Love Your Zoo Day
Support your local zoo and learn about all the great work being done by Shepreth Wildlife Park at Love Your Zoo Day, 25 May. Shepreth opened in 1984 (it celebrates its birthday this month too) and is home to two handsome tigers, a mountain lion, red panda, ring-tailed lemurs, meerkats and much more. At this time of year, you might even see some babies too. Takes place 12pm to 4pm.
Half Term at Wandlebury
On 26 May, watch honeybees busy at work in the observation hive and solitary bee homes at Wandlebury Country Park. Find out how honeybees live, why bees and other pollinating insects are so important and how we can help to look after them. Visitors will be able to make their own wooden solitary bee home to put up in their own garden. Meet at Wandlebury Stable Rooms 10am; bring a drink and a snack and dress for the weather! Then why not stay on and explore the country park afterwards? (£6.50 per child, adults go free). Next, on 27 May, come along for Wandlebury’s Old-fashioned Fun in the Woods half term event for kids and parents. Let your brood run wild in a safe, natural environment: there’ll be den-building and bonfires for toasting marshmallows too. Takes place 10am to noon, £6.50 per child (accompanying adults go free).
Wood Green Family Fun Day
Bundle the whole family over to Wood Green’s Godmanchester Centre on 26 May for their Family Fun Drop-In Day. Here, there’ll be crafts, colouring and animal story time, plus the chance to make a toy to take home for your pet. It’s suitable for all ages, takes place between 1pm and 3pm and costs £5 per child. No need to book – just come along. Own a rabbit? Wood Green Godmanchester is also offering free bunny MOTs on 13 May, 3pm.
Entertaining Elizabeth
Visit Audley End House and Gardens near Saffron Walden this late May Bank Holiday weekend and you’ll find yourself in royal company. The English Heritage property will be throwing an elaborate Elizabethan party, complete with jesters, jousting, minstrels and music, to welcome Queen Elizabeth I as she passes through on her royal procession. Learn the rules of court etiquette, watch some thrilling theatricals and see knights on horseback jousting – a popular pastime of Henry VIII. This lavish spectacle takes place 24-25 May, 10.30am to 5pm. Tickets are £16 adults, £14.30 concessions and £9.60 children.
VE Day Anniversary Air Show
IWM Duxford will commemorate the 70th anniversary of VE Day with a special weekend of events for all the family. Across the museum there will be trade stands, music and activities, as well as a chance to see, close up, some of the mighty machines that helped defend Britain during the Second World War. The museum is open from 8am until 6pm, with a spectacular air show taking place at 2pm, finishing at around 5.30pm, both days. Book before 12 May for reduced price admission of £24.75 per adult (£27.50 on the day) and £9 children under 15 (£18.15 on the day). The commemorations take place 23-24 May.
