Waddesdon’s wild wonders, including family wanders!

Liz Nicholls

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Waddesdon manor

Liz Nicholls

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Among the wonders at Waddesdon manor this month are two highlights from the Zoolab animal-lovers, including exotic animal handling & a woodland trail

Do you love wildlife? Well, make a beeline for Waddesdon manor this month where you can get up close and personal to creatures from afar as well as our own native neighbours who live in the woods!

The Zoolab team are offering Creepy Critters sessions, 11am-4pm on 18th, 20th, 26th & 27th October, when you can meet your witch or wizard host who will introduce you to an array of fascinating creatures, including snakes, lizards, tarantulas, and much more.

These fun, interactive shows are suitable for all ages and are the perfect way to enjoy some spooky Halloween fun with family and friends; adult £6pp, child £8, plus normal grounds admission applies.

The Autumn Adventure Trail, 10am-4pm from 2nd to October (except 7th & 8th) invites you to pick up your trail map and resources pack and take a walk down Miss Alice’s Drive to find all the animal signs. Along the way, Zoolab characters will introduce you to some amazing animals you might find in the woods here in the UK. Keep your eyes peeled for wild squirrels, birds and bugs; free with grounds admission.

And the animal antics don’t stop there! The Flights of Fancy: Birds at Waddesdon exhibition runs until 27th October, as does the Guercino: King David and the Wise Women exhibition. The autumn game dinner on 19th is sold out but why not book in for a spooky afternoon tea on 26th or 27th October?

Autumn is a season of beautiful change, and now until early November it is a great time to explore the gardens at Waddesdon as they transition to hues to scarlet, gold and orange. Collect conkers as you go and warm up with a hot drink from one of Waddesdon’s food-to-go outlets.

It’s also your last chance (until 20th October) to catch up the Guercino at Waddesdon: King David and the Wise Women exhibition in the Red Ante Room in the House, Wed-Sun, 11am-4pm. Over 350 years since they were created, five paintings by renowned Bolognese painter Guercino are on display together for the first time in a historic exhibition at Waddesdon.

Shining a spotlight on one of the great painters of 17th-century Italy, this exhibition brings together King David and Guercino’s depiction of three sibyls – female prophets from classical antiquity – alongside his recently rediscovered Baroque masterpiece Moses, which is on display to the public for the first time ever. Free with house and grounds admission.

Watch this space for Waddesdon’s Christmas highlights! Meanwhile, find out more at Waddesdon Manor

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Christmas fun to enjoy in Bucks

Liz Nicholls

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Waddesdon manor

Have you been naughty or nice? Get your skates on to enjoy all the Christmas highlights coming up, including Father Christmas!

He’s making a list… He’s checking it twice… He’s gonna find out who’s naughty or nice. Yes the big man himself, Father Christmas, is taking time out from his busy schedule to visit lots of children in Buckinghamshire this month.

In fact, he and his elves will be at Amersham Field Centre, HP7 0QR, 11am-5pm on Sunday 10th, Saturday 16th, Sunday 17th & Wednesday 20th December, for an eco-friendly Santa’s Winter Wonderland. Explore the enchanted woodland with the elves, make a Christmas decoration in the workshop, help find Santa’s missing code and meet Santa in his grotto for your elf graduation certificate, elf hat and gift. Find out more at field-studies-council.org

“Father Christmas will also star at Marlow’s Christmas Fair”

Another planet-friendly highlight is the Eco Elves Tree-Cycle at Wycombe’s Eden Shopping Centre until Christmas Eve. With help from Mrs Claus, children can make decorations using recycled craft materials (Sunday morning SEND sessions). £3pp + booking fee at edenshopping.co.uk/events/the-eco-elves-tree-cycle

Father Christmas will also star at Marlow’s Christmas Fair at The Grand Hall and Versailles Suite on 2nd December. And we can’t mention the big man and Marlow without, of course, another mention for Santa’s Fun Run on 3rd December! santasfunrun.org

Missenden Abbey Christmas Market, 12-4pm on Sunday, 3rd December, will offer gift and craft stalls where you can support local businesses and perhaps find special gifts for friends and family. Watch out for favourite children’s book and film characters on the day. Little ones are also sure to love the merry-go-round and bungee jumping trampolines, plus a little bird tells me Father Christmas will star. Arrive hungry to tuck into pizza, pasta, hot doughnuts, cakes and more. £4pp, £2 children three-12 years; tickets on the door or book at ticketsource.co.uk/missenden-abbey-christmas-market-2023

Father Christmas will return on his giant red tractor at Hogshaw Farm & Wildlife Park (formerly Green Dragon Eco Farm), MK18 3LA. Up until Christmas Eve, you can wander through the festive forest, past the magical wishing tree and through the snow pits to Santa and his grotto, complete with adorable live reindeer. Share your wishlist, before stopping for a tasty treat and collecting a special present. Book your tickets at hogshawfarm.co.uk

A pop-up ice skating rink will give you a warm welcome at Chiltern View Garden Centre in Stoke Mandeville, HP22 5GX, all the way to New Year’s Eve (closed Christmas Day) with the last session 8pm (6pm on Sundays, 5pm Christmas Eve & NYE). If you’re the best-dressed Elf on a Saturday night you could win £150, and you can book in for Breakfast with Santa and the fabulous Drag Queen Bingo 6-9pm on 3rd 10th December with Cosmic. Visit chilternviewicerink.co.uk to book.

The mesmerising winter light trail lights the gorgeous grounds of Waddesdon Manor until 17th December. Wander the Aviary gardens to enjoy glowing orbs, starbursts, 3D birds and giant shooting stars set to music plus animated projections on to the manor’s façade, inspired by British tales Alice in Wonderland, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe and Peter Pan. The fair and food village is also back with wooden chalets amid twinkling trees. Visit waddesdon.org.uk to find out more & book.

Santa’s Grotto at Frosts Garden Centre Woburn Sands, MK17 8UE, will open every day up to Christmas Eve with Snowball Sammy & friends offering fun and games before you head off to the reindeer stables to mix up some magical reindeer food with Reindeer Ronnie.Visit frostsgardencentres.co.uk/experiences/santas-grotto-experience

Buckinghamshire Railway Centre in Quainton, HP22 4BY, will welcome you for The Panto Express with Father Christmas. Vintage steam trains will help you create wonderful memories and a professional touring company will perform Beauty & The Beast. Visit bucksrailcentre.org

Plus he’s on board for Santa Steam Specials through December at Chinnor & Princes Risborough Railway; chinnorrailway.co.uk

The 12 days of Christmas exhibition returns to Hughenden Manor in High Wycombe, HP14 4LA. Find scenes from the famous carol brought to life with giant gold rings and swans a-swimming on a sea of baubles. Musical Saturdays will bring choirs, silver bands and jazz singers and there are separate festive creative workshops for adults. Children can follow a festive trail to find the 12 presents of Hughenden in the garden and storytelling in the bookshop. Visit nationaltrust.org.uk

Spot giant willow-woven bird sculptures on the seasonal wildlife trail around Stowe in A Winter’s Tail until 1st January. Match tails to their owners, find clues, solve puzzles and keep an eye out for the elusive fox tail. Local choirs will perform at weekends beneath the decorated tree. And join the annual Boxing Day pilgrimage at Stowe Gardens – dogs welcome!

Whatever you do, wishing you lots of peace and goodwill!

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QueenMee Accessories supports Aylesbury Women’s Aid

Karen Neville

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Waddesdon manor

Celebrate kindness with QueenMee, shop local and support local women in need this Christmas

QueenMee Accessories, the boutique hair accessories and brooch company, is partnering with Aylesbury Women’s Aid for November and December with donations to women and children in the shelter.

For every £100 spent on QueenMee.com, a sparkling hair accessory or piece of jewellery from the collection will be donated to a woman or child resident of the shelter, to give them a Christmas boost.

April Benson, CEO of Aylesbury Women’s Aid said of the initiative: “We know the women and children here are going to love receiving the accessories. We do receive some donations already at Christmas for the children, but we don’t receive much for their mothers. That is why QueenMee’s support is so welcome, as it will give our residents a lovely pick-me-up.”

QueenMee founder, Amanda Waterstone Carthy, is the daughter of well-known Entrepreneur Sir Tim Waterstone, founder of Waterstone’s booksellers. She says: “QueenMee is about celebrating kindness – being kind to yourself, celebrating your own personal style, and giving back as you shop for yourself or others.

“We know that the Christmas period often brings with it an increase in the incidence of domestic abuse, with money worries, increased time spent at home, and alcohol all escalating domestic abuse incidents.

“As a mother myself, I know how important it feels to protect your child – and give them a magical Christmas. I often think of the pain women in abusive relationships experience, and of the impact on their children.

“I am so pleased to be able to do something small to lift survivors of domestic abuse and their children this Christmas.

“I hope the colour and sparkle of the jewellery will bring hope and cheer to the residents of Aylesbury Women’s Aid shelter; and that the mothers and children will enjoy celebrating Christmas in a safe environment together.”

QueenMee Accessories’ collection includes brooches, hair clips, headbands, silk scrunchies, and earrings, all of which make gorgeous gifts – with the bonus of giving back as you shop.

Beautiful, eco-friendly gift wrap is free of charge with every order.

The QueenMee Christmas collection is available to order online at QueenMee.com. Also at John Lewis, High Wycombe – 4th December to 10th December. Waddesdon Manor Christmas Fair – 22nd November to 17th December.

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