Trees, Tractors And Teachers

Our trip to the Gressenhall Museum on Mayday was just splendid. Rosie and Jess were cheerful and well behaved the whole time. We began in the "Cherry Tree Cottage" where my friend Jane from the Monday Craft Group was teaching children how to make "Blossom Buttons". Rosie soon got the hang of stacking 7 pink petal shapes and stitching them together. The centre was finished with a bead, and the threads knotted for stamens. A safety pin meant it was easy to attach to her collar. Meanwhile Grandad showed Jess the 1930's room and the cottage garden.

There was a basket of 'workbelts' for the children to wear as they walked round outside. Each was equipped with items for a nature walk - a list of items to find [leaves, insects, stones, spiders web etc] and a magnifying glass. Also a tape measure, some silicon cake cases, and more. The cases were for you to put a creature in so you could hold and observe it safely without it scuttling away! 

Such a well thought out idea!

Rosie was keen to visit the schoolroom again, and gave us a lesson from the teacher's desk. Jess happily sat and listened as the story was read. 

And Jess also sat at the piano and played us a 'tune'

We enjoyed snacks at the woodland playground, and then went to play on the tractors. Again, good planning - two sizes of tractor for the children to ride.

The blossom was pretty, and in one tent children were invited to make a paper pot and plant a tiny Scots Pine seedling. Rosie was very proud of hers and named it Bonnie. 

Two years ago, I recycled Liz's Boden cashmere sweater which had many moth holes. 

Rosie initially wore it as a tunic dress with leggings- but she's grown taller and now wears it as a jumper. The little bee doing her dance away from the flower seemed very appropriate for our morning's activities. I'm thrilled that this garment has had so much wear first for Liz and then for Rosie.

Rosie wanted to look inside the museum at a few exhibits, so we did that fairly quickly as it was almost time to go home. We walked back to the carpark and just got strapped in when the rain started. The four of us really enjoyed our time together.

The staff and volunteers at the Museum really work hard to make these special days good for visitors of all ages, and I am grateful to them. 

It is a lovely resource to have on our doorstep.

Is there a place near you which you would recommend for a family day out?