Remember, remember the 5th November!

We're slightly obsessed with sparklers!

Admittedly there was the unfortunate business with the gunpowder, treason and plot, but nonetheless we love Guy Fawkes. Without his foiled attempts to blow up the Houses of Parliament, there would be no bonfire night – one of the best nights of the year to be a kid or to have one!

Not only that, but Mr Fawkes was a Yorkshireman…we’re sure that as such he would approve of the ten percent discount that Skipton Sweet Shop is offering MooBaaKids users on bonfire toffee for the run up to Bonfire Night.

Skipton Sweet Shop

The fabulous traditional sweet shop opposite the Castle Pub on Mill Bridge, will sell you their delicious bonfire toffee for just 90p per 100g for the whole week (from 30 Oct till 5 November – visit the shop local section of our website to print off your voucher). Our little ones absolutely LOVE looking at the shop’s brilliant window displays and you can’t beat the hundreds of sweetie jars inside the shop for a special treat!

So, where to take your bonfire toffee once you’ve stocked up? There must be loads of village bonfires going on but two of the bigger ones locally are Guy Fawkes Night at the Devonshire Arms at Bolton Abbey and the Firework Extravaganza at Thornton Park Farm, near Skipton (both on the 5th).

And from one infamous Yorkshireman to a famous Yorkshire chef…James Martin’s yummy toffee apple muffins are perfect for baking with children and will get you in the mood for bonfire night.

Toffee Apple Muffins (from bbc.co.uk)

Ingredients
* 2 free-range eggs, lightly beaten * 80g/2¾oz caster sugar * 240ml/8½fl oz milk * 100g/3½oz butter, melted * 300g/10½oz plain flour * 2 tsp baking powder * ½ tsp salt * pinch cinnamon * 2 eating apples, peeled, cored, finely chopped * 200g/7oz shop-bought toffee pieces

Preparation method
1. Preheat the oven to 190C/380F/Gas 5 and line a 12-hole muffin tin with paper cases.
2. Mix the eggs, sugar, milk and melted butter in a large bowl. Sift the flour, baking powder, salt and cinnamon into the bowl. Stir well to combine.
3. Add the chopped apple and lightly mix.
4. Using half of the mixture, quarter-fill each of the muffin cases with the mixture and top with a few pieces of toffee. Cover with the remaining filling so the cases are half full.
5. Bake for 30-35 minutes until well risen and golden. Transfer to a wire rack to cool. Serve warm or cold.

Feeling Peckish? It's Feed The Birds Day!

If the closest your little ones get to our feathered friends is singing along with Muffin, Jordan, Beakman and the like (and let’s face it, who isn’t totally charmed by 3RD and bird?!) then tomorrow (Saturday) is the day to change all that – it’s the RSPB’s Feed The Birds Day 


The aim is to encourage birds of all shapes and sizes into your gardens and feed them up before the really cold Yorkshire weather kicks in. We’ve found this great Bird Food Cake recipe which looks cheap and easy to make. Little ones will love getting their hands in the mix and watching the flocks come down to feast once it’s out in the garden.


And if Masterchef for birds doesn’t fit the bill (pun not intended, but left nonetheless!) for you this weekend, you take your little ones to look at some birds instead. There can’t be many kids in Skipton who haven’t spent happy times feeding up the ducks on the canal, or you could take a trip out of town? There’s the aviary at Cliffe Castle, near Keighley; Falconry centres at Settle and Coniston Cold and the aviaries at Harewood House and Tropical World, Leeds.


Enjoy! x

Rhythm (Time) is gonna get you!

Anyone who’s heard the enthusiastic strains of a pots and pans band knows how much little ones enjoy music and rhythm. It’s great to encourage this from an early age and it seems you can’t start them early enough – babies are aware of sounds in the womb and as soon as they’re born respond to music and singing. 

We can’t recommend Lynne O’Malley’s Rhythm Time classes in Skipton (at the baptist church, Otley Street) highly enough – as they’ve grown, our little ones have nodded and bobbed their heads and developed their musicality under Lynne’s brilliant guidance. 

Rhythm Time is more than just a sing-a-long and uses music and activities to encourage children’s development through structured but fun learning. Because children develop at different stages there are three courses on offer – babies; toddlers; and pre-schoolers. And because each child is different within the group, Lynne takes care and time to make sure each and every one gets something out of all the classes. 

The action-packed classes involve a lot of unaccompanied singing which helps the babies and children to start vocalising and sing in tune (without any judgement along the way!) The courses have been specially developed to stimulate language growth and memory. Lynne crams a lot in to the 30 minute classes and always responds to requests from the group – when asked if she could get the class moving to burn off a bit of energy – that’s exactly what she did and they loved it! Lynne has a really intuitive way with the children and even the most strong-willed (and aren’t they all from time to time!) seem to calm down with her and listen to her requests. 

Rat-a-Tat making an appearance!

The aim is for the little ones (and accompanying adults!) to really enjoy themselves while learning that making music as a group is a wonderful experience. As they develop each week, so does their confidence, co-ordination and creativity.  One of the highlights for many children is meeting (and cuddling!) Rat-a-Tat, the Rhythm Time mascot (aka hand puppet!) who makes an appearance at each session. Some of the children literally leap into the air when they see him and it's been difficult to prise some kids away from the cuddling him!  

Another highlight in the babies group is a relaxing session towards then end where the lights are turned down and Lynne plays some soothing music while the babies lie on a patchwork blanket and watch bubbles float down from the sky. There really is a magical atmosphere and most of the mums we’ve spoken to said they felt emotional to see the little ones’ faces filled with wonder, transfixed on the bubbles!  

We are so lucky to have such a creative Rhythm Time group here in Skipton – it’s obvious from the classes how passionate those taking the classes are and how well all the little ones respond to it. You can attend a free first trail session to see if you like it and for more information can contact Lynne on 07789 895894. In the meantime…dig out those pots and pans!x

Core blimey – it’s apple day!

We’ve been in overdrive with national days and weeks in celebration of various things at MooBaa recently – what with the delights of Curry Week and Chocolate Week - but we thought one more wouldn’t go amiss. Especially when it’s something as simple and as lovely as Apple Day at the end of National Baking Week! What’s not to love?!

Apples crop up everywhere when you’re growing up (not least if you’re Gwynneth Paltrow and Chris Martin’s offspring) – we used to get one most days in our packed lunch with the promise of keeping the doctor away.Did anyone ever actually take one in for the teacher? And who wasn’t just a little bit wary of them after reading Snow White?!

West Winds Tea Rooms, Buckden

So, in celebration of the humble apple we thought we’d let you know about the apple festival on at the West Winds tearooms over half term in Buckden. The tea rooms will have 20 apple varieties from Ampleforth Abbey Orchards, Helmsley Walled Garden and West Winds to try free along side applelicious food to feast on by the log fire and apples to take home.


Ampleforth Abbey Orchards, near York, are open to the public until November if you wanted to visit England’s northernmost commercial orchard. Monks still provide the workforce at the traditional orchard where more than 40 varieties of apple are grown. And if you’re thinking it all sounds a bit too twee, they make and sell their own apple cider and brandy – which goes down a treat for the grown ups!

Caramel filled appples

If you don’t want to leave the house to celebrate you could always try apple bobbing with older children or some simple activities and games for little ones.


And if you fancy killing two birds with one stone and ticking off Apple Day and National Baking Week simultaneously then why not make a delicious apple crumble for tea, or try these gorgeous – and so simple to make – caramel filled apples. So if not an apple a day, then maybe try an apple for Apple Day at least!

Strid Wood gets especially spooky for Halloween!

If you go down to Strid Woods next week, you’re sure of a big surprise…but as it’s almost Halloween you won’t find teddy bears picnicking – rather, ghoulish witches, grisly spells and hidden pumpkins!

We can’t play it cool when it comes to Bolton Abbey – we absolutely love it! The changing seasons and packed schedule of fantastic activities mean that no two visits are ever the same and the Pumpkin Trail and lantern carving look set to be a real highlight.

The estate offers more than 80 miles of footpaths – many of which are pushchair-friendly and clearly marked – with bags of space for little ones to take in the beautiful scenery on the banks of the Wharfe, enjoying the fresh air and letting off steam.

From 22 – 30 October, the Pumpkin Trail set up in the woods will enchant little ones during half term and get them in the mood for Halloween. As you wander through Strid Wood, there’ll be hidden pumpkins to search for as well as low-flying witches to dodge! All the while, you’ll be looking out for clues to unravel a grisly spell. Once back from your spooky stroll, children can join in with making their very own pumpkin lantern to take home. This activity also runs from 22-30 October between 10am and 4pm.

Normal admission to the estate applies (it’s £6 per car and the estate opens at 9am every day) and the Pumpkin Trail is free. Simply collect a trail sheet at the Sandholme Kiosk, Cavendish Shop or Dusty Bluebells on arrival. The walk is accessible for wheelchairs and pushchairs. The pumpkin carving activity costs £3.50.

Alongside the Halloween event, Bolton Abbey offers the whole family the chance to explore the ruins of the priory as well as riverside, woodland and moorland paths. And if you need to refuel afterwards, we think the Cavendish Pavilion is great for kids! The fab menu includes children’s lunchboxes and they are happy to provide smaller kids’ portions on request. There are baby-changing facilities, high-chairs, a pushchair-friendly entrance and layout as well as stuff to do to keep toddlers amused until the food arrives.

For more information about the Pumpkin trail, lantern carving and everything Bolton Abbey has to offer, visit their website at www.boltonabbey.com

Variety is the spice of life for National Curry Week!

It’s National Curry Week and Skipton-based Kashmiri catering company Amaali has shared a brilliant child-friendly recipe with us to celebrate!

Based at Brougham Street, Amaali is family-run and specialises in delivering authentic Asian cuisine for any event alongside working with nurseries, schools and businesses to increase cultural awareness.

As well as providing traditional, homemade catering for parties, weddings, business events and festivals, Amaali runs a wide range of cookery courses for adults and children (ages have ranged from 2-90 years old!) which can be run on week days, evenings and weekends (at a venue provided by Amaali or in your own home).

Traditional Kashmiri cooking is called Wazhawan and is rich and aromatic with a wonderful flavour. Rice is the staple food and lamb, chicken and goat form the basis of many of the famous dishes.
Amaali’s experienced CRB checked facilitators can also deliver hands on activities such as Henna painting, dressing up and Arabic and Urdu writing as well as dance workshops to improve understanding of British born Pakistani/Kashmiri communities.

Amaali children's party

They also run children’s birthday parties including Kashmiri food, cooking demonstrations, henna tattoos, dressing up and a party gift bag.

Our four-year old niece could not get enough of Amaali’s delicious vegetable samosas when she tried them at the Skipton Waterways Festival where Amaali had a stall. High praise indeed from someone who is usually quite particular about flavours and how she likes her vegetables (ie rarely!)


We can’t wait to try the following recipe for a traditional Indian dessert, which Yesmien from Amaali says always goes down a treat with little ones both in terms of making and then eating afterwards!

Coconut Balls

Ingredients
200g dessicated coconut; 50g icing sugar; 200g tinned condensed milk; Pink food colouring; Sugar strands; Mini bun cases

Method
Place coconut into a bowl; Add condensed milk; Add some food colouring into the bowl and mix all ingredients; Powder your hands with icing sugar; Make small balls; Dip them in sugar strands. Place the coconut balls in bun cases. After 5-10 minutes they are ready to eat.

For more information or to contact Amaali please visit www.amaali.co.uk

A leap of faith!

We live in a fantastic area for nature and are lucky enough to have on our doorsteps what countless other people travel across the country to come and visit. Alongside the incredible scenery of the Yorkshire dales, there is another natural spectacle occurring every Autumn just 20 miles away near Settle – the leaping salmon.

From late September through October is usually the best time to see the salmon leaping out of the water and up the waterfalls, returning upstream to spawn. They have journeyed a distance of about 75 miles from the open sea to the entrance to the Ribble river.

It’s best to go a day or two after heavy rain (ideally following a dry spell) where you’ll see the determined fish flinging themselves against the flow of the river and against all odds to get where they need to go. This stretch of the River Ribble is famous nationally as a great vantage point and older children would no doubt enjoy the ringside seats!

Packhorse Bridge

Stainforth itself (about 20 miles away from Skipton) is a village just outside Settle, a quiet place with stepping stones over the beck in the village centre. The best place to see the salmon is near Stainforth Force – a beautiful small waterfall. There’s an old packhorse bridge which makes a great spot for something to eat (perhaps stretching it a bit to refer to it as a picnic in October weather!)

The waterfall (which begins as a series of small cascades followed by a final slightly larger one of approximately 4 feet) is very close to the village and is on the Ribble Way so is ideal for little legs and a family outing.

For more information try http://www.gbwildlife.co.uk/post/October-Leaping-Salmon.aspx or
http://stainforth.info/stainforth_today.htm

Keep kids moving with flexi kids!

It always comes round sooner than you think but there’s a decidedly autumnal nip in the air at the moment. And after a summer of fun, our thoughts are turning to what classes and groups to sign up for now to keep our little ones minds and bodies busy as the shorter nights set in.


Luckily there’s a whole host of new things starting up and we’ve been really interested to learn more about one in particular – flexi kids. Studio Pilates at Ilkley explained a bit about the benefits and has given us a half term of classes for our latest competition.


Children are naturally well balanced and by practicing Yoga and Pilates they are helped to retain or regain their naturally good posture. The studio has designed a programme specifically for kids aged 3-11 that is a blend of fun Yoga poses and gentle Pilates movements. The aim is to help children begin a lifetime of well being – promoting self acceptance, increase self-esteem, aid relaxation, improve concentration and improve sleep (hurray!)


Everyone knows how important it is to keep their children active, however sometimes it is not easy once they have settled in to the world of computer games and television – especially as the dark nights set in!


The classes for 3-7 year olds include fun games and exercise with stories. It is fun and they enjoy making the different shapes. It is a good way for them to burn off some energy but also teaches them ways to relax and unwind, leaving them calmer and relaxed. Ideal to help with the bed time routine!


There is also a class more suitable for the older ones, ages 8-11 providing them with more of a challenge. Showing children how fun exercise can be from such an early age is proven to influence their opinion and enthusiasm toward exercise as they get older.


Flexi Kids is a great way to get them moving, find an interest in exercise and teach them something that will aid them in many different aspects of life from a young age. Children will become willing to tune in and focus on the tasks at hand, improving attention span and concentration levels, Be playful and creative with friends as well as an individual.


7 week courses starting September 7th -£28 for course 
Wednesdays 4-4.45pm Age 3-7 
Wednesdays 5-5.45pm Age 8-11


Contact Studio Pilates to book! Tel- 07979 843322 E-info@studio-pilates.co.uk W- www.studio-pilates.co.uk

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!