By Kate Hodges
16th February 2018
MAKE and EVENT Love Nest
Even the smallest of flats has space for an outside birdhouse. National Nest Box Week started on Tuesday and aims to encourage everyone to put up nest boxes to promote and enhance biodiversity as well as conserve our breeding birds. Putting up a nest box and, if you’re lucky, seeing a bird raise chicks in it, is incredibly satisfying and inspirational for children. Why not hold your own nest-box making session this weekend? There are simple instructions for a traditional box here, or find how to make a cute one from a kettle here and from a carton here . There’s more quirky inspiration here [] (we love the house number homes) and here.
MAKE, RECIPE Dog Years
Gong hei fat choy! It’s Chinese New Year. We’ve got ideas for where to celebrate below, but if you can’t make it to a street party, hold your own at home. There are some great ideas for arts and crafts here – we love the very cute paper fortune cookies, this Chinese paper cutting activity - such stylish results – and this Chinese New Year–themed sensory dough. We’re going to try out some vegan Chinese recipes this year – these mouthwatering Kung Pao Lentils, these eye-poppingly colourful Purple Potato Chia Buns and this spicy Celery Black Pepper Tofu recipe. And why not look up your Chinese Zodiac sign, and what the Year of the Dog will have in store for you?
DO, MAKE, LEARN Ice Magic
Are you as obsessed with the Winter Olympics as we are? We love getting totally into sports we had no idea existed until this week. If you want to know more about the event, Newsround has some great background information here and we adore these simple, graphic descriptions of each event found here. We will also be attempting to recreate the events in our house (no, we’re not sure if this is a totally sane idea, but it’s going to be a lot of fun. Find ideas to spark your imagination here – curling, figure skating, mogul skiing, snowboarding and skeleton racing – all without having to leave the house. For a quieter life, these crafts might be more appropriate. Or play Winter Olympics Bingo or these other brilliant and hilarious activities (the Lego luge is a particular highlight!)
MAKE Deep Treat
Our skin and hair are taking a battering in the harsh weather. We’re not going to compromise on going out ¬– there’s nothing like a blustery, windy walk, but it’s lovely to come back and treat ourselves to a rich, moisturising treat. It’s fun, cheap and eco-friendly to make your own beauty treatments; try these lush facial moisturiser , deep hair mask or replenishing hair oil recipes from beautifying goddess, Wellness Mama.
EVENT Inspect A Norse
The annual Jorvik Viking Festival is the biggest of its kind in Europe. See historical reenactments, including dramatic combat performances, see the Watlington Hoard (Detectorists fans will love it!) learn to sword fight, try playing Viking-style games, and enjoy evocative folk music. The event we’re most looking forward to however, is the Strongest Viking competition. Until February 18.
