Fun for families over half term holidays

We have had a busy half term delivering a variety of workshops to children aged 2 upwards across the district.

“. . .  really enjoyed it and facilities + staff were great. Thank you “

Families at Airedale Library had the chance to learn all about the fascinating, delicious and very very dangerous history of Britain's national drink. Along with the chance to look at some rarely-seen things from the museum collection, participants made their own teapot craft to take home!

At Wakefield Museum, families had a look at some mad-sounding medieval medicine, and recycling was the theme at Pontefract Castle.

 "We learnt about ancient rubbish and enjoyed making bows and arrows"

At Sandal Castle families learnt how Medieval folk would have made all their necessities from naturally sourced materials. Participants were invited to create some really cool things with natural materials at this fun workshop, including a bug village!

For the younger visitors to Wakefield Museum we created some food inspired art and crafts with oats, beans and peas – all food that was available in the medieval times.

“I liked the food project. It encouraged my daughter to think about which colour suited the different parts of her picture”

Our youngest visitors made sculptures and pictures from foodstuffs

Our next event is this Thursday, 6 June.  An adult talk 'A taste of living history: organic gardening today' by Bob Sherman.  6.30 in the Learning Zone, Wakefield Library and Museum.  No need to book.

Bob Sherman is Chief Horticultural Officer at Garden Organic, the national charity for organic growing, and has been gardening organically for nearly 40 years. He has been a regular contributor to gardening magazines for many years and has written and contributed to eight books.

Since 1996, he has had responsibility for Garden Organic's Heritage Seed Library (HSL), a collection of rare, historic and endangered vegetables, now including seed of more exotic imports that have been grown here through several generations by immigrants to the UK from all over the world.

The collection and purpose behind it are the focus of his talk, 'A Taste of Living History: organic gardening today'. The talk will explain the value of this heritage and show how organic gardening looks to the future whilst respecting the past.

This talk is part of the You Are What You Ate project, funded by the Wellcome Trust.