Five Things To Do With Your Family This Weekend

EVENT, LEARN, DO BUG-EYED
It’s National Insect Week, which might inspire some learning about our tiny friends. Find a collection of learning resources here that explore the enormous range of insects found in the UK; even the tiniest outside space or doorstep will be teeming with life.
Join an event near you; discover what insects are, why they are important and what an entomologist is, join a bug hunt or bioblitz.
We love insects at The Green Parent; find out ten supercool facts about butterflies here, discover how to take steps to rewild your garden (and map it online) here, and find out how to make your garden more wildlife-friendly here.

EVENT THE GENTLE FOLK
A charming seaside music festival, Leigh Folk Festival in Essex attracts an incredible line-up of performers, both fresh and seasoned. With dozens of venues spread around town, its as easy to stumble across an intimate, quiet acoustic gig in a church as a rambunctious hoedown on the main stage in the Library Gardens. There’s lots of child-focussed activities; find storytellers, puppet shows and dancing workshops. And, of course, the waves are on hand to enjoy. This year, it’s celebrating 30 years of fun with – among many others – Eliza Carthy, Wildwood Kin, The Owl Service, Scott Matthews, Emily Barker and John Francis. Free

EVENT CARRY ON CAMPUS
Many university community festivals take place at this time of year, and are a great way for children and young people to take a peep into campus life, and meet staff and students – check to see when your local college is running theirs. They’re fun-filled, creative events that showcase not only cutting-edge research, but young artistic talent. This weekend, the University of Manchester throws its doors open; find out about brain imaging, handle curious vintage medical objects, explore activism in Manchester, weave with found objects, drive a Lego rover, track down meteorites and watch dances, shows or bang a West African drum. Register for your free ticket in advance; find out more here

LEARN AND DO FERN BRITAIN
Astronomically, we regard the solstice as the start of summer, but, somewhat confusingly, June 24 is known across Europe as Midsummer, the midpoint of the growing season, halfway between planting and harvest. It’s celebrated across Scandinavia and Northern Europe with bonfire parties that go on all night; although at the far reaches of the continent, the sun doesn’t even set. In Latvia, people spend Midsummer’s Eve awake around a bonfire, and looking for a magical fern flower said to bring good luck. During the middle ages, ferns were thought to flower and produce seed on this day only, seeds that were believed to be invisible. If you were lucky enough to find some of these ‘seeds’ you could understand birdsong, find buried treasure and have the strength of forty men. We do know that ferns heal - use the spores to relieve nettle stings, or make a paste from the plant to relieve headache. Find out more about fern folklore, recipes, symbolism and herbalism here and go on your own fern safari.

EVENT AND RECIPE BLANKET ON THE GROUND

Flower pressing is calming, creative, and produces beautiful results. It’s also a fine lesson in patience. This tutorial explores different ways to preserve your blooms, from using books or an iron to using a proper wooden press, as well as instructions in making a botanic print. Find more ideas for things to make with your pressed flowers here, including jewellery, a whimsical flower clock or even a phone cover. Always get permission to pick your flowers and don’t take too many.

WHAT WE’RE EATING Big Comfy Sweet Potatoes Comfort food is different for all of us. For some, it’s a big bowl of macaroni and cheese, for others, it’s ice cream and chocolate sauce. For chef and author, Sarah Britton? Sweet potatoes! Get the recipe here

WHAT WE’RE READING So you’re fed up with living in a little box: “Maybe just by yourself. Maybe with your family. Just being a docile consumer alongside the billions of other docile consumers. And the combined outcome of it all is a wrecked planet. Isn’t there something more to life than this? Couldn’t we have access to many of the best things in life without doing such harm if we were prepared to share more with our neighbours? Perhaps in an intentional community – that’s a community that has come together by intention rather than by chance.” Read more here