R-Time Online Information for Families in Bedfordshire

144 acres on the banks of the Ouse; open countryside, lake, way-marked walks with ample parking.

The parks two tranquil lakes, picturesque riverbanks, woodland and water meadows are excellent for walking, and watching the thousands of birds that visit it every year.

Tea room and visitor centre open seasonally.

For more information contact:  Tel:  01234 720016

Directions:  On the Carlton road between Harrold and Odell

Address: 65 Kings Road, Flitwick Bedfordshire
Tel: 01525 719154 0r 07749 831149
Website: www.minimovers-softplay.com

Party with a difference for the under 5’s……….

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Address: 65 Kings Road, Flitwick Bedfordshire
Tel: 01525 719154 0r 07749 831149
Website: www.minimovers-softplay.com

Soft play for kids: play, craft, fun and so much more…….

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Address: Northwood End Road, Haynes, Bedfordshire MK45 3QD
Tel: 01234 381239

A village pub offering superb food and service……

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Address: 2 Ram Yard Bedford MK40 1AL
Tel: 01234 216799
Web: www.bedfordkiln.co.uk

Capture those special hand or footprints….

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Address: 2 Ram Yard Bedford MK40 1AL
Tel: 01234 216799
Web: www.bedfordkiln.co.uk

Fire your families imagination…

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Address: 2 Ram Yard, Bedford, MK40 1AL
Tel: 01234 216799
Web: www.bedfordkiln.co.uk

Bring out the creative side in your child!

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Address: 101 High Street Henlow Beds SG16 6AE
Tel: 01462 811125
Web: www.thefivebellshenlow.co.uk

A village pub offering quality food….

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Address: 111 Dunstable Street Ampthill Bedfordshire MK45 2NG
Tel: 01525 405551
Email: fratelliampthill@btconnect.com

Take a culinary journey round Italy at Fratelli……

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Much has been written about what to expect of your child in the first year of its life, how to tame toddlers and raise children. In an age prone to overparenting, the time is right for the UK’s largest online parenting organisation to put the emphasis back on a mother’s needs. Often, the pressure to be the perfect mother can add to a mother’s worries - especially first time around. Forget the Yummy Mummy phenomenon that says it’s possible to look after a newborn baby, keep your house spic and span, cook gourmet family dinners, and still manage to put your lipstick and heelson. Life isn’t really like that. This practical handbook looks at the elements of parenting that can make a mother unhappy and offers information and advice on how to cope. Most importantly this is real advice for real women from real women - the 250,000 members of netmums.com, together with advice from the experts.

Author of the highly successful Sixty Minute series Rob Parsons turns his attention to that very difficult period of adolescence - the teenage years. He explains how to cope with this often disruptive period in a family’s life and how to continue feeling close to your teenagers as they grow up and become increasingly independent. He gives clear and easy to follow advice making sure that you will not feel on your own and you will be able to make the most of your precious time with your children.

A very funny writer on the fraught relationship between fathers and daughters, Bruce Cameron begins with the warning signs that you may be living with a teenager (e.g. Rule 5: Your car insurance suddenly costs more than your car) and continues with spot on humour on dating (Rule 2: Keep your hands and eyes off my daughter’s body or I will remove them), shopping, telephone and the first job.

On Sunday mornings Jim White has the following choice: visit the supermarket, buy trellising at B’n'Q, or stand on the sidelines of a muddy municipal football pitch, his trouser cuffs wetter than a weekend in Llandudno, shoulder-to-shoulder with a motley crew of mums, dads, step-parents and same-sex life partners all screaming at their beleaguered offspring. You’ll find Jim in the same place every week, failing to organise a bunch of lads into something resembling a team while on the far side of the park his opposite number, a wannabe Mourinho in brashly monogrammed tracksuit, struts the sidelines, shouting - always shouting. This is the hilarious story of Jim White’s time as manager of his son’s football team: the highs, the lows, and the dog turd in the centre circle. At this level, winning spirit is not so much about passion, pride and belief as praying that your star centre forward has remembered his boots. Most importantly, it’s about the enduring relationship between fathers, sons and football. This is the story no one who has ever watched his or her child play sport will want to miss.

This book takes a ‘warts and all’ sensible yet humorous look at the many stages of pregnancy. It explores the changes, physical and emotional, that any man can expect to see in his partner and in their relationship over the coming months. Becoming pregnant involved two people. The rearing of a child will involve two people; there is every reason that your partner’s pregnancy should also involve the two of you, together. For any man that has been put off reading pregnancy books because he doesn’t feel he was the intended audience or that something about the tone of these books was alien to him, yet he still has questions that need answers; then The Blokes’ Guide to: Pregnancy is the book he’s been looking for. As a father himself, Jon Smith realized, when his partner Lisa became pregnant that there was nothing out there that he could relate to. The Bloke’s Guide to Pregnancy is the result. Jon takes a comical yet informed look at the ups and downs of life as a father to be. Guaranteed to educate you while making you laugh out loud!

Before you commit your child to a name for life, browse through this book.Feast your imagination on a vast range of choices from the trendy to the traditional, and from the popular to the sophisticated.

You never saw so many ways to christen your baby with style and suitability.

Meaningful names, musical names, mystical names …

You probably know that Natalie means born at Christmas. But would you guess that Vanessa means a butterfly? Or that Thomas signifies a twin? Or that Kenneth is the celtic for handsome?

Enjoy the sounds and meanings of these richly varied names, noting their exotic backgrounds and checking the numerous variations on so many of them.

Your doctor gives you medical advice. Your mother buys you baby clothes. But who can give you the real story when your pregnant.

Your best friends of course- at least, the ones who’ve been through the exhilaration and exhaustion, the agony and ecstasy of pregnancy. Now, four-time-delivery-room veteran Vicki Iovine talks to you the way that only a best friend can- in the book that will go the whole nine months for every mother-to-be. Here is straigh talk about those little things that are too embarassing to ask anyone about, practical tips and hilarious tales on anything pregnant.

The book’s combination of in-depth, illustrated chapters that deal with all aspects of antenatal care, labour and delivery and newborn care, plus highly detailed reference sections on medical treatments and procedures, and its week-by-week look at the developing baby, has led readers to exclaim “Excellent - everything I wanted to know; Fantastic! A real must-have! This is the one you need. Does exactly what it says on the cover!!”. Thoroughly revised to ensure that its coverage of vital subjects such as ultrasound scanning and other screening tests, labour management, maternal disease during pregnancy and infant first aid reflect the latest UK guidelines, “Your Pregnancy Bible” is certain to remain the ideal pregnancy companion for all pregnant women and their partners.

It is 1910 and Maia, tragically orphaned at 13, has been sent from England to start a new life with distant relatives in Manaus, hundreds of miles up the Amazon. She is accompanied by an eccentric and mysterious governess who has secret reasons of her own for making the journey. Both soon discover an exotic world bursting with new experiences in this highly colourful, joyous and award-winning adventure.

My name is Sam. I am eleven years old. I collect stories and fantastic facts. By the time you read this, I will probably be dead. Sam loves facts. He wants to know about UFOs and horror movies and airships and ghosts and scientists, and how it feels to kiss a girl. And because he has leukaemia he wants to know the facts about dying. Sam needs answers to the questions nobody will answer. “Ways To Live Forever” is the first novel from an extraordinarily talented young writer. Funny and honest, it is one of the most powerful and uplifting books you will ever read.

A lyrical and moving tale of a young boy growing up in Africa, and his lifelong friendship with a white lion. “All my life I’ll think you you, I promise I will. I won’t ever forget you.” Bertie rescues an orphaned white lion cub from the African veld. They are inseparable until Bertie is sent to boarding school far away in England and the lion is sold to a circus. Bertie swears that one day they will see one another again, but it is the butterfly lion which ensures that their friendship will never be forgotten.

When Tom is sent to his aunt’s house for the summer he resigns himself to weeks of boredom. Lying awake one night he listens to the grandfather clock in the hall strike every hour. Eleven …Twelve …Thirteen. Thirteen! Tom rushes down the stairs and opens the back door. There, awaiting him, is a beautiful garden. A garden that shouldn’t exist. And there are children in the garden too - are they ghosts? Or is it Tom who is really the ghost …

No-one can ever be like a mother to us. No-one, no-one at all, especially not stupid Frizzy Dizzy Rose. Ruby and Garnet are ten-year-old twins. Identical, they do everything together, especially since their mother died three years earlier. But can being a double act work for ever? When so much around them is changing…

Identical twins Ruby and Garnet are inseparable. They do everything together, and go every where together. They love being twins, and since the death of their mother they have been closer than ever, safe in their little world. But when Dad finds a new girlfriend everything in the twins’ lives is turned upside down–new home, new school, new everything. And gradually, being twins isn’t quite the same anymore.

Jacqueline Wilson’s acclaimed insight and humour focuses on three girls coping with their early teens.

As well as the boyfriend problem, this hilariously entertaining novel touches on the deeper pains associated with the loss of a parent and coming to terms with a new step-parent. Ellie, Magda and Nadine are determined to explore the, as yet uncharted, country of the boyfriend. When best friend Nadine gets a boyfriend, Ellie finds herself saying that she’s got one too. Trouble is, he’s the too young, too nerdy and too ugly boy who fell in love with her during her boring holiday in Wales. But when Nadine’s dishy boyfriend starts causing trouble we see just how important girlfriends are and just how lucky Ellie is to have found a boy who is really her friend. An amusing and delightful read by someone who clearly knows what she’s writing about. –Tamsin Palmer  (Amazon review)

“Girls Only!” focuses on the practicalities of periods, the social and personal implications of starting your period, and the physical and emotional developments in puberty. It tells you what happens and when, what you need to know and how to prepare. It answers all the questions girls are dying to ask, but daren’t, in a clear, friendly way, using real-life examples. It’s the perfect first book about periods for girls of primary school age as it provides information at the right level. The tone is positive and reassuring and complemented by quirky illustrations throughout.

Through the use of die-cutting, this book tells the story of the nursery rhyme “The Wheels on the Bus”. The holes in the page are designed to draw the reader on through the book. Beautiful illustrations that will capture your little one’s attention.

Will become a well read and much loved addition to any young childs’ bookshelf

Part of the innovative “Baby Touch” range, this colourful book has tactiles on every spread and a sound button for noisy fun and interactive play.

Fantastic, robust, tactile book with lots of different textures for little hands to explore, which also plays a tune. Beautifully illustrated.

Babies love looking at other babies. This board book has a collection of baby photographs along with rhyming text and a surprise mirror.

This book has a short series of black and white photos of babies teamed with simple rhyming text on contrasting coloured pages plus a mirror at the end so the baby can see him/herself. This is one of the first books that will hold your childs attention and have you both laughing all the way through.

A great start to a book collection for any child.

A beautifully written book that has remained a firm favourite for years.  If you know a little someone who is afraid of the dark, then this book will cure them.

The story is about a young barn owl called Plop, who has the same problem. The plot is divided into seven little chapters (read one per night until cured). Each one is a satisfying tale in which Plop learns something new about the dark each night: dark is exciting, dark is kind, dark is fun, dark is necessary, dark is fascinating, dark is wonderful … and dark is beautiful. Plop isn’t convinced immediately, but by the seventh night he’s looking at the dark through new eyes!

It has been loved by children for generations - and will doubtless continue to be a firm favourite!

“The princess may try seven times to escape. By changing her colour and changing her shape.” But, each time Princess Camellia changes - into a blue fish, a yellow chick, a red fox or a black cat - the wicked wizard finds her and sets her another horrible task. Will this plucky princess be able to outwit him and escape back to the palace in time to cut her birthday cake?

Everyone knows that tyrannosauruses are big and scary, so when a placid duckbill dinosaur’s egg ends up in the wrong nest confusion is sure to ensue! When the baby dinosaur hatches out, he’s so out of place that his grisly big sisters call him Tyrannosaurus Drip. Poor little Drip: all he wants is a quiet life munching on water weed …Another winner from the author of “The Gruffalo”.

One night, young Tom is awoken by noises outside his house. He peeps out of the window and what should he see but PIRATES. And stranger still - they’re GIRL PIRATES stealing the front of his house! Tom joins their pirate adventure across the high seas to an island where some rather lazy and silly grown-up pirates are guarding their treasure. But not very successfully. Tom and the girl-pirates make a surprise attack and are soon off on the seas once more with the treasure!

Gerald was a tall giraffe Whose neck was long and slim, But his knees were awfully bandy And his legs were rather thin…

Every year Gerald dreads the great Jungle Dance, and feels ashamed that he cannot tango and two-step with the rest of the jungle animals. But then one day he realises that it doesn’t matter that he is different from everyone else–its just that he needs a different tune to dance to.

Written in rhyme by the award winning author Giles Andreae, it has a stealth and humour that makes it perfect for reading aloud. Giraffes Can’t Dance is a nifty little story that children and adults will love to read time and time again.

Following on from the hugely successful PETS and FARM, this well-researched cloth book has been developed to appeal to babies from birth. The mix of high-contrast images, crinkly pages and mirror will stimulate baby’s senses and make this a perfect first introduction to books. Babies love looking at faces and will find the friendly animal images and patterns fascinating. The book also has a strap, so it can be attached to cots or buggies, and very simple text to help parents discuss the images with baby. It’s never too early to give baby the gift of books.

“Aliens love underpants, in every shape and size, But there are no underpants in space, so here’s a big surprise…” You probably thought aliens came down to Earth with a view to taking over the planet - but, no, they simply want to steal your pants! This zany, hilarious tale, delightfully brought to life by Ben Cort’s vibrant illustrations, is sure to enchant and amuse the whole family. With a madcap, rhyming text, perfect for joining in, this story is fantastically fresh and funny - you’ll laugh your pants off!

So much is crammed into such a small area, from the lake hidden in a wooded valley to the open meadows, offering views across the oldest woodland in Bedfordshire.

People come here all year round to relax or watch the wildlife. The main walk around the lake is suitable for wheelchairs and buggies. (One wheelchair is available from the Centre)

Come for a summer’s evening walk and marvel at the bats and sounds of the park.

A parking charge of £1 is payable between 10am-6pm and a cafe is open between 9am-8pm.

For more information please contact: 01525 237760

Directions: North-west of Heath Reach on the Great Brichill road.

One of the highest points in Bedfordshire, with views of Sharpenhoe Clappers, this Country Park is a picturesque mixture of beech and ash woodland and steeply wooded coombes.

Managed in partnership with the National Trust, it is also a Site of Special Scientific Interest and it comes within the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, with the John Bunyan Trail passing through it.

There is a car park, a small picnic area and some interesting walks.

For more information please call:  01582 608489

Directions:  5 miles north of Luton between Upper Sundon and Harlington.

This nature reserve lies close to the River Ivel in the village of Langford. It is made up of a variety of habitats including grassland, scrub, ditch and pond and is an ideal location for walking and wildlife watching.

Directions: 3 miles south of Biggleswade on the A6001. There is no car park, but the site can be reached on foot from the A6001 south of Langford, via the footbridge from Langford High Street, from the end of Mill Lane, Langford.

The picnic site at Brogborough Hill on the edge of the Marston Vale Community Forest, has beautiful views over Marston Vale and gives access to woodland walks through Reynold and Hulcote Woods.

A permanent orienteering course is set up throughout these woods.

For more information contact The Forest Office; Tel: 01234 767037

Directions: Off the A421 close to Junction 13 of the M1

In the heart of the Marston Vale Community Forest, this former clay pit is now managed as a Country Park.  The lake attracts a rich variety of birds, particularly in winter.   Water sports also take place on the lake.

For further details Tel: 01234 767751 

Directions:  Off the A421 between Bedford and Junction 13 of the M1

Follows 2 miles of the Bedford-Northampton Railway.

Access to footpaths, circular route walk taking in Oakley Bridge and Weir

Ample Parking

For more information tel:  01234 720016 

206 acres of open country.  lake and river walks, angling and wildlife conservation areas.  Visitor Centre, including ‘Wildlife Shop’.

Open Mondays to Fridays:  9.00am - 4.00pm
Sundays:  2.00pm - 4.30pm

Ample Parking

For more information please call the Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire Wildlife Trust: 01234 364213 

July 10, 2008 to July 19, 2008

One of the largest performing arts festivals in Eastern England!

Held in various venues across Bedford during the 10th - 19th July, Bedfringe is host to over 54 individual performances. Involving many local schools Bedfringe gives children in our region a unique opportunity to perform on its stage.

For more details please see www.bedfringe.com

or contact Bedford Central Box Office, The Harpur Suite, Harpur Street, Bedford, MK40 1LE

Tel: 01234 269519

Help and support for mums who are breastfeeding

Venue: Flitwick Clinic, The Highlands, Flitwick, Bedford, MK45 1DZ
When: Every Thursday
Time: Between 2pm to 4pm

Tel: 01525 631199

Help and support for mums who are breastfeeding

Venue: Shefford Health Centre, Iveldale Drive, Shefford, Bedfordshire, SG17 5AU
When: Every Wednesday
Time: Between 2pm to 4pm

Tel: 01462 814899

Help and support for mums who are breastfeeding

Venue: Queens Park Neighbourhood Centre, Marlborough Road, Queens Park, Bedford, MK40 4LE
When: Every Tuesday
Time: Between 1:30pm to 3.30pm

Tel: 01234 276744

July 6, 2008 1:00 pm to 7:00 pm

A lovely family day out for all. This years Festival Parade starts at 12:15pm from Station Road, via Dunstable Street & Woburn Street to Ampthill Park and is themed on ‘The Movies’

The Gala Day starts at 1pm with arena acts between 1.15pm to 5pm and music acts between 1.30pm to 7pm. You will also find fairground rides, a licensed bar, charity stalls and much much more.

Venue: Ampthill Park, Ampthill, Bedfordshire

Tickets: FREE

October 31, 2008 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm November 1, 2008 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm

Dare to take a woodland walk to discover the myths and legends of Halloween.

Booking is essential and all childrens must be accompanied by an adult. Please bring a tourch.

Venue: RSPB The Lodge Nature Reserve, Sandy, Bedfordshire SG19 2DL

Tickets: £3 Adults (RSPB members £2), £2 Children (RSPB Wildlife Explorers £1)

To book please call: 01767 680541

August 9, 2008 10:00 am to 10:00 pm

The Original Flying Proms Concert is well established as one of the regions premier outdoor concerts. Now in its eleventh year, the concert is held in the beautiful and historic setting of the world famous Shuttleworth Collection of historic aeroplanes. The combination of rare and unique vintage aeroplanes flying in time to a full 50 piece orchestra is one not to be missed.

The evening concludes with spectacular firework finale.

Venue: Shuttleworth (Old Warden) Aerodrome, Old Warden, Bedfordshire, SG18 9EP

Tickets if purchased upto 30th June: £23 Adult, £13 Child
Tickets if purchased 01/07-08/08: £26 Adult, £16 Child
Tickets purchased on the day: £35 Adult, £20 Child

Access to the site from 10am, Proms concert begins at 7pm and ends at 10pm

For more information please call: 01767 627933

September 13, 2008 9:00 am to September 14, 2008 5:00 pm

Bringing the countryside to life; The Steam and Country Fayre. Steam traction engines, old time fairground, vintage vehicles, morris dancing, trade stalls, aerobatic display, plus much much more!
Venue: Old Warden Park, Old Warden, Bedfordshire, SG18 9EA

Tickets: £12 Adults, £8 Senior Citizens, £5 Child (under 5’s free)
includes FREE admission to the Shuttleworth Collection, Bird of Prey Centre & Swiss Garden

Gates open 9am on both days

All enquiries to Paul Worby 01462 851711

May 25, 2008 10:00 am to May 26, 2008 5:30 pm

The 14th Wrest Park Garden Show is back for 2008 and promises to be bigger and better than ever before!

Choose from a wide selection of quality plants, sundries, garden furniture, crafts all in the enchanting setting of Wrest Park. A wonderful day out for the whole family.

Venue: Wrest Park, Silsoe, Bedfordshire, MK45 4HR

Tickets: £6.50 Adults, £5.50 Senior Citizens, £4.50 Child (under 5’s free)

Contact telephone number:  01234 345725 / 0870 333 1183

August 23, 2008 10:00 am to August 25, 2008 5:30 pm

Back for the 19th year, artist, designers and makers from all over the country exhibiting their work for sales in the idyllic setting of Wrest Park Gardens.

A truely wonderful day out for the whole family.

Venue: Wrest Park, Silsoe, Bedfordshire, MK45 4HR

Tickets: £6.50 Adults, £5.50 Senior Citizens, £4.50 Child (under 5’s free)
50% reduction for English Heritage Members

Saturday 23 Aug 08 to Monday 25 Aug 08   (10:00am - 17:30pm)

August 3, 2008 6:00 pm to 10:30 pm

A non stop party of classic Soul hits. Live on stage the music of The Four Tops, The Temptations with special guest artists Imagination featuring Lee John, Heatwave, Alexander O’Neal, Ultimate Earth Wind and Fire and Gwen Dickey’s Rose Royce.

Venue: Bedford Park, Bedford, MK41 7TD
Gates open at 18:00, programme starts at 19:30

Tickets: £30 Adult, £12 Child (under 5’s free)

Full details are available at www.easternbreeze.co.uk or telephone the ticket hotline on: 0870 842 2230

August 2, 2008 6:00 pm to 11:00 pm

One of Bedford’s most popular family events returns for its 15th year to Bedford Park on 2nd August 2008.

The 2008 programme will see performances of popular classics from The London Gala Orchestra, Bedford Choral Society and stunning suprano Juliette Pochin, all led by conductor Stephen Bell. The evening ends with one of Bedfordshire’s most spectactular firework and laser shows, with 2008 promising to be bigger and more amazing than ever before!

Held in the beautiful surroundings of Bedford Park this really is an event for the whole family. Bring a picnic, blanket and sit back and relax. The atmosphere alone is worth the money!

Venue: Bedford Park, Bedford, MK41 7TD

Gates open: 6:00pm - arrive early and enjoy a picnic
There will be a thirty minute interval during the evening

Tickets £30 Adult, £15 Child (discounts available for early bookers) Children under 5 are free

Full details are available at www.easternbreeze.co.uk or telephone the ticket hotline on 0870 842 2230

Address: 2 Ram Yard Bedford MK40 1AL
Tel: 01234 216799
Web: www.bedfordkiln.co.uk

Fire your imagination……

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May 30, 2008 to June 1, 2008

Once again the Bedford Kite Festival is attracting some of the best kite flyers from around the world for their fantastic event held in Russell Park.

One of the best family days out, with craft stalls, slides and of course kites! Lots of them!

Not to be missed and new for the 2008 programme a fantastic addition of hot-air ballons will be setting down from 6pm on Saturday 1st June.

Venue:  Russell Park, Bedford, Bedfordshire

Cost of entry:  FREE