04 Jul Six weeks of summer fun in Essex
School is over and the days are warming up and to help you keep the whole family entertained the National Trust has produced a holiday planner so you are never short of an idea of what do with the kids. Pick up a planner at your local place or download a copy from the website.
Take a picnic and relax in the sun, play some garden games with the kids, go on a bug hunt and discover the wonderful world of woodland creatures, or be entertained with family friendly outdoor theatre. Why not hire a bike or take a boat ride and go on an adventure to explore hidden parts of our places?
Don’t forget to collect your 50 Things stamps along the way. Discover what’s in a pond at Bourne Mill, have fun with sticks at Danbury Common, float in a boat at Hatfield Forest or watch the birds at Northey Island.
Highlights throughout Essex include:
Hatfield Forest – White Dragon Archery Experience
Every Wednesday from 31 July to 28 August, 10am – 3pm
Discover your inner marksman in this three-hour archery experience in the heart of this ancient forest. With a bow, quiver of arrows and armguard you’ll go on a journey through time as you discover (and use) the different bows and targets used through the ages, from Roman times to today!
£25, booking essential. Aged 8+
Hatfield Forest – Outdoor Theatre: Frankenstein
Saturday 3August, 7pm
This gripping tale is now a brand-new musical production created by Illyria. It features a fully orchestrated musical score, a cast of professional actor singers, spectacular stage effects, puppetry.
Tickets £16/£10. Booking required. Age 5+
Hatfield Forest – Den Building
Tuesday 6, Wednesday 7 & Thursday 8 August, 10.30am – 12.00 noon, 1pm – 2.30pm
Join the team and learn how to build awesome dens safely in the forest. Build ridge and teepee dens from the natural materials found in the forest.
£2 per child, booking essential
Hatfield Forest – Children’s Fitness Forest Style
Monday 12 August, 10.30am – 11.30am & 1.30pm – 2.30pm
Have fun and get fit at our forest boot camp. Join one of our rangers and experience military style fitness using the natural materials found in the ancient forest.
£6 per child. Booking essential
Hatfield Forest – Nature Walk and bird spotting
Tuesday 13, Wednesday 14 & Thursday 15 August, 10.30 – 11.30, 12noon – 1pm, 4pm – 3pm
Join our team and explore the forest on a nature walk. Use binoculars to hunt of different species of birds, bugs, deer and other amazing wildlife at the forest.
£2 per child, booking advisable
Paycocke’s House and Gardens – Tudor Takeover Weekend
Saturday 10 & Sunday 11 August, 11am – 5pm
Travel back in time and meet the Tudor wool merchant Thomas Paycocke and his staff. Experience the sights, sounds and smells of the past.
Grange Barn – Outdoor Theatre – Sense and Sensibility
Thursday 22 August, 7.30pm
A cast of five actors and DOT Productions’ renowned comedic style make this comedy of manners a production not to be missed.
Tickets £12. Booking required
More details are available from the website www.nationaltrust.org.uk/essex
