Autumn is absolutely my favourite time of year. I’m definitely not a fan of the intense heat of summer, so the cooler air in autumn is a distinct relief. I love walking in Wollaton Park and watching the changing leaves as they display a stunning palette of reds, oranges and yellows. Autumn is a time for hearty and comforting foods such as soups and stews, and shorts and t-shirts can be swapped for jumpers and slippers. Autumn is also harvest system, so is a great time to enjoy fresh, seasonal produce, and some people visit farms to try pumpkin picking.
However, once schools are back and normal routines become established, how can we keep our children entertained at weekends?
Below are a few ideas of autumn activities to do with the kids, if you click on the title it will take you to the relevant website.
1. Wollaton Hall and Deer Park
The deer park is so beautiful during autumn; the many different species of trees turning shades of orange and red make for a beautiful place to walk. Kicking through huge piles of leaves is fun no matter what your age. Autumn is the time of year when the deer rut, and exhausted stags can be spotted resting during the day all over the park. However you must keep at least 50m away from any deer.
As it gets closer to Halloween, Wollaton Hall put on a few activities to suit all age ranges; this year’s offerings include an Outdoor Wizard trail, Hidden History tours and an outdoor cinema experience.
2. Green’s Windmill and Science Centre
Enjoy hands-on science exhibits and learn about the history of the windmill. The surrounding gardens are Green Flag award winning, and make for a lovely place to walk.
Green’s Windmill Autumn Fayre is on Sunday 22nd September, and with free entry and a variety of different stalls, is definitely worth a visit.
3. Goose Fair
The Nottingham Goose Fair is an annual travelling funfair held at the Forest Recreation Ground in Nottingham every autumn. The Goose Fair started out as a livestock and trade event back in the 13th century, the name being derived from the thousands of geese driven from the Lincolnshire fens to be sold in Nottingham at the fair each year. In latter years it became known for its fairground rides and attractions.
This year the fair will take place between Friday 27th September to Sunday 6th October.
4. Pumpkin Picking
There is nothing quite like pushing a wheelbarrow around a field and choosing your own pumpkin. There’s a huge variety in sizes, from one that’s almost too big to carry, to the teeniest size that looks far too cute to do anything to. My children all insist on having their own pumpkin to carve for Halloween, and love that they can select the perfect pumpkin for them. If I’m making up a photography set I like to grab some of the green and white squashes to add a bit of variety. But you really don’t need to be a fan of Halloween to enjoy pumpkin picking. Nottinghamshire “Pick Your Own” Pumpkins open their gates in October for pumpkin picking. In recent years they have expanded their repertoire to include strawberries in early summer, and sunflowers later summer.
5. City of Caves Nottingham
Nottingham has the UK’s largest network of caves – over 800 are hidden beneath its streets like a huge rabbit warren. At The City of Caves, you can explore original sandstone caves with actor-led tours. Some of these ancient caves include WW2 air raid shelters and a medieval tannery. This is definitely one to do on a rainy day, but pre-booking is recommended as group sizes are limited due to the confined nature of the site. It also goes without saying that this is not recommended for people who suffer from claustrophobia!
Hopefully these suggestions of child-friendly autumn activities will give you ideas on how to spend this brilliant season. If none of these ideas appeal to you, maybe hunting for conkers and having conker fights with your family and friends is a better option!
0 Comments