Five Things To Do With Your Family This Weekend

DO BANG BANG! IT’S SUMMER!
For many, the starting pistol for the summer holidays fires this week. With the time off stretching in front of us, why not take on a big outdoor project? These long-form ideas are perfect for your garden, a community space or allotment.
*Clay pizza ovens are ambitious builds, but a hugely fun group project, create a focal point for summer nights outside and result in dirt cheap, utterly delicious dinners forever.
*Turn a tiny corner into an abundant garden. Find out here how to make balconies lush and green, build your own vertical garden or turn your lawn into a vegetable patch!
*Try gardening with your kids; make a sunflower alley, a bean teepee or colourful pots Perhaps you might turn your garden into a wildlife-friendly space
*Build a den, fort, treehouse or hideaway to make an imaginary world where anything is possible - we think that these tips from Fiona Danks and Jo Schofield are the best we’ve read! Or create new play areas in your plot; try making a mud pit, a sand hill or water fun park!
*Find a secluded spot, and transform an old bathtub into a wood-fired hot-tub. Scatter candles, take a book or your kids and soak under the stars.
*Sitting around a fire pit, cooking, singing and watching the sparks fly into the air is a dreamy way to spend warm summer nights; why not try building your own?
*For those with smaller gardens, less time or lower budgets, there are plenty more outdoor play space ideas here.
On a sunny day, there’s little more appealing than idling in a hammock with a book. This year’s Summer Reading Challenge’s theme is Ready, Set, Read – celebrating team spirit and highlighting some sporty (and not so sporty) heroes! Run by The Reading Agency and Public Libraries the event is a summer holiday essential – sign up at your local library, read six books of your choice and collect your rewards. It’s a great way to motivate your kids (and you!) to borrow books, and means you’re prepared for rainy and lazy days. Don’t forget that libraries aren’t all about traditional storybooks; you’ll find non-fiction guides and reference books, audio books, graphic novels and much more. While we’re on the subject of libraries, here’s our pick of the UK’s most beautiful public and university halls of books – why not take time out to visit one this summer?

Or perhaps you’re a fan of the butterfly’s cool, goth cousin, the moth. Moth Week (July 22-30) is an annual celebration of moths and moth recording. Why not see how many different kinds you can spot? One of the very easiest and effective ways is simply leaving your curtains open when you’re inside; moths will come to rest on your window pane. Alternatively, open your bathroom windows, throw on the light, wait and watch the fluttering creatures come into your house (it’s probably best to check that all of your family are happy to have a few winged visitors swing by). Submit your findings and find out more about these night-time beauties here.

EVENT DWI’N CARU CYMRUDDWI’N
Celebrate the beauty of Welsh language culture in Cardiff this week. The free Tafwyl festival takes place in Bute Park and across the city. Artists playing across three stages include folkies Bwncath, singer songwriter Mared and the brass-heavy Band Pres Llareggub. There are baby and teenage yurts with body painting and gloop making, sports workshops and hula hooping and – of course – plenty of chances to learn or brush up on your Welsh skills.

DO WOW AND FLUTTER
Taking part in Citizen Science projects helps boffins find more about the world and beyond, gets you outside, teaches children about nature and are a lot of fun. The Big Butterfly Count brings purpose to a picnic and uncovers something new about our environment. Organised by the Butterfly Conservation, it’s simple enough for even tiny children to join in, and is a fun introduction to nature spotting. Download and print an identifying chart or use their free app to record which butterflies you spot. Find more incredible butterfly facts here or discover how to make a simple paper member of the Lepidoptera family here

EVENT PORT HEADS
The Bristol Harbour Festival (Friday to Sunday) celebrates the city’s maritime past and present with a stunning line-up of music, dance, and family-friendly offerings, plus of course, water-based fun on the quayside. The line-up includes the Windrush Reggae Choir and Booty Bass, while Circus Bijou take over Queen Square with spectacular aerial shows, comedy, acrobatics, and workshops for children. Explore the Bee Garden, meet Pip and Posy, play Crazy Golf on a course made from recycled materials, and join Loose Parts Play, run by the Children’s Scrapstore. Head to the harbour to see a cardboard boat race, spectacular steamboats and spectacular flyboarding. Free.

EVENT HAPPY FOLK
Rothbury Traditional Music Festival is a small, friendly, community-run festival set in the heart of Northumberland, in the beautiful Coquet Valley. Over the last four decades it has established a unique atmosphere, drawing musicians, dancers and singers from throughout the country and beyond to spend a weekend sharing music and experiencing Northumbrian traditions. This year, it has a Scandinavian twist, with performers from Sweden and Finland. Head to this beautiful setting for competitions, music workshops, ceilidhs and performances from Trip, Sam Carter and The Bremers plus – of course – lots of marching and piping! Lots of free events, some ticketed. Full programme here.

WHAT WE’RE EATING BANANA PANCAKES WITH HOMEMADE NUT-ELLA Bettina Campolucci Bordi shares her favourite uplifting vegan recipes that are fast, fresh and super tasty. Here’s one of her favourite treats for a weekend breakfast, complete with homemade chocolate spread! Find the recipe here

WHAT WE’RE READING Why Seeking More Glimmers Is A Recipe For A Happier, Calmer, More Connected Life: The term “glimmer” was first introduced by social worker Deb Dana in her book, The Polyvagal Theory In Therapy: Engaging The Rhythm Of Regulation. They’re micro-moments that make us feel happier, hopeful, safe, and connected. And the best thing is, we can easily access them by looking for them. Read more here