Category: Gardens

Families, Family Life, Gardens, homes, interiors, Large Families, money, Money Saving Tips

Top Five Ways To Improve Your Home

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[AD] Wether you are planning on renovations to improve your forever home or looking to make improvements to sell your property it can be tricky to know where to start and where the best places to spend your money are. We are always looking at ways to improve our home and here are my top five areas that I think you gain most from when it comes to making change:

Kitchen And Bathroom – These are undoubtedly the most used rooms in the home and unfortunately the places that date the most. They are rooms that can have a hefy price tag, but it is definitely worth spending money in these areas. To keep the budget down choose a simple, timeless designs that can be changed easily with a splash of colour to the walls or adding accessories so it can be changed over the years to move with the times without having to replace large pieces such as the bath and tiles.

Make More Room – More space is something I dont think anyone would say no to. An extra bedroom to give the chidren more freedom, an office so you have somewhere to work independently from your living space, an extention to the kitchen which allows room for entertainment – the list could go on. I know with having a large family having enough room to have our own space is very important to us all…especially the teens! Adding an extra room on your home not only adds space to live in, but also money to your home.

New Windows – Windows are one of the most important features to any home. They keep your house warm and keep the noise out. Replacement aluminium windows will give you a house free from draughts which will save a fortune in lost energy over the years, making them one of the best investments you could make.

Eco Friendly – I think the majority of us are trying to move to a more eco friendly way of life with things like reducing the use of single use plastic, using refillable bottles and recycling more. These changes can be made in the home in lots of different ways too. Smart thermostats and energy efficient appliances are simple changes that can make a huge difference.

Get Green Fingered – Making the outside of your home an extention of the inside with a well planned out garden that can be used throught the year and not just the summer is a great way to make the most of every aspect of your home. Covered sections and dining areas mean that your garden really can be an extension of your home. Making the most of the front garden will also make for a welcoming entrance…this is definitely something I need to do some work on.

Children, Families, Family Life, Gardens, Kid Bloggers, Kids Days Out, Large Families, Memories, Outdoor Play, Parents, Parks, Photography, Reviews

A Weekend At Robin Hill Country Park

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One of my resoultions for 2020 was to travel more with the kids – the Covid pandemic hit and all my plans were put on hold. One thing it did do though is to open my eyes to the amazing places we have here. Somewhere I haven’t been since I was a child is the Isle Of Wight, so when I was asked to visit I jumped at the chance.

I didn’t have any recollection of the Isle Of Wight and certianly didn’t remember visiting Robin Hill.

We got off to an early start and after a couple of hours drive we boarded the ferry and before we knew it we arrived in the Isle Of Wight. It was an easy 15 minute drive to Robin Hill where we were greeted with smiles and shown what was going own. With the map firmly in our grip we headed off to explore.

Robin Hill covers a huge 88 acres of beautiful parkland and woodland that has been transformed into a fabulous adventure area that is more than sympathetic to it’s stunning surroundings.

Frankie has reached that akward age where he thinks he is to grown up for most things I suggest these days. He’s too big for the park, he doesn’t want to go for county walks – the list is pretty endless. So when I saw him leap through the treetop canopy walkways to get to the Jungle Heights my heart was already won over…as was his.

High up aroungst the trees is Jungle Heights which was definitely the highlight of our trip. It is an collection of netted areas set amongst the woodland that you can run, climb and bounce on to your hearts content. As well as this there is a lovely little cafe area nestled away where the adults can grab a drink, sit back and watch the fun. Relaxing music is played through large speakers which made for a really calming atmosphere and I honestly could have sat there for hours.

Around this area is the Squirrel run where the little ones can start from the bottom and weave their way up to the top of the treetop walkway.

From here we headed over to the toboggans. Frankie took to these alone whilst I went on with Oscar. Frankie speed off into the distance while poor Oscar had to creep around the run with his nervous mother!

This was something the boys had never done before and they absolutley loved it. Next to this there were also some huge slides that the boys spent a lot of time working out how to get down them as fast as possible. The addition of sitting of their coat seemed to be the winning combination.

A liitle further along a jouney we stopped off at the huge ponds which were also home to the suspended bridges. It was so tranquil there and whist I enjoyed the beauty of the surrounding the boys weaved their way across the floating bridges.

Dotted around the park there are lots of little extras to keep you entertained, such as falconary exibitions which we sadly missed and a circus play area which was great place to stop and warm up under the shelter of the tent whilst they honed their circus skills.

To end our day we decided to hop on board the tractor ride so we could spot anything we might have missed. It was turing to dusk by now and it was beautiful to see the park as the sun was coming down. It was also an opportunity to see the lights coming on for the evening event that was just going to start. I was gutted the boys were too tired to stay as it looked like such a fun filled evening – it does however give us the excuse to return next year.

All tired out we made on last stop at Colossus, which is a huge ship ride that the boys went on countless times – I honestly don’t know how they weren’t ill.

Robin Hill was more than I had expected it to be. They offer a place were kids can just be kids alongside stunning scenery that the adults can enjoy too. You really can make a whole day of it and we loved it so much we made a return trip the very next day!

Would you like to visit Robin Hill?

Children, Families, Family Life, Flowers, Food, Gardens, Kent, Kids Days Out, Learning, Memories, Outdoor Play, Photography, Picnics, Reviews, Summer, travel

Not A Holiday Without A Trip To Hever Castle

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I actually can’t remember when we last had a hoilday without a trip to Hever Castle. Our love for it never falters and I would find it hard to tell you what season there I love the most…well actually that’s a little lie as it has to be Christmas. With that said though whatever time of year you visit you are in for a treat and for us the other day was no different.

As I’m sure you have noticed the weather this summer hasn’t exactly been the best, but there is always something to see and do at Hever. We headed straight for the playground as this is always one of the boys favourite areas. Frankie is reaching the age where is sometimes gets a little bored of playgrounds now, but we spent a huge amount of time in here with the boys playing chase and making new friends in a huge game of hide and seek.

Next up we plotted up by the water to feed the ducks and have something delicious from the BBQ. Hever is perfect for picnicing and we normally do a mixtutre of both. Taking snacks and drinks to keep us going and then treating ourselves to something nice – which always includes an ice-cream!

We didn’t go inside the castle on this visit as the children were keen to stay outside, but it is definetly a must if you are planning a visit. Instead we ignored the weather and went straight to the water maze. For me this is such a pretty feature to the already stunning grounds, and something I have never seen anywhere else quite like it.

There are still covid restrictions on this attraction, but the queue was short and we still had a heap of fun.

We sadly missed the times for the falconary exebitions that run twice a day, but we spent the rest of the day enjoying all the little hidden walks around the grounds whilst the boys tried to spot as many naked statues as they could – something else they never seem to get bored off and mananged to meet one of the birds of prey on our way round.

We had yet another fantastic day and can’t wait until our next trip.

Families, Family Life, Gardens, interiors, Large Families, Outdoor Play

Making The Most Of Your Outdoor Space During Winter

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[AD] These crazy times that we are currently in have bought a huge range of changes to all our lives and we are all having to adapt to this new way of life.

One of the big things that is so hard for many is not being able to see family and friends. During the summer things were slightly easier as you could happily meet up outside, picnic and socialise in the sunshine. Now that we are having to meet up outside again, things are going to be a little tricker with the cold and wet weather.

There are however ways around this and getting your garden ready to enjoy in any weather is something a lot of us are looking to do.

I have left a few tips below on things you could do to transform your garden this autumn/winter and I would love to know if you have had any differ to ideas you have already put in place.

Cover – Instead of shielding from the sun, the winter means we need our gardens to protect us from the wind and rain. An awning coming off the side of the house or a gazebo which is perfect for keeping out the rain and the wind.

Lighting – With the nights drawing in now it’s important to have good lighting for the garden to make it look cosy and so you can move around safely.

You can do this by getting a professional in and running lights from your mains, or solar powered lights scattered around will be just as affective.

Underfoot – Trudging across a boggy lawn isn’t something any of us want to do, so making sure you have somewhere sturdy and level to congregate on is a must. Once you have the firm footings in place then you can make it your own with your choice of paving slabs or tiles.

Heat – There is nothing worse than being outside and not being able to enjoy yourself because of the cold, and there is absolutely no need to suffer anymore as there is such a huge range of patio heaters and fire pits on the market, so you can enjoy your garden whilst keeping toasty!

Seating – Having somewhere cosy to sit is a must and there are plenty of options out their. Outdoor sofas are my favourite and I love snuggling up on ours with a few blankets to keep us warm.

Entertainment – Something to keep the kids…and the adults busy is always a good idea and there are lists of outdoor games available such as giant Jenga and noughts and crosses that will keep you entertained for hours.

Storage – Moving the inside outside is a great idea, but you need to think about storing everything as you don’t want to have to be dealing with soggy cushions and blankets! Investing in a watertight storage system is a great way to have peace of mind that everything will be safe and dry.

Families, Family Life, Gardens, homes, interiors, Summer

Four Beautiful Garden Trends

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[AD] When it comes to clothes fashion, make up, or interiors trends we are used to seeing these changed regularly along with offered advice and tips on how to keep things up to date.

However there are some parts of our lives we might not think about updating as much as others, such as gardens. Rest assured though there is a trend for everything if you look for it. So when it comes to gardens there is plenty to choose from of you are looking for some new garden inspiration.

Here are some of the most beautiful garden trends, which can help you transform your garden into something you enjoy.

Botanical Gardens

Starting with a classic that will never go out of style, the botanical garden trend is perfect for those who like their garden to feel like a jungle, or one of those immaculate National Trust gardens you have to pay to visit. The general theme of a botanical trend is lots of plants and flowers, and any accessories that tie in with the theme. Think gorgeous leaf prints on outdoor cushions or stunning floral flowerpots. Whatever you choose the botanical garden trend will never fo out of style; it will always only enhance your garden! Treat yourself to some new trees or some delicate lights to dangle in the garden to transform it into a cosy place.

Indoors – Out

A stunning new trend for gardens operates on the idea of bringing what you would originally be an indoor style right outside! This can apply to almost anything, but most lovers of the ‘indoor – out’ style have been mainly searching for ideas on outdoor kitchens and outdoor bars in 2020. While this is very much a sign of the times right now, not being able to go out much, or at all, this is an excellent trend when it comes to making full use of the space on the property and enjoying what you have.

You can base you ‘indoor – out’ style on any room you like – your imagination is the limit. Just make sure you think about the very interchangeable weather we are often blessed with when using things outside!

Wildlife Friendly

Those who love the garden are Turing it into a sanctuary for wildlife. This includes but does not go beyond your mainstream birdbath and seed feeder that is annually hung on the tree. It is much more common now to build ‘insect hotels’ which are designed to help anything from hedgehogs to wood lice! Planting wild flowers and plants that can help to sustain wildlife, which also happens to be a stunning addition to any garden. And don’t forget there are options now to build homes for toads and frogs to shelter from the winters bite! The one thing that’s unique to this trend is that is focuses less on clearing and cleaning up the garden, and more on how wildlife can benefit from the stray plants or the unruly compost pile! It might not be as ascetically pleasing as others, but helping our wildlife is a beautiful trend that should continue. For those who want to go that extra mile for their little pals, consider getting a pond. A pond is one of the best places for wildlife to flourish, just make sure to keep it clean and use a quality, branded filter such as OASE filters to keep the environment healthy.

Cosy Accessories

There was almost definitely a time where the only thing that might have been expected to be in the garden was the odd shovel or a shed, but so many things have changed since then, and a garden is essentially room with its own right. This tied in with the ‘outdoor – indoor’ trend, can see people bringing some new sought after furniture and accessories into the garden such as day beds and fire pits.

For those who love napping, there is no reason not to enjoy the last of the summer sun simultaneously, and for pits offer gear long into the night, which are both perfect for making the most of your garden before it gets too cold.

Children, Families, Family Life, Flowers, Gardens, Kids Days Out, Memories, Outdoor Play, Parents, Parks, Picnics, Reviews, Summer, Surrey

Good, Safe Fun At Hever Castle

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[PRESS TRIP] For those of you that follow me regularly you will know that we are all big fans of Hever Castle and we were delighted when they opened their doors again after lockdown.

As with anything we have done since restrictions have been lifted, we approached our first visit back with caution, but from the get go I needn’t have worried.

Pre-booking is essential, and time slots need to be selected to allow for small streams of people to enter at one time. This worked really well and we were able to get in quickly and easily.

Once we were inside the grounds there was plenty of room to run free and take in the beauty of the gardens.

All of the usual attractions aside from the maze are open with limited numbers allowed in for 30 mins at a time. Once your time is up there is a clean down before the next group of people are allowed in.

Of course this meant there was some waiting around and we didn’t get to spend as long as we usually would at each section. But I was happier to know that we were going into a place with limited numbers that was clean rather than having to stress about trying to social distance the children like I have at other places we have visited.

The play area is actually split into two sections and we manage to fit in two trips to both whilst we were there, with a cooling of session in the water maze in between which is always a favourite of ours.

We didn’t go inside the castle on this visit as the weather was just to glorious to miss so unfortunately I can’t comment on how long it was to get inside. However we did sit for a good while watching and feeding the huge fish!

Along with lots of other people we took a picnic and plotted up next to the water so the children could enjoy feeding the ducks whist we ate.

There were still plenty of food options if you prefer to eat there and of course lots of ice cream stops which we had to partake in!

It’s become a bit of a tradition for us to finish the day with a stroll through the wooded area which we always fine super quiet and the boys love as the can go off track, play by the steam and of course get covered in mud!

I can honestly say I was more than impressed with all the measures that have been put in place at Hever Castle to allow you to still have so much fun, whilst keeping you safe.

The castle will be getting its coating of autumnal leaves now and we can’t wait for our next visit to see this!

art, Arts And Crafts, Children, Crafts, Education, Exercise, Families, Family Life, Fitness, Gardens, Gym, Health, Imagination Play, Large Families, Learning, Outdoor Play, Painting, School, Sensory Play

Outdoor Activities For Children During Lockdown

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I now have no idea what week we are on in lockdown but I do know that during this time we have all been trying to find ways of coping with being around each other 24 hours a day and for me I have found structure is key and trying to give the children some kind of home learning has been a must.

I am no teacher and so with the help of work set by school and the wonders of the internet I have been trying to find ways to keep the children happy and engaged.

We have been lucky to have been blessed with this wonderful weather and have tried to utilise this as much as possible and taking our home learning outside.

  • Most homeschooling activities can be done outside as it allows children to have freedom of movement, increases their physical development, helps build towards a healthy and activity lifestyle and hopefully makes them happier and more motivated to learn.

    • I have compiled a few of our favourite activities below and hope you find something that’s a good fit for your family to try:

    • Den Building – The boys love building dens, so this was a great excuse to get something set up in the garden where they could play and read independently.

    • Skipping – Skipping is a great way to get them using their gross motor skills as well as burning off a lot of steam!

    • Climbing Tree – This is great for them to challenge their dexterity and build their confidence.

    • Digging In The Dirt – All kids love to dig around in the dirt and without knowing it they are getting a real sensory experience. From making mud pies to hiding and finding different objects this is a great exercise.

    • Getting Out For A Walk – The government is still allowing us out for 39 mins exercise a day, and we can use this time to clear our heads, strike up conversations to check that your little ones are coming with this situation and make it into a game by spotting different things on the way.

    • Planting – It’s the perfect time to plant seeds and flowers in the garden which can turn into a science lesson by talking about the lifestyle of plants and then drawing and labelling what you have planted.

    • Still Life Painting – There are so many things that can be painted in the garden, just pick something that catches your eye and get painting.

    • Rough And Tumble – This might not be for everyone, but my youngest two literally can’t keep their hands off each other; so for me allowing them to battle it out for a while works. It’s a way for them to relive stress, read social cues, make decisions on their own and of course have a good cardio workout!

    • Nature Collage – Take some time to walk around the garden and pick up anything you find interesting to create a masterpiece with.

    • Painting With Water – A big pot of water, some paint brushes and some space on the patio, a wall or a fence will allow children to create their own murals with no mess at all.

    • Shadow Drawing – Grab some paper and some objects that will create good shadows…our favourites are dinosaurs; position them on the paper so that the sunlight casts a shadow on the paper and the draw around the shadow.

    • Make A Bug Hotel – Find a space in the garden where you can put together as pike of bricks, logs, sticks, tiles and just about anything else mini beasts can create a home. The children can then go back and take a look at the insects and write up their finding.

    • Scavenger Hunt – Write a list of all kinds of different objects you might find outside such as leaves, flowers, rocks and set the kids a challenge to find them all.

    • Bug Hunt – Lift up rocks, dig around in the leaves and see what insects you can find and them write down and discuss your findings.

    Tree And Leaf Rubbing – Grab some paper and crayons and find all kinds of different tree barks and leaves to rub over with the crayons and compare the different textures.

    Giant Bubbles – If you have a tuff tray or something large enough to hold a hula hoop then make up a bubble mixture using washing up liquid and water. Place the hula hoop inside and make as many giant bubbles as you can.

    Outdoor Gym – Nature gives us a huge array of items we can use to build our own outside gym which allows the children to left off steam and build gross motor skills. Stepping stones from logs, a rope placed between two objects to limbo under, a bench to do tricep dips from a just a few ideas. Let me know what else you would use!

    Families, Family Life, Gardens, Large Families, Reviews

    Clearing The Jungle With Fantastic Services

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    [GIFTED] For those of you that have been following me for a while you may remember when we moved house last year we had a super team of cleaners from Fantastic Services that came in and did a fantastic(this is where they get there name from) job just after we moved in which got us off to a really good start.

    Fast forward a year and the inside is nearly complete but the front garden was in need more than a little TLC.

    It was becoming overrun with weeds and I had no idea where to start. After slogging away for hours and hours and not reaping any rewards I enlisted the help of Fantastic Services once again.

    Many people that I have spoken to aren’t actually aware of everything they have to offer and they really are an all round service covering cleaning, gardening, tradesmen jobs, building, removals, storage, waste removal and even pest control.

    Two friendly gardeners turned up to the house and asked specifically what I was looking for and as soon as I had given them an insight into what I wanted they set to work. Digging, cutting back and generally clearing the whole front garden which would enable me to see past the mess and get some inspiration for how it was going to eventually look.

    They were only there for two hours and I would never in a million years think they would be able to complete the job, but they tirelessly powered through and complete cleared the area for me as well as getting rid of the rubbish which I know many companies don’t do.

    I was just as impressed with the gardening service as I was with the cleaning and I would highly recommend trying out either..or why not both!

    If this had appealed to you which I’m sure it will I have a code HERE and using the code joyoffive which will enable you to get £10 off of your first service so what have you got to lose,give them a try.

    Children, Families, Family Life, Food, Gardens, Holidays, Large Families, Memories, Outdoor Play, Parents, Photography, Reviews, Shopping, Siblings, Summer, travel

    Simple Pleasures At Croyde Bay Holiday Resort

    by thejoyoffiveLeave a Comment on Simple Pleasures At Croyde Bay Holiday Resort

    [PRESS TRIP] Holidaying with children of varying ages can be somewhat of a task to say the least. Some want to be building sandcastles and hunting for seashells whilst others want to be hitting the shops exploring theme parks.

    It isn’t always easy to cover all these bases and at times it can be a real headache, so I had high hopes that on our visit to Croyde Bay Resort I would be able to keep them all happy!

    After a slightly nerve wracking but equally beautiful drive along the coastline of North Devon we arrived at what was going to be our home for the next few days and we couldn’t have been happier with what we found.

    After collecting our keys and a little information from the super helpful and very friendly receptionist we were shown to our amazing lodge. We have stayed in similar accommodation to this lots of times before but have never found anything so beautifully designed and as well equipped as this.

    The children were overjoyed to see a smart TV and quickly settled down to watch a bit of Netflix whilst I put a load of washing on from our last trip. It really was a home from home and we settled in the minute we arrived.

    The whole lodge was extremely spacious with a good sized, open plan living area which had real sofas rather than the usual build in style you often find in this kind of lodge along with a great sized dining table.

    Our lodge had three really good sized bedrooms with the main one having an en-suite too alongside the main bathroom which again unusually had a bath rather than just a shower room which is a very welcome addition when you have little ones.

    All settled in we went of to explore and our first port of call of course was the beach which was literally a stones throw away from the resort.

    We elongated the walk slightly by climbing to the top of the sand dunes and the I sat back and watched the children playfully roll down and run up over and over again. It’s little opportunities like this that allows them to really just be kids that is so important to me.

    Croyde Bay was absolutely stunning and it’s rugged coastline lends itself perfectly to rock pooling, surfing and body boarding. We spent a good few hours exploring the bay and were so happy that we had this so close to the resort.

    Bellies were rumbling by now so we headed back to freshen up and make our way over to the main hotel where we would be having our evening meal.

    I’m not a big fan of on site clubhouses usually but Croyde Bay Resort has a lovely calm, laid back atmosphere with a main restaurant area along with a smaller bar area where we chose to have our evening meal.

    The menu offered covered a good variety of dishes for both for adults and children alike with lots of locally sourced products and allergy friendly alternatives which is always so important to us.

    I threw thing back to the 80’s with a prawn cocktail which was delicious and followed this with a juicy Exmoor streak and super crispy chips both cooked to perfection.

    The children enjoyed a classic with sausage and chips and we all followed this up with super tasty desserts that were a feat for the eyes as well and the mouth.

    Unusually I felt super relaxed at the table with the children and we finished off our evening with a couple of board games of which there are a whole host to choose from.

    Ordinary I would be rushing through my dinner and hoping that we could get through a meal without them all creating, so it was lovely to be able to kick back, relax and really interact with each other as a family with these games.

    We all slept soundly and decided we were going to get out and explore a little before the forecast rain hit, but before that we hit the buffet breakfast which was pretty immense. Again this is an addition to a self catering style holiday that I haven’t experienced before and it was great to have the option to eat out on site if you don’t fancy cooking for yourselves.

    There was everything from a full English breakfast to pancakes with syrup, cereals and pastries, fresh fruit and yogurt and so much more.

    All of this was easy for the children to access themselves which they loved and again it was a really informal set up which made it a lot more relaxing for me.

    Izzy was itching to spend some of her holiday money so we took a trip into the town of Barnstable which had a good range of shops and restaurants, but I was looking for someone a little prettier to get a cream tea as it would be terrible to visit the West Country and not sample one wouldn’t it!

    As I child I remember visiting and falling in love with Clovelly and I really wanted the children to experience what a gorgeous place it is. We headed down the super steep cobbled hill passing and petting the donkeys on the way, sampling some old fashioned sweets and of course getting my much wanted cream tea before getting down to the water front.

    Devon really does home some amazing places to visit and this is one I’m definitely pleased I ticked of the list for the kids.

    We headed back to the resort and whilst the boys played outside with the table football I prepared dinner. There is such a safe feel about this place I was more than happy for the boys to just outside the lodge enjoying their evening and having a little bit of freedom.

    The predicted storm hit that evening so we stayed in and struggled up whilst listening to the howling winds and rain outside which I always strangely enjoy.

    For our last full day we decided to stay local and make the most of what the resort and surrounding area had to offer so we hit the beach and then made use of the lovely on site swimming pool.

    The pool had both a large and smaller pool which was perfect for us as Oscar still isn’t a great swimmer so I could keep an eye on him whilst still enjoying time in the pool with the older two. Throughout our stay the pool always stayed relatively quiet and uncrowned which is always good when you are trying to keep your eye on little ones that have more confidence than skill when it come to the water.

    That evening we took a short walk into Croyde itself which I actually wish I had done when we first got there as for such a tiny village it had so much to offer. There was a great selection of independent shops and we struck lucky as there was a pop up event happening and we got to sample some amazing battered trout and chips before having some of the best ice cream I have ever tasted from the ice cream parlour.

    Full up but not yet ready for bed we tried out hand at table tennis in the games room before hitting the sack.

    We really did have a fantastic few days at Croyde Bay Resort enjoying simple activities and each other’s company in the comfort of the best equipped and homey lodge I have ever stayed in.

    The location, the accommodation, the food and the general set up of this resort could not be faulted and it would make the perfect getaway for families of all ages.

    We hope to be back very soon!

    Children, Christmas, Families, Family Life, Flowers, Gardens, Kids Days Out, Large Families, Memories, Outdoor Play, Parents, Photography, Summer

    A New Adventure At Hever Castle

    by thejoyoffiveLeave a Comment on A New Adventure At Hever Castle

    [GIFTED] Hever Castle has been one of our favourite places to go over the Christmas period, but for some reason until the other week we had never visited during the summer so I was very excited to see what it would hold at this time of year.

    We arrived in the blistering heat with some friends and I was amazed at how stunning the gardens were in full bloom and as always the boys loved running off through each and every pathway that connects them.

    We had a pretty swift walk as the children were eager to get to the new adventure playground that was a new addition to us.

    As we arrived the mixture of wood and sand immediately appealed to me and the children took off within seconds to explore.

    There was a huge sandpit with areas to climb and hide and in and as we walked through we discovered rope bridges, slides and a huge castle at the top which the boys absolutely loved.

    Mine tend to get itchy feet pretty much anywhere we go and I was asked we spent a whole three hours there without a moan or groan…well aside from a couple of sand throwing incidents!

    There is a coffee hut inside the play area which allowed me to have a natter over a drink whilst the children played.

    We filled up on ice cream at the main cafe before heading into the maze which is always a big hit.

    Next up was the water maze which again isn’t something we have had the pleasure of enjoying before.

    It was so much prettier than I was expecting and was formed of a huge rock formation covered in foliage with pathways running around the outside with water squirting out at different times to surprise the children.

    I wasn’t prepared so my lot went in fully clothed but I think that was half the fun!

    Our last port of call of the day was to take a look out over the lake and to make some wishes in the fountain.

    I love the serenity of this area and a row in one of the boats in on our list for our next visit.

    Hever really does cater for all ages and because of this it is one of my favourite places for a day out with the whole family. There is action and adventure for the kids whist the chance for the adults to take in the beauty and the amazing history the whole place is steeped in.

    There is always something new to see and experience and a whole activities that run throughout the year such as the Knights And Princesses School that is running right now.

    A trip here would make the perfect treat to end the summer with.