Half-term family adventures with the National Trust

Go on a real family adventure this Whitsun half-term with the National Trust in Pembrokeshire. From wild camping and bushcraft to climbing and kayaking, explore the great outdoors and get closer to nature at our special places.

Join the camp out at Southwood Farm and be one of the first to wild camp on the country estate.

Led by Trust rangers, you’ll get to enjoy wildlife walks after-dark and spend the night under the stars (June 1 and 2, from 7 pm to 12 noon, at £10 per person).

Then be like Bear Grylls and take on a survival session at Colby Woodland Garden where you’ll learn bushcraft basics, including shelter building, fire lighting and campfire cooking (June 2, 11 am to 1 pm and 2 to 4 pm, £5 per child).

The fun continues at Stackpole Quay where you can take the plunge with guided coasteering and kayaking sessions and see the coastline from a very different angle (May 28 to June 5, 9.30 am to 4.30 pm, from £38 per child and £45 per adult).

Or if you’ve got a head for heights, try Stackpole’s climbing challenge and scale the quarry walls with expert guides (May 31, 11 am to 3 pm, £5 per person).

Other half-term highlights include a bank holiday arts and craft fayre at Colby Woodland Garden (May 29 and 30, 10 am to 4 pm, normal admission charges apply) and Tudor traditions at the Tudor Merchant’s House (May 28 to June 5, 11 am to 5 pm, normal admission charges apply).

You can find out more about the exciting half-term events programme and special places at nationaltrust.org.uk/pembrokeshire

Heatherton’s new giant pillow pads - a first for Wales!

Heatherton World of Activities is a magical place, with a range of fantastic and fun activities for all ages.

With lots of activities, all on one site that range from go-karting, golf and high ropes to archery, paintball and water zorbing - it makes for the perfect family day out.

A mixture of family-fun, kids adventure, adrenaline and relaxing activities will keep the whole family entertained this Whitsun.

New for Whitsun - we have introduced giant inflatable pillow pads. Fun for all ages, you can bounce, roll, jump and play on this hilarious inflatable attraction. The new attraction is open from tomorrow (Saturday).

A range of facilities are available on site, including a restaurant, coffee shop, BBQ and Craft Shack Café, offering a variety of hot meals, snacks, cakes and coffees.

All activities are manned by our trained and friendly staff, who are on hand to provide helpful tips and tuition. The park is ‘free admission’ and ‘dog friendly’, so no member of the family has to be left at home.

Try something new at Heatherton World of Activities - fun for the whole family.

For more information, please contact us on 01646 652000 or via email [email protected]

Music, family theatre and comedy in Pembrokeshire this half-term!

Span Arts has a fantastic programme of events to keep everyone entertained this half-term holiday, including sci-fi folk band Maia, family theatre Flossy and Boo’s Curiosity Shop, and comedy legend, Lee Nelson.

Span Arts is thrilled to welcome inventors of sci-fi folk Maia to the Queen’s Hall, Narberth, tomorrow (Saturday).

Delivering a genre-busting mix of sweet stunning vocal harmonies punctuated by echoing banjo, guitar, shimmering mandolins, spooky brass and keyboards, Maia are embarking on their first European tour in 2016, taking in the Netherlands, France, Spain, Germany and the UK.

Maia will be supported by up and coming local country/pop singer-songwriter Rosey Cale. Rosey is currently preparing for the release of her debut EP, ‘Creating Images’. Featuring songs from heartbreak and tackling body image, to one of her most requested songs ‘OAP’ which sheds light on the perks of becoming an old age pensioner.

Looking for something different to do with the children or grandchildren this half-term, then enter the mind-boggling world of Flossy and Boo’s fantastical, mystical, tremendous, stupendous Curiosity Shop. Span Arts welcomes critically acclaimed South Wales-based theatre company performers, Anja and Laura, to the Queen’s Hall, Narberth, on Thursday, June 2, followed by a free workshop for big and little people.

Flossy and Boo have decided to run away from the circus to set up their own travelling curiosity shop, traversing the globe and collecting stories, songs and trinkets for their little cart. Flossy’s hobbies include twirling, collecting shiny things, allowing small (clean) birds to nest in her curls and bossing Boo about. Boo loves bubbles and custard. But not together, just mostly. “These wonderful clever ladies are inventive, original and hilarious” - Julie Barclay, actor and drector.

Finishing off the week is renowned funny man, Lee Nelson, who will present his new stand-up show, Lee Nelson: Suited and Booted on Friday, June 3, at De Valence Pavilion, Tenby.

Lee Nelson is the chavvy alter ego of comedian Simon Brodkin, known by many for his own character sketch show for BBC Three ‘Lee Nelson’s Well Good Show’. Lee Nelson is well known for his high risk and high profile public pranks. Most notably, last year he invaded a FIFA press conference in Zurich and threw piles of real money over controversial FIFA president, Sepp Blatter. Nelson then went on to invade the stage with Kanye West at his headlining set at Glastonbury 2015!

Described as a ‘Comedy Legend’, Nelson’s Suited and Booted tour is ‘never less than ingenious… a seamlessly entertaining touring show’.

Catch Nelson at his absolute best, live and unleashed this holiday in Tenby. Parental guidance advised.

Tickets for all these events are available from the Span Arts Box Office on 01834 869323 or at spanarts.org.uk

Get out and about for National Park family fun this half-term

With warrior training, wild art workshops and the chance to delve into history, there’ll be plenty to keep you and your family entertained in the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park this half term.

The Park Authority’s visitor attractions at Carew Castle and Tidal Mill, Castell Henllys Iron Age Village and Oriel y Parc Gallery and Visitor Centre have packed activity programmes and there’s a host of events to choose from out and about around the National Park too.

At Carew Castle, the fun includes Medieval Mayhem - a chance to join medieval re-enactment group Bowlore for sword fighting and archery from Sunday to Tuesday, May 29 to 31. The encampment is included in the admission fee, with a small charge for have-a-go archery.

For creative creatures there’s a Wild Art Workshop on Wednesday, June 1, where you can get messy using natural materials to create a masterpiece, from 10.30 to 11.30 am. It costs £2 per child (ages four-plus), and booking is advisable on 01646 651782.

You can also discover more about the castle’s hidden history in The Big Dig on Friday, June 3, from 2.30 to 4 pm. Dig for finds like a real archaeologist and learn to make marvellous medieval mouthwash. The event is £3 per child (ages five-plus), and again booking is advisable on 01646 651782.

At Castell Henllys the entertainment begins with the chance to learn the skills and art of Iron Age warfare in Tribal Warriors on Monday, May 30, and Wednesday, June 1, from 11 am to 4 pm, £1 per activity.

Then on Dragon Day, Tuesday, May 31, you can make a mini dragon from clay and help to build a magnificent dragon to parade around the village, from 11 am - 4 pm (parade at 3.30 pm), £2 per person.

You can settle around the round house fire to be regaled with Tales of Adventure or become the hero or heroine of an ancient tale in Age of Adventure, both on Thursday, June 2. Find out more at www.castellhenllys.com or call 01239 891319.

While at Oriel y Parc you can join in Dewi’s Quest, a family fun trail along the old walkways of St. Davids, looking for clues to its history left by Vikings, pilgrims and saints, from 10.30 am - 12 noon on Thursday, June 2. Booking is essential, call 01437 720392.

There’s a chance to enjoy a free tour of the source of the Stonehenge bluestones in the Preseli Hills, with Dr. Richard Bevins on Thursday, June 2. Booking is essential on 01437 720392. It’s followed by an evening talk at Oriel y Parc by archaeologist Professor Mike Parker Pearson at 6 pm. Tickets (available separately) are £5 per person.

Or youngsters can get creative during a Colour with Constable art workshop on Saturday, June 4, £2 per child. Taking inspiration from John Constable’s famous paintings in the current Oriel y Parc gallery exhibition, they’ll create their own artistic masterpiece.

Plus, there are many more events taking place out and about around the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park; from a Get Crafty crafts workshop at Tenby National Park Centre on Thursday, June 2, to a Brilliant Bats walk at Little Haven on Wednesday, June 1, or a Bug Safari at Lamphey Bishop’s Palace on Friday, June 3.

Chip Van at New Hedges

Rob’s Chippy at the Priory Farm Shop, New Hedges bypass, is opening this Sunday and throughout Whitsun, from 1 pm to 10 pm.

Beads, Buttons and Bric-a-Brac

Not just a bead shop - call in and browse among our wide variety of gifts such as ornamental fans, beaded jewellery boxes, name bracelets, children’s Disney charms, pendants, bracelets and shoe charms, mood and knuckle rings, men’s bracelets, ankle and charm bracelets - plus a large variety of craft buttons.

Children and adults are welcome to make simple bracelets, key rings, bookmarks or clip-ons, which can also be personalised using alphabet beads. It doesn’t take long and often costs less than £1.

If you have broken jewellery, we can carry out instant repairs at a very low cost. We also give on-the-spot advice and tuition to would-be beaders.

Beading can be enjoyed at different levels from a very young age, and we offer jewellery-making parties held in your own home to suit children of all ages.

Loom band kits are now in stock again - by popular demand!