All creatures great and small at Keighley Show Saturday 3 September!

This year’s 54th Keighley & District Agricultural Show looks set to be a fantastic day out for all the family featuring animals from Shire horses to guinea pigs and all sizes and shapes in between! 



Alongside show classes including vegetables and flowers, arts and crafts, home produce and much more there will be entertainment from the Animal Roadshow, presented by leading zoologist and TV presenter James McKay, who has worked with Steve Backshall on such programmes as “Live ‘n’ Deadly” and “Deadly Days Out”.


The roadshow will feature all sorts including snakes, spiders, frogs, insects and lizards and there will be short, informative and entertaining interactive presentations at regular intervals throughout the day, and the opportunity to get “hands-on” with some of their weird and wonderful creatures.


There will also be a display of Alpacas, representatives of the West Yorkshire Mounted Police along with other attractions such as terrier racing! The children’s entertainments, Young Farmers Club, trade stands and refreshments across the field will all add to a colourful day, all to the sounds of the fantastic Haworth Brass Band.

There will be so much going on whichever way you look but if more entertainment were needed, this year for children (and eagle-eyed grown-ups!) there will be a “Sparkly Windmill” trail. There are no prizes, but your little ones will have a great time searching out all 12 in the strangest of places!

Admission prices have been held for yet another year - £6 for adults and £4 for concessions (5 – 15 and 60 & over). Under 5s are free. However, you can save £1 per ticket by purchasing them in advance from the Keighley Information Centre, Town Hall, Keighley (available from mid August).


The show will take place at the King George V Playing Fields (part of the Marley Sports Centre complex), off Aireworth Road Keighley, BD21 4DB.

Free car parking is available very near to the Showground. Alternatively, Keighley Bus Museum Trust are providing a free Show Day bus service running regularly between Hanover Street and the showground, via the railway station and Parson Street. There will also be a free minibus transfer service running throughout the day between the Main Gate and the main showfield area, kindly provided by Leeds City College – Keighley Campus.

Go nuts at Kilnsey Park and see the new squirrels!

We can think of a hundred reasons to visit the fantastic working fish farm that is Kilnsey Park but at the end of July, we heard there were six more!


This amazing wildlife oasis has been protecting the native and endangered red squirrel since 1998. Three new ones were given to the park in June and in mid-July it seemed the park’s own red squirrels had been doing their bit for the population figures and produced three babies!


They are now all settled and playing happily. These cheeky additions aren’t the only new faces at Kilnsey Park, there are two pygmy goat kids – one black and one brown about 16 inches high!


Our own kids (toddlers of the human variety!) absolutely adore a trip up the dale to Kilnsey Park under the impressive crag and find more than enough to keep them really happily enthralled for hours!


All the details are available on their brilliant website but we’ll outline some of the highlights and hope you get chance to see for yourselves if you haven’t already – or head back to see the new arrivals and tackle the adventure playground again.


As you head along the Kilnsey Trail, you’ll see the ducks, geese, hens and guinea fowl everywhere you go! (Remember to bring some bread for the ducks and geese!)


There are mini diggers to make the most of the sand pit and after a play, the next stop is feeding the giant trout. Moving on you’ll see the goats and just beside them are the red squirrels in the first of their two enclosures.

You’ll pass dry stone walls to the trout raceway then dodge past the hens and guinea fowl over the bridge and up the hill to the second of the red squirrel enclosures. Then a butterfly garden very close to a pond where more giant rainbow trout live. Throw them some food and watch the water boil! Keep on going even further up the hill and you’ll be able to visit pigs and more baby trout before calling in to the honey bees in the special glass-sided hive, all against the beautiful backdrop of the water meadow.


If you need a bite to eat, a cup of tea and a sit down after all the fun then we’ve found the restaurant and coffee shop to be exceptional in catering for children.

There’s a regularly reviewed children's menu and they’re also happy to warm baby food. There are high chairs and baby changing facilities and they also provide colouring sheets and crayons to keep little visitors amused.


There’s so much to see and do at Kilnsey Park for a great family day out – for full details check it out at www.kilnseypark.co.uk or follow them on facebook…we do!

Make sure you don’t miss all the fun at Malham Show, 27 August 2011!

Photographs: Copyright Malhamdale.com Ltd &
Chris Wildman

It says much about Malham Show that last year it tipped with rain yet we still had a fantastic fun day out. Let’s hope the sun shines on Malham showfield for this year’s jam-packed event. But if not, get togged up and pack your wellies - you’re in for a great day anyway!


Under the shadow of Malham Cove this traditional agricultural and family show has been taking place for more than 100 years and just gets better and better… this year’s line-up promises the usual mix of tradition and family fun for all ages throughout the day.

Photographs: Copyright Malhamdale.com Ltd
& Chris Wildman

As you’d expect there is always a good turn-out for the cattle and sheep classes, with people able to have a look at the animals in their pens and stalls while they get ready to be shown.


As well as a display by the Pendle Forest and Craven Hunt, the magnificent heavy horses are shown in the ring alongside horse and pony classes throughout the day, including jumping.


For any little ones keen on cars and tractors they’ll love the classic and vintage cars and agricultural vehicles on display. The showfield literally buzzes all day with different things each way you look to hold little ones’ attention - whether it’s the rare breeds on display or watching determined attempts to scale the climbing wall – all to the glorious strains of The Haworth Brass Band.

Photographs: Copyright Malhamdale.com Ltd &
Chris Wildman

Aside from the classes and demonstrations (we’re especially looking forward to the sheep dog trials!) in the ring, there is much to be seen in the tents with all that tradition dictates from a rural show – everything from horticulture and flower arranging to cakes, preserves, needlework, knitting and handicrafts.


If little ones aren’t too worn out yet – there’s still plenty more! They can cheer themselves hoarse watching the tug’o’war. As well as children’s sports and fancy dress (including a babies beauty competition!), there’ll be the famous ‘dunking’ stool (popular whatever the weather for hardier souls!), Punch and Judy and a great static falconry display.

Photographs: Copyright Malhamdale.com Ltd
& Chris Wildman

There is a farmers’ market and refreshments across the field to sustain you for all the entertainment. And if you feel like running it off there are the junior and senior fell races for the fit!


Malham Show is an absolute gem of a day out in the country– there’s so much crammed into the family-friendly sized show field and it’s a great way to support our rural community and celebrate where we live. So come rain or shine, whether it’s wellies or suncream – we will most certainly be there!


Admission is £6, Parking & Children under 16 FREE, Show Catalogue FREE
For all the details click here http://www.malhamdale.com/show/malham%20show%20sched%202011.pdf

Limetree Festival (26-28 Aug, North Yorkshire)

 
Quirky, Quintessentially Cool, Queer and certainly Family Friendly, Limetree Music & Arts Festival is now in its fourth year, delivering a return to ‘how festivals used to be’.


This gorgeous little independent festival takes place at Lime Tree Farm at a nature reserve and conservation area in Nidderdale (about 40 miles from Skipton town centre)


Embracing music and culture, each area (there are 8!) has its own agenda, keeping the festival diverse with everything from choristers to dubstep and everything in between.


The Main Green Man stage hosts some of the bigger names such as Me and My Friends, Built on Tradition, Soul Funkful, Leonard Jones Potential, Al Morrison’s Blues Experience and Carleen Anderson but what unites all the stages is the depth and breadth of quality performances from established artists to fresh young talent.


Alongside the Green Man stage, there’s the Jason Rae stage, the Bet Lynch tent, the Sorted Dance tent, the JB World Music stage and three dance music therapy areas. The acts are too numerous to list and all too brilliant to single any few out!


Beyond the fantastic music, Limetree also provides a safe but rich and diverse playground for children, Amongst the array of adventures to be had there’s circus skills, pond dipping, dj and music workshops, nature walks and, new this year, an observatory to explore the night sky with projected images and music.

There will be workshops in stencil and graffiti art, breakdancing, beatboxing and a chance to unwind if it all gets too hectic with pottery, painting and craft.


There’s so much to do for children of all ages – the very young will no doubt enjoy music and movement activities, singing, games and musical instruments as well as the puppet and mask making from hand-made templates. It’s open to all ages to join in and get spectacularly messy!


The beauty and diversity of the festival is also captured in the Health and Healing Field. And that all important aspect of food is covered with a feast of locally sourced food and drink at affordable prices.
For the full to bursting festival line-up,tickets, travel needs and details on all aspects go to www.limetreefestival.co.uk

Make sure you don’t miss the 107th Gargrave Show on Saturday 20th August 2011!

Agricultural shows are a big part of summer tradition around Skipton and whatever the weather, you’re guaranteed a full day of fun in the country for all the family.


As the field in front of Eshton Hall gears up to host the 107th Gargrave Show, there’s a jam-packed line-up of entertainment in store.


The attractions for 2011 promise to be the best yet featuring children’s games; refreshments; show jumping; fell racing; poultry, cattle, sheep and horticulture judging; tug of war; vintage cars and classic tractors parade as well as a terrier race to close the show.

There is always something going on to keep little ones entertained and the atmosphere in the rings and around the showground introduces them to all sorts of new sights and sounds.


There will be a display by the First Air Nursing Yeomanry as well as British First World War Cavalry team the 16th Lancers showing their horsemanship in the main ring – where the activity is continuous throughout the day.


If your little ones are captivated by the horses then there’s plenty more to see from shires – the giants of the horse world – down to the Shetland pony classes which have been an increasingly popular part of Gargrave Show for almost 30 years.

One thing little ones see a lot of round here is sheep! But perhaps your toddler or baby has only baa’d at them from afar – the Gargrave Show sheep section usually attracts around 300 plus entries from 12 different breeds and there’s the chance to get up close and have a good look at some of them!


And if showing your little ones the proud sheep farming heritage of Skipton and the dales isn’t enough, Gargrave Show is the only agricultural show in the area still to have all four major dairy breeds exhibited - Holstein, Ayrshire, Shorthorn and Jersey.


Shows like Gargrave are a real treat for little ones - a chance for them to be part of a community and regional celebration of our rural heritage, while having a ball!

Gargrave Show starts at 9.00am and closes at 6.00pm with games (races, egg and spoon, sack races etc) for children from 3 – 12yrs starting after 3.30pm. So for the small entrance fee - £7 for adults,
£6 for concessions and £2 for children under 14 years of age - you can have a full day in the country being entertained. For more information please visit www.gargraveshow.org.uk

Oh we do like to be beside the Seaside! Greetingsfrombeacons, Heslaker Farm, Skipton

It’s National Play Day today so it got us thinking about our local parks and places to picnic and decided to make them the focus of today’s competition to WIN 2 adult & 2 child tickets for Beacons Festival on 14 Aug (Heslaker Farm, Skipton). To Enter: Visit your favourite local park / picnic spot this weekend. Complete a short survey to tell us all about it. Return it to us by 10pm Sun 7 Aug. We'll select a winner at random from the pile of returned surveys - easy! Email moobaakids@hotmail.co.uk now to request a survey sheet! And here’s where you could be heading…




Hot on the heels of The Magic Loungeabout, Skipton is set to conjure up more family-friendly festival magic in the form of the fabulous Beacons Festival (August 11 – 14).


Alongside a line-up featuring the best upcoming talent and an array of alternative entertainment, little ones will also love,love,love it! The great people at Beacons are so keen to welcome local families that they are even running discounted tickets - first come, first served while they last - for those in the BD23 postcode…


A huge red-domed marquee will be home to The Ladybird Project for the weekend – a bonanza of kids entertainment with loads of creative workshops (four a day), themed days, pirate talk classes, mask making, instrument playing and much more!


This will culminate each day in a very noisy, colourful kids parade winding right the way through the festival site so they’re very much part of the fun.

The lady birds also create a magical garden area with seating and outdoor crafts in a fantastical atmosphere with circus performers and a family friendly-cabaret. If this weren’t enough – and your little ones fancy a trip to the seaside for the day, there’s a fabulous beach area complete with beach huts, and cycle powered musical entertainment so you can kick back and relax on the deckchairs with a drink, while the kids build sandcastles and create some art.


For the grown ups, the three day event will be headlined by Jamie XX, Jamie Woon, The Phantom Band and also includes Willy Mason, The Twilight Sad, Mr Scruff, Hudson Mohawke, Toddla T, Mount Kimbie and Emmy The Great.

Aside from the bands there’s a secret cycle powered disco, mojito bar, a beach, garden shed stage, treasure hunts, live art and fancy dress – all washed down with locally-brewed ale if you fancy a jar. Plus live film rescores spoken word, theatre, dance, and exclusive film programmes.

We’re so lucky they have chosen Skipton to host this brilliant celebration and hope everyone will give Beacons our warmest greetings and get down there to support the festival and have a cracking time.

For more information including prices visit www.greetingsfrombeacons.com And if you live in the BD23 postcode you can get generously discounted locals tickets at a cost of just £30 for the weekend! This is a fabulous but limited offer so get in there quick while there’s still time www.greetingsfrombeacons.com/residents Race you to the deckchairs!

Checked rugs and sausage rolls…

We really don't want to jinx the weather so it continues to rain but we're going to risk it and give our local lowdown on top picnic spots. When the sun shines (and we must believe it will!), who doesn't want to head outside with a picnic rug and hamper stuffed with tempting goodies, and spend a day paddling and playing with the kids?


From Aireville Park in Skipton to the many miles of possible picnic smiles across the gorgeous Yorkshire Dales at places like Malham tarn (click here to find out what they've got planned for their open day on Saturday 6 August), finding top local places is as easy as (picnic) pie. All of the walks so far on www.moobaakids.co.uk feature places for snacks but we couldn’t leave it there. So pack the pink lemonade, sneak in a slice or two of cake, throw in a few scotch eggs, cut the crusts off your sandwiches just this once and follow us! (But before you do, you might want to print off a Woodland Trust nature detectives picnic activity booklet) 


Bolton Abbey – So it’s six quid per car to get in but once you’re in, you’re spoilt for choice! There is so much to do here by the riverside in this beautiful setting with fantastic pushchair-friendly walks taking in the aquaduct, stepping stones, money tree, strid and much more. They are happy for you to picnic on the estate and even barbecue in the southern section of the Sandholme car park!


Burnsall – We know it gets crazily busy on a fine day but that’s because it’s just such a perfect picnic spot. The magnificent five-arched bridge is a beautiful backdrop with grassy banks and benches along the river. There are plenty of shallow areas for paddling and you could even take a stroll upstream to the wobbly bridge! There’s a handy village shop and The Red Lion’s on the green too. Parking in the field car park costs £4 all day and there is a toilet block there to use.


Nearby Appletreewick is also on an exceptionally beautiful stretch of the river Wharfe. There are plenty of shallow places with large flat stones for paddling around - don’t forget your bucket and net for crayfish! The river can be approached at various points along a good path from Burnsall, or from a very short footpath off the main road through Appletreewick, near Mason’s campsite. This is signposted ‘Riverside’ and though there is a stile, the gate was also unlocked for use when we were there a couple of weeks ago. There are two family-friendly pubs in the village – The Craven Arms and the New Inn.

Linton Falls is another one of those places that attracts lots of visitors and can easily be walked to from Grassington down the walled footpath Sedber Lane or ‘Snake Path’ (it’s quite steep), off Hebden Road at the National Park Centre, where there’s also parking. There is a footbridge straddling the river and lots to see such as the falls, white water sections near the old mill sluice gates and there are stepping stones too. The gentle grassy areas make a perfect picnic place to take it all in.

We know there must be some more lovely remote spots we could have included but with little ones in mind, we’ve stuck quite close to civilisation for these suggestions! So you don’t get caught out don’t forget the suncream, baby wipes, and lots of drink (for them, not the grown-ups!) Oh, and it completely goes without saying but we feel like we just should – pay special attention to any little ones playing near water.


If you have any brilliant ideas for local places to picnic, any hidden gems or hints on tasty treats to put in the hamper we'd love to hear them x

PS We'll be running a competition (via our facebook page) tomorrow so that people who share their suggestions and tips for great parks to visit and places to go for picnics, could win a family day ticket to the forthcoming Beacons festival... watch this space!