Walk at the Chalk Pits

Today we went for a short walk round the chalk pits.  It is a is disused chalk quarry and was active until the early 1980s; it provided hard chalk to build Cambridge University colleges, and lime for cement.The chalk here was formed  94 million years ago, from layers of sediment on the bed of the Late Cretaceous Sea. The west pit is green and full of plants where as the east pit chalk cliffs' provide a dramatic landscape.  Apparently you can see glow worms and the rare moon carrot! 

Mad Hatters Tea Party

Today we went to the Central Library for an hour and half of free fun based on Alice in Wonderland.   We used props for photos, did some craft and played some games.  The highlight for the girls was of course the tea!  It was aimed at over 8s - but I think it was probably perfect for those aged 4-10.

30 Days Wild

 

This June The Wildlife Trusts are asking everyone to do something wild every day for 30 days and we have signed up to take part.  When you sign up to take part, you get emailed lots of ideas or 'random acts of wildness' throughout the month. We've been planning our family's acts of wildness and I'm really looking forward to starting on Monday.  I just hope we can fit in with school as well but here are some of things we plan to do (the blanks are awaiting inspiration!):

Make a rain gauge

Mini beast hunting in our garden

Cycle back along the stream

Grow some caterpillars

Blow a dandelion clock / play at the park

Magic wands

Find some treasure - go geocaching

Go cloud spotting

Have a picnic in the garden

Leaf prints in clay

listen to the wildlife around us

Bat walk bioblitz

bioblitz

Walk along the river

Read a book outside

Make a mini-nature reserve

Look up high and down low

Make a tumble trap

Light a fire and roast marshmallows

Make midsummer crowns

Make a footprint trap

Make a grass trumpet

Investigate a tree

Make a moth trap

Create a clay creature

 

Mountfitchet Castle

Today we went to Mountfitchet Castle which is a reconstructed medieval Motte and Bailey castle.  There was lots to learn about castle life. The girls enjoyed running round exploring all the different parts and there was plenty to do with helmets/amour to wear, being in the stocks as well as feeding the deer, chickens, peacocks and goats. We also had a good time at the toy museum. We spent about 3 hours exploring. Some of the parts feel a little dated but it is a private run museum.

Bletchley Park

Today we went to Bletchley Park, home of code breaking in world war 2 and where the British broke the German Enigma code. It was very interesting walking around the buildings where the code breakers worked during the war and the sounds from the 1940s added to the atmosphere. The girls enjoyed in the interactive boards, the play area and walking round the grounds. However, it is definitely better for older children.

Audley End's Grand Victorian travelling show.

For the bank holiday, we went to Audley End for their Victorian show.  We enjoyed various shows including a flea circus, drama about Robin Hood, a  Camera Obscura and, the highlight, Buffalo Bill's rodeo show.  All with lots of audience participation and laughs!