Garden centre celebrates Random Acts of Kindness with free children’s event
Families in Edinburgh will have the chance to take part in Dobbies’ free February Holiday Workshop, keeping children aged 4-10 years busy during the half term.
The February holiday workshop is taking place in Dobbies’ Edinburgh store throughout half term. This fun-fuelled workshop is centred around Random Acts of Kindness, a celebration that takes place on Saturday 17 February, encouraging everyone to be extra kind to one another and go above and beyond to brighten someone’s day.
Children will come together in a friendly group setting at its Edinburgh store to delve into the history of this celebration and learn about the joys of kindness.
Dobbies’ colleagues will detail what it means to be kind, why kindness is important, how it can make people feel, and all the ways we can be kind to others, to nature and to ourselves.
Spotlighting random acts of kindness in the garden, Dobbies is showcasing all the different ways children can care for the planet. From making a bug hotel, feeding birds or planting pollinating flowers to help bumblebees thrive to picking up litter or making compost, there’s plenty of ways to be kind.
In addition to being kind to others, Little Seedlings in Edinburgh will be encouraged to be kind to themselves by fuelling their bodies with healthy food, doing things they love, sharing feelings and most importantly, being proud of themselves. Kids will also have the chance to create their own sunshine thank you card to put a smile on someone’s face.
Dobbies’ Little Seedlings Club Workshop Leader, Liz Savage, is looking forward to welcoming kids along to the February Holiday Workshop.
She said: “School holidays are a great chance to ignite a passion for a hobby or try something new. This workshop will allow kids to come together and learn, making friends along the way.
“Our Little Seedings Club is designed to engage and support local communities near our Edinburgh store by providing accessible, free of charge fun and educational activities.”
For more information about February’s Holiday Workshop and to make a booking, visit dobbies.com/events
As many families continue to tighten their belts, planning cheap accessible days out in Scotland is now easier than ever with the new Rough Guide to Accessible Britain. The Guide is available to read and download online for free now at www.accessibleguide.co.uk.
Packed with over 200 reviews of attractions across the UK, the guide features many free attractions, including Glenmore Forest Park and the Callanish Standing Stones, the Rough Guide to Accessible Britain is an ideal planning tool to enjoy an inclusive day out.
In the heart of the Cairngorms Mountains, around six miles east of Aviemore, Glenmore Forest Park boasts one of Scotland’s few remaining tracts of ancient Caledonian pine forest. It is the site of Loch Morlich, whose long, golden beach is the highest in Britain.
There’s free blue badge parking, and two accessible trials to enjoy. The shorter 1.5-mile-long Beach Trail takes you along the edge of Loch Morlich and is accessible for mobility scooter or electric wheelchair users, while manual wheelchair users may require assistance at steeper sections.
On the banks of the River Clyde, the Riverside Museum, Scotland’s Museum of Transport and Travel, is a vibrant celebration of Glasgow’s importance as a transport innovator. Its collection of vintage and modern vehicles includes trams, busses, locomotives, motorbikes, and cars.
Much thought has been given to accessibility, with plenty of accessible parking spots, a drop off point, lowered welcome desk and two accessible lifts to the exhibits. Many exhibits are there to be touched to help enhanced the exhibit, allowing for an interactive experience for everyone.
A neolithic marvel in a wild landscape, the Callanish Standing Stones on the remote Isle of Lewis are older than the Pyramids, and rival Stonehenge for historic and acarological importance. Unlike many other ancient monuments, you are encouraged to touch the stones and roam around this atmospheric place. A car park with level access to the site provides easy access to the stones.
The refreshed, ninth edition of the Guide highlights venues that have gone the extra mile to make themselves accessible. Encouraging people to discover the best parts of the UK, the detailed reviews in the Guide are designed to empower anyone with a physical, mental health or cognitive condition to enjoy an accessible day out.
The Rough Guide to Accessible Britain has been created in partnership with Motability Operations Ltd, the company behind the Motability Scheme. The Motability Scheme enables over 650,000 customers to get on the road and the Guide supports the ethos of empowering disabled people to enjoy everyday freedom.
A new, refreshed ninth edition of The Rough Guide to Accessible Britain is now available via accessibleguide.co.uk.
National Museum of Scotland Chambers Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1JF Open 10:00–17:00 daily
Half Term: Galleries and Galaxies 13 – 18 Feb 2023 Grand Gallery Free, drop in Orbit around our out-of-this-world Space themed activities. Make a space monster at our craft station and drop by our Spark Cart for some intergalactic demos and object handling.
Madlab Electronic Workshops 13 – 14 Feb 2023 (various times) Studio One £15, Child 7 -14 £13.50, Members & Concessions Solder your own flashing alien or Space Screwdriver with Madlab. Learn the secrets of soldering, find out how electrical circuits work and make your own electronic gizmo to keep.
Pop up Planetarium Shows 17 – 18 Feb 2023 Event Space 10:30, 11:15, 12:00, 13:30, 14:15, 15:00 £2.50, Adult £2.00, Members & Concessions £2.00, Child 0 – 14 years Be amazed by the wonder of Space in these spectacular shows from Cosmos planetarium. Cosmos planetarium is a state of the art, fully digital, 360° immersive multi-media experience. There will be three exciting shows to choose from, one specifically for under 5s and the other two shows suitable for 5+. One of the shows will be a relaxed session suitable for children with additional support needs.
National Museum of Scotland Chambers Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1JF Open 10:00–17:00 daily
Bernat Klein: Design in Colour Until 23 Apr 2023 Exhibition Gallery 2, Level 3 Free entry Marking the centenary of his birth, Bernat Klein: Design in Colour will celebrate the work of the influential émigré textile designer. Visitors will be able to explore Klein’s creative process and varied career, from providing couture fabrics for fashion designers to his influence on modernist architecture and interior design in the UK and Scandinavia
Doctor Who Worlds of Wonder Until 1 May 2023 Ticketed (concessions available) Doctor Who Worlds of Wonder features eight zones filled with immersive, hands-on experiences. Travel through the Time Vortex Corridor, discover Sonic Screwdrivers, teleportation technology and much more in a TARDIS Tech room, and get up close with some of the series’ weird and wonderful creatures in the Monster Vault.
Join us for the Scottish premiere of this ground-breaking exhibition. It’s bigger on the inside!
COMING SOON Beyond the Little Black Dress 1 Jul – 29 Oct 2023 Special Exhibition Gallery, Level 3 Ticketed (concessions available) From design classics to cutting-edge catwalk creations, this exhibition deconstructs the little black dress and examines the radical power of the colour black in fashion.
The exhibition will chart a century of fashion in a series of themed, immersive displays. Iconic early pieces by Yves Saint Laurent, Dior and Jean Muir will be juxtaposed with recent looks by ground-breaking contemporary designers and brands like Gareth Pugh, Simone Rocha and Off-White.
Japanese Contemporary Design Until 30 Jul 2023 Exhibition Gallery 3, Level 1 Free entry From striking statement jewellery to prints and porcelain vases, this new free display considers how Japanese contemporary makers have combined innovative and traditional art, craft and design elements over the past five decades.
The star object is Hitomi Hosono’s A Large Pine Tree Pool, a sculptural porcelain bowl with complex hand-carving made and acquired in 2019. Further highlights include Junko Mori’s intricate New Pinecone Silver Organism, and colourful body adornments by jeweller Suō Emiko’s adapted from metalworking and engraving techniques traditionally used in the making of Japanese sword fittings.
National Museum of Scotland Chambers Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1JF Open 10:00–17:00, daily
Relaxed Morning 5 Feb 2023 10:00 – 12:00 (quiet space open until 12:30) Join us for our monthly Relaxed Morning for anyone who would appreciate a calmer visit to the museum. This session is primarily for, but not limited to, families with autistic children; autistic young people and adults; adults living with dementia; adults and children with mental health problems; and any other visitors with sensory needs or who may prefer a more relaxed experience, plus their families, friends and carers.
Gaelic Week Edinburgh 22 – 25 Feb 2023 Enjoy live music and storytelling during Gaelic Week | Edinburgh at the National Museum of Scotland. Running from 20-26 February, the wider festival celebrates the theme of “Coming Together / A’ Tighinn Còmhla”, inspired by post-pandemic recovery.
A Night of Science and Wonder 2 – 3 Mar 2023 18:30 – 22:30 £18 – £22 including talk and exhibition entry Two exclusive evenings celebrating our Doctor Who Worlds of Wonder exhibition. Our adult-only events will explore the creative innovation and cutting-edge science behind the global hit television series, Doctor Who. Each night will feature an expert perspective on either space science or Doctor Who, plus themed hands-on activities. Tickets also include entry to our Doctor Who Worlds of Wonder exhibition.
Refuge Britain: Stories of Émigré Designers 4 Mar 2023 14:00 – 16:00 Auditorium, Level 1 Age 14+ Ticketed, concessions available Inspired by our exhibition, Bernat Klein: Design in Colour, join curator Lisa Mason and Dr Anna Nyburg to explore the work of revolutionary émigré textile designers, Bernat Klein and Tibor Reich. This event features an exclusive screening of the 2017 documentary film, Refuge Britain: Stories of Émigré Designers. There will also be the chance to view our free exhibition Bernat Klein: Design in Colour before or after the event.
BSL Access Evening – Doctor Who Worlds of Wonder 7 Mar 2023 17:30 – 19:30 Special Exhibition Gallery 1, Level 3 Standard exhibition entry princes apply Join us after hours for a Deaf-led BSL tour of key objects in the Doctor Who Worlds of Wonder exhibition. Step inside the TARDIS to discover the science behind the global hit television series Doctor Who.
Explore hands-on immersive experiences and see amazing props from across the programme’s history in this must-see exhibition.
Bernat Klein: Design Matters 28 Mar 2023 Free, with optional donation Join curator Lisa Mason to discuss the legacy of visionary textile designer Bernat Klein and discover how his design ethos is inspiring designers working today with contemporary designers Kirsty McDougall and Sam Reich to discuss Klein’s legacy as a designer, educator and theorist, as well as his enduring belief in design as a force for good in society.
Audio Described Access Evening – Doctor Who Worlds of Wonder 28 Mar 2023 17:30–19:30 Special Exhibition Gallery 1, Level 3 Standard exhibition entry prices apply Join us after hours for an audio-described tour of key objects in the Doctor Who Worlds of Wonder exhibition. Step inside the TARDIS to discover the science behind the global hit television series Doctor Who. Explore hands-on immersive experiences and see amazing props from across the programme’s history in this must-see exhibition.
Relaxed Access Evening – Doctor Who Worlds of Wonder 18 Apr 2023 17:30–19:30 Special Exhibition Gallery 1, Level 3 Standard exhibition entry prices apply Join us for a relaxed after hours visit to Doctor Who Worlds of Wonder for anyone who would prefer a calmer visit to the exhibition. During this opening, numbers will be reduced and wherever possible, sounds will be lowered and light levels adjusted to provide a more relaxed experience. A quiet, breakout space will also be available. A visual welcome guide will be provided in advance to help you prepare for your visit.
National Museum of Flight East Fortune Airfield, East Lothian, EH39 5LF Open daily 10:00 – 16:00
Operation Sabotage 18 & 19 Mar 2023 Age 14+ event Ticketed The year is 1942 and you are stationed at the RAF base at East Fortune. There has been an act of sabotage and one of the aircraft is unknowingly carrying live ordnance with instructions to bomb the town. Solve a series of fiendish puzzles to call off the flight and save North Berwick! Operation Sabotage is an escape room experience for 4-8 people that lasts up to an hour. Working together as a team, you must race against the clock in two Second World War-themed rooms to decipher the identity of the saboteur before it’s too late.
Test Flight 10 –14 Apr 2023 11:00 –16:00 Follow the Wright brothers and design your own aeroplane, drawing inspiration from the collection at the National Museum of Flight. Nearly 120 years ago the Wright Brothers flew the first powered and controlled aeroplane. Take inspiration from our Civil Aviation collection and make your own flying machine.
Families can test their sea survival skills at the National Museum of Flight this half term. Supported by players of People’s Postcode Lottery, special workshops and activities will take place at the museum in East Lothian on 15 & 16 and 22 & 23 October.
Sea Survival will offer visitors the opportunity to get hands-on and discover skills and equipment used by RAF’s Coastal Command.
Outdoor workshops will teach children aged 7 and up how to survive on a desert island, from safely lighting a fire to bushcraft.
Families can also climb aboard a real-life raft in the Concorde Hangar and handle equipment used by the RAF from the Second World War to the modern day, before exploring the historic airfield and hangars filled with fascinating aircraft and interactive displays.
The support of players of People’s Postcode Lottery means that Sea Survival is free with museum admission.
Steve Mclean, General Manager at the National Museum of Flight, said: “We are delighted to offer free family activities this half term, thanks to the generous support of players of People’s Postcode Lottery.
“We hope our young visitors will enjoy diving into the stories and skills of the RAF’s Coastal Command while exploring everything the National Museum of Flight has to offer.”
Laura Chow, Head of Charities at People’s Postcode Lottery, said: “This Sea Survival event is a fascinating and fun way to learn about the history of the RAF’s Coastal Command.
“We are thrilled that players of People’s Postcode Lottery are supporting this brilliant programme of family activities at the Museum this half term. Player support has enabled many such initiatives. To date, players of People’s Postcode Lottery have raised over £900 million for thousands of good causes”
Visitors to the National Museum of Flight this October can also take part in Operation Sabotage, Scotland’s only escape room experience on an historic airfield. Taking place on 29 and 30 October, the experience is suitable for those aged 14 and over.
The Museum is home to Scotland’s only Concorde and visitors can see an example of the iconic Supermarine Spitfire that played such an important role in the Second World War.
The attraction houses the family-friendly Fantastic Flight gallery with its interactive exhibits where visitors can explore the science of aviation and discover how aeroplanes fly.
They are also able to learn about East Fortune’s wartime heritage in the Museum’s Fortunes of War exhibition.
