Touch and Feel ANIMALS and TOYS

Alison Jay’s crackle-glaze style of illustration is immediately recognisable and these two new books combine her trademark warm colours, and delightful characters with an added touch and feel finish that little hands will adore.

‘Toys’ and ‘Animals’ are a lovely addition to a popular series to the Alison Jay Nursery Collection which already includes the delightful Welcome to the Zoo (board book and hardback) and the Story Time Jigsaw Book.

In ‘Toys’ bouncy balls, soaring kites and shiny trains are brought to life as the toybox is explored. ‘Animals’ features all the favourites - cats, dogs, owls and fish. The rhyming texts in both books make them a pleasure to read and re-read and children and parents will have fun in seeing who else is having fun on each page.

http://www.templarco.co.uk/picture_books/alison_jay/alison_jay_gifts.html

CHILDREN'S EVENT- CARAMEL BABY & CHILD KITE MAKING
This half term, Caramel baby & child are inviting children to come to their shop and make a beautiful decorative kite, ideal for adding a touch of colour to bedroom walls or any room in the house. Why not make one for Father’s day?

When: Thursday 3rd June
Where: Caramel Baby & Child,
259 Pavilion Road
London
SW1X0BP
From: 11 – 1pm
Please email to confirm a place: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Free event

MAY LITTLE DETECTIVES WEEK AT THE LOWRY OUTLET MALL
The Lowry Outlet Mall is the place to be when school’s out this half term! Visit the Mall for crime busting and mystery solving fun at the brilliant Little Detectives Week, from May 29 until June 6.

Pick up your free magnifying glass and join Inspector Clouseau in his quest to solve the Mall’s Whodunnit Mystery (May 29). You could be a hero if you find the culprit!

Join in the comedy of errors as the Mischievous Master Burglar is closely pursued by PC Nickem around the Mall - will you manage to catch the Master Burglar in time? (May 30), and play the Giant Cluedo Game (May 31 and June 1) - join forces and negotiate your way around the life-sized board to solve the crime.

There’s even more fun to be had with detective themed Face Painting (June 2) and puppet and mask making (June 3 and 4) at the exciting Craft Workshops.

For more crime fighting action enjoy pantomime fun with Comedy Keystone Kops! Come along and help the two Bumbling Bobbies search for escaped prisoner Slippery Jack around the Mall (June 5). And there’s another chance to solve crime mysteries in the Mall with the help of Sheerluck Holmes and Doctor Whatsup (June 6) don’t forget to pick up your free magnifying glass and crime scene clue sheet!

What’s more you could also be in with a chance of winning one of six Cluedo games up for grabs. Help solve the crime mysteries at the Mall (May 29 and June 6), hand your completed clue sheets in at the Information Desk and winners will be picked from the correctly solved entries.

For creative kids, head to the Wax Lyrical Outlet for their 30th Birthday Celebrations (May 29 – 31), where you can take part in candle dipping sessions*. There’s also 20% off everything in store and the chance to win tickets to this year’s Tatton Park Flower Show, as well as a hamper of home fragrance goodies.

The Lowry Outlet Mall is the perfect day out for all the family, offering free entertainment and events all year round, an on-site cinema, restaurants and stores offering up to 60% off RRP all year round.

ACTIVITIES:
· WAX LYRICAL 30TH BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS (INC. CANDLE DIPPING, 20% DISCOUNT AND RAFFLE PRIZES) – Saturday 29 May – Monday 31 May
· THE INSPECTOR COMETH: WHODUNNIT MYSTERY – Saturday 29 May, 11am – 4pm
· THE MISCHIEVOUS MASTER BURGLAR – Sunday 30 May, 11am – 4pm
· GIANT CLUEDO GAME – Monday 31 May and Tuesday 1 June, 11am – 4pm
· FACE PAINTING – Wednesday 2 June, 11am – 4pm
· CRAFT WORKSHOPS – Thursday 3 June and Friday 4 June, 11am – 4pm
· COMEDY KEYSTONE KOPS – Saturday 5 June, 11am – 4pm
· CRIME FIGHTING IN THE MALL WITH SHEERLUCK HOLMES & DR WHATSUP – Sunday 6 June, 11am – 4pm

For more information visit http://www.lowryoutletmall.com or follow us on http://twitter.com/lowryoutletmall

Please note, the following applies to the activities:

• Characters will be appearing at various intervals throughout the day.
• The children’s entertainments are not supervised playschemes and parents are requested to stay with their children and join in the fun.
• The Lowry Outlet Mall reserves the right to cancel or change the times of any events without notice
• Cluedo prize details - One winner will be picked from the entries, the winner will be notified the following week and prizes sent out
• Charges apply, £1.50 per session

NEW NINTENDO WII GAMES FOR ALL THE FAMILY!

Big Beach Sports 2

It’s summer time on the island of Moa Loa and athletes from around the world are converging on the remote volcanic island to compete in this year’s annual Coconut Cup Championship. A variety of games ranging from the everyday to the exotic will be played, with the overall winner being crowned King of the Beach. Players can play a collection of comical, fun games sure to keep the entire family entertained including Rugby Fives, Disc Golf, Cricket, Dune Buggy Racing, Surfing, Jet Ski Racing, Canoe Races, Football.

The game fully utilises the Wii Remote, Nunchuk, Balance Board and Wii Motion Plus and players can play against up to 4 friends in 5 different game modes in an endless combination of events! Or why not try to Work your way up on the leaderboard in Challenges, compete in grueling triathlons and show them what you got in the Coconut Cup!

Available from all good games retailers

THE PERFECT RECIPE FOR LARGE HELPINGS OF FAMILY FUN
Looking for an exciting but affordable way to entertain your kids during the half term or summer holidays? Green’s, the experts in home baking, offer the sweetest solution for busy parents – whatever the weather - with their delicious range of children’s cake and cookie mixes, stirring up a whole afternoon of fun for less than £2.

Green’s children’s cake mixes include action-packed activity sheets for your kids to enjoy whilst the cakes bake in the oven. In addition the Green’s website (http://www.greenscakes.co.uk) is also jam-packed with games to entertain and educate the little ones, plus top tips on party planning and all the latest deals!

GREEN’S BARBIE AND DORA THE EXPLORER CAKE MIXES

If your child is a fan of Dora the Explorer or Barbie, Green’s will rise to the occasion with vanilla cake kits complete with sprinkles and a blackcurrant jam decorating tube. The Dora the Explorer cake kit also includes edible waferettes featuring images of the much-loved children’s character.

RRP £1.79, Barbie cake kit available from Sainsbury’s and Tesco and Dora the Explorer cake kit available from Asda, Waitrose and Sainsbury’s

GREEN’S THOMAS & FRIENDS AND DENNIS THE MENACE CAKE MIXES

Boys can also roll into action in the kitchen with the Thomas & Friends vanilla cake kit with Thomas waferettes, train-shaped sprinkles and decorating tube. Chocoholics won’t be able to resist the enticing Dennis the Menace chocolate cake kit either with chocolate icing and chocolate decorating tube.
RRP £1.49 - £1.79, Thomas & Friends cake kit available from Waitrose, Sainsbury’s and Tesco and Dennis the Menace cake kit available from Asda and Tesco

GREEN’S BUTTERFLY TOPS AND VELVETY CHEESECAKE

Green’s also offer a quick and easy way to create your family’s favourite desserts, including Butterfly Tops with fluffy buttercream topping and Velvety Cheesecake. Taking just minutes to prepare and made with only natural ingredients and no artificial colourings, Green’s mixes are guaranteed to impress your friends and family.

RRP £0.99, available from Asda, Tesco & Waitrose (Velvety cheesecake only)
(http://www.greenscakes.co.uk)

SUMMER AT THE CORNWALL: MACKEREL FISHING, SEAL SPOTTING AND JUNGLE FEVER
The Cornwall Hotel Spa & Estate has come to the rescue of parents scratching their heads for holiday ideas this summer, launching a jam-packed activity menu for the terrors in tow – from sea safari’s for wide-eyed toddlers to teen treats at the hotels’ spa.

Mackerel fishing from Mevagissey harbour for families and groups of up to 12 people costs just £12 per person – with Head Chef at The Cornwall Tom Bradbury pledging to cook-up the caught fish for the children’s tea

Join an exhilarating jet Rib trip to find basking sharks, with speeds of up to 40 knots per hour it is guaranteed to stir interest amongst all age groups (from £140 per hour)

Sea swimming and scrambling around the cliffs with a guided ‘coasteering’ session allows the kids to see a whole host of sea-life including grey seals, shags, fulmers and even dolphins (£30 for a half-day)

For Alice fans everywhere why not try some off-road cycling to Charlestown to discover the port where the recent blockbuster Alice in Wonderland was filmed. Or perhaps take a ride to the Lost Gardens of Heligan where the jungle adventure with its giant rhubarbs, banana plantations and bamboo tunnels will keep the little ones amused. Closer to home the hotels’ 43 acres of Victorian parkland is the perfect training ground for wannabe, yet wobbly children

A more civilized day out and guaranteed to keep the adults happy too is a yacht charter, just five minutes from the hotel and complete with skipper, picnic from the hotel and views of the Isles of Scily (from £440 per day)

Back at the hotel, the infinity swimming pool is perfect for play-time and if the kids haven’t crashed out yet, high ropes, indoor climbing and archery can all be organized through the hotel - perfect for rainy summer days. In addition and just twenty minutes from the hotel, Newquay caters for even the most demanding teenager with kite surfing, body boarding and surfing lessons all available on fashionable Fistral beach

Deserving Mums: The Clearing Spa is housed in the converted nineteenth Century stables adjacent to the beautiful walled garden and is a luxurious home to its five treatment rooms, facial mapping and manicure treatments. The infinity pool has retractable glass walls which open up onto the stunning sub-tropical walled garden. Alternatively, Dads can enjoy the state of the art gymnasium with sauna and steam room before refreshing at the juice bar.

Teen treats: With tailored teen treatments, a nail and juice bar, the Clearing Spa is perfect for wannabe beauty queens, desperate to escape for the day.

Family accommodation: Proving that the South coast of Cornwall has much to offer, The Cornwall Hotel Spa & Estate is the latest addition to the award winning Bespoke Hotels collection. This secluded retreat set in forty three acres of beautiful Victorian parkland, yet less than two miles from glorious sandy beaches, is home to a new luxury 65 bedroom hotel with two restaurants, the indulgent Clearing Spa, fitness facilities and twenty two luxury woodland homes for sale and holiday rental – perfect for families preferring the self-catering option.

The architect designed homes, blend perfectly with their woodland surroundings and have been furnished and equipped by an award-winning interior design team. These idyllic retreats each feature glazed front elevations offering exceptional views of the glorious leafy setting and enjoy complimentary use of the hotel’s spa and pool, with access to the hotel’s dining facilities. It is the perfect place from which to combine al fresco adventure with Cornish chic.

Family food: The Hotel’s Brasserie Acorns is fantastic for families with a more informal menu serving local, organic and delicious food in a lively atmosphere (pizza-making workshops a must!). With babysitting available at the hotel, The Arboretum, the fine dining adults-only restaurant overlooking the Parkland Terrace, croquet lawn and sweeping Estate, will be a welcome culinary treat for exhausted parents.
For more information, please visit www.thecornwall.com

WHISPERING TREE TO ENCHANT VISITORS WITH RUMBLES

- The Listening Tree bank holiday weekend treat at the Alnwick Garden -
This bank holiday weekend it’s all about talking trees as The Alnwick Garden hosts, for the first time, the enchanting Listening Tree event.

In a unique attraction especially for the holiday weekend, visitors will be able to listen to the murmurs of an ancient Lime Tree, through special headphone sets hanging from the branches.

The captivating noises will include the popping and clicking of water being pulled through the tree’s Xylem tubes, the swoosh of air as it transports up the roots and the vibrating rumbles as the boughs sways in the wind.

Organisers of the event chose the ancient Lime Tree to don the headphone gear as it is currently in full bloom. Not only will visitors be able to hear the unusual whisperings but enjoy the spectacle of the trees beautiful yellow blossom, citrus green leaves and its many buzzing visitors.

Alison Hamer, The Alnwick Garden’s programme development manager, said: “We’re very excited about The Listening Tree event this weekend. I’m sure many people often wonder what secrets our wonderful ancient trees have to tell. Now is your chance to hear the murmurs and rumblings of one of the oldest trees in The Alnwick Garden.”

The tree, which is over 150 years old, is situated within the beautiful grounds of The Alnwick Garden, between the Rose Garden and the Ornamental Garden.

Running from Saturday 29th until Monday 31st May from 10am to 6pm, it’s the perfect family treat for the May bank holiday weekend.

The Garden opening times: 10am - 6pm (last admissions 5.15pm). Visit: www.alnwickgarden.com for details.

Please Note
All information is supplied to us by the individual organizations, or agencies acting on their behalf. Whilst every effort has been made to ensure that all information is accurate, it may be subject to change. Please check with individual organizations for the latest information about all events, products, promotions, or news items. Inclusion in a news item does not imply endorsement by Hot Brands Cool Places. Recipes have not been tested by Hot Brands Cool Places. Hot Brands Cool Places does not accept responsibility for the content of any external site.