Fancy an Oyster?

Whitstable Oyster Festival

So it's officially festival time in Kent - here's a taster of what's on this weekend and (of course) they're free. Hooray!

Saturday and Sunday

Whitstable Oyster Festival
I love Whitstable, so I really don't need an excuse to go. But if you do, the Oyster Festival starts tomorrow and goes on through next week. Perfect if you're looking for something to do in the first week of the very long summer holidays!

There's absolutely lots to do. Some activities are paid for but there are plenty of free things to try out too.

Some of this weekend's highlights include the Oyster Parade (with music, giants, performers and more), Taiko drumming and the Whitstable Brewery Beer Festival (free entry during the day). There are lots of things for children, as well as markets and of course plenty of oysters.

I really want to go and see the Grotters and Glows (lots of glowing oyster shells on the beach) and the fireworks on Thursday . . .


Deal, Walmer and Kingsdown Carnival and Regatta
The carnival and regatta runs through next week too. There's a mix of sailing, open-air concerts, fireworks and more this year.

Olympic fever

The Olympic torch is heading our way - check to see if you're on the route.

Boats, bikes and beach (well . . . kind of) in Tonbridge

Tonbridge Park (the old racecourse) is our very favourite west Kent park - it's got lots of open space for kite flying (lots of people out today) and playing sport. Its playground is great with a good mix of things for older and younger children, a massive sand pit (a bit soggy this morning!) and zip wires.

The mini steam train runs in the afternoon on summer weekends and is always a hit - although you have to pay to ride it. And there's even a castle to explore.

Add to that a skate park, outdoor gym (ha ha), basketball and tennis courts, fishing and mini-golf, and there really is something for just about anyone.

The park is great for cycling and is part of cycle route 12 - which goes through Haysden Country Park (another fabulous place to go with free things to do over the summer holidays) and on to Penshurst.

Calum zoomed round the big playing field on his bike today while Orla splashed about it the puddles. They both loved watching boats and people canoeing down the river.

Tonbridge Park
The Slade
Tonbridge TN9

Sunshine, cows and journey sticks at Open Farm Day

It was Open Farm Sunday this Sunday, and we had a lovely time at Romshed Farm in Underriver.

It was a rare day of sunshine so we packed a picnic and our wellies. We joined the tour a bit late, so we didn't hear much about their animals or their organic ways, but we did get to see their turkey chicks and ducklings. The piglets were hiding very well.

I spent a lot of the tour wrestling Orla away from the electric fences (toddler horror) and explaining to Calum why they were there in the first place.

Enjoying the puddles

After the tour we went for a walk past cows and sheep. By this point Orla was much more interested in the puddles than anything else (hooray for wellies!)

My winning stick

All the way round the farm we made journey sticks - something I've never seen before but will definitely do again. We collected things we found and attached them to a stick with a piece of string. Doesn't sound much, but it all ended up very competitive in my family.

Of course, my stick won.

Romshed Farm is holding an open evening on Thursday 28 June from 6pm - with bat walks, moth traps - and food and drink.

It's Open Farm Sunday

Hooray! We're going to a farm in Underriver today as part of Open Farm Sunday - visit the website to find out your nearest . . .