Steph Smith, who manages the Hale, Altrincham and Sale area for Mums in the Know, chooses five great things to do with the kids over the next week.
1. Meet other mums and dads to be at Juice (Saturday September 20th)
This Saturday morning, Juice Nursery in the heart of Altrincham is hosting an event especially for expectant parents. This FREE event will be offering practical post-natal advice and top tips for ‘life after birth’! There will be an opportunity to mingle with other local parents-to-be as well as presentations on a range of topics from companies including Bumps & Bashes, Krammzorg UK, Baby Calm, Sale Sling Library, Cheadle Osteopathy, Altrincham Physio, The Pudding Club, One to One Midwives and Picture it Big. There will also be a chance to win a fabulous Baby Shower Hamper in a charity raffle, raising funds for Wythenshawe Hospital’s Neo Natal Unit. Places at this event are limited so be sure to register with sarah@juicenursery.com to reserve your place.
Life After Birth, Juice Nursery, The Old Town Hall, 20 Market St, Altrincham, WA14 1PF. Open between 10am and 12.30pm.
2. Grab a bargain at the Nearly New Sale (Sunday September 21st)
This popular sale is a perfect opportunity for anyone with babies or young children. Items on sale are all ‘pre-loved’ but are usually in very good condition so it’s a great place to snap up a bargain. The themed table top stalls include prams, cots, Moses baskets, high chairs, car seats, toys and clothes. A great place to pick up spare items, perhaps for a grandparent’s house.
Baby Nearly New Sale, Altrincham Leisure Centre, Oakfield Road, Altrincham, WA15 8EW. Open between 10am and 12 noon.
3. Make the most of our Indian Summer at Dunham
September is the ideal time for a refreshing walk in Dunham’s park, especially with the Indian Summer we are currently enjoying! The park itself is perfect scooting and bike riding territory and there will be ample opportunities to catch a glimpse of the fallow deer. To mark the centenary of the First World War, Dunham Massey has turned the clock back and transformed the Georgian house to Stamford Hospital, the military hospital which became a sanctuary from the trenches for almost 300 soldiers.
Discover what life was like for the patients and how the war changed everything for those who lived and worked at Dunham. Spend time in the ward, recreation room and operating theatre as you experience the Stamford Hospital as it once was. The Stamford Hospital is open Saturday to Wednesday until November 11th (it will also be open in 2015). There’s a system of timed tickets so it’s best to get there early to ensure entry.
Dunham Massey, Altrincham, WA24 4SJ.
4. Enjoy a little stroll – and The Little Deli!
Sunday mornings are made for a play in the park and Stamford Park, bordering Hale and Altrincham, is a great choice (not least because The Little Deli Company is just a stone’s throw across the road!). The playgrounds cater for both little ones and older children so it’s a good place to let them run off a bit of energy. There’s also a dedicated area for scooting, skateboarding and rollerblading as well as plenty of sporting facilities for football, tennis, basketball – and even lawn bowls! When the kids are suitably worn out and have worked up an appetite, you can pop over the road to enjoy a guilt-free coffee and a pastry and perhaps a quick glance at the Sunday papers.
Stamford Park, Hale, and The Little Deli Company, 42 Stamford Park Rd, Hale, WA15 9EP.
And if you want to venture a little further afield…
5. Don your capes for Superhero Weekend (Saturday September 20th and Sunday September 21st)
If you are planning a day trip over the weekend, we can highly recommend Eureka!, the Children’s Museum, in Halifax, less than an hour’s drive from Altrincham. Eureka! has hundreds of interactive, hands-on exhibits designed to inspire children aged 0 to 11 to learn about themselves and the world around them through play and discovery. This weekend, the museum is also holding a special Superhero event. Grab your cape, pop your underpants over your trousers and fly down to enjoy the fun! Spiderman and Captain America will be running regular superhero training sessions and recruiting super-powered allies (AKA your very own mini superheroes!) to help them defeat an enigmatic supervillain. Fancy-dress is positively encouraged!
Superhero Weekend at Eureka! The National Children’s Museum, Discovery Road, Halifax, HX1 2NE. Open between 10am and 5pm.
