Here Comes Summer!

And there are lots of fun activities for young children to try in the area around Upchurch this August.

Here are some of the best to try – many are free, others are more of a treat...

Laysdown-on-Sea Carnival

August 3 – starting at 2pm from Little Groves Holiday Park, the carnival procession makes its way to the Promenade and on to the Central Beach Holiday Park, returning the same way until 4pm.

Milton Creek Country Park

August 6 at 11 am, the park is holding a Teddy Bear’s Picnic. Take along your teddy and lunch and gather for a communal picnic and story-telling. It’s free!

August 13, the park is having a Family Fun Day, with lots of family activities to have a go at. Also, free!

https://miltoncreek.co.uk/

Knole is running its popular drop-in Family Mondays for young children this month:

August 5 – Caterpillars and Butterflies ("fold a multi-coloured paper caterpillar and make a butterfly bookmark to take home")

August 12 – Trees and Plants ("stick flowers and leaves to a spiralling decoration and make a tissue paper tree to take home")

August 19 – Sunshine and Rainbows (“paint a pebble in rainbow colours and make a sunshine decoration with rainbow streamers”)

All sessions most suited to ages 5-11; must be accompanied by an adult; £2 per child; 11am-3pm.

Knole House, Sevenoaks, TN15 0RP; https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/knole

A little further afield, Betteshanger Park is offering a Forest School holiday club for 4 to 11-year-olds on August 5, 6, 9, 12, 13, 16, 19, 20, 23.

The £25 cost per day includes all activities, equipment, snacks and hot drinks, but children have to take their own packed lunch; additional siblings can be booked in for £20 per day; 9am-3pm.

It’s well-booked up, but you can join the waiting list at https://bookwhen.com/forestschool/e/ev-sxqw-20190805090000

Leeds Castle

August 23 and 24 – an Alice in Wonderland musical is being performed in the grounds of Leeds Castle. Described as “nonsensical fun and excitement for the entire family,” gates open at 5pm with access to the events lawn at 5.30; the play begins at 6pm and finishes 8pm with a 20 mins interval. Adult tickets £15, children £12, with under 3s going free, but there’s an online competition for free tickets.

See https://www.leeds-castle.com/competition/Alice+in+Wonderland

All August

Mystery Treasure Trails

Available to try in Faversham, Maidstone, Rochester, Canterbury, Whitstable and Herne Bay. There are loads of riddles and clues to be solved in these self-guided treasure trails, which take seeing the sights of a place to a whole new level. First download the route’s PDF, which is instantly accessible and is made suitable for all ages.

https://www.treasuretrails.co.uk/trails-search/

All August

Fleur de Lis Museum, Faversham

“A marvellous eclectic mix of boat-building, farming, gunpowder-making and wartimes… loved it!” notes one visitor. £5 adults, £1.50 for children; Monday to Saturday, 10am-4pm; Sunday, 10am-1pm.

Fleur de Lis Heritage Centre, 10-13 Preston St, Faversham, ME13 8NS

All August

The Sittingbourne & Kensley Light Railway

“Trains are now running every Sunday and Bank Holiday Monday, plus Wednesdays in the school Summer Holidays (end of July to end of August), until the end of September.” On Wednesdays, trains depart Sittingbourne Viaduct station on the hour from 1pm-4pm. Trains return from Kemsley Down at 1.35pm, 2.35pm, 3.35pm, 4.45pm. On Sundays, trains depart Sittingbourne Viaduct station on the hour from 11am-4pm. Trains return from Kemsley Down at 11.35am, 12.35pm, 1.35pm, 2.35pm, 3.35pm, and 4.45pm. The journey takes 15 mins each way. August 25 and 26, trains depart Sittingbourne Viaduct on the hour from 111am-4pm. £7 for adults, £3.50 for children 3-15, under 3s travel free.

Post code for the Sat Nav: ME10 2XD

All August

The Historic Dockyard, Chatham

Until September 1, for every adult ticket (£25), a child (5-15) goes for £1. Extra child £9.50. It’s not cheap, but there is a lot to see…

Check out Chatham’s beach with a 70s and 80s throwback vibe, complete with a Punch & Judy show (weekdays at noon, 2pm, 4pm, weekends at 11am, 1pm and 3pm) and Doc and his assistant Bunsen who have lots of new experiments to try in Doc’s theatre-style show (weekdays at 11am, 1pm, 3pm, weekends at 12pm and 2pm).

Plus, until September 8, children can run around the wooden Pirate Ship and pore over the Pirate Exhibition which includes costumes, toys, photographs, etc.

August 8, Chatham is running a Pirate School for 5 to 7-year-olds, and on August 21 for 7 to 9-year-olds. 8.45-3pm; £20 per child; pre-booking is essential; parents can stay for the first 30 mins.

Main Gate Rd, Chatham, ME4 4TZ; www.thedockyard.co.uk/

www.nurserydays-upchurch.co.uk

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