Hop along to Dobbies’ Edinburgh store this Easter

Garden Centre invites families along to a series of brand-new Easter events

Dobbies Garden Centres is welcoming families and four-legged friends to hop along and get set for spring at its brand-new Easter-themed events, taking place at its Edinburgh store.

Families can book a brand-new Easter Bunny Afternoon Tea, taking place on Monday 21 April.

Children can tuck into a selection of freshly made bunny shaped sandwiches, filled with jam, cheddar cheese, ham, and tuna mayonnaise.

They can also enjoy Dobbies’ famous scones, served with Cornish clotted cream and a pot of jam, and a delicious selection of sweet treats, including a mini doughnut, gingerbread man and a waffle finger with dipping chocolate and sugar strands & chocolate chip toppings.

For £8.75, adults can select a hot drink of filter coffee or tea, plus a slice of triple chocolate cake, coffee and walnut cake or Persian lemon cake. And for £16, adults can enjoy Afternoon Tea – three tiers of delicious sweet and savoury treats.

After everyone has eaten, children will seek out the Easter Bunny, who will be hopping about the Edinburgh store, and get involved in spring inspired activities and games including the bunny hop relay.

They’ll then enjoy a hands-on planting experience, learning how to grow their very own lettuce. During the event, children will also be given a mini Malteser chocolate bunny.

Also new for this year, Dobbies’ Edinburgh store is hosting its Hopping Hounds event. Dogs will get the chance to sniff out an Easter egg trail around the store before receiving an Easter themed toy and money off vouchers for the garden centre and restaurant.

There will also be photograph opportunities with the Easter Bunny to have a keepsake of the experience.

Customers will be able to add a donation while booking the event, helping with Dogs Trust’s mission of caring for, rehabilitating, and rehoming thousands of dogs every year. The event is priced at £12.50 per dog.

Well behaved dogs on a lead are warmly welcomed in the Edinburgh store and in a dedicated area of the restaurant if paw-rents are hoping to make a day of it. Explore the fantastic range of pet products at Dobbies, with everything from healthy treats and dog attire to terrific toys.

Customers can also take part in Dobbies’ monthly social media competition, Dogs at Dobbies, by posting a picture and using the hashtag #dogsatdobbies to be in a chance of winning a gift voucher.

Back by popular demand this year is also the Easter Bunny Breakfast, taking place on Friday 18, Saturday 19 and Sunday 20 April, is a great opportunity to gather the whole family for a fun-filled morning.

Families at the Edinburgh store can get stuck into an egg-cellent breakfast, with children and adults having the choice of a traditional cooked breakfast, a vegetarian breakfast or a breakfast roll.

Children can also opt for a continental breakfast of croissant, jam, yoghurt and banana. Kids will have the choice of an apple juice, orange juice or water, and adults will be able to choose from a pot of tea or regular coffee.

After everyone has eaten, children will seek out the Easter Bunny, and take part in the same themed activities as for the Afternoon Tea.

Tickets are priced at £8.75 for adults and £11.99 for children.

Dobbies’ Events Programme Manager, Ayesha Nickson, is excited to welcome families along to the in-store activities this Easter. She said: “We’re looking forward to launching our new Afternoon Tea event in our Edinburgh store, bringing an alternative option to families, and a nice activity for grandparents to get involved in.

“Our Easter Bunny Breakfast is always popular with families across the country and is a great way to bring everyone together for a morning of seasonal fun, packed full of activities to keep the kids entertained.

“Dog events are becoming increasingly popular for dog owners to spoil their pooches, and we can’t wait to see welcome our four-legged friends for a fun event this Easter.”

For more information about the Easter events and participating stores, visit:

 www.dobbies.com/events.

Easter trails at Lauriston Castle

On #GoodFriday , Saturday and Easter Monday we have some FREE #Easter & Nature trails at Lauriston Castle. Pop along and pick up the trails & solve a puzzle to get some chocolate eggs.

Between 11am-4pm. In front of Castle.

#EasterWeekend

Details here: https://www.edinburghmuseums.org.uk/family-fun-lauriston…

The Centre Livingston unveils Easter plans

INCLUDING A FIRST-EVER WICKED MOVIE SING-A-LONG EVENT!

This Easter, The Centre, Livingston is hosting a variety of activities for children, including a first-ever Wicked Sing-a-long Movie Night, with all profits going to Children’s Hospices Across Scotland, CHAS, free arts and crafts and storytelling sessions and back by popular demand, football sessions, in partnership with West Lothian Youth Foundation.

The first-of-its-kind Wicked Sing-a-long event will take place in the shopping centre, after hours, on Saturday, 12th April, with tickets costing £10 plus booking fee and all profits going to the charity, CHAS, which provides the only hospice services in Scotland for children and young people with life-shortening conditions.

On the night there will also be free painting and everyone attending is welcome to dress up as their favourite Wicked character. 

From Saturday, 5th until Friday, 11th April, The Centre, Livingston will also be running free football sessions, in partnership with West Lothian Youth Foundation, who are back by popular demand following their pop-up last summer, which was a big hit with young avid footballers and parents too!  The free sessions will take place each day from 12 – 4pm next to Waterstones. 

The aim of West Lothian Community Foundation is to use football as an activity to promote the educational and health development of people of all ages in the community, with particular emphasis on targeting those who are less engaged with sporting activities, to help them reach their full potential.

There will also be a host of free activities in the Easter Garden beside New Look from the 14th until the 20th April at 11am – 4pm, featuring a cherry blossom tree, giant daffodil, colourful eggs and bunnies. Kids can join interactive storytelling sessions every day at 11am and 3pm and take part in arts and crafts, including floral wreath making and plant potting. They can also enjoy super-sized games like 4 in a Row.

Tess Sundberg, Marketing Manager at The Centre, Livingston, said: “We are really looking forward to running our activities for families this Easter, including the first-ever Wicked Movie Sing-a-long, which is guaranteed to be great fun!

“It is also fantastic to be partnering with the local charity, West Lothian Youth Foundation again as their pop-up last year was really popular, resulting in lots of enquiries since to get them back in again.”

Zhenya Dove, Community Fundraiser at CHAS, said: “We are so grateful to The Centre, Livingston and everyone taking part in this incredible Wicked Sing-a-long Movie Night. 

“Knowing that families will come together for a night of music and fun while also helping us bring moments of happiness to children with life-shortening conditions – means the world to us. 

“Every ticket sold, every song sung helps us continue our vital work supporting families across Scotland. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you.”

Graham Jarvis from West Lothian Youth Foundation, said: “We are delighted to be partnering with The Centre, Livingston again during the Easter school holidays.

“Our portable pitch will give people the opportunity to practice and improve their football skills, or for younger children, have a go at kicking the ball in the net for the first time. 

“We are really looking forward to it, especially as we had such great fun last year and learned a trick or two ourselves!”

Full details of all activities, check out the website, www.thecentrelivingston.com and @shopthecentre on Facebook and Instagram.

Residents celebrate Easter in style

Staff and residents at Barchester’s Strachan House care home in Blackhall celebrated Easter with a whole host of different activities including an Easter Egg Hunt, hatching duck eggs, afternoon Easter tea for the residents and local community and Easter baking sessions.

Good Friday saw residents at Strachan House enjoy an eggs-tensive range of Easter activities, from an Easter Bonnet parade, egg painting and rolling, to enjoying live entertainment.

Easter Sunday saw residents also tuck in to a delicious tradional Easter lunch prepared by the home’s head chef Paul Gow after hosting a wonderful Easter egg hunt in the beautiful gardens of Strachan House. And if there was any more room from all that chocolate then there was an afternoon tea to relax with amongst family and friends!

General Manager Gordon Philp said “As always, we’ve all been looking forward to Easter. It’s such a lovely time of year – the residents love all the colourful Easter eggs and huge selection of Easter themed activities we had on offer.

“It’s really been an eggs-cellent few days!” 

Muriel who is 102 years old and a resident at Strachan House said: “It has been so lovely to spend time with our families and friends this Easter, though like every Easter, I think I’ve eaten too much chocolate!

” It was so wonderful to see everyone go to so much effort. I have really enjoyed having the ducks hatch and spending time playing with them”

Our varied life enrichment programme keeps residents active, and provides a daily choice of engaging physical, mental and spiritual activities tailored to residents’ interests and abilities. 

Strachan House is run by Barchester Healthcare, one of the UK’s largest care providers, which is committed to delivering high-quality care across its care homes and hospitals. Strachan House provides nursing care, residential care, respite care.

Local Care Home goes quackers at Easter surprise!

 Strachan House care home in Blackhall is full of fluffy mischief on the run up Easter period!

Residents at Strachan House were pleasantly surprised to see 5 duck eggs arrive on the 4th April just in time to see them hatch for Easter. Children and relatives all throughout the day watched with the residents together as they witnessed the tiny lives come into the world.

Mandy Head of Activities said: “Sharing moments like these together on an intergenerational level is so touching.

“Making and sharing memories young and old is something we cherish here at Strachan House” 

General Manager Gordon Philp said: “Our residents have really enjoyed their unusual visitors at Strachan House.  We knew that having the hatchlings here would be a bit of fun for all our residents, especially as some find it difficult to go on many outings in our minibus. 

“We are always looking for new activities for the residents and over the Easter period we have seen the enjoyment and the therapeutic influence that the ducks have had on our residents. We can’t wait to see them grow.”

Resident Alex Laird was very excited and touched by watching the ducklings hatch: “As a child I used to love all the animals on the nearby farm.

“Easter has been so very enjoyable so far and it has been wonderful to be part of something special watching new little lives come into the world at Easter.”

Strachan House care home is run by Barchester Healthcare, one of the UK’s largest care providers, which is committed to delivering personalised care across its care home’s and hospitals. 

Strachan House provides residential care, nursing care and dementia care for 83 residents from respite care to long term stays.

Easter activities at Fort Kinnaird

With the Easter holidays upon us, Fort Kinnaird has announced a host of Easter activities to help keep the kids entertained.

From Easter-themed craft workshops at Hobbycraft to meeting small animals at Pets at Home – there’s something for everyone.

Meet small animals at Pets at Home

Pets at Home is running free pet workshops for kids in store from Saturday 1st – Sunday 16th April.

The 30-minute My Pet Pals sessions help to educate kids about responsible pet care and how to keep animals happy and healthy.

Children will have the chance to meet a range of small animals and learn how to look after them through a range of interactive activities, including making a foraging box for little furry friends. Book your free space here.

Get crafty at Hobbycraft

Hobbycraft is hosting a number of Easter-themed workshops throughout the break for kids to enjoy.

This includes clay making, designing Easter bonnets, and making their own Easter bunnies. Each session is hosted by one of Hobbycraft’s experts and has a small cost from £5 for the materials. To book a session, visit Hobbycraft’s website.

Watch the latest blockbusters at Odeon

With seven state-of-the-art screens, Odeon is showing the latest blockbusters this Easter break and adult tickets are priced at £3.25, the same as a child, for selected morning showings.

Top family picks include the highly anticipated Super Mario Bros. Movie which is out on 7th April, as well as Mummies and Little Bear’s Big Trip.

Pick up Easter activities to do at home

Hobbycraft, Wilko, Typo and WH Smith all have an array of crafting materials and ideas to keep the kids occupied at home. From painting Easter eggs and making Easter baskets to designing cards and hosting Easter egg hunts, there’s something for all ages to get stuck into.

Grab a bite to eat

Fort Kinnaird has a wide selection of family-friendly restaurants, so whether the kids want to tuck into Italian staples at Pizza Express or burgers at Bread Meats Bread, there’s something for all taste buds.

And at Fridays kids can eat for free during the Easter holidays, choosing from one of the restaurant’s kids meals when dining with an adult who’s a Rewards Member.

For more information on what’s on at Fort Kinnaird visit: 

https://www.fortkinnaird.com/

Get egg-cited at Dalkeith Country Park

Dalkeith Country Park launches its Easter events and activity programme 1st – 16th April 2023

FREE PICTURE: Dalkeith Country Park Easter Fun Activities Launch, Tue 21/03/2023: Getting egg-cited for Dalkeith Country Park’s Easter programme of events – Dalkeith Country Park launches its Easter events and activity programme 1 to 16 April 2023: Dalkeith Country Park’s Easter programme has launched with a huge variety of family events and activities. Including egg hunting, craft workshops, Fort Douglas (playwark) adventures, Bunny Fun Runs and the very first Dalkeith Country Park Duck Race along the River Esk. Pictured chasing the Dalkeith Country Park Easter bunny are (from left) Juliette Thomson (aged seven and from North Berwick), Phoebe Watkins (aged seven), Sadie Watkins (aged four), Alexandra Thomson (aged 11) and Elijah Mitchell (aged nine). (all children pictured with parental permission). More information in accompanying Press Release, visit www.dalkeithcountrypark.co.uk or from: Amy Redmond, Content & PR Executive, Dalkeith Country Park – 07920 839 344 – aredmond@dalkeithcountrypark.co.uk Photography for Dalkeith Country Park from: Colin Hattersley Photography – www.colinhattersley.com – cphattersley@gmail.com – 07974 957 388.

Dalkeith Country Park’s Easter programme has officially launched with a huge variety of family events & activities. Create the ultimate Easter holiday day-out filled with egg hunting, craft workshops, Fort Douglas adventures, Bunny Fun Runs and the very first Dalkeith Country Park Duck Race. 

The programme launches with the amazing Duck Race along the River Esk, kicking off the Easter holidays. Families can then head out on the Golden Egg Hunt and search The Park for prize winning eggs, or bounce on over to Fort Douglas adventure playground. Finish off the Easter extravaganza hopping off all those chocolate eggs along the 1k or 5k Bunny Fun Run.

The Fort Douglas adventure park hosts an Easter activity area. Little adventurers are invited to hop on in and take part in the scavenger hunt, down slides, along wobbly bridges and flying down zip lines to collect a chocolatey prize. Once the hunt is done, join the bunny helpers to get creative and decorate eggs to hang on the Fort Douglas Easter tree. Children should keep eyes and ears open for an extra special guest who may just hop on in to say hello. 

FREE PICTURE: Dalkeith Country Park Easter Fun Activities Launch, Tue 21/03/2023: Getting egg-cited for Dalkeith Country Park’s Easter programme of events – Dalkeith Country Park launches its Easter events and activity programme 1 to 16 April 2023: Dalkeith Country Park’s Easter programme has launched with a huge variety of family events and activities. Including egg hunting, craft workshops, Fort Douglas (playwark) adventures, Bunny Fun Runs and the very first Dalkeith Country Park Duck Race along the River Esk. Pictured with the Dalkeith Country Park Easter bunny are Sadie Watkins (aged four) with Elijah Mitchell (aged nine). (children pictured with parental permission). More information in accompanying Press Release, visit www.dalkeithcountrypark.co.uk or from: Amy Redmond, Content & PR Executive, Dalkeith Country Park – 07920 839 344 – aredmond@dalkeithcountrypark.co.uk Photography for Dalkeith Country Park from: Colin Hattersley Photography – www.colinhattersley.com – cphattersley@gmail.com – 07974 957 388.

And that’s not all! Restoration Yard will play host to an abundance of workshops for both adults and children. Adults can try their hand at the art of decoupage, creating a beautiful set of six hanging decorations or their very own unique plant pot. Scotts Apothecary are running a Spring Candle Making workshop, producing bespoke hand-poured candles that pack a blissful punch. 

Easter workshops for little ones include Spring Storytelling, Easter Cookie Decorating and Easter Craft Workshops. Parents can indulge in some well-deserved ‘me-time’ in The Kitchen or The Store, while little ones enjoy the workshops. 

Dalkeith Country Park’s Easter programme begins on Saturday 01 April with events, activities and workshops running throughout the Easter holidays until Sunday 16 April.

FREE PICTURE: Dalkeith Country Park Easter Fun Activities Launch, Tue 21/03/2023: Getting egg-cited for Dalkeith Country Park’s Easter programme of events – Dalkeith Country Park launches its Easter events and activity programme 1 to 16 April 2023: Dalkeith Country Park’s Easter programme has launched with a huge variety of family events and activities. Including egg hunting, craft workshops, Fort Douglas (playwark) adventures, Bunny Fun Runs and the very first Dalkeith Country Park Duck Race along the River Esk. With the Dalkeith Country Park Easter bunny are (from left) Elijah Mitchell (aged nine), Sadie Watkins (aged four) and Alexandra Thomson (aged 11) (all children picxtured with parental permission). More information in accompanying Press Release, visit www.dalkeithcountrypark.co.uk or from: Amy Redmond, Content & PR Executive, Dalkeith Country Park – 07920 839 344 – aredmond@dalkeithcountrypark.co.uk Photography for Dalkeith Country Park from: Colin Hattersley Photography – www.colinhattersley.com – cphattersley@gmail.com – 07974 957 388.

Dalkeith Country Park Easter Events Programme 

EventDate(s)Booking Link
Fort Douglas Easter Activity AreaSaturday 01 – Sunday 16 Aprwww.dalkeithcountrypark.co.uk/event/fort-douglas-easter-activities/ 
Dalkeith Country Park Duck RaceSaturday 01 Aprwww.dalkeithcountrypark.co.uk/event/duck-race/ 
Golden Egg Hunt Saturday 01 – Sunday 16 Aprwww.dalkeithcountrypark.co.uk/event/golden-egg-hunt/ 
Spring StorytellingSunday 02 Apr – Saturday 15 Aprwww.dalkeithcountrypark.co.uk/event/spring-storytelling/ 
Kids’ Easter Cookie WorkshopSunday 02 Apr – Friday 14 Aprwww.dalkeithcountrypark.co.uk/event/kids-easter-cookie-decorating-workshops/ 
Easter Decoration WorkshopMonday 03 Aprwww.dalkeithcountrypark.co.uk/event/easter-decoration-workshop/ 
Kids’ Easter Craft WorkshopTuesday 04 Apr – Tuesday 11 Aprwww.dalkeithcountrypark.co.uk/event/kids-easter-craft-workshops/ 
Spring Plant Pot WorkshopWednesday 05 Aprwww.dalkeithcountrypark.co.uk/event/spring-plant-pot-workshop/ 
Spring Candle Making WorkshopMonday 10 Aprwww.dalkeithcountrypark.co.uk/event/spring-candle-making-workshop/ 
Easter Bunny Fun RunSunday 16 Aprwww.dalkeithcountrypark.co.uk/event/easter-bunny-fun-run/ 

To book online, visit:

Easter Events Calendar – www.dalkeithcountrypark.co.uk/events/