tribe magazine oct & nov

ProjectWild ThingA word from the marketing director for Nature, David Bond

PREHISTORIC

CHICKENS Tips on how to keep dinosaurs in your garden

Inspiring families with the world on

their doorstep

Devon issue 1 ❘ O

ct / Nov 2013

Bats, spiders, ghosts and eyeballs

Get spooky with Wild Tribe . . . .if you dare!

PLUS! Reviews ❘ Bush Telegraph ❘ Tribal Gatherings ❘ Trading Post

Perfectly

www.tribemag.co.uk | 3

WelcomeIt seems like a very long time since we put together the first trial issue of Tribe. Since then, we’ve shuffled it around a bit and had a major redesign. I hope you like it.

Our aim is to produce something useful and inspiring for the whole family: young and old. We’ll let you know about some of the more unusual things on your doorstep – like the Herring Festival in Clovelly – the hidden treasures, like the Tilda Rag Doll kit designed by Jane at her studio in Totnes, or just recommend a good book for you to share. Our ideas are meant to be fun and affordable too.

The Wild Tribe section is for you to pass on to your kids. Hopefully it might inspire them to get creative. Or just keep them quiet for a few minutes. We’ve even got fab prizes to exchange for a little of that creativity.

Do let us know about the places you enjoy going to with your children. We’d also love to hear

what you might like to read about in future issues.

Finally, have a bracing autumn, and see how much fun you can have making some of our horrible Halloween food with all the family in half term!

Editorial Zoe Kenyon chief editor

[email protected] Clapp big [email protected]

Cat Douglas graphic designerRyan Thomas illustratorLaura Wella illustrator

ContributorsEllie Michell, Michelle Salter,

David Bond, Zoe Kenyon

AddressTribe Magazine

Forest Lodge Green LaneAxminster

Devon EX13 5TD

Phone 07769 189 017 www.tribemag.co.uk

[email protected]

AdvertisingRichard Clapp07769 189 017

[email protected]

Boring stuff© Tribe magazine is published by One

Tiny Fish Ltd, trading as Tribe magazine.

All rights reserved. Nothing in this

magazine may be published without

written permission. While reasonable

steps are taken to check the accuracy

of content within this publication,

Tribe magazine cannot take any

responsibility for any mistakes

or omissions or the views of our

contributors or advertisers. All views

expressed in Tribe magazine are not

necessarily those of Tribe magazine.

We’d love to hear what you want to read about

CONTENTS Devon issue 1 Oct / Nov 2013

12Dinosaurs in the garden Chickens are great – and they’re the closest you’ll get to a living T. Rex

Tribal gatherings

Bush telegraph

Community

Quick and tasty

Regulars

Features

18Where are the wild things?Not enough children engage with Nature these days

Book and app reviews

Fit & active

Grow for it

Trading post

31363840

061016304 | www.tribemag.co.uk


22 24 26

28

2022242628

Shrunken heads

Bats and spiders

Autumn leaves

Carnivorous plants

Halloween treats

20

20

TRIBALGATHERINGSFor full details of the events listed below and a full run-down of family events around Devon,visit our online events sectionat www.tribemag.co.uk

1 Oct–3 Nov

12 October

19 / 20 OctoberChoctober, Escot House Hunt for clues in glorious Escot with chocolate prizes and a certificate for every child taking part. On arrival, collect your clue sheet from the entrance kiosk and start your hunt! During half term you can make your own chocolate lolly reward for completing the trail.

Exmouth Carnival Fun Day

9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the Strand Gardens, Exmouth. Numerous stalls selling handmade crafts, jewellery, toys, cupcakes and lots more, a bouncy castle, face-painting, balloon modelling, crowning of the Carnival Royalty and live entertainment throughout the day.

Killerton Apple & Cider Weekend

10 a.m. to 5 p.m. A family festival to mark National Apple Day. There will be stalls selling local food and drink, crafts and plants, as well as a hog roast, mummers, Morris dancing, children’s trails, a bumblebee parade, an apple juggler and lots more.

October / November

6 OctoberScooby Doo at the Big Sheep

11 a.m. to 3.30 p.m. The famous great Dane will be taking time out from his adventures in the Mystery Machine and heading to north Devon. He’ll be at the Big Sheep near Bideford to check out the site for all things ghostly in time for their famous Halloween Festival.

27 Oct–5 NovOttery St Mary Carnival

Days of celebration culminating in the world famous event involving men, women and children carrying flaming tar barrels, plus a bonfire and fireworks. Check the website www.otterytarbarrels.co.uk for information on safety as well as the various events.

27–31 OctoberShriek Week at Powderham

At various times throughout the day. Meet Dr Igor Mortis and his creepy friends. Will their spooky experiments go horribly wrong again? Tickets must be booked in advance as places are limited. There’s also a spooky-themed treasure trail for young tricksters.


2 November

15–17 November

17 NovemberMagical Mayhem, Torquay

2.30 p.m. Theo the Mouse and his best friend Wendy are at Babbacombe Theatre for an afternoon of family fun and laughter. Jokes, songs and magic for children aged 2 and above. The show is written by Wink Taylor (writer for both Sooty and Basil Brush).

I Believe in Unicorns, Exeter

Theatre Alibi bring Michael Morpurgo’s book to life at the Phoenix Theatre. Tomas doesn’t like stories until the Unicorn Lady comes to town with her irresistible magic tales. Then disaster strikes and Tomas’s life changes for ever. . . . For 5–11 year olds.

Clovelly Herring Festival

In support of sustainable fishing by traditional methods and to celebrate the ‘Silver Darlings’ of the sea. Herring specialities, cookery demonstrations, shanty singers, street entertainment, stalls and North Devon AONB providing free craft activities.

2 / 3 NovemberHalf-price South Devon Railway

To celebrate the end of the 2013 season, travel the SDR all day at half-price. For the whole weekend! Treat yourselves to a visit to the former Great Western Railway branch line which runs along the stunning valley of the River Dart between Buckfastleigh and Totnes.

30 / 31 OctoberHalloween Party, Darts Farm

5–7.30 p.m. Put on your scariest fancy dress and join the Halloween party in the haunted tepees. Spooky games, apple bobbing, face-painting, creepy cupcake decorating, gruesome treats and a scrumptious supper. Ages 4–12. Prebooking essential.

21 NovemberChristmas Lights, Exeter

The opening of the Christmas market on Cathedral Green starts with a beautiful light parade led by the Cathedral choristers. The parade culminates at Exeter Cathedral to herald the opening of the market and the switching on of the Christmas lights.


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Visits to pre-schools, nurseries & Holiday workshopsChildren’s cooking parties too!

Come and join in the fun and enjoy cooking a range of recipesfrom cookies and muffins to healthy snacks,

main meals and desserts.

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Cool in Cloth, 16 Tuly St, Barnstaple, EX31 1DH. Tel: 01271 324450

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Love Local Food collaborative at Cafeé@36

Storytime with Kevin Cotter and Love Local Food takes place on the last Wednesday of each month. Bring your

under-8s along for a fun storytelling and creativity session, while you relax over a cup of our tasty Origin Coffee and a piece of cake! Pop into Cafe at 36 Cowick Street any time between 2.45-4.15 p.m. Entry is free.

Exeter Face 2 Face

Scheme offers a free one-to-one befriending service for parents discovering their child is disabled. Befrienders provide emotional support to other parents at the time of diagnosis and at times of change or difficulty. If you would like to train to become a Befriender, please call Bel McDonald on 07825 739171 or email [email protected]

Help for more Devon families with young

children following recent government legislation that makes early years funding an entitlement to lower income families with a two-year-old. To qualify, a parent / carer must be receiving one of several eligible benefits. Devon’s Children in Care are also eligible. For more info or to apply online, visit www.devon.gov.uk/disc-2gether

All change at

Cool in Cloth with a new, bigger, brighter shop conveniently located a few doors down from the old shop in Tuly St, Barnstaple. With a dedicated shoe room, Cool in Cloth now stock width fittings for school shoes. Check out their fabulous new website with new brands, including ART children’s shoes, EJ Sikke Lej and a special discount for Tribe readers. Quote Tribe10 to save 10%. www.coolincloth.co.uk

BUSHTELEGRAPH


Autumn brings a feast of family events

to Escot Fungi foraging and chocolate letterboxing trails. Scary fright nights with campfires, toasted marshmallows and ghostly woodland walks. Yurt Village open for a one-night-only Halloween camp. And the cherry on the cake is fabulous FREE ENTRY Christmas Treats weekend to start the festive season with a Santa-sized smile! www.escot-devon.co.uk

Earworms brings child-friendly and very affordable concerts to Exeter Phoenix on the last Sunday of each

month. A whole range of music and performers are planned and we are really thrilled to have already

A worm in your earfeatured the choir Isca Voices and the beatboxer Audible1. Mervyn Bedford – well-known for his successful and popular Musikgarten – is leading the sessions. Expect music and performances in all genres, from beatboxers to harpsichords, and all presented in a family-friendly format.

The next event takes place on 27 October at 2 p.m. and we’re very excited about the line-up. Keep an eye on our blog and follow us on Facebook: we’ll spill the beans and keep you updated!

Illus

trat

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by R

icha

rd J

ones

Send us your press releases in 150 words

or less, together with photographs,

illustrations and logos. Email them

to [email protected]

To find out more, please visit our websitewww.earwormsexeter.blogspot.co.uk


in the garden

Chickens are the greatest domesticated creatures: they’re easy to look after, they provide food, joy – and they’re the closest you’ll get to a living Tyrannosaurus Rex

words Zoe Kenyon photography Richard Rayner

The other day (a rather autumnal one), I gave in to temptation and

clamouring children and bought four new chickens. It seems much longer than three years ago that we were new to this addictive pastime. Since those first chickens, I have been stalked by a fox who seemed to know where I’d be before I did. I have wasted hours trying to

encourage reluctant chickens to go to bed so that I can go out. I have been confused by the odd escapee that has suddenly appeared, nonchalantly strolling past the window towards my innocent vegetable patch. I have had to clean dirty bottoms and rinse out a sour crop with oil – both experiences as revolting as they sound. And then there

was the cockerel who started to attack the children and ended up in a casserole dish. But I don’t want to put you off: keeping chickens is a wholly worthwhile family enterprise, it doesn’t have to be expensive and the pleasures far outweigh the pain. The thrill of discovering a warm brown egg in a nesting box is still as great for me as it is for the children. And of course,

DinOsaurs

there are endless ways to enjoy them: boiled eggs, poached eggs, omelettes, eggy pasta, eggy bread, cakes. . . . We even sell a few boxes to friends and teachers. But you don’t need to keep ten chickens: a couple should provide you with around a dozen eggs a week – plenty for a family of four.

Where to buyI have bought chickens from various places but my favourite place by far has to be Harepathstead Poultry near Exeter. Jill and Paul are welcoming, kind and knowledgeable. Their animals are happy and healthy.

There are lots of things for children to look at while they’re

there: rhea, guineafowl, pigs – even guinea pigs. They have a vast selection of different breeds and are happy to discuss and guide. They also let the children come into the pens and choose their own birds. My children love being able to do this – and involving them from the beginning means they want to carry on being involved.

Which type?There are all sorts of chickens – from tiny, perfect bantams to large, golden Buff Orpingtons. There are speckledy ones and silver ones, white ones, black ones and of course, the old-fashioned brown ones. There are breeds known to be tamer than others; there are those that are more likely to fly. There are wild ones that roost in trees at night – the only problem is trying to find

You get tasty, nutritious eggs every day that the children love collecting

their eggs in the day. There are hens that lay white eggs or blue eggs or green eggs. There are rare breeds and hybrids or you can start off with ex-batteries or ex-‘free range’ – the standard brown type that are cheap and in desperate need of a nice ending to a miserable start in life. This kind arrive without feathers and no idea how to perch or scratch for food. But natural instinct soon kicks in and, before you know it, their feathers grow back and they are grubbing around with the best.


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For information regarding ex battery hens visit the British Hen Welfare Trust www.bhwt.org.uk

PracticalitiesThis is not a comprehensive list, but it covers the basics. Children enjoy helping with most of the ‘chores’ – particularly filling up a feeder, throwing corn and, of course, collecting eggs.1 Chickens need a shelter

safe from predators and the elements. You can buy a run or build your own, but whichever you do, you must make sure it is secure at night and when you are not around: foxes are stealthy adversaries and can open latches, squeeze through the tiniest of holes, leap higher than you think and watch your comings and goings like seasoned thieves.

2 Within that shelter, they will need something to perch on at night and a nesting box (two or three chickens can share one nesting box).

3 They don’t need an enormous outdoor space but they will love being let out into the garden. Shop-bought runs will indicate how many chickens they suit. As long as they have the right amount of room to scratch

about in the sunshine, they will thrive. If you’re lucky enough to have lots of space, then a cockerel can be useful as he keeps an eye on his girls and

makes sure they don’t wander.4 Chickens need fresh water and food

(layers pellets) every day. They love occasional handfuls of mixed corn and kitchen leftovers.

5 They need to be shut in at night if they are free range. My children love helping to do this. We listen to the gentle purring and clucking, and marvel at the instinct of these birds to perch high up, away from harm.

6 Change bedding once a week (unless particularly smelly or dirty, in which case more). The children don’t enjoy this chore so much, but they don’t mind hanging around watching the chickens while I do it – and there are plenty of other jobs for them to get on with, like scrubbing away cobwebs with a brush and filling the feeder.

In return You get tasty, nutritious eggs every day that the children will love collecting.

Your children will learn the basics of animal husbandry.

No more throwing away leftovers: chickens like cooked pasta, rice and veg, among other things.

They will gobble slugs, snails and other pests in your garden.

Their bedding can be composted and chicken manure is a good fertiliser.

It is easy to waste many happy hours watching these feathery dinosaurs strutting around.


has a dedicated team of 45 regional welfare officers who investigate reports of neglect or cruelty to donkeys in the UK.

Some of the world’s poorest communities rely on donkeys, whether it’s to transport food to market or to collect clean water. Often, owners can only afford to give their donkeys basic food, shelter and medical care. The Donkey Sanctuary has bases in India, Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya and Mexico to help these long-suffering animals. They

carers. They provide a variety of educational opportunities for children, from grooming and walking a donkey to learning about the work of vets and animal dentists. School, scout, guide and youth groups can get to know the specially trained

team of donkeys, who have experience of working with children.

Visitors

The Donkey Sanctuary is open

from 9 a.m. till dusk. Admission is free

and there’s no charge for parking. Visitors can spend as much time as they wish meeting the donkeys. There’s also a maze, video room, nature centre, plus donkeys to

adopt. Information and gifts are available from the Visitor Centre. The Hayloft Restaurant offers a selection of drinks and snacks, or visitors are welcome to use the family picnic areas.

T he Donkey Sanctuary became a registered charity

in 1973 with 38 donkeys under its care. Since then, more than 14,500 donkeys have passed through its gates and the Sanctuary is now the world’s largest donkey and mule charity. As well as providing a haven for neglected or unwanted donkeys, the Donkey Sanctuary

support projects in other countries through small grants programmes.

Children love donkeys

One of the aims of the Sanctuary is to inspire the next generation of donkey

Get more info at www.thedonkeysanctuary.org.uk

Get to know the specially

trained team of donkeys

who have experience of working

with children

DONKEYSgalore


Psst...Save the date! 23rd & 24th November

Christmas Treats at Escot. Plus Free Entry For All. Don’t Miss It!

the natural place Escot, Ottery St. Mary, Devon EX11 1LU.01404 822188. www.escot-devon.co.uk

01626 890243 www.powderham.co.uk

Open 28 March - 31 October 2103Sunday to Friday 11.00am to 4.30pm(to 5.30pm from 21 July to 31 Aug). 8 miles from

Exeter on the A379 Dawlish Rd. SAT NAV: EX6 8JE

Deer Rut Safari & Cream Tea until 22 October

I’m a father of two. Like any parent, I worry about my brood, aged 3 and 5. Do they get enough vitamin C? Is their childhood happy?

Recently I realised that the thing they love most is the consumption of TV, iPad or

any screen activity. They love it more than hanging out with me, and more than chocolate cake, the zoo, parties. . . .

Yet when I do manage to force my little treasures outside, I see a change in them almost immediately.

Their eyes focus away from the dreaded 30cm zone that screens occupy, and – literally – they broaden their horizons. They become engrossed in the world around them. They relax, become less intense. Nature, in its infinitely

Where are the

WILD THINGS?

Not enough children

engage with the outdoors

these days. David Bond

has appointed himself

Marketing Director

of Nature in a bid to change that


resolute glory, from the exquisite down of dewy lichen to the Armageddon of a proper storm, lifts them up where they belong, to quote Joe Cocker.

So I decided to make a documentary, Project Wild Thing. I wanted to find some answers. But first, what were the questions? I’ve settled on these: Is nature really good for you? How? In a blind choice, why don’t children love nature as much as telly? Yet when they get dumped in it, why are they so happy?

constantly marketed. Marketing seemed the

best way to get kids to love the outdoors as much as cartoons and apps.

So I appointed myself Marketing Director for Nature and launched a nationwide campaign. I learnt a lot about selling things. But it soon became clear that I didn’t have the resources to compete with the big brands. I had to resort to guerrilla tactics.

I’ve met some fascinating people along the way: Agnes Nairn, whose Unicef report ranked British children as among the least happy in the developed world; Jaak Panksepp, a neuroscientist who discovered that rats laugh when tickled; Baroness Susan Greenfield and loads more. They all brought great insights and changed the direction of my mission.

I discovered that nature is scientifically proven to be good for you, that parents

have a massive part to play in ensuring their children play outdoors and that there will be serious consequences if we fail to change the current situation.

I want the film to achieve something, and not just be a list of frightening facts about the state of childhood. So we have formed a coalition of interested organisations, including the National Trust, the RSPB, the NHS Sustainable Development Unit, Channel 4, Britdoc, Play England and many more. We are called the Wild Network and, to coincide with the film’s release, we are launching a major campaign to

get children outdoors. We want to bring similar campaigns under the same umbrella. We want to lobby

politicians and communities to open up the outdoors. Project Wild Thing and the Wild Network are the start of something big. Spread the word!

Nature is

scientifically

proven to be

good for you

Initially all I wanted was to see what would happen if my children went outside more. I quickly realised the only way to do that was to get them to love it – I mean really love it. I looked at the competition: mostly shiny but, more importantly,

Project Wild Thing is out on 25 October. Join the movement at www.projectwildthing.com

and find out where you can see the film in Devon.



Email photos of your shrunken apple

heads to [email protected] – or

post them to us (address on page 3)

best one wins a prize!

MAKE



1 potato peeler

1 blunt knife 1 pencil 1 juicy lemon (or more if possible)

1 dessertspoon salt 1 stick

dry rice, beans, beads, seeds, cloves, etc. for eyes and teeth; cotton wool for hair

you will need

Shrunken apple heads!

1 apple – nice and round and unbruised

1. Peel the apple.

2. Mark features with the pencil. Eyes and nose are the most important, but you can do a mouth, ears, cheeks and eyebrows too.

3. Start carving: make sure features are carved deep and large – the more pronounced, the better they will turn out. Ask an adult for help if you need to.

4. When finished, push the stick into the bottom of the apple.

5. Mix the lemon juice & salt in a bowl and sloosh

the carved apple in it for 30 seconds at least – make sure the mixture goes all over (we used a spoon to pour it on): it stops the apple going brown.

6. Put the stick in a vase or something that will keep it upright and place somewhere warm and dry.

7. Keep an eye on it – your face will shrivel day by day.

8. After a couple of weeks the face will be ready to decorate. Use dried beans or cloves for gimlet eyes and grains of rice for jagged teeth.

Tip: Use cotton wool for hair – or even more ghoulish, use your own hair from the hairbrush.



Fact Bats can be found in almost every habitat throughout the world apart from the Arctic and Antarctic, where it’s freezing. Can you blame them?

BatsBats are amazing: they are the only mammals that can fly and that sleep upside down. Bats are nocturnal and you will probably only glimpse one as it swoops and flits past on silent wings in the dark. If you are lucky enough to get close to one, you will see they have soft, furry bodies and incredible, delicate wings like folding umbrellas. They have very sensitive hearing and avoid bumping into things by listening to echoes bouncing off objects around them. The best times to see them are at dusk and dawn – at this time of year you might be lucky to catch them before you go to bed and before they start their long winter sleep.

LEARN



Chances are you’ve already seen a spider today, but which sort? There are more than 600 different types in the UK. All spiders have

eight legs but some have long ones, others short ones. There are spiders with big bodies and ones with small bodies; there are hairy spiders and brightly coloured spiders. Spiders make silk, which they use to build webs for catching food like flies in, but also for other things, like wrapping up prey or forming a shelter. Have a look around your house: there is bound to be a web somewhere. Outside, webs glitter and shimmer on frosty or dewy mornings.

Spiders


Fact Most people associate spiders with webs, but some spiders don’t construct webs at all. Jumping spiders, which have remarkably good eyesight and move quickly, have no need for webs. They simply pounce on their prey!


Colour in the leaves on the page

opposite. Email your creation to

[email protected] – or post

it to us (address on page 3)

best one wins a prize!

Autumn leaves

It is very likely that at least one of them will be from one of our native trees:

1 Common oak2 Horse-chestnut3 Beech4 Ash

Look around and see if you can work out which trees your leaves came from. It is amazing how far leaves can fly in the wind.

PLAY


Ask a grown-up if you can rake up some leaves in the garden – or go to the park and push as many as you can into a pile. Make it as high as you can. Now walk away. Turn round. Run and jump into it! Throw the leaves

up into the air and see how they fly and where they fall. Choose one or two and study them carefully. Look at all the different autumn colours. Do any of them match the leaves on the opposite page?


3

4

1

2



A day in the life of a Venus flytrapWhen you think of carnivores, I bet a picture of a big fierce lion pops into your head. Well, I’m here to tell you that lions and maggots and humans aren’t the only things that eat meat. Some of us plants like chomping on the odd bit of creature too. Take me. I’m a Venus flytrap. I like nothing better than chewing on a juicy fly or spider. I’m very clever. I tempt them in with my brightly coloured, sweet-smelling traps. Those silly insects come creeping

over, thinking I’m a lovely flower. I wait for them to tickle my special trigger hairs. It takes more than just one tickle. I don’t want to waste my energy on something unless I know it’s going to be tasty. Once I’m sure it’s a nice plump insect nosing around in there – snap! – I close my trap and there’s no escape. I dissolve my food with special digestive juices a bit like the ones in your tummy. Then I’m ready to do it all again. Yum yum!

GROW

Facts Venus flytraps have been known to catch and digest small frogs

It takes about 10 days for a trap to digest its insect and reopen

Each trap can only work about four times – then it turns brown and falls off

Venus flytraps go to sleep in the winter



Venus flytraps are protected where they grow wild as there are very few of them left. They are found natively in only two places in the whole world: North and South Carolina on the east coast of the United States.



HUNGRYHAL’S

HORRIBLE HALLOWEEN

Dead man’s fingers

Take some sliced ham or chicken. Roll up.

Stick a flaked almond on the end. Ooh!

EyeballsUse peeled hard-boiled eggs sliced in half. Make the whites looks bloodshot by drawing on them with either red food colouring or ketchup (a toothpick is good for this). Top it off with a large raisin for the pupil. Eurgh!



Ghostly bananasTake a banana. Cut it in half. Stick a lollipop stick in the cut end so the head of the ghost will be pointy. Wrap in clingfilm and freeze for about 3 hours. Melt some white chocolate in a bowl. Dip the frozen banana in (or spread it on with a rounded knife). Eat any bits that drip off. Add Smarties or chocolate buttons for eyes. A raisin or a large chocolate button for a mouth. Put back in the freezer until ready to eat. Eek!

Witchety ice screamA large scoop of mint ice cream

on the plate. A cone on top for a hat. Some Smarties for eyes and a nose. Liquorice or strawberry laces for hair and mouth. Argh!


An autumnal treat that children are guaranteed to love:

toffee applesYou will need a sugar thermometer and - be warned! - the sugar will get very hot so keep small children away from the pan. They can enjoy eating them instead!

MethodI If you’ve chosen a waxy

variety of apple, wash them in a large bowl of just-boiled water (this removes the wax and helps the toffee stick). Dry thoroughly, twist off the stalks and insert a wooden skewer or lolly stick into the stalk-end of each one.

II Put the sugar in a pan with 100ml water over a medium heat. Heat until the sugar dissolves and then add the vinegar and golden syrup.

III Boil to 140°C (hard crack stage – easiest with a sugar thermometer but if you haven’t got one, drip some toffee into cold water. It should go hard and be brittle, not squishy when you take it out).

IV Dip each apple in the hot toffee, twisting until covered. Roll in the hundreds and thousands (if using) and then place on the baking parchment. Try to work as quickly as possible – if the toffee starts to harden in the pan before you’ve finished, heat it up a bit.

V Allow to cool and harden before eating!

INGREDIENTS8 apples400g golden caster sugar4 tbsp golden syrup1 tsp vinegarBaking parchmentHundreds and thousands (optional)

QUICK& TASTY


The Kiss That Missed by David Melling, Hodder Children’s Books £5.99If you haven’t read this picture book to your children yet – go out and get yourself a copy now! It’s a charming, funny story that’s beautifully illustrated. A busy king, a hapless knight, dribbly wolves, swooping owls and a dragon that simply wants a goodnight kiss – it’s a perfect bedtime story for boys and girls – with much to appeal to adults too.

The Grunts in Trouble • by Philip Ardagh, illustrated by Axel Scheffler, Nosy Crow £7.99Ideal for slightly older children to read to themselves (recommended 7+) as there are lovely pictures by Axel Scheffler (The Gruffalo, etc.) on most pages. A quirky story packed with weird and wonderful characters, including the rather revolting Mr and Mrs Grunt, the son they stole from a washing line and their caravan pulled by donkeys Clip and Clop. There’s a crumbling manor with eccentric servants, a man who lives in giant tomato, a grumpy old lady, an elephant, and much more. A rollicking yarn full of mischief.

Bardowl • by Bardowl Ltd, iTunes Free for 7 days and then £9.99 a monthBardowl is a great idea – a kind of Spotify for audiobooks, with unlimited access to their library for a monthly fee. There are masses of decent children’s and adults’ books, so it would be hours before you ran out of things to listen to. The only problem for me is that you can’t download a full book at a time (you can download three hours’ worth), so you need to have internet connection or a decent mobile signal. Since I am often out of range or in an area with poor signal, this could

be frustrating – but I am probably a rarity! I recommend the week’s free trial to see how you get on – you have nothing to lose and my children loved it.

BOOK + APP Reviews


• Fun, friendly educationalchildren's club

• Sedation & Relaxation• Cosmetic Dentistry• Tooth Whitening• Smile Makeovers• • Facial Rejuvenation

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HAPPY PEOPLE

With Halloween just around the corner, now

might be a good time to check those fangs.

Here’s how to keep your children’s teeth happy

and healthy.

BRUSH YOUR TEETH FOR 2 MINUTES TWICE A DAY

✔ Use a small brush for a small mouth – most children are using too big a brush to clean well.

✔ Use a fluoride toothpaste: it’s the fluoride that hardens enamel coating, making it much less likely to decay.

✔ Use a pea-sized amount of toothpaste and SPIT OUT the excess after brushing. DO NOT RINSE: rinsing washes active ingredients like fluoride off teeth.

✔ Make brushing fun: e.g. brush to their favourite song.

CUT DOWN ON SUGARY DRINKS & SNACKS

✔ Every time you have a sweet drink or snack, acid starts to rot your teeth. It takes about 20 minutes for this acid attack to be neutralised by your saliva and stop some of the damage.

✔ If we have frequent sugar intake, cavities appear, no matter how much we brush our teeth.

✔ The best drinks between meals

are milk or water. Keep fruit juices unsweetened and squashes sugar-free – and try to limit to mealtimes.

✔ Fizzy drinks (even diet ones) are acidic and damaging to teeth – limit them to special occasions.

✔ Dried fruits, such as raisins, contain as much sugar as regular sweets. Try and stick to fresh fruit or savoury snacks (breadsticks, cheese, nuts, raw vegetable sticks and dips, hummus, plain popcorn).

✔ Shop-bought smoothies are often sweetened with apple juice and are acidic. Keep them as a treat!

VISIT YOUR DENTIST & HYGIENIST REGULARLY

✔ Get your child used to dental visits: take them with you from 6 months old. Ask your dentist to have a quick look at them on your knee at first.

✔ Read a storybook (such as Peppa Pig’s Dentist Trip) before a first visit.

✔ Be upbeat about going to the dentist so your child picks up positive vibes.

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Smiley,



coming in our next issue!


Family holidays have such a lot to live up to. The

two weeks that you’ve all been counting down the days to: that date circled on the kitchen calendar, the time when you can escape from the disjointed breakfasts, the stressful school run, dashing between dance class and football club, the supermarket and, of course, work.

We look forward to lazy meals together, the sound of happy children playing outdoors, picnics, evening barbecues on the beach; in short, how we dreamed family life would be before the clutter and grind of everyday life got in the way. But in reality holidays don’t often live up to our expectations.

Hours of travelling result in tantrums, tears and exhaustion. Not the best start to your precious time away.

The obvious answer is a stress free holiday on your doorstep, where the whole emphasis is on enjoying the simple pleasures of life: outdoors in the fresh air, eating good food and having fun. But when faced with a sea of choice, how do you choose what’s right for you?

Flip Flops and Wellies is our guide to simple, fun-filled, family holidays in the South West. It’s a collection of exceptional outdoor family holiday ideas, including self-catering holiday cottages, camping, glamping and B&Bs, and also featuring

nearby fun days out, family-friendly beaches, great places to shop locally and even things to do in the area when it rains! We want to inspire you and your family to enjoy what’s right on your doorstep in the South West, while providing you with an easy and straightforward guide to help choose the holiday that’s right for you.

Choose the right holiday and you’ll return home feeling rested. Your children will have met new friends, discovered rock pools and built dens. You will have some treasured memories to look back on and wonder, ‘Why did we ever go further than the South West for our family holiday?’

The South West:why go anywhere else?

cottagesglampingcamping

The popularity of indoor rock climbing has risen steadily since the first artificial wall was built in 1964.

Indoor climbing is ideal for children, giving them a safe experience of rock climbing before tackling more unpredictable outside terrain. Being indoors also means you don’t have to contend with the British weather, so you can go when it’s dark after school or when it’s pouring with rain.

Artificial walls and rocks are constructed to replicate mountains and cliff faces with specially structured holds for hands and feet, and places to attach climbing ropes. Indoor climbing is becoming a very popular activity, so booking ahead is always advisable.

The ascent

activeFIT+

Local Indoor Rock Climbing Centres

Dart Rock Climbing Centre, Buckfastleigh

www.dartrock.co.uk

Tel: 01364 644499The Barn Climbing Centre,

Tavistockwww.barnclimbingwall.co.uk

Tel: 01822 870521Quay Climbing Centre, Exeter

www.quayclimbingcentre.co.uk

Email: [email protected]

rock climbing

of indoor


Why climb indoors?

Indoor rock climbing gives your body a complete workout as it demands muscular endurance and flexibility. Easier routes promote coordination and agility; harder routes demand more physical strength. Children of all ages should find a course to suit them. The sense of achievement is great for self-confidence.

What to wear

Clothes need to be close-fitting so they

don’t get in the way, but stretchy enough to allow freedom of movement. Safety equipment is a must, so choose clothes that

will be comfortable under a harness.

Most centres hire out climbing shoes so you can experience indoor climbing before you decide whether to invest in a pair of your own.

Expense

Prices vary. Single sessions are approximately £6-10. Often climbing centres will offer discounts for group bookings of 4+.

Age

Children over the age of 4 up to any age.

Many centres have smaller climbing walls for children and run sessions to improve basic movement skills.

What it also offers

Aside from the physical benefits, indoor rock climbing has been shown to develop mental application and improve concentration. Strategies and focus are needed to overcome obstacles. It’s also an ideal way of establishing trust and building confidence in a group.

Working as a team, climbers need to learn how to rely on each other in order to reach the summit. Youth groups are increasingly turning to indoor rock climbing as a team-building exercise to promote trust and camaraderie. They’re also great places to have a birthday party.


Apples come in many forms and, as well as being delicious, they are also very healthy. The adage

‘an apple a day keeps the doctor away’ is worth adhering to: each apple contains 10 per cent of your RDA of vitamin C and smaller quantities of vitamins A, B, E and K, folate, dietary fibre and essential minerals.

An apple tree makes a beautiful addition to any garden – even the smallest. In spring the fragrant blossom bobs gently in the breeze and our children love looking out for the baby apples appearing on the branches. During the summer they watch the fruit turning red in the sunshine and in autumn they help clear away the windfalls and together we harvest the apples.

Our small orchard of apple, pear and plum trees was planted only four years ago and already we have had some good harvests, resulting in gluts of fruit which were turned into jams, jellies and compotes. Varieties that we have found to grow well in our sheltered

Cornish garden are Bramley, Cornish Aromatic and Cox’s Orange Pippin. .

You can grow apple trees in the ground or in containers and, other than some winter pruning, they need very little care. The hardest part of growing them

is choosing your tree as only a few varieties are self-pollinating.

You need either to buy two trees (ask your garden centre for advice on

pollination groups) or a ‘family tree’, which has more than one variety grafted on to the trunk. These are available with a combination of eating and cooking apples so are ideal for a small garden.

Words by Ellie Michell

red, green or golden but always

delicious

GR W for it


An apple makes the perfect snack for a school bag or a picnic: there’s no need to wrap it or cut it up. It does become a bit tricky to bite into one when you enter the realms of wobbly and missing teeth, so we have invested in a handy gadget that cores and slices in one easy move.

As much as we enjoy munching on apples, there is more fun to be had when it comes to apple bobbing. If you’ve never tried this with your children, be prepared for lots of giggles and have a towel handy. Traditionally played at Halloween, it is also great for birthday parties: place several apples in a bucket of water and take turns

until light and fluffy.• Melt the butter, add the

milk and pour on to the eggs and sugar, whisking continuously.

• Fold in the flour, cinnamon and baking powder.

• Pour mixture into the prepared tin and arrange the apple slices on the batter.

• Bake for 15 minutes at 200°C then turn the oven down to 180°C.

• Meanwhile make the topping: melt the butter and add the sugar and almonds.

• Remove the cake from the oven and sprinkle with the topping.

• Return to the oven for a further 30 minutes.

• Dust with icing sugar to serve.

to try to catch one using your teeth – hands are not allowed! Alternatively, you can hang the apples on strings in a doorway.

Apple cakeINGREDIENTS:2 large eggs175g vanilla sugar85g unsalted butter75ml milk125g plain flour1/2 tsp ground cinnamon2 tsp baking powder2 cooking apples, peeled and thinly sliced

FOR THE TOPPING:25g salted butter25g light muscovado sugar50g flaked almonds

• Heat oven to 200°C and line a 20cm square tin.

• Whisk eggs and sugar

Read more by Ellie and be inspired by Cornwall at www.barefootcornwall.com


Groovy ideas for groovy children

Pocket KaleidoscopeThese wooden viewers create a magical kaleidoscope image of anything you look at, just like seeing the world through the eyes of a fly! £3 www.barefootkitchen.com

Any-name-osaurus!A unique, personalised baby playsuit with your chosen child’s name: £20. T-shirts also available. www.sgtsmith.com

1Plus PlusAn addictive Danish construction toy (yes, they did Lego too!) that appeals to all ages. www.toyella.com 3

Tilda Rag Doll KitMake this wonderful 16 inch playful doll. Designed by Jane Foster in her studio at home in Totnes, Devon. www.janefoster.co.uk

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Reiki is a gentle and effective system of energy work that activates the body’s own natural ability to heal

itself. As a natural healing system, Reiki can benefit everyone - and not just adults: it can be extremely effective with children and young babies.

Reiki sessions can reduce stress within the body on an emotional and a physical level. Sessions can be a very relaxing experience for children, with some of the benefits being immediate. Many common ailments, sleep and behavioural issues, teething and long-term effects of birth trauma are known to have been helped through Reiki as it produces a feeling of total wellbeing, which can also have a positive effect on the immune system.

As well as being used as an effective

Reikicomplementary therapy, Reiki can be taught to children. By raising awareness and acceptance of a child’s spiritual growth, as well as their mental and physical maturing, it can provide them with an invaluable tool for development. It is said that children who have learnt Reiki at an early age have been able to adapt to change and the possible difficulties of growing up – not just difficulties within themselves but, in many cases, where external problems such as bullying, learning difficulties and family breakups have been experienced.

In providing a tool to allow the youth of today to channel some of their energy and to explore alternative views, Reiki promotes more rounded and well-equipped individuals for the future.

words Sam Goddard

Providing the opportunity for children to learn and use Reiki in their lives and

as an integral part of their growth.

Also offering Pre & Post NatalTreatments, Courses & Workshops

for Mum, Dad, Baby & Child

Working with Reiki, Massage, Stress Working with Reiki, Massage, Stress Management & Mindfulness

www.reikirascals.comwww.facebook.com/reikirascalswww.twitter.com/reikirascals

tel: 07870 167701

Based in the Exeter Natural Health Centre

Reiki RascalsA happy me ... a happy family

Baby Massage5 week courses held at the Exeter

Natural Health Centre

Please call or email for furtherdetails on dates, availability & cost.

07870 [email protected]

[email protected]

Baby YogaDrop in classes held at the Exeter

Natural Health Centre

Please call or email for furtherdetails on dates, availability & cost.

07870 [email protected]

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Time for a new job?

Check out the variety of jobs on www.hours4work.com today!

We’re a new local website and we’re listing more and more jobs - any time, part time, full time and all local!

Alternatively, if you are a local employer and need someone to fill a role, fill a gap or just fulfil some project work – you can post your job on www.hours4work.com(it’s f(it’s free for now) or you can email us [email protected]

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COMPETITION: See yourchild on the cover of tribemagazine’s Christmas issue.For details see our websitewww.raynerkids.co.uk

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