Five Things To Do With Your Family This Weekend

DO GOING BATTY

Watching tiny bats flit across the sky in summer is one of life’s great joys, and you’ll find them everywhere; in the most built-up cities or the wildest countryside. It’s International Bat Weekend, so get out into the dusk and see, hear and find out about our leathery winged friends – download a pack here. There are events across the UK; go here to find a batwalk, quiz trail, bat night or craft workshop near you.Find out more about bats here, find out how to encourage them with a bat-friendly garden here, and, if you don’t spot any real-life chiroptera, make a bat kite or your own cute origami version!



EVENT ACT UP!

It’s time for the first ever Re/action Festival. Held in Leicester on Saturday and Sunday, the event celebrates Creativity for the Climate. Explore the world of bees, watch an orchestra play on vegetables, see incredible mechanical creatures and listen to the trees sing. The festival will also host a repair and repurpose area; learn how to rework textiles and share your skills. Free. Find out more here

There are plenty of free labyrinths across the country. This yew maze in London’s Brent Lodge Park has just had a fresh trim, and you can find out about five other free or cheap London mazes here.

Gloucestershire’s Dragonfly Maze (ticketed) has a puzzle created by the artist Kit Williams at its centre, while the stone Minotaur Maze at Kielder Castle in Northumberland (free) has a glistening glass room at its core. Pick a maze to visit from the list here, or find a maize maze near you; solve one before they’re chopped down for the year.

Mazes are an ancient British tradition; turf mazes are a puzzling part of the English countryside. There were at least 60 in the UK, and some think that they were built for religious purposes, for penance and pilgrimage. They were often used during village festivities. Find out more, and find your nearest ancient or modern turf maze here.



DO AMAZING MAZE

We love a maze; they’re fun, but always with a tickling element of creep. Will you find your way out? Is there something scary just around the corner? Are you reminded of the infamous scene in The Shining, or perhaps Labyrinth? Will you ever find your way out again?



EVENT EAST OR WEST?

Two very different free parties rock London this weekend. The huge, noisy and colourful Notting Hill Carnival rocks across west London with soundsystems, parades, and glittering, eye-scorching costumes – head there on Sunday for the slightly quieter Family Day. A lower-key, east London alternative, the Clerkenwell Festival in is a great introduction to music parties. As well as bands including Wreckless Eric, Suri and the Silhouettes and DJs, there are history talks, a kids area, tarot reader and dog show.

DO GENTLY BACK TO SCHOOL

Yay! Boo! It’s back to school time. We’ve got a checklist of things to make the transition a little sweeter, cheaper, and tastier.
*Be inspired by fresh vegan lunchbox ideas (the Buffalo Jackfruit Sandwiches with Hemp Crunch sound amazing)
*Brighten up your pencil box with home-made pencil toppers, cute rainbow unicorn notebooks, gorgeous pen roll-ups and a brilliant measuring tape pencil case.
*Find a new pair of shoes that care as much for the earth as your kids’ feet – the Vegan Society has an excellent guide to animal-friendly brands
*Discover how flower essences can support your children’s wellbeing at school
*Scour kids clothes swap sites for tough-enough bargains. You might find bundles on eBay, or haunt local free and cheap swap sites on social media! Gen up on the new rules that ensure your school stocks second-hand uniform and allows generic alternatives. Find more about where to find cheap uniform and if you might be eligible for a grant here.
*Discover how not to feel small at big school.
*Make power food-packed salad jars and energy-giving bliss balls for lunch times!
*Print out – or be inspired to make your own versions of – these cute lunch box notes and jokes – slip one in your child’s cool bag or pencil case every day to bring a smile to their face.
*Find out how to unschool your school-attending children.
*Gen up on how to take care of nits naturally!

WHAT WE’RE EATING Sweet Beetroot Hummus on Sourdough with Blackberry Jam and Hazelnut Butter We like our beetroot hummus vibrant and rich, that’s why there is an obnoxious ratio of beetroot to chickpeas in this recipe. Embrace it say Megan Hallett and Nicole Jardim. Find the recipe here

WHAT WE’RE READING Helen Skelton’s honesty about giving up work for her kids was radical: n Sunday, the Radio 5 Live presenter Helen Skelton announced she was hosting her last show for the time being, in order to step back from work to spend more time with her children. That phrase, with its ring of politicians getting in front of a scandal, is rarely used publicly with any sincerity and it was arresting to see it in this context. “I’m not all right about it,” said Skelton, prompted by her co-host Steve Crossman’s lachrymose farewell. “But you know, needs must.” With apparent reluctance, she said, “an eight-year-old will be happy about it”. Read more here