Saturday 24 October 2009

Halloween Events for all the family in North Yorkshire.



We are planning to celebrate Lilys first Halloween in style here at Flamborough Rigg Cottage B&B. Sadly, so far, we have had no success in catching bats to hang up in our kennel but we have been collecting some lovely spiders, Phil will be soooooo excited when he sees them. Meg has her eye on a lovely pumpkin in the vegetable garden which we are hoping Caroline will carve for us ready for our spooky kennel party! We might even invite the pesky witches cat, especially if she promises to arrive on a broom.
For those of you who can’t make it to our kennel party here are some of the exciting events happening throughout North Yorkshire for Halloween.


Treasurer’s House, York
24 October – 1 November 2009

The lovely people at the National Trust have organized a Witches Brew Halloween Trail - frogs' legs, bat's blood, a witch's ball and other gruesome ingredients await. Treats not tricks are on sale in the tearoom. Fancy dress optional!
From 11.00 – 16.30.
For further details click here.


The Moors National Park Centre, Danby
24 October – 01 November 2009.

Spiders are brilliant! Discover why on a self led trail through the grounds. Spot the giant willow spiders to solve the answers to your questions and to claim your spidery prize. Drop in anytime.
All children to be accompanied by an adult. Age 4+


RHS at Harlow Carr near Harrogate.
30 October 2009

The Royal Horticultural Society have a fun packed day at their gardens at Harlow Carr to celebrate Halloween.

An all day Pumpkin Quiz Trail.
Follow this quiz trail around Collect from the garden learning amazing facts about the
pumpkin as you go. Collect from Main Reception

Pumpkin Competition. For your chance to win a Ghoulish Halloween Goody Bag – bring your carved pumpkin along and enter it into our pumpkin competition. All the pumpkins will be put on display and be illuminated by candle light on Saturday 31st October.
Winners will be contacted by telephone after the event.
Pumpkin drop off point: Teaching Greenhouse

Halloween Workshops Make a scary mask or a witch’s hat that you can use on Halloween
or some bats or spiders that you can decorate your house with. Meet in the Yurt on the Lower Lawn between 10.30-12.30pm & 1.30pm- 3.30pm

For further details click here.


Scarborough Art Gallery
31 October 2009.

For some exciting Spooky Mask Making join the experts at Scarborough Art Gallery.
Taking inspiration from portraits of some of Scarborough’s past inhabitants create your own spooky Halloween mask for a night of trick-or-treating. At this drop-in session children of all ages will be able to make their own mask, but what will their mask say about them? Children who come in fancy dress will get a tricky treat!
Drop in from 11.00 – 16.00


Beningbrough Hall and Gardens near York.
31 October 2009.

Another great Halloween event. Join the learning team for pumpkin art from 13.00 – 15.00. Also enjoy some Autumn pumpkin recipes in the restaurant & guess the weight of the giant pumpkin.


Dalby Forest Visitors Centre.
31 October 2009.

Don stout shoes to join a spooky walk hour long walk setting out from the Dalby Forest Visitors centre.
Be prepared for spooky stories and ghostly japes. A torch will be useful (but be prepared to switch it off as instructed). Warm, waterproof clothes are essential or join in with fancy dress.
Free fun and games await you upon your return to the visitors centre.
Walks set off every ten minutes and last approx 1 hour. Start time 5.00pm. Last walk departs 8.30pm.


Nunnington Hall.
31 October 2009.

All manner of horrible - and yet strangely delicious - things are on offer as part of Nunnington Halls special Halloween menu. Highlights include Batskin biscuits and 'blood' soup.
From 12.00 – 14.00.
For further details click here.


Brimham Rocks.
31 October 2009.

Follow spooky clues and answer the ghostly questions on this Halloween trail at Brimham Rocks. If successful you will find your way to find the horrible answers at the haunted house.
From 11.00 – 16.00.

Getting to know the birds of North Yorkshire with the experts.

The North Yorkshire National Park Authority invites you to join one of their senior rangers for a fun and informative afternoon getting to know more about local birds. The afternoon will include some time bird spotting in Crow Wood and then once you are a fully fledged bird spotter you will make a bird feeder back at the Centre. You will receive a bird spotting survey form so that you can carry out your own survey at home.
All children must be accompanied by an adult. Age 8+


Meet at the Moors National Park Centre, Danby.
The event takes place from 13.30 – 16.30.

Half Term excitement for the kids at the National Railway Museum in York.

At the National Railway Museum in York enjoy an action packed October half term, with steam rides on Furness 20 and plenty of 'Cunning Inventions!' There will also be craft activities, live science shows, storytelling and the Platform4 Theatre at the weekend. From 24 October – 02 November 2009.

Steam rides on Furness 20
Don't miss your opportunity to ride on Furness 20 in the South Yard, one of the oldest working steam locomotives in the world.
Furness 20 is an amazing 146 years old, its had a remarkable life both during its ninety seven year career and after its retirement in 1960 and has even made it onto the big and small screen!

Cunning Inventions
Explore 'Cunning Inventions' in the Warehouse at 12:00 and 14:00 each day with an introduction to Brennan's Gyrocar (a cunning invention that never took off!). Or celebrate the 180th anniversary of the Rainhill Trials by getting creative with craft activities based on Stephenson's Rocket.
Build your own model of Rocket with moving parts, running from 11:00 to 16:00 under Percy Main Bridge in the Great Hall.

Learning Platform
Enjoy our fantastic new show 'From Rocket to Bullet - the science of how trains move!' in the Learning Platform. The kids will also love 'Clickety Clack', our interactive railway story which explores the sounds of the train as it travels from London to Scotland (suitable for under 6s). There will be six events per day (10.45, 11.45, 12.45, 13.45, 14.45 and 15.45) throughout the week. Please refer to the daily diary at the admissions desk on your arrival for further information.


All the Fun at the Fair.
Enjoy the NRM'S fairground rides every weekend throughout September and October and throughout October Half Term! Why not go dizzy around the carousel and whizz down the helter skelter! The rides are available 10am to 5pm and a charge of £1.50 per person per ride applies.
Admission Free for all learning activities. A small charge applies for rides on Furness 20.

The Executioner Arrives at York Castle Museum!

On 24 and 25 October 2009 the executioner will be based at the York Castle Museum. The 'executioner' - William "Mutton" Curry - will be equipped with a 12ft high gallows and all the tools of his gruesome trade and will delight in explaining the varying forms of punishment he uses. He will also recount the nature of crime and punishment in the time of the Bloody Code in the late 18th and early 19th Centuries when criminals could be hanged for 220 or so offences that carried the death penalty.

All visitors to the museum had better be on their best behavior!

Monday 19 October 2009

The Great Fossil Hunters of the North Yorkshire Coast.


The excellent Rotunda Museum in Scarborough has planned a number of exciting fossil hunts for the Autumn half term week. I wonder if they could benefit from the fine nose of an expert hunter like me. I will be on the slipway at Sandsend ready to offer my services, see you there!

Plesiosaur Hunt (Speeton)
Sunday 25 October, 13.00-15.00
Bring the whole family along on this expert-led fossil hunt and find the ammonites that were once food for the mighty Plesiosaur. Be prepared to walk along the shoreline in search for these precious fossils. Meet at Reighton Sands Holiday Park car park.

Sandsend Sea Monsters
Monday 26 October, 13.30 – 15.30
On this expert-led fossil hunt you will find fossilised creatures that once filled the oceans during the Jurassic period, 180 million years ago. Meet on the slipway to the beach.

Runswick Prey
Tuesday 27 October, 14.00 – 16.00
Come along on this expert-led fossil hunt and find the ammonites that were once food for the ferocious sea reptiles. Be prepared to walk along the shoreline in search for these precious fossils. Meet on the slipway to the beach at Runswick Bay.

Bats are Brilliant!

The North York Moors National Park Authority have created a fun family trail from
The Sutton Bank National Park Centre for the Autumn half term week.

During the self guided trail learn about these amazing creatures and upon completion claim your prize. All children must be accompanied by an adult.

The trail is available from 24 October – 01 November from 10.00 – 17.00.

An Evening of Clairvoyance at Nunnington Hall, North Yorkshire.

On 28 November 2009 the National Trust invite you to join them for an evening with the psychic and medium Joanne Gregory. Joanne is recognised as an extremely gifted clairaudient medium with a strong reputation for accuracy with clients and audiences across the world. She has appeared as a guest medium on a number of programmes with Living TV's 'Most Haunted'.

Gate open at 18.15 and the event will run from 19.00-21.15.
Booking is essential.

A Family Autumn Watch Walk on the North Yorkshire Moors


Join the North Yorkshire Moors National Park education activity leaders on an autumn walk up to the moors. Fill in your very own autumn watch activity book along the way, recording sights and sounds of autumn. The walk will cover a distance of 2.8 miles.

All children under 9 to be accompanied by an adult. Places are limited so book early to avoid disappointment Tel 01439 772738.

Date: 26 October 2009.
Meet at the Moors National Park Centre, Danby, 13.30 - 16.00.

The National Trust needs your help to create Tulip Mania in York!


During the Autumn half term week 24 October 11.00 - 1 November 16.00 the National Trust are inviting visitors to plant a tulip bulb in the garden borders of the Treasurer’s House in York.

You will then receive an email in the spring with a picture of the thousand Tulipa 'White Triumphator' flowering. Alternatively you could revisit the Treasurer’s House and North Yorkshire once again to see the results of your work.

Saturday 17 October 2009

Travelling with Trees – Talk at the Arboretum Kew at Castle Howard

On 20 October 2009 John Simmons OBE VMH, formerly the Curator of Kew, will give an illustrated talk in which he will describe several of the interesting, and also some veteran trees he has seen and collected in remote parts of the world or grown in gardens.

After the talk he will lead a walk in the arboretum looking at a number of the more botanically valuable and rare trees now established there; some for the first time innorthern England.

Bookings can be made through The Arboretum Centre Ticket Desk. Telephone (01653) 648598 .

For further details click here
.

Friday 16 October 2009

Escorted walks in Yorkshire during October and November 2009.


Join the experts to explore just a few corners of this beautiful county.

Saturday 17 October 2009.
Join the National Trust - A Breath of Brimham
Let the guide walk and talk you through the last 320 million years on a 90 minute journey round the rocks and moorland.
Booking not needed. Meet at the NT car park at Brimham Rocks for a 14.00 start.
For further details call 01423 780688

Sunday 18 October 2009.
Organised by the North East Yorkshire Geology Trust enjoy this guided walk along Sleightholme Dale. Follow the line of the dale before crossing Otterhill Common and Otterhills. Lots of water and perhaps wildlife too.
Meet at Green Lane, Sleighthome Dale (SE 660 896) for the walk that will be from 12.00-16.00.
For further information contact them on 01947 881 000 or email contact@neyorksgeologytrust.com.

Sunday 25 October 2009.
Another walk organised by the North East Yorkshire Geology Trust. This time it is a guided walk along Fangdale Beck: Last but not least we follow the route of the River Seph in Bilsdale before climbing up Coniser Howl. Spectacular views throughout.
Meet in the village centre (SE 569 947). The walk is from 12.00-16.00.
For further information contact us on 01947 881 000 or email contact@neyorksgeologytrust.com.

Sunday 1 November 2009.
Join the North Yorkshire Moors National Park (NYMNP) Voluntary Ranger Kim Peacock on a 3 1/2 mile walk. The route will take in part of the old railway line from Whitby to Scarborough, Gnipe Howe Farm, Cleveland Way, Limekiln Slack and White Horse Cliffs. Spectacular views await.
For full details call on 01439 772738.
Meet at the Trailways Cycle Hire centre near Hawsker.

Wednesday 4 November 2009.
Joining the NYMNP Ranger Matt Fitzgerald for a peaceful 4 mile walk using pleasant field paths, tracks and quiet country lanes with superb views of Little Fryupdale and the River Esk.
For full details call on 01439 772738.
Meet at the Moors National Park Centre, Danby, 10.00-12.30.

Wednesday 4 November 2009.
Voluntary Ranger Tony Auckland takes you back to a time of glaciers, snowfields, lakes and the sudden appearance of a 250 feet deep gorge. So wrap up warm because it's bound to be chilly on this 1 1/2 mile walk. There will be tea and biscuits after the walk courtesy of David and Lisa Wheeler.
For full details call on 01439 772738.

Meet at Osborne Lodge, East Ayton, YO12 5TG (SE 986869)> the walk will be from 13.00-14.00.

It's Shark Week at Scarborough Sealife and Marine Sanctuary.


In support of European Shark Week, Scarborough Sea Life Centre the team will be introducing a brand new talk for the week with amazing facts about sharks.


""Most people don't know a great deal about sharks so we will tell them some great fishy facts including that a sharks sense of smell is so good, they can detect one drop of blood in an olympic sized swimming pool"" said Displays Curator Lyndsey Crawford.


Visitors will also get the chance to see a daily shark target feeding demonstration and children will be able to test their knowledge and take part in a special shark quiz trail.

""At SEA LIFE we are passionate about the protection of all marine animals and want to really shout about how fantastic these creatures are. Sharks have been around longer than dinosaurs so we need to protect them"" said Lyndsey.SEA LIFE actively takes part in the UK Shark Tagging Programme and is dedicated to raising money through their Shark SOS campaign.

Thursday 15 October 2009

Apples Galore!


We have our fair share of apples here in the garden at Flamborough Rigg Cottage in North Yorkshire. Katie, Meg and I love to take a nibble on the wind falls but from what I hear the good people at Nunnington Hall near Helmsley are the apple experts.

On 19 October you can join Nick, Nunnington Halls Head Gardener, to explore the Hall’s orchard. He will tell you about and invite you to taste the wide variety of traditional English apples. You will then join Nick for lunch in the tea room.

Booking is essential so click here for further details.

Back to our plan as to how steal one of Caroline’s lovely apple and bramble crumbles. I think I may have drawn the short straw as I have to grab the custard!
As always the pesky cat has predicted another disaster.

Alpacas come to North Yorkshire!

.
Well, actually they might already be here, living in various fields throughout Yorkshire but I haven’t seen any!

The first ever Alpaca Show in the county of Yorkshire is to be staged on Saturday the 24th October 2009. This show is organised by the Yorkshire Alpaca Group and will take place at the Thirsk Business Park. It is expected that around 150 Alpacas will take part: the very best Alpacas are expected from all over the UK.

Meg and I have been discussing the pluses and minuses of convincing Phil and Caroline to add a couple of Alpacas to our family here at Flamborough Rigg Cottage B&B near Stape in North Yorkshire. They could keep the grass down but would they also nibble on all the fruit bushes that Caroline uses to make her lovely jams. Would they look cuter than us puppies, we both agreed that would be impossible? Would they mind us using them as cosy pillows at night?
At the show there will be several trade stands including Peruvian and British made alpaca knitwear and alpaca hats, some from the British alpaca herd. The present herd population in the UK is now in excess of 20,000 alpacas.
Admission is free and all are welcome.

For more information, please contact the organiser of the Yorkshire Alpaca Show, Lawrence Waller by email lawrencewaller@btinternet.com or visit the British Alpaca Society website www.bas-uk.com.

This is your last chance to see the Cook and Canada Exhibition in Whitby.

You only have until 31 October 2009 to see this summer excellent exhibition at the Captain Cook Memorial Museum in Whitby, North Yorkshire. It is called: Cook and CANADA, a reputation in the making.

Exactly 250 years ago, James Cook was charting the deadly shoals and eddies of the St Lawrence River. Under General Wolfe, British troops scaled the river cliffs at night and captured the French fortress of Quebec. We explore what Cook learnt, his charting of the tortuous coastlines of Newfoundland, and why he was chosen to lead the Endeavour voyage of exploration. With some of his earliest original charts and loans from major museums, the exhibition covers Cook's work on Canada's east cost, and provides a postscript with his west coast visit eleven years later.