Five Things To Do With Your Family This Weekend

MAKE LEAFY LUSHNESS
The slightest rustle of an orange leaf has us covering the table in newspaper and cracking open a bottle of glue. ’Tis the time for autumnal crafts. We’ve gathered some of our all-time favourites here.
Anything that will double up as decoration is a bonus; try leaf doodling, make a spectacular autumn wall mandala or gather up leaves, bendy twigs and acorns, and create a wreath. Find inspiration here or here, or go for the more child-friendly version here (you can use real or paper leaves).
You’ll find more foraged art ideas here. We love the pinecone fairies, leaf crowns and adorable acorn marble necklaces.

EVENT TOP OF THE PIPS
Apple Days have started across the country, and will continue for the next month or so. There are hundreds taking place – search online to find one near you. Try apple archery at Lyveden in Northamptonshire or traditional pressing at Dudmaston in Shropshire Find more National Trust events in London here or across the country here and events in the east of England here.
Many community farms and orchards will also be running apple-themed celebrations – find one near you here or here.

EVENT ROCK IT SCIENCE
IF; Oxford Science + Ideas Festival runs throughout October. Hundreds of researchers distil their knowledge and passion into a huge series of 100 events they describe as ‘playfully serious’. Many take place in Oxford, but some are online and accessible from anywhere. Choose from performances that propel science into art, take a journey across the plant kingdoms of Africa and the Caribbean with a story teller, explore fossils with Mary Anning, or design new inventions using junk. Some events free, some ticketed, some PWYD. Find the programme here.

EVENT ON THE WING
Saturday is this year’s second World Migratory Bird Day, which this year is focussed on light pollution. See it as an invitation to connect and re-connect with nature by actively listening to – and watching birds – wherever they are. Artificial light is increasing globally by at least 2 per cent and is known to adversely affect birds. Find out about measures that might help and what action is being taken here. Why not go for a night-time walk in the countryside and see how dark it really gets, while listening carefully to the birds you can hear and watching closely for any migratory birds leaving our shores or passing through. Find out which birds may be about here and find out how to use your bird spotting to contribute to Citizen Science projects here

RECIPE NUT CASES

Wet walnuts are in season – if you can find a tree near you, you’re in for a treat. As Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall says, the time you spend eating them versus extracting the kernels is about 10:1, but it’s worth it. Sit, crack and munch them together – they’re ‘mild, milky and sweet’ in this form, and best as a stand-alone treat. Dried walnuts make for better cooking ingredients, try them in Hugh’s Walnut and Honey Soda Bread or Walnut and Parsley Pesto or Delia’s Wild Mushroom and Walnut Soup – forage for fresh mushrooms!

WHAT WE’RE READING Addressing your children’s money worries: “Parents often worry about providing the best for their children and protecting them from the realities of adult life, which can occasionally include money concerns. Unfortunately, research also suggests that sometimes, despite their best efforts, children are picking up on their parents’ anxieties. A study by Action for Children¹ found that 30% of children worry about their family having enough money to live comfortably (a figure that rises to 47% of those from low-income backgrounds).” Read more here

WHAT WE’RE EATING Pumpkin muffins, Prue Leith’s carrot cake and perfect gingerbread men. Three recipes to bring a glow to autumn afternoons. Find out more here