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
