On The Cover Money Talk Free days out
SUE’S GUIDE TO Free Summer Days Out With The Kids
School holidays are round the corner and if your grandchildren are staying with you, here are some fun free ways to enjoy the great outdoors…
Visit your local farm. Some have open days where you pay entr y fees with special events, but others let you in free, though donations are welcome. Those with free entr y include Bath City
Farm and Stonebridge City Farm in Nottinghamshire. Check your local area.
Why not take the kids to pick your own fruit and vegetables – no entr y fee, you just pay for what you pick. Find your local one at WWW.PICKYOUROWNFARMS.ORG.UK
Live near the coast? You can visit your local RNLI centre with 238 across the UK and Ireland. The Royal National Lifeboat Institution is an amazing charity, saving lives at sea. I’ve often been inside Cromer Lifeboat Station to find out about its fascinating history, rescues and see the lifeboat close up. Free entry with a shop too, so you can lend your support. RNLI.ORG/ FIND-MY-NEAREST/LIFEBOAT-STATIONS
Enjoy a free nature trail. The Woodland Trust have acres of beautiful woodland with free entry and parking at sites like Heartwood Forest in Hertfordshire with its Magical
Wood trail where you can spot woodland characters. And it’s just a mile and a half so per fect for little legs! WWW.WOODLANDTRUST.ORG.UK
Dobbies Garden Centres’ Little Seedlings Club for 4-10 year olds with free workshops and hopes to restart soon. WWW.DOBBIES.COM Look out for reopening of other free events.
SUE’S TIPS:
◆ Check in advance if places are open, as closures or restrictions may still apply due to coronavirus.
◆ Sign up to mailing lists for the latest news on opening times to help you plan days out. ◆ Pack a picnic to save money on snacks. Stock up on multipacks of juice cartons, or take water bottles on car trips to avoid popping into petrol stations.