Day Out: Free Half Term Event at Reading Museum {Doodle Tree Trail}

It's half-term! Again! Half-terms have a tricky way of sneaking up on you unexpectedly. You're busy taking the kids to school, picking them up, doing homework, and other school things and then it's half-term and you have to plan all these things! I don't know about your children, but my two are now used to a routine and struggle with not being told what to do next.

That means it's up to me to give them suggestions or to take them out! It can be hard to get out and about without spending a lot of money at the movies or indoor play centres. I went looking online at free stuff for kids to do in Reading over the half term and was directed to the museums site.

Now this event was outside, but I thought rain or shine it's a good way to get out of the house for the afternoon. There is only so much baking, crafting, and watching movies parents and children can do!

The event was called the Doodle Tree Trail: discover some extremely special trees in Reading town Centre. It sounded different and interesting so I signed us up!

We started outside of the museum with a fun activity pack that asked us not only about the trees, but included fun facts of the trees or local history!

Trees we saw: 

Hornbeam (carbines betulus)
Judas Tree (circus siliquastrum)
Mulberry (mores nigra)
Maidenhair Tree (ginkgo biloba)
Weeping Willow (sail babylonica)
London Plane (platens xhispanica)
Indian Bean Tree (catalpa bignonioides)

The crew of people who were running the tour were very friendly, informative, and patient with the children... and adults who had questions! My girls seemed to really enjoy it. At 8 and 6 they might not have taken it all in, but they liked walking around the different parts of town we rarely go too and filling out their activity packs along the way.

This tour won't be happening again, unless they get funding, but they will be leaving the activity packs and a map of the tour at the Reading Museum for anyone interested in checking it out! If anything it takes you around the town centre and shows you a bit more then just shops!

I would recommend checking it out if you happen to be in Reading and looking for something a bit different to do! Plus there is so much more to see and explore at the museum as well as hosting other free half-term events!

Find it here:
Reading Museum
The Town Hall
Blagrave Street
Reading
Berkshire
RG1 1QH

notes: all opinions are my own and in no way associated with the Reading Museum - I really enjoy local events and sharing them with my readers, for more information please see my contact/policy page.

Winchester City Mill Apple Baking Day!!

I had a lovely day yesterday! I grabbed one of my best friends and her son and we journeyed to Winchester to visit the Winchester City Mill. They were hosting an Apple Baking Day.

I first heard of it from a very nice lady, on twitter, who is a local baker who bakes for the special events when she can. Her specialty is bread, which is perfect for a mill that grounds their own wholemeal flour. I feel fortunate to have seen her tweet!

I was especially drawn into the event when I read that they would help identify any apple that was brought in. We have an apple tree in our garden, my husband planted when he was a kid, and we have no clue to what type it is. That and they were offering baked treats!

We got there early afternoon and it was quiet, but we were told it was a busy morning and before we left it had filled up again. Right as we walked up and there were apples right in the walkway to sample and buy. As all bag was only 50p and a large respectively £1! We didn't get apples, but pears Beurré Bosc pears to be exact. They were absolutely gorgeous!

Then we went into the mill and were greeted by a stand full of a wide variety of apples! It's here I was told that our tree produces Spartan apples. The gentleman there had several books that he checked in just to be sure, but he called it right away.

We also allowed to taste the apples out for display. Most of them I had never heard of before. Bramshott Rectory was the first variety we tried, it was sweet but crisp and comes from Hampshire. Allington Pippin was another variety that we tried it was crisp as well, but with a sharp tang to it. Both were lovely.

Then as you moved along to the back there was a baking demonstration and you were able to sample all that they made! There were cakes, scones, and bread to eat with apples and cheese. I wish I had paid a bit more attention to what everything was, but it was all very delicious. 

The kids loved going underneath to see the water rushing through and turning the mill. I have found that sometimes at National Trust places, especially small ones like the City Mill, they can be a bit funny about kids. However at the City Mill all the staff engaged with the kids and patiently answered their questions. They were all so lovely to talk with.

The bag you see there was being filled up with freshly ground flour!

Over all it was a good afternoon out and I will be watching the site for other events! I didn't leave with out purchasing a bag of the whole meal flour and I can’t wait to share what I bake with it! I am told I should definitely try the Apple and Marmalade Cake from the recipe card I picked up! There were recipe cards for Winchester City Mill Wholemeal Bread, Soda Bread, Spiced Apple Cake, Cheese Scones, and Fruit Scones. All sound amazing! 

notes: Visit The Winchester City Mill website to find out when the next event is! Also check out the National Trust website for other places to visit and other events!

Part 1 of Apple Week: I plan on posting a week worth of apple bakes! On Friday I will include a linky tool so you can all share your apples bakes! I would love to see them! Check back tomorrow to see what else I've been making with apples!