01608 642350 22 – 26 Aug 10am – 3pm STOP MOTION SUMMERSCHOOL Make your own stop motion animation filmwith sound and music. Ages 9 – 15. St Margaret’s Institute, Oxford www.stopmogo.com01865 55988224 Aug 11am, 2pm, 3.30pm SPY SCHOOL Join a TopSecret Spy school and crack codes. Ages 7+Science Oxford Live www.scienceoxfordlive.com01865 81000025 Aug 1pm – 4pm CONCEAL & REVEAL ORIGAMIAges 8 – 12 Booking essential.Modern Art Oxford www.modernartoxford.org.uk01865 81380027 – 29 Aug 11am – 6pm FOODIES FESTIVAL A greatday out for all the family, with cooking classes forbudding young chefs.South Parks, Oxford www.foodiesfestival.com27 - 29 Aug ENHANCED STEAMDAYS Didcot Railway Centre, Didcot, OX11 7NJwww.didcotrailwaycentre.org.uk01235 817200

AUGUST

AUGUSTJULY9 Jul ALICE’S DAY AT VARIOUS LOCATIONS INOXFORD Oxford celebrates Alice in Wonderland with aspectacular day of events.www.storymuseum.org.uk/alice10 Jul and 11 Sep 2.30pm - 5pm AFTERNOON TEASAND CAKES served by Friends Of Ewelme School. Seethe oldest school building in the county to be in use as astate primary.Burrows Hill, OX10 6HU www.ewelme.oxon.sch.uk01491 839240 10 Jul every half hour from 2pm - 5pmMAPPING WONDERLAND byUnderconstruction Theatre. Take a journeythrough Wonderland and help a mysterouscharacter discover her past. Promenadeperformance, departing from RadcliffeSquare in front of Vaults and Gardens café.Tours also run on 16,17, 23, 24, 30 & 31 Jul.www.underconstructiontheatre.com13 Jul – 17 Jul 11am – 5pm THE RIVER PROJECT by Art Jericho. An exhibition of a huge flowing rivermade of nearly 100 segments created in seven primaryschools that all feed into The Cherwell School in NorthOxford. www.artjericho.com 16 Jul – 4 Sep RRM FUNTIME AT RIVER ANDROWING MUSEUM Explore Thames wildlife in a galleryfull of fun and interactive things to do. Ages 12 andunder. Take an adult. River and Rowing MuseumHenley on Thames, www.rrm.co.uk 01491 415605 18 – 23 Jul HENLEY FRINGE at Henley on Thames www.henleyfringe.org 20 Jul – 23 Jul PETER PAN by The Blewbury PlayersOrchard Dene Garden Theatre, Blewburywww.blewburyplayers.com 01235 51514422 - 24 Jul 9am – 5pm CLA GAME FAIRBlenheim Palace www.blenheimpalace.com01993 811325 www.gamefair.co.uk23 Jul – 12 Aug SUMMERSCREEN FILM FESTIVALThe 8th Summerscreen film festival is all about inspiringyoung people through film.www.ofvm.org/summerscreen 01865 79273223 Jul 1pm – 4pm FOREST PICNIC AFTERNOONAn afternoon dedicated to stories, games, activities andmusic themed around forests of the World.University of Oxford Botanic Garden Rose Lane OX1 4AZwww.botanic-garden.ox.ac.uk 01865 28669025 – 29 Jul SUMMER DANCIN’: CONTEMPORARYDANCE SUMMER RESIDENCY The ultimate danceexperience for young people in Oxford by Tac-au-TacDance Theatre.Town Hall Oxford www.dancinoxford.co.uk01865 252820 25 – 29 Jul 10am – 3pm daily SUMMER CLUMPS CLUBOutdoor adventures and play every day. Shelter building,wild art, drama and games for children aged 8 – 12 yrs.Earth Trust Centre Little Wittenhamwww.earthtrust.org.uk 01865 40779225 Jul – 5 Sep 10am – 5pmQUEST GEOCACHING TRAILS Outdoor GPS treasure-hunt. Express Quest is a trail for beginners, Puzzle Questis an intermediate trail, suitable for older children.The University of Oxford Harcourt Arboretumwww.botanic-garden.ox.ac.uk 01865 286690 26 Jul, 11,15 & 31 Aug 10am – 3pmHILL END FAMILY FUN DAYSThe Hill End Centre, Eynsham Road, FarmoorOxford OX2 9NJ [email protected] 86351027 Jul 11am – 3pm PLAY DAY 2011 at BanburyPeople’s ParkOxfordshire Play Association www.oxonplay.org.uk01865 77947427 Jul 11am, 2pm, 3.30pm TEDDY’S TENTCan you help Teddy find the right materials to make histent and sleeping bag? Ages 4-7Science Oxford Live www.scienceoxfordlive.com01865 81000028 Jul 10.30am- 11am TOM TOTS – WASHDAYEnjoy songs, stories and poems all about washday.Ages 5 and underThe Oxfordshire Museum, Woodstockwww.tomocc.org.uk 01993 811456

29 Jul–26 Aug 2pm - 2.20pmASHMOLEAN FRIDAY MINI TOURS 20-minute toursled by Ashmolean Education Volunteers on Fridays.Ages 3+. Free, no booking necessary.Ashmolean Museum www.ashmolean.org01865 27800030 Jul 10.30am -12.30pmBABY AND CHILDEN’S MARKETCorn Exchange Faringdon

www.babyandchildrensmarket.co.uk07800 56804030 & 31 Jul ENHANCED STEAMDAYSBroad gauge Fire Fly locomotive operatingTravelling Post Office demonstrationsDidcot Railway Centre, Didcot, OX11 7NJwww.didcotrailwaycentre.org.uk01235 81720031 Jul 7.30pm OXFORDSHIRE COUNTYYOUTH ORCHESTRA CONCERT The end of

tour concert by the top Oxfordshire’s student orchestra.Sheldonian Theatre, Oxfordwww.oxfordshire.gov.uk/music 01865 740000

JULY

WHAT’S ONWHAT’S ON

e

Mapping Wonderland

1 Aug 10am - 4pm TO BE OR NOT TO BE A fun theatreworkshop taking old classic plays and stories andmaking them hip, modern and relevant. Ages 8-12yrsThe Mill Arts Centre, Spiceball Park Banbury OX16 5QEwww.themillartscentre.co.uk 01295 252050

1 - 5 Aug SUMMER VILLAGE Taster workshops.A week of fun for 6-12 year olds. Pegasus Theatre,Magdalen Road Oxford OX4 1REwww.pegasustheatre.org.uk 01865 812150 2 Aug – 7 Aug 12 noon – 4pm FAMILY ACTIVITY WEEKExplore, discover and play. Free family activities.Modern Art Oxford www.modernartoxford.org.uk01865 8138003 Aug 1am - 3pmPLAYDAY 2011 BICESTER ACTIVITY DAY Garth Park, Launton Road, BicesterOxfordshire Play Associationwww.oxonplay.org.uk01865 779474 3 Aug 10.15am & 2pm,K’NEX LIGHTHOUSESBuild a working lighthouseout of K’nex. Ages 8+Science Oxford Livewww.scienceoxfordlive.com01865 8100004 Aug 10am - 3pm PLAYDAY2011 WEST OXFORDSHIREPlayday at The LeysRecreation Ground WitneyOxfordshire Play Associationwww.oxonplay.org.uk01865 779474 4 Aug 12 noon – 4pmMEET CONSUTA Enjoy ashort trip on a restoredworking steam launch usedas an umpire boat for HenleyRegatta during Victoriantimes.River and Rowing MuseumHenley on Thameswww.rrm.co.uk01491 4156054 Aug 6pm PINOCCHIO –CHILDREN’S THEATRE INTHE GARDENWaterperry Gardens01844 339254www.waterperrygardens.co.uk5 – 7 Aug from 11amJOUSTING TOURNAMENTGallant Knights and their mightysteeds will meet at BlenheimPalace to battle for glory in aspectacular jousting tournament. Blenheim Palacewww.blenheimpalace.com01993 811325

SEPTEMBER11 – 17 Sep WANTAGE BETJEMAN FESTIVAL OFLITERATURE www.wantagebetjeman.comThe Wantage Betjeman Festival celebrates the literaryand cultural heritage of Wantage. The week includesseveral children’s events such as a Teddy Bear’s Picnic onthe first day and a screening of Gnomeo and Juliet.


20

TWO FAB COMPETITIONS

JULY / AUGUST 2011

Copyright Families Oxfordshire July 2011. Colour transparencies and any other original materials submitted for publication are sent at owner's own risk and while every care is taken, neither Familiesnor its agents accept liability for loss or damage. Families Oxfordshire is part of a group established in 1990 and headed by Families South West. All franchised magazines in the group are independentlyowned and operated under licence. We take care in preparing this magazine but publishers and distributors cannot be held responsible for the claims of advertisers nor for the accuracy of thecontents nor for any consequence.

Families Oxfordshire has teamed up with the Playhouseto give readers a chance to win a set of familytickets for The Very Hungry Caterpillar & other EricCarle favourites at the Playhouse in Oxford onFriday 2 September 2011.*

Here’s your chance to see your favourite storybooks come to lifeon stage. The tales of The Very Hungry Caterpillar, Little Cloud andThe Mixed-up Chameleon by award-winning children’s bookillustrator and writer Eric Carle, are beautifully retold in thisglowing stage adaptation with puppetry.

The Very Hungry Caterpillar follows the wonderful adventures of avery tiny and very hungry caterpillar that progresses through anamazing variety of foods.

High up in the beautiful sky, Little Cloud slips away from the restand transforms itself into various shapes of the things it sees – asheep, an airplane, a shark and more.

The Mixed-Up Chameleon is bored with its life – sitting aboutpredictably changing colour all day. So it decides to embark on anadventurous trip to the zoo, wishing it could be more like theother animals.

www.oxfordplayhouse.com 01865 305305

To enter, just answer this question:

Who wrote the Hungry Caterpillar?Closing date is: Friday 5 August 2011

Send your entry to: [email protected] or to:

Families Oxfordshire, PLAYHOUSE Competition, PO Box 167,Wantage, OX12 8ZJ.

Include your name, address and telephone number Terms & Conditions

PRIZE: Family tickets (4 tickets, max 2 adults) for the 1pm performance on Friday 2 Sep)Your details will not be used for any purpose other than this competition. Winners agree to thepossibility of their name being published in the September/October 2011 issue of Families Oxfordshireand on the Families website. No correspondence will be entered into. Entries open to Oxfordshireresidents only.

WIN FAMILY TICKETS to see The Very Hungry Caterpillar

There’s always lots to see and do at the Cotswold Wildlife Parkand Gardens, where recent newborns include zebra foal Rodney,three female baby camels, as well as two new arrivals, giraffesIcarus and J.

You’re never too old to enjoy the animals and gardens, so whynot ask Grandma and Grandpa to come along as well?Hop on for a ride on the railwayaround the park, climb into the treehouse in the adventure playgroundand follow the A-Z trail of AmazingAnimals. You’ll be extra lucky if you decide tovisit on Wednesdays in August, asthat’s when the keepers will befeeding some animals ice pops! (Animal friendly ones with lots of yummy things hidden inside.)

Don’t forget to bring a picnic and chill out in the park amongst theamazing 250 different species of animals, insects and birds. www.cotswoldwildlifepark.co.uk 01993 823006

To enter, just answerthis question:

What are the names of thetwo new giraffes atCotswold Wildlife Park?

Closing date is: Friday 5 August 2011

Send your entry to:[email protected] or to: Families Oxfordshire,

CWP Competition, PO Box 167, Wantage, OX12 8ZJ.

Include your name, address and telephone number Terms & Conditions

PRIZE: Family tickets (4 tickets, max 2 adults)Your details will not be used for any purpose other than this competition. Winners agree to thepossibility of their name being published in the September/October 2011 issue of Families Oxfordshireand on the Families website. No correspondence will be entered into. Entries open to Oxfordshireresidents only.

WIN FAMILY TICKETS for a greatday out at Cotswold Wildlife Park


families oxfordshire issue 44 july - august 2011

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families oxfordshire

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