What's on in the New Forest Tomorrow?

Stories on the farm have been going down extremely well at Beaulieu today as part of at the Out of Town Centre open day "The Countryside on Show".  

It was my first visit to this fantastic centre, run by the Countryside Education Trust, the air was full of the sights, sound and smells of a wide variety goats, horses, chickens, pigs... and alive with the thrum of activity.

As Taprisha and I set up among the hay bales in the barn we were inspected by a wandering flock of white geese, who also waddled by at other times - including while I told of Goosey Loosey and Chicken Licken.  With our stage set including welcoming flags to attract attention and woodland animal toys nestled among the straw, we were ready for our audiences.

And what lovely audiences they were! Lots of smiling faces and giggles, lots of joining with key phrases in familiar favourite tales and singing along with songs and ditties in new ones.

  "And he huffed and he puffed and he..."  
           
  "Can't catch me I'm the ...." 


It was great to see families enjoying their time listening together, and with encouragement even those without kids in tow found themselves being drawn to the barn to listen.

Amelia and Lacey's story fun was made all the more complete when they won a cuddly owl in our raffle - don't they look proud!

Big Smiles from the Raffle Winners

Next Raffle Prize:
This Lovely Badger

The best news is that if you missed out today, then the fun continues tomorrow with pony rides, meet the animals, goat milking, mud oven pizza making, falconry, woodworking, tasty speciality burgers and of course more STORYTELLING! 

Hope to see you there perhaps - it's a great setting and a wonderful day out, click the links above to find out more.  

ps. It stayed dry but wellies are a very good idea!

Storytelling with Year 4

This week I spent an afternoon taking children adventuring in the rain forest and climbing mountains in South America with courageous parrots saving the day in both stories.

90 children and me were squished into a Year 4 classroom but together we travelled great distances in our imaginations.

I had a fantastic time and so did the children who were lost deep in the images - even looking behind them to see the approaching storm clouds and mountain tops - fabulous.

Thank you Springhill Catholic Primary, I enjoyed being part of your book week, I hope you invite me back again soon!

Warm up your imagination in Winchester

Golden light is turning grey, Mists begin to rule the day...

This month the theme at our Winchester Story night is Autumn, Mists and Mysteries.  

Come and join us, deep in the depths of the Hyde Tavern Cellar and enter in to the world of your imagination. 

Discover some of the secrets of the Lincolnshire Carrs told by Mike Rogers (the very first story I heard him tell!) and help me unlock an old folk tale of 'The Key Flower'. Hear further tales or personal stories from myself, Steph and other regulars, and maybe even contribute a memory or two yourself.

All are welcome, we gather in the bar from 7.30pm onwards and descend to our cosy telling space at 8pm -10pm (with a top up and comfort break in the middle). Hope to see you there!