The Mini-Mumblers love nature, anything from flowers to squirrels!
We are regulars at Golden Acre Park but we have never walked around the Adel Dam Nature Reserve before. Adel Dam is a tranquil nature reserve tucked out of sight, has emerged from a centuries-old working dam and the surrounding land. A rare combination of wet and dry woodland surrounds a lake and pond frequently visited by kingfishers – the number one attraction. Masses of bluebells and fungi in season are also exceptional.It can be accessed through Golden Ace Park. Instead of walking across the new wooden bridge at the back of the lake verve down to the left and enter the nature reserve through the gate.
It can be accessed through Golden Ace Park. Instead of walking across the new wooden bridge at the back of the lake verve down to the left and enter the nature reserve through the gate.
It’s a beautiful peaceful walk with lots of species of bird previously spotted and we couldn’t wait to see what we could spot!
You can download the ADEL DAM NATURE RESERVE Self-guided walking trail PDF here but we managed without!
The walk leads you to the first of 2 hides, the hide is a small shed overlooking the pond with a bird feeding station. We were lucky enough to see numerous magpies and a beautiful small grey heron. From this hide we went on an adventure through the woods… winding paths, wooden stepping stones and little bridges crossing the marshy ground were very exciting for my little girl! Arriving at the lake hide we entered to be met by a local photographer who showed us his beautiful pictures of the Kingfisher we had missed by just minutes! Kingfishers – Adel Dam’s main attraction – have bred here; if you are lucky you will catch a flash of their bright blue. We waited to see if he came back -he didn’t but we were rewarded by a beautiful white heron!
As the walk continued we spotted lots of grey squirrels and various birds including a Red Kite (I was starting to wish we had a bird book as my lack of bird knowledge was really showing!!).
Elusive species include water rail and lesser spotted woodpeckers. Birds of prey also frequent the site, with resident sparrowhawk and visits from red kites and buzzards. Fungi flourish amongst the standing and lying dead trees. Badgers and roe deer visit the site, and a family of foxes have made the nature reserve their home!
It truly is a wonderful place to visit as long as your kids can understand that to catch a glimpse of the wonderful species who have made Adel Dam Nature Reserve their home, they need to be quiet!
Reserve Information
Yorkshire Wildlife Trust
Great for
birdwatching
fungi
historical interest
spring flowers
Best time to visit Mar – May and Aug – Oct
Opening Times: Open at all times
Pram & Wheelchair friendly paths from the car park to the nature reserve and Marsh Hide. RADAR key required by wheelchair users at the nature reserve entrance. Paths become more rugged and muddy after the Marsh Hide. Dogs are not permitted on the reserve.
Parking
Use either of the Golden Acre Park car parks, one of which is on the A660 and the other on the Adel to Arthington road.
Brewtown Tours offer beer lovers the chance to visit some of the best breweries in the county. Tours are all inclusive, with Mark from Brewtown doing the driving, taking you to breweries in either York or Leeds where you can meet the brewers, learn more about the process of brewing and, of course, sample the goods! My husband and two of his friends recently went on a brewery tour of three Leeds breweries and this is his review… * spoiler alert: they loved it! *
Mark met us just outside the Leeds train station in his Brewtown van, where we were introduced to other beer enthusiasts who would be joining us for the day’s tour. When the van was full, we departed for our first stop: Quirky Ales.
Quirky makes cask conditioned ales. And they are amazing! We were offered a selection of hand-crafted beers in the cosy tap-room. From there we moved to where the magic happens: The brewery. We were welcomed by owner Mike Quirk who talked us through some history of brewing, a discussion on styles and types of beers and a taste and smell of the grains and hops that are the building blocks of beer.
Mike was a gracious host, explaining all about his brewing and fermentation kit and walked us through the whole brewing process. There is no doubt this guy is living the dream! Since he had a batch of beer ready for casking, he invited us to all grab a bottle, drop in some sugar, fill and cap our own to take home with us. This bottle-conditioned Winter Warmer will be ready in about 4 weeks. Looking forward to cracking it open on Christmas Day!
“A great day out with great company. Learned a lot more about brewing beer than I thought! And all on our doorstep. From garden shed to full on brewery there’s a world of producers in between and Brewtown know some of the best! I would definitely recommend anyone to go on the Brewtown Tour…if nothing else just to give you some ideas for retirement!” Simon
From there, we jumped back in the van and headed over to Holbeck. We stopped outside an impressive 1800’s Grade II converted flax mill that is the home of Northern Monk. What a place! On the ground floor, we saw the impressive brewing area making 20,000 pints each week. Upstairs is what they call the Refectory. I call it an amazing space to taste the 16 beers they have on tap along with cans and bottles to take away. Here we were offered another tasty flight of beers. We challenged our pallets and tried to identify flavours in each sip with the help of a flavour wheel. More grains were sampled, this time trying caramelised and toasted barley. You can immediately taste how the ingredients contribute to the final product.
“A great way to spend an afternoon with your mates. Interesting, educational and above all else good fun. Mark was a great host – instantly made us feel relaxed, really looked after us and shared lots good beer knowledge and stories with the group. The breweries were all very interesting and quite different from one another. We got to sample a fantastic range of beers on the tour and I would highly recommend it. The perfect way to catch up with your mates!” Mel
Last stop: North Brewing Co. I’m sure just about everyone has a favourite North Bar location in Greater Leeds. But I never thought too much about where their beer comes from. Brewtown gave us chance to follow the river to the source. North Brewing is a modern brewing operation with a retro-cool tasting area. You are sitting IN the brewery while the fermentation process happens in the tanks towering all around you. Another flight of amazing beers and a visit to the Jamaican Jerk BBQ guys who just happened to have set-up out front.
Brewtown Tours is a fun way to connect with friends, make new ones and learn about beer.
A Brewtown Tour makes a great Father’s Day gift for any beer lover. Book yours here!
Mr Mini Mumbler loves climbing so when we got invited to the brand new Clip n Climb in Leeds for a sneak peek (opening Saturday 26th May) he was beyond excited – and it didn’t disappoint!
Clip n Climb Leeds is in Holbeck and there is plenty of parking onsite. As soon as we entered the building you could see all the children’s jaws drop and the hyper levels went through the roof at seeing the colourful array of climbing structures just waiting to be scaled. Children need to be 4+ to climb the main sessions but no previous climbing experience is needed. They will be running Tots sessions in the future which will be for children aged 2.5 and over (keep an eye on the Clip n Climb Leeds Facebook page for more details)
The children got kitted out in their climbing harnesses, the staff showed them how to get in and checked all children. They then watched a short safety video which outlined the do’s and don’ts when climbing and the staff then ran through this with the children to ensure it was all understood.
Once in the climbing area, Mr Mini Mumbler didn’t know where to start with the 32 individually designed walls to try! All the walls are unique, bright and inviting, they each pose different challenges with something for all abilities with the main aim of having fun! The walls each have a name which describes the theme of the climb or the technique that is required to climb such as Spaghetti Junction, Dome Chimney and Steelworks to name a few!
The instructors were on hand to help the more nervous climber or provide pointers if needed and were all very friendly and encouraging. The clipping on system (Belay Mate) can be done by the child (Mr Mini Mumbler needed a few times to be shown how to line it up) which means you can transfer from wall to wall quickly.
If you want an added challenge there are two more extreme challenges, the Stairway to Heaven and the Vertical Drop Slide. The Mini Mumbler’s were straight on the Stairway to Heaven (no fear!) and it took a couple of attempts but they mastered it! The 9-metre vertical drop is a different level! Children have to be over 1.2 metres to use the slide which basically involves getting pulled up the slide as far as you want to go and dropping vertically down! You get togged up in a protective suit & helmet. It got a massive thumbs up from the Mini Mumbler (and ME!! Well I had to give it a go didn’t I!!) and was great to watch, lots of fun for adults too! (*The vertical slide is an additional cost)
Climbing sessions are 90 minutes with 30 minutes for the safety briefing and harnessing and 60 minutes climbing.
The Woodpecker diner serves homemade pizza, pasta, cakes and a variety of hot and cold drinks and is an ideal place to watch from. There was an area with a few toys and colouring for younger children. There is also a dedicated party area.
After saying just 5 more minutes god knows how many times, I eventually dragged Mr Mini Mumbler on the promise we could come back, it certainly got the BIG thumbs up from him. We will definitely be visiting Clip n Climb again soon.
Disclosure: We attended this session for free with our sister site North Leeds Mumbler but we always provide honest reviews. We really enjoyed our visit and this blog is our own honest opinion.
The second wave of tickets for the tenth edition of North Yorkshire’s Deer Shed Festival are now on sale!
Deershed isn’t a cheap way to spend a weekend, so Harrogate Mumbler went along for the first time to see if it is worth it. What can I say? we absolutely loved it and have been raving on about it ever since. Is it for you? Read on to find out…
To set the context, I’ve been to plenty of festivals in my time, throughout my misspent youth, and even as recently as Download in June 2018, however never before had I considered (for a second!) taking the kids. Honestly, I had always viewed the festival experience as my away-time from the kids, a chance to listen to loud music and basically, well, not be mum for a weekend!
It was impossible not to hear the buzz about Deershed though, it’s only about half an hour away from Harrogate, near Thirsk and many of my friends already go year on year. I decided to give it a try with the famalam and managed to blag the motorhome off my parents (you can read about our 2017 adventures in “Dora the Explorer” here)
Deershed isn’t a day event, the tickets are for the whole weekend. You can either camp, take a caravan/ motorhome or if you really like a proper bed, it’s close enough to drive home each night (not that I’d recommend that- there were far too many delicious gin cocktails on offer… more on that later!)
My two daughters are 7 & 9 years old and they were incredibly excited at the prospect of going to their first festival. We had done our prep and had purchased glitter & hair mascara- Even Mr Mumbler’s beard got the festival treatment! My first impression of the site was how colourful, welcoming and relaxed it felt. The camp sites are all just outside the main arena and within easy walking distance. The campsites have porta loos and (chargeable) showers. It’s not glamorous, but as a seasoned festival goer I can report that as festival loos go, they were as clean as I’ve ever seen. The campsites were well spaced and they were quiet after dark- everyone is in the same boat of wanting to get their kids to sleep after a full day of festival fun. Basically almost everyone who goes to Deershed is a family- from brand new babies right up to teenagers and every age in between.
The carousel & helter skelter were big hits
Mr Mumbler is yet to forgive me for this
Inside the arena, it’s big enough to keep everyone entertained without feeling vast or unsafe. I was able to give my two girls a bit of freedom without feeling like they would get lost or overwhelmed. Moreover, the younger children are given a specific coloured wrist band and if a member of staff spots them alone, they will help re-unite you (for once, my girls actually didn’t test this facility!)
The main stage is situated at the bottom of a gentle hill which ensures that everyone has a god view. Families wisely took in camping chairs, rugs, sunshades and the true Deershed professionals took lights and decorations for the fabulous little pull-along carts that you can hire. (These are invaluable for pulling along little-ones or allowing them to snooze when they’re legs are done in)
The mainstage, wasnt actually the highlight for me though, whilst I really did enjoy the bigger bands, it was the smaller stages that did it for me. Sitting in the sunshine while the kids did some crafting, listening to some immensely talented young musicians whilst sipping a gin was just perfect!
Keeping the kids happy and entertained was where Deershed excelled. Our 4 favourite bits were as follows:
1. The Wilder Wild. This is a smallish area off the main stage in the shade. Mainly for crafting (most of which was free) my girls could have spent the full weekend in there. Particular highlights were the clay crafting (free) the Willow Weaving (free) and the free junk modelling (mercilessly shoving the kids aside, I made an amazing jellyfish model- I love a bit of crafting! ;)) My daughters also made a vinyl record mirror, leather bracelets and rode a cart pulled by a beautiful Newfoundland dog, they also listened to a fantastic interactive bedtime story around the campfire before bed.
Free Clay Sculpting
Making LP’s into mirror frames
Bedtime story around the campfire
Gorgeous Newfoundlands!
2. The Science Tent. What a cool place! With everything from programming, bodies, planets, music, Meccano, slime making, VR, and so much more (again, most of it free). I embarrassed myself by not being able to order the planets correctly (My nine year old could do it of course: “There’s a nemonic, don’t you know Mum … My Very Enthusiastic Mother Just Served Us Noodles”- alright sweetie, no-one likes a show-off…” )
The planets (& my shame)
HUGE science tent
Massive marble run
Junk, glorious junk!
3. The comedy tent. I loved this! Some of the acts were pretty risqué, but they went entirely over the head of my 7 year old. My 9 year old however, thought that the acts were hilarious- any mention of toilet humour or body parts and she’s a fan.
4. The Food & Drink. What can I say, Wow, just wow! I had intended on making packed lunches and generally economising on refreshments but this idea went straight out of the window when I saw the quality and variety of the food on offer. Naturally, only because I want to give a thorough review of the offering, I sampled as much as possible…. From Greek food to Indian, Churros, Pizza’s Burgers, Cheese on toast, Fish and chips, fish finger sandwiches (yes, a whole van dedicated to the provision of this awesome food!) Tibetan, Tacos and just about everything else that you can think of. And it was ALL amazing! With regards to the bars, they were plentiful and the offering was varied. There were plenty of beers, cocktails I could go on at length here but i will give you the idea that I’m some kind of lush, who sits in a field at a festival drinking copious amounts of gin… ahem. Anyway, the bars were great- one was actually like someones front room, complete with sofas-a-plenty!
Some of the excellent food offerings
The Bubble Emporium
Deershed at dusk
I’m running out of space now, to tell you more about this amazing festival, some of the things that I haven’t even mentioned are the MASSIVE sports arena, which hosts tons of sports. All of the time. Quiddich anyone!? More traditional activities included Yoga (it was lovely to see our favourites, Go Yoga there, crazy & disk golf, football, parkour, sock wrestling ( I have no idea what that is either…).
There was tree climbing (with harnesses right up into HUGE oak trees) and walk about entertainers seemingly everywhere. I bumped into this BRILLIANT marching band on my way back from the loos.
I haven’t even touched on the DJ’s, the theatre, the shows, the cinema (showing family favourites such as The Greatest Showman & Moana) the poetry & spoken word, the canoeing on the lake, the shopping or any of the pre-bookable workshops.
What I really loved was the attention to detail for families. The NCT were there and they hosted a group “baby bathtime” They also had bottle warming facilities, equiptment seterilising facilities and highchiars. You could even buy nappies on site if needed. The toilets had hand wash at 2 heights to ensure that little hands got cleaned too. There were swing ball sets all over the site, which allowed you to sit back and watch while your kids played safely. There were ear defenders on sale and the whole place had a total “families completely welcome” vibe.
Don’t get me wrong, taking your kids to a festival is never TOTALLY relaxing. By the end of the Sunday, you could see parents nerves were getting frayed (or maybe that was just me, trying to stay cool and all festival-chic” whilst nursing a slightly throbbing (and totally deserved) gin- hangover.) but all in all it was completely memorable and a brilliant experience.
Would I go back? Absolutely, in a heartbeat. I spent more time with my kids, crafting, playing and just chilling than I ever normally do; even at a weekend away somewhere.
If you’ve ever wondered about festival-going then I can’t recommend Deershed high enough. It’s just fabulous.
The NCT Tent and one of those cool little wagons for kids
Go Yoga doing a parent & Child session
My AMAZING jelly fish crafting!
Deer Shed Festival began as a one-day, 1000-capacity event in 2010, in contrast, 10,000 attended Deer Shed Festival 9 in 2018 to witness its biggest ever music, arts and science line-up, with household names like Goldfrapp headlining the music bill and James Acaster headlining the PG comedy big top tent.
Deer Shed 10 will for the first time, allow general ticket holders to say on Sunday night. Previously, the Sunday night offering was an additional extra, with the festival proper closing at 6pm to allow families to get home at a sensible time.This new change means more bands, more acts, and the biggest Sunday night party Baldersby Park has ever seen, all at no extra cost to the festival goers!
300 adult early bird tickets will be made available at 10 am September 6th at a price of £115 each and Tier 1 tickets will be made available immediately after early bird tickets sell out, at a price of £125 each. Tiered ticket prices ensure that festival goers are rewarded for purchasing tickets earlier.
Kids aged 0-2 years go free, whilst a ticket for 3-5 year olds will cost you £20, and tickets for 6-15 year olds cost £50. For more information and a full breakdown of Deer Shed’s ticket structure, visit: deershedfestival.com/tickets.
2019 dates are 26th-28th July (one week later than usual) Deershed is at Baldersby Park, Topcliffe, North Yorkshire
Disclosure: Mumbler was lucky enough to receive press tickets to this festival for free however we pinky promised to only write a truthful account of our weekend. Phew, we LOVED it! (otherwise that could have been awks!)
The Go Ape! Park Adventure at Temple Newsam Estate opened earlier this year and the North Leeds Mini-Mumbler’s were very excited (mummy was a little apprehensive!) to be invited along for family fun in the trees!
“For those of you not sure what Go Ape! entails my daughter’s summary to her Grandma sums it up well “a big adventure park in the trees!” By the end of our session, we had enjoyed wobbling over bridges, climbing through tunnels, scrambling along nets and whizzing down zip wires! If you’re looking for a new challenge, something fun, or a family activity that burns some energy, then Go Ape! is for you!”
**There’s a special discount code for Mumbler’s at the end of this blog post**
Go Ape! is situated in Menagerie Woods at Temple Newsam Estate, opposite the play park. Temple Newsam is ideal if you have younger children who aren’t tall enough to climb as they can use the play park or visit the farm. There is plenty of parking but just check ahead before you visit whether there are any events on at Temple Newsam as this can impact the traffic in the area and you may need to allow extra time (as we found)!
On arrival for our time slot, we went to the reception cabin and filled in a few forms and were given a wristband to identify which level course we were doing and starting time. If you have personal belongings you don’t want to climb with you can leave these securely in the cabin. We then went to get harnesses fit (Tip: make sure you have asked if kids need the toilet before they get their harness on!). The staff were very helpful, helping children and adults get kitted out. We then had a safety briefing which was delivered in a really interactive way by the instructors meaning children really concentrated. The system works on a continuous ‘belay’, so once you’re attached you are away to have fun (and there’s no chance of falling to the ground)! There’s a short practice trail, just a few centimetres off the ground, where you can get a feel for the belay system.
There are three levels of courses which take you higher and higher into the trees, each getting more daring and difficult as they progress. The levels are not restricted by age but there is a minimum height for each and the entry height is 1 metre. This was great for my youngest as it meant even at 5 he could have a go on some of the more challenging courses and he felt very proud at the end that he had done the same as his elder sister!
Levels one and two start from a central point, Millers Stairs, which was good when you are watching multiple children as means they always come back to the same point to start again! All the loops end with a zip wire which gets more challenging as you progress through the levels. (*Please check out the adult to child ratios needed for the different levels here)
Level One:Minimum height 1.0 metre. Level one is three different loops of obstacles and crossings. It includes an introductory level, one metre off the ground, which sets you up for two different routes in the tree-tops. It includes tunnel crossings, flying carpets, stepping stones, Tibetan bridges, and ends with a zip wire. This course takes approximately an hour to complete. (*Please note there is an adult to child ratio of 1 adult participating to two children under 6 on this level )
Level Two: Minimum height 1.2 metres. Level two includes all the fun of level one plus an additional trail where you climb through a Fisherman’s Trap to take on a whole new series of high-wire crossings. The course has a great mix of things to do, from small stepping logs/platforms to zigzagged harder ones which require greater care and more concentration. This course takes approximately 90 minutes to complete.
Level Three: Minimum height 1.4 metres. This is the ultimate challenge 15 metres high in the trees! (I was quite thankful my daughter didn’t meet the height requirements but she can’t wait until she can give it a try!) As well as more challenging loops it also includes the Plummet, where you literally step off the ledge and discover the fastest way back down to the ground!
An eager 7 year and a more apprehensive 5 year and parents set off on the course! My eldest was in her element and did not stop smiling for the 90 minutes. The level two loops were challenging in places, especially some of the stepping stones but very do-able for most. Our 5 year old navigated his way from tree to tree across bridges, nets and ropes (albeit slowly!). There are instructors around to help if anyone needs it and give encouragement and advice if needed at certain crossings.
The crossings vary in difficulty and only two people are allowed on a crossing at one time, so at busy times you do have to be patient and wait for those ahead of you. After each loop of the course there is a zip wire, this did prove a bit daunting for a few children on level two but the instructors were very helpful and encouraging. The eldest Mini Mumbler thought that the zip wire was one of the best bits and loved hurtling down into the wood chips below (TIP: Keep your knees up!)
The courses are very physical and whilst the eldest Mini Mumbler flew around the three loops in level two in record time and got the chance to have extra turns (as you can stay on for your full slot) the youngest Mini Mumbler was tired by the end of an hour and needed some energy snacks!
The Go Ape! Park Adventure is a great family activity and one you can do with children of all ages (over 1 metre high). It provides a good challenge without being scary, we all left very proud and happy that we had conquered the challenges! It was a really nice way to spend quality family time together and Mini Mumbler’s are already planning another adventure with cousins!
Wear comfortable loose fitting clothes, I noticed a few children had onsies on! It is physical and you do get hot so I would wear thin layers or on colder days, skins.
Wear shoes that are suitable for climbing e.g. trainers. No sandals, open toes or heels are allowed.
Gloves are recommended, you can buy fingerless Go Ape! ones at the shop.
If you’re all climbing take minimal personal belongings with you.
Adult (participating) to child ratios do apply especially for Level 1 so make sure you check these out before visiting.
Check with the kids if they need the toilet before the harnesses are fit as trust me it is a pain getting all the kit off and it eats into your time in the trees!
Go Ape! is a physical activity and I found that my kids were starving when they finished. There is a cafe within Temple Newsam Estate but if you don’t plan to go across make sure you take some snacks and refreshments.
There is free parking available within the grounds of Temple Newsam Estate but it can get busy if there is an event on so just allow extra time to get there.
You can make a day out of your visit to Go Ape! by visiting Temple Newsam Estate which has woodland walks, parks, farm with animals and ride on tractors, house and cafe to visit. In the school holidays, they often have themed events running.
**MUMBLER DISCOUNT CODE**
We have teamed up with Go Ape! at Temple Newsam to offer Mumbler’s a 10% discount on all bookings. To redeem use code NLMUMB10 (valid until 31st December 2018, excluding Saturday’s). To book click here.
Opening Times:
Level 1 & 2 – 10:00am until 15:00pm weekends and holidays
Level 3 – 9:00 am – 15:00 pm weekends and holidays
10:00 am – 15:00 pm Term Time – closed on Tuesdays
If you are travelling by bus the 19 and 19A buses run to Whitkirk, 1 mile from Temple Newsam House. The 10 bus runs directly to Temple Newsam House during school holidays from Easter to October half term.
Our guest reviewer Charlotte and her Mini Mumbler went along to Launch Party for the eagerly anticipated NEW Indoor Play Space at Grass Hoppers, Tong Garden Centre. Find out what they thought here…
Grass Hoppers is a popular outdoor adventure playground in the heart of Tong Garden Centre, offering a range of activities from bouncing pillows to a huge sandpit, zip wires, racing track, traditional climbing frames, swings and slides, and a dedicated pre-school play area. We had a sneak peek at the eagerly anticipated indoor play space yesterday and boy did it impress! From the moment we walked through the gate to the moment we said goodbye, we were fully immersed.
The play space is broken down into 5 key areas; the sports court to the left of the frame, offering basketball and football; the older play space, offering multiple levels to climb, swing, and slide; the baby/toddler zone with lower level obstacles, mini slide, and sensory corner; the WOW area with floor piano where you can learn songs and record your own music, eye spy action panel, talking tree and mirror infinity deck and the role play area, where you have a choice of café, garage or shop to really get stuck in. Catering for ages 0-10years, there really is something for everyone.
Our favourite areas had to be the Garage (Emily is obsessed with cars at the moment); the tunnel and beam in the older section; and the bouncing balls in the older section (we managed a quick bounce when most people had already left as these were extremely popular with the older children).
And with easy access to the existing outdoor play space, we found ourselves outside for a bit of sandpit, bouncing pillow and swing action.
There is ample seating all around the play space, with a baby feeding area and designated pram store. Woody’s Kitchen offers a range of foods for both adults and children including breakfast, light bites, kids pick and mix (make their own pack up) and pizzas. And more choices of ice cream than you can imagine straight from The Ice Cream Farm. They also have a brilliant dietary requirement offering catering for gluten free, vegetarian and vegan. Emily stopped exploring long enough to sample a cheeky cone, while I scoffed a millionaires shortbread. You can still take your own picnic to eat in the outside area.
The new indoor play space is a fantastic new addition to an already great day out! We have loved visiting the outside space in the past, and to now have the option of the indoor space too is just too good to be true! And the sheer size and scale of the place meant it never felt over crowded and we got to enjoy all the areas at our own pace. It’s hard to say who had more fun; me or Emily? But it is definitely one to visit this summer and we will be heading back very soon!
Grass Hoppers Indoor and Outdoor Play Area is officially open from Monday 22nd July 2019. Opening times are from 9:15am-5pm. On Peak Days (School holidays, Weekends and Bank Holidays) Grass Hoppers has three sessions running Monday-Saturday for £5.75; 9:15am-11:30am / 12pm-2:15pm / 2:45-5pm. And on Sundays there are two sessions running for £5.25; 11:15am-1:15pm / 1:45-5:45pm. On Off-Peak Days (term-time weekdays) its £4.75 for unlimited play. Or £3 for End of Day Play; 3:30-5pm. They also offer Sunday Breakfast Play for £3; 9:45-11am.
And to avoid disappointment, you can book your slot online.
In addition, Grass Hoppers offer three party packages starting from £10.95pp, and are available from 1st August 2019. Party bookings are for a minimum of 10 and a maximum of 24 children. Adults must supervise party guests at all times. Grass Hoppers remains open during your party but you have exclusive use of your party room.
Grass Hoppers is very easy to get to; located in Tong Garden Centre, on Tong Lane, just off the A650 in Bradford and within 5 minutes of junction 27 of the M62.
Grass Hoppers at Tong Garden Centre, Tong Lane, Bradford BD4 0RY. Tel: 0113 2859750
*Mumbler was not paid for this review but we did receive complimentary entry into the Launch Party. All of the comments in this review are our open and honest opinion.
*This is a review post for Hesketh Farm Park, we received our entrance tickets in exchange for this post but as always this is our honest and fair review.
Hesketh Farm Park is set just outside the beautiful village of Bolton Abbey, boasting stunning views and in our opinion, a great family farm experience! Come rain or shine (both of which we experienced today) Hesketh has something to keep the whole family entertained!
We haven’t had a family trip to Hesketh Farm Park for ages so we were very excited to see the new additions which we have heard so much about. We arrived bang on 10 am as the farm sprang into life. With plenty of parking available we ditched the car and headed in. There was plenty of staff on hand to greet us and we were given a timetable of the live events running; there was a lot on offer!
Our first stop was the guinea pigs. I can honestly say I’ve never been a huge fan of small furry creatures but getting up close & personal with these little cuties have certainly changed that!* The Mini-Mumblers loved holding and brushing them and members of staff were on hand to answer ALL their burning questions.
*Please don’t tell the kids I said that – they are already begging for one!
Next, we couldn’t help but be drawn to the worlds loudest lambs! With only minutes until the Lamb Feeding Session, they were impatient, as were the kids, who couldn’t wait to try their hand at bottle feeding! The park assistants arrived with buckets full of bottles and were very clear on the correct technique to use to ensure the lambs didn’t get poorly tummies from too much air in their bottles and why it was very important to wash our hands after we touched the animals. There are hand washing stations in each area of the farm. Each child who was waiting (and today there were loads) got to have a turn at feeding the lambs.
Hesketh also had calf feeding, Egg collecting & donkey feeding or pony brushing sessions running during our visit.
The Mini-Mumblers really enjoyed learning about the different stages of the newborn chicks, from just hatched to 4 weeks old, we loved happening upon the giant tortoise as he wandered around the farm, and my highlight of the day was being lucky enough to get to stroke a brand new piglet. We then brushed a gigantic pig and fed another with a motorised tractor!
We headed down to the indoor play & cafe areas, the Mini-Mumblers explored the straw maze, played in the indoor sandpit and on the tractor slide while I ordered a cuppa and a cake from the cafe. I can highly recommend the caramel slice! The cafe also offers sandwiches and kids lunch boxes at a reasonable price plus there is ample space both indoors and out to bring your own picnic. After we had refuelled the kids raced on the indoor tractors circuit and then on the outdoor go-karts.
We timed it well and the rain had stopped so we made the most of it and explored outside. The new outdoor sandpit was a big hit! They built sand castles, used the diggers to dig craters and got completely covered in sand! What kid is not as happy as Larry when digging in the sand?
We spent an age climbing the full-size tractors, seeing the horses and the chickens and had another race on the go-karts – it has to be the best of three, doesn’t it? Then it was onto the park. Just as we had enjoyed our first slide the tractor ride opened so, of course, we raced over. This was the highlight of the day for my son! Farmer Chris on the tractor, pulled the trailer around the farm fields, stopping to answer questions and looking at all the animals out to pasture… I now know the difference between a meadow and a pasture – do you? The route is the bumpiest track it could possibly be, hence the kid’s HUGE enjoyment. Mum’s I’d recommend a sports bra! 😉
The tractor ride lasted approximately 15 – 20 minutes and costs an additional £1.50 per person.
Back at the park, the kids played while we enjoyed the last remaining rays of sunshine. The weather soon changed and the coats were zipped up before we could see the rain rolling in from Skipton. We headed home, kids happy and chatting about the fun they had before falling asleep halfway home.
Last night MUMBLER were invited down to the Lotherton Christmas Experience, which opened to the public today. As one of the main attractions in Leeds at Christmas time, there are always high expectations of Lotherton. We’re happy to say that yet again, this year’s Experience doesn’t disappoint and the addition of a new outdoor ice rink was a BIG hit with the mini Mumblers!
Hours of fun
Entry to the Christmas Experience is £8 per adult, £4 per child and children under 4 are FREE. For that, you get access to the Elf Village, The 12 Days Of Christmas Woodland Walk, The Fairy Dell, Winter Wonderland Courtyard, House, Play Areas and Wildlife World. Additionally, you can take a trip to the ‘North Pole’ and visit Santa and his Elves for an extra charge (£12.95 per child, includes gift and take home craft) and whizz round the new outdoor ice rink (£9.50 per child, £38 per family). For these activities, you must also have purchased a general admission ticket.
If you choose to do everything then the cost soon adds up but the fact you can choose your activities means it can suit varied budgets and even without a trip to Santa or ice skating there is loads to do within the general admission price (£24 for a family of 4). Members who hold a Lotherton annual membership card do not need to book to enter the estate and enjoy the 12 Days Walk and other areas under this ticket, however you need to book for Santa’s North Pole. You can find a full breakdown of the pricing for activities here.
The quality of what you’ll see and experience is excellent too, with beautiful lights, amazing decorations, interactive exhibits and Christmas characters popping up across the estate. There are additional activities that children can do in the Elf Village including plate/mug decorating, decoration and cracker making and storytimes read by a Christmas Elf. The activities are £3 each, or you can do all four for £10. The quality of the crafts are also very good and the elves are on hand to help but smaller children may need some guidance!
It is open daily until 5th January 2020 (closed 25th,26th December & 1st January), with late opening (until 8pm Friday & Saturday, rest of the week closes at 7pm) meaning you can take in the magical surroundings in the dusk as well, which is when the Woodland Walk really comes into its own.
There is quite a bit of walking around the full experience so if you have little legs I would recommend a pushchair.
Here’s a little taster of what you’ll get to experience….
The Elf Village
The Elf Village has been set up next to the play area. It’s a lovely, cosy set up of log cabins and twinkling lights, all manned by Santa’s Elves. The cabins are a mix of market stalls selling Christmas gifts, plus four indoor activities for children to take part in; storytime, plate decoration Christmas cracker and Christmas decoration making (as above, these activities are charged in addition to the general admission fee). You can get hot and cold drinks (including mulled wine) and hot-dogs from one of the cabins, and additional food is available at the Courtyard Cafe. The ‘Special Hot Chocolate’ looked amazing!! Tokens for the activities can also be purchased from The Little Christmas Shop.
Plate Decorating
Decoration Making
Elf Village
Cracker making with the friendly Elves
The Woodland Walk & Fairy Dell
The Woodland Walk is based around the 12 Days Of Christmas and is really interactive for children. It takes you on a loop past the play area, through the woods, and into the formal gardens. There are 12 interactive ‘stations’ for the children to play at, including playing a giant organ, hook a duck, a coconut shy style game and the chance to join the 12 Drummers Drumming. It took us about half an hour to complete, bearing in mind we were there when it was quiet though, so there were no queues to have a go on anything. We also did the walk at dusk, which was definitely the best time to do it so you can experience all of the beautiful lights in the trees. All areas of the walk are flat and pushchair accessible, although it was muddy in places.
Woodland Walk
Woodland Walk
Woodland Walk
Fairy Dell
The Woodland Walk finishes at the Fairy Dell, with lots of fairy houses and scenes set up around the rockery areas. These are lit with amazing lights, so again, definitely best experienced at dusk. The Fairy Dell is not easily accessed with a pushchair.
The House and Courtyard
Wow! The house looks stunning both outside and inside and won’t fail to get you into the Christmas spirit. Whilst I was in awe of the beautifully decorated rooms and trees a trip around the house wouldn’t be wasted on the kids as there is a section where they can dress up as a festive Edwardian before taking a selfie. If you wanted to take some time out and enjoy a story together there are Christmas themed books available to read as well as lots of Christmas hats for children to have fun trying on! On weekends there are magic shows taking place in the house (additional cost of £3 per person).
Stunning House
Inside House
If you need refreshments the courtyard has a covered area outside for The Christmas Experience and is a great place to take a few minutes rest. Children can play in the festive ‘snow’ whilst you enjoy a hot chocolate or mulled wine and slice of cake. (There is also a takeaway kiosk available.)
Santa’s North Pole
The friendly elves meet you at the entrance to the North Pole and have a little chat with the children before you follow the magical fairy lit trail into Santa’s workshop. The cheeky elves interact lots with the children throughout the visit and the children get to help them in the Elf workshop. They made brilliant ‘Santa Stop Here’ signs which they personalised with their own name. You then progress further into the North Pole and children get the chance to write a postcard to Santa, again the elves were on hand to chat with the children and made the experience very personal.
North Pole
Sign Decorating
Children then get the chance to go into Santa’s grotto and have a chat and photo opportunity with him before receiving a small present (which is age-appropriate and I thought a great gift). The Santa looked just like children see in the books and my two were captivated and came away buzzing! We were advised that normally the full experience would last approx 30-40 minutes. You go around the North Pole in a small group but all visits to Santa are individual.
Visits to see Santa on weekends in December are now fully booked but you can visit him after school and pre-schoolers can visit Santa in the Elf Village on Monday, Tuesday and Friday from 2nd December between 11am-2pm. There is no pre-booking for the pre-schooler sessions and you just need to get a ticket from The Little Christmas Shop when you arrive. (£6.50 per child, plus general admission needed.)
Ice Rink
NEW for 2019 is the outodoor ice rink which is situated towards the back of the Elf Village. The mini Mumblers were really excited about trying this new addition and it didn’t disappoint. It felt very Christmasy with all the fairy lights and the fact its open-air added to the experience. There are penguins to help the little ones (Additional £5 per penguin) but mine decided they were going to try skating without. It was amazing to see how much they could learn in such a short space of time and they enjoyed it so much that in the end I had to drag them off to try something else.
Sessions on the ice are 45 minutes in length and children have to be 3 years old to skate. In order to use the ice rink you need to have purchased a general eatate admission ticket plus ice skating. (More details on the website here)
Summary
In summary, The Christmas Experience is a great way to spend time as a family (a great one to do with grandparents as well) without travelling miles. There is a good mixture of activities for all ages including interactive trails, crafts, storytime, opportunities to burn off energy in the parks, ice rink and visits to the animals as well as the opportunity to see Santa.
For £59.90 a family of four (based on two adults and two children aged 5-17, under 4s general admission is free) can:
Take a walk around the 12 Days of Christmas interactive Woodland Walk
Visit the Fairy Dell
Visit the House and participate in the family-friendly activities
Relax in the Winter Wonderland Courtyard
Burn off energy in the Playareas
Visit Wildlife World
Spend time in the Elf Village and do two crafts each
Take a trip to Santa in the North Pole which includes a take-home craft and present from Santa.
Mumbler’s Top Tips:
The majority of the experience is outside so we would advise wrapping up warm.
The experience and woodland trail is suitable for prams but at busy times carriers may be more suitable especially in the Elf Village and House.
If you are visiting with grandparents, it is worth noting due to space restraints only two adults can accompany children to see Santa.
Wellies are advisable as parts of the trail and car parks are muddy.
If your kids are partial to crafting like mine and you don’t have a pushchair to store their works of art in, I would advise taking a rucksack/bag!
The toilets are in the courtyard area, we would recommend a visit before setting off on the Woodland Walk!
Lotherton is situated off Collier Lane which is just off junction 47 of the M1. If you are using a route planner the postcode is LS25 3EB.
*Mumbler was not paid for this review, although we were given free entry on the press night. All views and opinions expressed are our own and are open and honest.
Last night Mumbler were invited down to the Lotherton Christmas Experience, which opens to the public tomorrow. As one of the main attractions in Leeds at Christmas time, there are always high expectations of Lotherton. And we’re happy to say that yet again, this year’s Experience doesn’t disappoint!
Hours of fun at great value
Entry to the Christmas Experience is £7 per person, £3.50 per child, or £21 for a family ticket. Children under 4 are FREE. For that, you get access to the Elf Village, The 12 Days Of Christmas Woodland Walk, The Fairy Dell, Winter Wonderland Courtyard, House, Play Areas and Wildlife World! Additionally, you can take a trip to the ‘North Pole’ and visit Santa and his Elves for an extra charge (if you’ve booked to see Santa, all of the above is included in the price of your booking). However, even without the trip to Santa, this is a full day out for the family at a very reasonable price.
The quality of what you’ll see and experience is excellent too, with beautiful lights, amazing decorations, interactive exhibits and Christmas characters popping up across the estate. There are additional activities that children can do in the Elf Village including pottery painting, decoration making and story times read by a Christmas Elf. The activities are £3 each, or you can do all 4 for £10. Again, even without doing the activities there is still lots to do.
It opens on the 23rd November and runs until 23rd December, with late opening (until 7 pm Sunday – Thursday and 8 pm Friday – Sunday) meaning you can take in the magical surroundings in the dusk as well, which is when the Woodland Walk really comes into its own.
We took an 8-year-old, 5-year-old and a2-year-old. It was suitable for all of them, although we bought the pushchair for the youngest on the Woodland Walk and it was all fully accessible.
Here’s a little taster of what you’ll get to experience….
The Elf Village
The Elf Village has been set up next to the play area. It’s a lovely, cosy set up of log cabins and twinkling lights, all manned by Santa’s Elves. The cabins are a mix of market stalls selling Christmas gifts, plus 4 indoor activities for children to take part in; story time, pottery painting, plate decoration and Christmas decoration making (as above, these activities are charged in addition to the general admission fee). You can get hot and cold drinks and hot-dogs from one of the cabins, and additional food is available at the Courtyard cafe. Tokens for the activities can also be purchased from The Little Christmas Shop.
The Woodland Walk is based around the 12 Days Of Christmas and was definitely our favourite bit. It takes you on a loop past the play area, through the woods, and into the formal gardens. There are 12 interactive ‘stations’ for the children to play at, including playing a giant organ, hook a duck, a coconut shy style game and the chance to join the 12 Drummers Drumming. It took us about half an hour to complete, bearing in mind we were there when it was quiet though, so there no queues to have a go on anything. We also did the walk at dusk, which was definitely the best time to do it so you can experience all of the beautiful lights in the trees. All areas of the walk are flat and pushchair accessible, although it was muddy in places.
The Woodland Walk finishes at the Fairy Dell, with lots of fairy houses and scenes set up around the rockery areas. These are lit with amazing lights, so again, definitely best experienced at dusk. The Fairy Dell was not easily accessed with the pushchair though, so we left it and walked through.
Wow! The house looks stunning both outside and inside and won’t fail to get you into the Christmas spirit. Whilst I was in awe of the beautifully decorated rooms and trees, a trip around the house wouldn’t be wasted on the kids as there is a section where they can dress up as a festive Edwardian before taking a selfie. If you wanted to take some time out and enjoy a story together there are Christmas themed books available to read as well as lots of Christmas hats for children to have fun trying on!
If you need refreshments the courtyard has a covered area outside for The Christmas Experience and is a great place to take a few minutes rest. Children can play in the festive ‘snow’ whilst you enjoy a hot chocolate or mulled wine and a slice of cake. (There is also a takeaway kiosk available.)
Santa’s North Pole
We have seen a fair few Santa’s over the years but if you’re looking for a ‘top draw’ Santa experience you won’t be disappointed. The friendly elves meet you at the entrance to the North Pole and have a little chat with the children before you follow the magical fairy lit trail into Santa’s workshop. The cheeky elves interact lots with the children throughout the visit and the children get to help them in the Elf workshop. When we visited we made reindeer food with the elves. You then progress further into the North Pole and children get the chance to write a postcard to Santa, again the elves were on hand to chat with the children and made the experience very personal.
Children then get the chance to go into Santa’s grotto and have a chat and photo opportunity with him before receiving a small present (which was age appropriate). The Santa looked just like children see in the books and my two were captivated and came away buzzing! We were advised that normally the full experience would last approx 40 minutes.
Visits to see Santa on weekends in December are now fully booked but you can visit him after school and pre-schoolers can visit Santa in the Elf Village on Tuesday’s and Wednesday’s between 11am-2pm. This is no pre-booking for the pre-schooler sessions and you just need to get a ticket from The Little Christmas Shop when you arrive.
In summary, The Christmas Experience is a great way to spend time as a family (a great one to do with grandparents as well) with a good mixture of activities including interactive trails, crafts, storytime, opportunities to burn off energy in the parks and visits to the animals as well as the opportunity to see Santa.
Mumbler’s Top Tips:
The majority of the experience is outside so we would advise wrapping up warm
The experience and woodland trail is suitable for prams but at busy times carriers may be more suitable especially in the Elf Village and House
Wellies are advisable as parts of the trail are muddy
Last entry onto the 12 Days of Christmas Walk is 30 minutes before the estate closes and the house is 1 hour before the estate closes
The toilets are in the courtyard area, we would recommend a visit before setting off on the Woodland Walk!
Lotherton is situated off Collier Lane which is just off junction 47 of the M1. If you are using a route planner the postcode is LS25 3EB.
*Prices quoted are for tickets booked online, prices on the gate will be slightly more.
*Mumbler was not paid for this review, although we were given free entry on the preview evening. All views and opinions expressed are our own and are open and honest.
What better way to spend the day than messing about on the river!
With row boats or pedalos available to hire for a full hour for £7 per for adults, £4 for 6-16-year-olds, under 5’s free or half hour for half the price it’s not an expensive trip out!
It’s safety first at Otley Boats, with all the children needing a life jacket, fitted by a team member before you can board the boat! We opted for an hour on a pedalo- thinking it would be easier than rowing! I’m glad I dragged my sister along for the ride as my legs were killing after an hour pedaling!
Once aboard we headed up the river towards Ilkley. The kids were excited to choose which opening in the bridge we went through and loved seeing all the ducks and swans on the river.
A half hour hire would give you ample time to pedal up the river to just past Westgate Surgery to the turning point and back to the dock at a leisurely speed. In our hours hire we managed to pedal up river twice and back round the bhoy by the dock a couple of times also!
The kids sat back and enjoyed the experience but predictably both then wanted a turn at pedaling… swapping seats was not as nerve-wracking as I expected, the pedalo hardly moved at all as I clambered into the back seat. Mr Mini-Mumbler (6) could just about manage to pedal but my little girl was far too small (3 -but of course you don’t mind so much as they are FREE!). She hopped onto her Auntie’s knee and pretended she was pedaling before taking control of the steering. The pedalo was very responsive to the slightest movement of the rudder so we were all over the place!! She loved it…
The best part of this trip for me was how busy the river was… yes it was a Bank Holiday Monday but the sun was not shining (which I’m glad of because I was hot enough from all the pedaling!!) but to see so many people on the river having fun in our beautiful Wharfedale surroundings was delightful!
Otley Boats are open Saturdays with a range of pedalos and rowing boats available to hire from 10 am until evening, subject to weather conditions. Buoyancy aids will be available for children, and a safety boat manned by trained members of staff will be on the water at all times.
PRICES:
Adults £7 per hour
Children aged 6-16 £4 per hour
Children under 6 Free
Local Mum, Laura Turner, has just opened Puffin Pottery in Otley and she invited us down to see what they have on offer! This is our honest review of what we believe is a great addition to Otley!
Puffin pottery is a large, bright & airy studio with plenty of tables and aprons available for your budding artists! With high-chairs and baby changing facilities, milkshakes, tea, coffee and a selection of lovely cakes you can sit back and relax whilst your little (or big!) ones paint their pots. With lots of designs ranging from Unicorns and Mermaids to Fighter Jets and Piggy banks, there is something to tempt every child!
Once you are seated a member of staff will come over and talk your child through what they need to do, from wiping the pottery down with a wet sponge to selecting their colours and how many coats of paint each colour requires. My Mini-Mumbler especially loved the crackle colours which appear sparkly once fired!
The tables are set up with a paint carousel in the centre and a paint colour chart tile to ensure your child selects the right colour for their pottery. With brushes of every size and specially shaped sponges for stamping even the littlest of children can enjoy this activity!
Once the masterpiece is completed they will be fired in the Puffin Pottery Kiln, we were lucky enough to get a sneak peek of where the magic happens! You can collect your pottery a week after painting.
Puffin Pottery also offers Ladies Nights and Story Time Paint Along sessions. Keep an eye out on our events calendar for the next dates available to book.
Mumbler was given the opportunity to paint for free at Puffin Pottery this time but prices normally start at £6. This is our open & honest review of our experience there.
Yet again the Mini-Mumbler’s had a great evening at the Rainbow Factory’s brand-new Christmas production – Jingle the Elf’s Fairytale Fiasco!
About the Show:
Jingle the Elf’s Fairytale Fiasco follows the journey of Jingle, Santa’s cheeky elf who’s always getting into trouble, as she steals Santa’s sleigh on Christmas Eve in the hopes of getting herself onto the nice list. She goes in search of well-known fairy tale characters who are on the naughty list every year in the hopes of being able to get them onto the nice list, in turn getting her on it too. Filled with lovable characters, catchy songs and lots of laughs this Christmas show is a perfect alternative to the pantomime suitable for the whole family.
The show is designed for audiences aged 2 – 102. The relaxed, interactive performance style means you don’t have to worry about your little ones jumping around or getting out of their seats! With the show only being 40 minutes long and the children encouraged to sit on the floor on mats & cushions it is perfect for the littler wriggly ones.
The children were encouraged to join in with the Christmas “magic”, singing and dancing and the youngest mini-mumbler (age 5) was engrossed from start to finish. I sat back in my chair enjoying my complimentary cup of tea and mince pie watching – the joy on her face when Elsa entered the stage making it snow was priceless!
The older Mini-Mumbler (age 8) still enjoyed the performance but is fast growing out of fairytales (SOB!).
With limited tickets available for each performance (so booking early is a MUST), the kids had room to move about the floor as the actors did about the stage meaning they had a clear view of every second.
Performances will take place between 14th December 2019 and 3rd January 2020 and run at 11 am, 2 pm and 6 pm. For the price of £8 per ticket, it is money well spent!
For some sessions, there will be craft activities available afterwards for an additional cost. You can UPGRADE your ticket to include TWO Christmas Crafts for £12.50. You get your children’s show ticket then they can create traditional tree decoration AND decorate a cookie plate for Santa.
If you are looking for a unique pantomime featuring old friends this is perfect for your little ones.
The show is recommended for children aged 2+
Ticket prices are:
£8 for a show ticket (for both children and adults)
£12.50 for a children’s show ticket plus the Christmas Craft Upgrade.
Craft upgrade includes a Santa Cookie Plate and Christmas Tree Decoration
Show Dates:
Running from 14th December – 3rd January
Shows run at various times depending on the dates, these show times are 11am, 1pm, 4pm or 6pm.
The show lasts 45 minutes.
The Rainbow Factory is a family-run business which specialises in Storytelling through the Creative Arts. It was set up in June 2015 with the social objective of helping to raise literacy standards and inspiring more children to develop a love of reading and find new ways to explore and enjoy books.
*Mumbler was not paid for this review, although we were given free entry on the press night. All views and opinions expressed are our own and are open and honest.
Well, what can I say… the Mini-Mumblers (and me!!) loved the Rainbow Factory’s brand-new Christmas production – Scrooge’s Christmas Carol!
Billed as a family-friendly, fun, musical show with “ghosts that are more silly than scary, focused on fun and laughter” we were not disappointed. Even the youngest visitors (2 years +) will enjoy this version of the classic festive tale A Christmas Carol.
The children were encouraged to join in with the original songs, dancing & most of all laughter! With the show only being 40 minutes long and the children encouraged to sit on the floor on mats & cushions the mini-mumblers (3 & 6) were engrossed from start to finish. It is perfect for the little wriggly ones. I sat back in my chair enjoying my complimentary hot chocolate watching the joy on their little faces! Bliss!
With limited tickets available for each performance (so booking early is a MUST), the kids had room to move about the floor as the actors did about the stage meaning they had a clear view of every second.
Performances will take place between December 6 and January 5 and run at 11 am, 2 pm and 6 pm. For the price of only £6 per ticket, it is money well spent! For the earlier sessions, there will be craft activities available afterwards.
If you are looking for a pantomime perfect for your littlest ones but still entertaining for the big ones then look no further.
For more details about Scrooge’s Christmas Carol click here
Scrooge’s Christmas Carol
Written, composed & performed by Bruce Sharp & Lydia Toumazou
The Rainbow Factory is a family-run business which specialises in Storytelling through the Creative Arts. It was set up in June 2015 with the social objective of helping to raise literacy standards and inspiring more children to develop a love of reading and find new ways to explore and enjoy books.
We all know the hassles of getting the Christmas shopping sorted with the kids in tow or in-between working and daily life. We also all know the benefits of shopping locally but we don’t always have the time to nip into town for a browse- Much as we would like to!
This is where Shopappy comes in to play! You can shop everything you need for Christmas, from table decorations and presents to meat and veg- You can have Christmas wrapped up in one online shop!
In a few simple clicks, you select your town, choose your wares and decide whether to collect your items from each individual shop or from one local collection point! In Otley the single collection point which is The Otley Tavern after 6pm. In Ilkley the collection point is the Black Hat and in Guiseley, it’s the Station pub.
Today I’ve been on the hunt or a small present for my Mother in Law, the main present is sorted but she just needed a little something extra. I had NO IDEA what that was going to be so I began browsing the categories. Special Offers was obviously my first port of call, then Flowers & Gifts- Perfect! After a few minutes browsing, I hit upon the perfect present. I added it to my cart and headed to the checkout.
The checkout process is quick and simple and the site offers you the option to create an account for an even quicker checkout experience on your next visit. The store I bought from was collection only which is fine as I have other things to do in Otley this week. You can choose to collect on the same day or at a later date.
Now all that is left for me to do is pop down to Otley and collect the gift! Job done!
Our sister site Ripon & Nidderdale Mumbler recently visited Studfold Adventure Nature Trail & they had such a good time and it’s so nearby we just had to share their review with you!
Nestled in the surrounding hills, Studfold Farm offers visitors all they could possibly want for a fun day out with the kids. You can also extend your stay with their camping and glamping options, all set in the beautiful, unspoilt countryside of Upper Nidderdale, a dedicated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty – and it’s not hard to see why.
We started our visit, (two mums, with four kids ranging in age from about 2 to 9) with a picnic before heading into the reception to pick up our adventure trail sheets, a badge to colour in along the way and (of course) some fairy wings or an elf hat to wear around the trail if we wanted. Once we had our trail sheets and directions to the start, we set out, heading along the track towards the fields and straight through a huge, metal fox mouth which set the scene perfectly for the experience that was to come, combining the wonder of nature with a little magic and mystery along the way.
What really stood out for us was that the trail really did offer something for everyone. There were stone rabbits hidden away that the younger ones enjoyed finding, beautiful fairy houses to discover and fields and woodland to run through (perfect for a toddler looking for freedom) and as you go around the trail you also collect clues along the way to help you find the treasure swap box.
For the older ones, the trail sheets were challenging enough to hold their interest – pitched by age they offered the chance to hunt out the answers to the nature-themed questions in the purpose-built wooden information points along the trail. Some of the questions for the older ones were really quite hard and we really had to search to find the answers to a couple of the questions that the oldest had and there are no options to google the answer or ‘phone a friend’ as mobile reception is pretty non-existent up at Studfold which, we thought, added to it’s charm; the chance to get away from it all and connect with the kids and the beautiful surroundings without the distractions of everyday life.
Along the trail there are some fun places to visit, such as the tractor maze in the wildflower meadow, where there were more grown-ups on the big tractors than kids; the bird hide, where children are encouraged to look for birds, draw their observations and stick them up for other visitors to see; den building; fairy houses and a giant hedgehog to climb on.
All this culminates at the Two Stone Wish Trail through the woods. Following the story of Daniel and the Messles, written by Steve Leach and presented on large boards throughout the woodland (also now available to buy from reception), we set out to find out if Daniel can save the fairies from the Messles (little flying creatures). We stopped to make a ‘Two Stone Wish’ and to sit in the giant’s story chair, where you can take a rest and tell your favourite story or make up a new one of your own, and then on towards the fairy house where the toy exchange treasure box was hidden. The younger ones thought this was a great idea and spent ages (apologies to the family behind us) excitedly deciding what to swap their toys for.
Once we left the woodland we went up the track (challenging for pushchairs) to the barn and play area. Refreshment facilities on an honesty box system are available for you to make yourself a drink and while we had a welcome cuppa, the kids played in the barn on the straw bales and on the playground, coloured in their badges and explored the old barn with old-fashioned tractors and information on the history of the farm and farming in the area.
On completion of the trail, the kids presented their trail cards back to the staff at reception where they were offered a prize. We finished our day with an ice cream and a chat with the calves on the way back to the car with requests from the kids to come again. We certainly will.
Top Tips
The drive up there once you leave Pateley Bridge is along a narrow, winding road. A special note for any kids who might suffer from travel sickness to take your medication as you don’t want to miss out on such a great adventure just because you’re not feeling well.
When it comes to picnics you can either order one from the Nidderdale Way Cafe to collect on-site or, if you do take your own, staff can drop it off at the barn so you can pick it up and eat at the playground once you’ve finished your adventure.
Bring an old toy (small) your child no longer plays with to exchange at the treasure box nestled in a fairy house in the woods.
Some of the paths are difficult to navigate with a pushchair. If you have a sling or backpack our advice is to bring that instead – though it is possible to get all the way around if you have some help where needed.
In order to explore everything and get the most of your day out leave at least 2.5 – 3 hours to complete the trail and factor in extra time if you want to spend longer at the playground or on the tractor maze.
Take a look at our gallery below more of our adventures at Studfold.
Cost: £6 for adults, £5 for children. Under 3s FREE. Parking FREE.
Summer Opening Hours: 10.30am-5pm with last admission 3.30pm
A little message from Anne Chalis and Ian Walker, owners of Studfold:
Studfold Adventure Trail is all about giving children countryside memories that will last a lifetime. It is a magical adventure leading to the woodland fairy village of ‘Two Stone Wishes’. Discovering nature themed clues and a secret treasure box engages children, from preschool to primary. Ride on tractors, go-carts, sand pits and den building are a big hit too! Intriguing, challenging and delightful Studfold gives children a greater understanding of the countryside and hopefully childhood memories and a lasting respect of their own environments. Just straight off the press… we have now received the published book of the Studfold Fairy Story ‘Daniel and the Messles’ this enables children to continue the magical Studfold Adventure at home. This is the first Two Stone Wishes Story Book, but is the intention that there will be more to follow!!
Our guest reviewer Charlotte and her Mini Mumbler recently went along to Toddler Sense, the next step from national award-winning Baby Sensory, offering multi-sensory and developmental adventures. Find out what they thought here…
Toddler Sense is an established franchise that delivers a fun and stimulating environment to children aged 13 months to 5 years. Through weekly themed sessions, a combination of exciting soft play and engaging group sensory elements allow children to freely explore, learn and develop. Having taken Emily to Baby Sensory when she was younger, I knew roughly what to expect and was keen to see what exactly the Toddler Sense classes had to offer.
Lou has recently taken over the franchise and runs the classes across three venues in North Leeds during the week. We opted for the Roundhay venue where sessions run Friday mornings at St. Edmunds Church Hall and were warmly greeted by Lou. The theme of the week was trains, and the hall was displayed with lots of soft play equipment including 2x bouncy castles, climbing apparatus, push-bikes, and a ball pool. This was interspersed with on-theme accessories such as wooden trains, foam train tracks, and a giant blow-up Thomas The Tank Engine and friends!
The class began with 20minutes of free play where the children were free to explore the array of apparatus and accessories. Emily delved straight in! She was intrigued by Thomas but favoured the bouncy castles and ‘Rody’ the hopping horse. We were then invited to sit on mats for the structured play section of the class. This started with the ‘How do you do?’ song where everyone had a pair of sticks to tap to the beat, followed by the introduction of Tod; the Toddler Sense mascot, which was a big hit with Emily.
The activities then explored the Train theme using a range of sensory experiences, from shaking rattles and looking at train imagery alongside a runaway train song, to threading ‘carriages’ along the track, as well as a trip on the night time express train, and going to ‘train land’ crawling through train tunnels and walking along train tracks. Emily loved exchanging her pennies for a train ticket and held on tight to her light tube whilst we bounced up and down and swayed left and right on the night time express! The class then finished off with a cheery ‘Wave Goodbye’ song, where we all waved, clapped and stomped goodbye.
These classes are great if you’re looking for a good mix of free-play and structured learning in a safe environment. Lou is very good at explaining the benefits of the different activities and how they help aid in development and learning through exploration and play. So, it also provides adults with a lot of inspiration for at-home play, with a lot of the equipment available to purchase to continue the fun outside of the classes.
Toddler Sense classes last 50 minutes, and take place as follows:
Wednesday. 9.30am & 10.30am.Robert Craven Hall, Old Lane Bramhope, LS16 9AZ.
Friday. 9.30am, 10.30am & 11.30am.St Edmund’s Church Hall, Lidgett Park Road Roundhay, LS8 1JN.
Class cost £8 per session when you book a full term, and Lou is currently offering 3 for 2 taster sessions when you sign up, giving you a chance to decide whether this is the class for you. There is also a half price discount for siblings.
The classes are also broken down into different age ranges:
New Explorers (13 – 20 months): Introduce your toddler to equipment and fun activities suitable for his or her age and stage of development.
Adventurers (20 months – 3 years): Encourage your toddler to take on new challenges, learn new ways of doing things, and develop essential physical and social skills.
Rangers (3 – 5 years): Build on previous skills learned, engage and participate with others, and become more creative and imaginative.
Toddler Sense are also available for parties with lots of different themes to choose from, exciting soft play elements teamed with fun activities to get the party in full swing!
Charlotte and her Mumbler family went along to Tong Garden’s Centre’s Festive Fun Weekend to experience their Santa’s Grotto; A Magical Journey. Find out what they thought here…
Tong Garden Centre have created a brand new magical Grotto story featuring the Robin family helping Santa to make sure the right present is delivered to the right house. Collaborating with Sneaky Experience to bring the story to life with performers, the 30minute interactive experience promises to entertain children (and grown-ups) throughout a magical journey to see Santa in his Grotto. For £12.95 per child and £9.95 for under 12 months, we were keen to visit.
We were booked onto the 1.30 pm slot, and being the opening Festive Fun Weekend, it was understandably very busy. Santa’s Grotto; A Magical Journey is situated next to Grasshoppers soft play, and despite the busyness of the centre, the Grotto itself was much more relaxed. The slots are limited to a maximum of 12 children per session, making it a more manageable and enjoyable experience, especially for younger children.
We were advised to arrive 10 minutes early and were quickly and efficiently ushered through to collect our North Pole Post Office ID cards ready for the magical journey. With toilets to-hand just before the experience and a pram park to off-load, we were all set to walk through the first festive tree scene to hear the first chapter from the Robins. We were given the number ‘552’ to remember then told to follow the red-letter chain through a magical corridor to an icier scene where Emily fell in love with the animatronic polar bear! The final scene was within the Robin postal office where we checked the naughty list and thankfully weren’t on it and learnt how the Robins help Santa to deliver the correct presents to the correct houses.
With that, we entered Santa’s Grotto; a truly magical room with a fireplace, rug and the big man in red. After a brief introduction from the man himself, the children were invited to sit in the chair. Emily was a little apprehensive so I sat with her and Santa. He was very good with her, asking lots of questions and keeping her happy with some jingle bells. The Robins were also really good to keep the younger children entertained with festive Elmo’s as well as getting them to sit up with Santa sooner to avoid too much fuss and frustration.
Once we had finished our conversation, we moved into the toy shop where there was an abundance of toys to choose from, signposted with recommended age ranges. The wide choice of gifts was extremely impressive and after much deliberation, Emily chose her very own set of dinosaurs.
And the magic didn’t stop there; the whole garden centre is impressively decorated with Christmas, from the arctic scenes in the entrance to the magical motored Christmas villages to the reams of illuminated trees. There are also umpteen opportunities to take selfies with giant baubles to pop out of, polar bears to sit on, and the supersized Snow Globe to enter! We also got to experience the Donkey Rides and Festive Stage for the opening Festive Fun Weekend with lots of performances to entertain the little ones from jokes to quizzes to discos. All this on top of the usual fun, including Grasshoppers soft play, café and aquariums; we were able to spend a fun few hours at Tong Garden Centre.
Santa’s Grotto; A Magical Journey’s production value was second to none. Creating a truly immersive experience from start to finish, the 30minute experience and wide choice of toys is definitely worth paying that little bit extra for. So, if you’re looking for a particularly special treat for the kids this year, this is the one for you. And with all the added extras throughout the centre, you really do get the full Christmas package.
Tickets cost £12.95 per child and £9.95 for children under 12 months. Up to two adults go free with every child ticket bought. Price includes a 30minute magical journey and your choice of a gift from Santa’s toy shop. Time slots are available every 10 mins, from 9.50 am-4.40 pm every weekend from now until Christmas and most weekdays in December. But be sure to book quickly to avoid disappointment, as many days are already fully booked!
The centre can also get extremely busy this time of year so it is strongly advised to arrive within good time to avoid disappointment. Whilst we managed to park in the main car park, the overflow was in full force with many visitors were coming and going. So please be aware.
To book Santa’s Grotto; A Magical journey visit the website here.
Tong Garden Centre, Tong Lane, Bradford BD4 0RY
*Mumbler was not paid for this review but we did receive complimentary entry into Santa’s Grotto: A Magical Journey. All of the comments in this review are our open and honest opinion.
We’d also love to hear where else you’d highly recommend this Christmas. Why not share your experiences with us in the Wharfedale & Craven Mumbler Chat Group.
We were very excited to be invited along to the very first Twigs n’ Stix Family Forest Workshop running at Bramhope Scout Campsite and Activity Centre. Twigs n’ Stix have been running forest schools in Ripon & Nidderdale and we have heard great things!
We arrived at the Bramhope Scout Campsite & Activity Centre, which has recently had a lottery grant and sports a new Low Ropes course (which was officially opened by Bear Grylls on the 29th July 2018!!) and we couldn’t wait to have a turn.
After completing the Low Ropes course we headed off into the 13 acres of land surrounding the main buildings on the hunt for “Snappy Sticks”, the perfect stick for fire building. Sticks in hand we made our way to the fire pit and Liz told us her top tips for how to build a fire and each child had a turn using the flints to set fire to a cotton wool ball – this was much harder than I expected!! Of course the kids had no troubles though!
Fire lit and the real fun began… each child found a long stick and using a potato peeler cleaned one end ready for marshmallow toasting! The kids gathered around the fire and toasted their marshmallows whilst rich tea biscuits were handed out to the parents. Once toasted the marshmallows were sandwiched between the rich tea biscuits and the kids devoured their “smores” which were accompanied with steaming hot chocolate warmed on the fire!
No-one leaves a Twigs n’ Stix session without something to take home with them, all the children were given a piece of clay, some moulded them into an animal, some used leaves to create patterns in the clay and one child gathered sticks and created a mini-campfire!
After a fun-filled 2 hour workshop, we headed home full to the brim with smores eagerly awaiting the next session!
Twigs n’ Stix are now running their Twig-let Toddler Sessions at Bramhope Scout Campsite & Activity Centre each Tuesday morning (starting November 8th 2018) and will be running Forest School Holiday Camps for children in year 1 and above at the same venue in 2019!
Watch this space for the full details, these sessions will book up fast!
“Twigs n’ Stix Forest School grew out of a desire to provide children with the sorts of opportunities I simply took for granted and enjoyed every day growing up; the freedom to play; build; cook; explore and discover in a natural environment. Through giving children the freedom and skills to interact with and use our ancient woodland, each child’s innate connection with the natural world is nurtured, their responsibility for its conservation strengthened and their self-esteem and confidence supported.”
For further information or to book:
After just over an hours drive we arrived at the Yorkshire Wildlife Park bang on 10am at the opening time. We had booked our tickets online saving us £1 per person and joined the short pre-booked tickets queue. There are plenty of windows at the entrance so we only waited a minute before we were inside. We opted to head left as the crowds seemed to be going right and we weren’t disappointed!
Firstly we arrived at the Baboons. The cute babies were very entertaining, pushing each other into the water and swinging on their ropes. The path then leads us through the “Woodland Trail” where the mini-mumblers were very excited to see what British Wildlife they could spot amongst the trees! We arrived at “New Lemur Woods” at 10.25, just 5 minutes before it opened, we waited and we were rewarded by seeing all the lemurs being released from their night enclosure. The ran out, up the trees and all around the enclosed woods… much to the delight of all the spectators!
Next was what I had been waiting for!! “Project Polar”! There are 2 pairs of Polar bears at the park, the first had just been fed so were right up by the fence, they were so close it felt like you could almost reach out and touch them! The second pair were just waking up and dozing in the sun but again were very close to the path.
We continued round the edge of the park and into the “Land of the Tiger” and through “Leopard Heights”. The Tigers were both still snoozing but that didn’t stop the kids being excited to spot them! The Leopards, on the other hand, were much better at hiding and even after climbing up to the viewing point we couldn’t spot them amongst the logs and rocks!
Then came “Into Africa”… an amazing section which made you feel you were actually on Safari! We spotted Giraffes, Rhinos, Zebras, Ostrich and Antelope!
We then doubled back to see the Red River Hogs, Anteaters, Giant Otters and the kids favourite The South American Viva – the cheekiest, cutest thing I have seen by far! We spent a good 15 minutes watching them fighting and racing each other around!
Then we stopped for lunch. There are plenty of places to eat a picnic but we opted to buy a sandwich from the Tsavo Bakehouse. There was a good choice of hot & cold food and a good kids lunch box with a sandwich and drink plus 3 other items for £5. After lunch, we hit the giant slides in the Zoom Super Slide Barn across the way. There are 3 slides, 2 which you have to be 1m tall to ride and one which is for over 140cm only- The VERTICAL DROP SLIDE! The kids loved it! To use the slides the kids need long sleeve tops, trousers, and socks.
Outside the slide barn there is the “Meerkat & Mongoose Mansion” and the Amphitheatre where they have regular shows such as BIG Bugs Live! The map you are given on arrival details all the timings of the shows and the feeding times throughout the park. We missed the show but headed off to the “Wallaby Walkabout” for feeding time.
Last but not least we entered “Lion Country”…
There are 3 prides in Lion Country which are situated in different areas next to each other. The Mini-Mumblers loved reading the lion facts posted on the fences on the way round and learning the lion’s names, distinguishing marks and relationships to each other from the signs.
We couldn’t leave without trying out the “New Play Area” and we weren’t disappointed! It was amazing! With a smaller side section for younger children and a MASSIVE play-area, there was loads to choose from to do. From slides, rope ladders and to an obstacle course -the kids were hard to prise away!
All in all a great day out with something for everybody!
Brewtown Tours offer beer lovers the chance to visit some of the best breweries in the county. Tours are all inclusive, with Mark from Brewtown doing the driving, taking you to breweries in either York or Leeds where you can meet the brewers, learn more about the process of brewing and, of course, sample the goods! My husband and two of his friends recently went on a brewery tour of three Leeds breweries and this is his review… * spoiler alert: they loved it! *
Opening Times:
NEW for 2019 is the outodoor ice rink which is situated towards the back of the Elf Village. The mini Mumblers were really excited about trying this new addition and it didn’t disappoint. It felt very Christmasy with all the fairy lights and the fact its open-air added to the experience. There are penguins to help the little ones (Additional £5 per penguin) but mine decided they were going to try skating without. It was amazing to see how much they could learn in such a short space of time and they enjoyed it so much that in the end I had to drag them off to try something else.
