Pick Your Own Fruit

One of our favourite things to do in the summer is to go fruit picking. Although we don't have any PYO farms in the Romford area, there are some that aren't so far away - perfect for a day out!

Lathcoats Farm - Great Baddow, Chelmsford. CM2 8LX (approximately 30 - 35 minutes from Romford)
Lathcoats have a great selection of fruit to pick at various times. You'll find strawberries, raspberries, gooseberries, cherries, tummelberries, currants and more. Covid-19 restrictions are in place to fruit vouchers must be purchased before you visit. Visit the website for daily updates on ripe fruit available for picking (it's best to check later in the day when the staff have assessed what will be available for the following day). There are no facilities for picnics currently and the coffee shop is closed - please do check the website as this may change.  You'll find up to date information on the PYO and restrictions here.

Cammas Hall Farm - Hatfield Broad Oak. CM22 7JT (approximately 45 - 50 minutes from Romford)
Cammas Hall is a very popular destination and they are operating a voucher system which is only available for pre booking. They have a great selection of fruit available - strawberries, raspberries, blackcurrants, blackberries, blueberries, gooseberries, cherries and more. There are daily updates on their Facebook page with information about fruit availability. Booking slots are released a day or two in advance and must be booked on the website. You can check what produce is available here. For details on the Covid-19 restrictions click here.

Parkside Farm - Enfield EN2 8LA (approximately 50 minutes from Romford)
Parkside has a great range of berries and some vegetables available at various times. You can check availability on their website. Again entry is by advance booking to enable the staff to maintain safe numbers of customers. There is a farm shop on site selling local produce - honey, fruit and ice creams.

McLauchlins of Boxted - CO4 5RB (approximately 1 hour from Romford)
As with all venues this year there are special safety measures in place. The is a selection of fruit available to pick - strawberries, raspberries, redcurrants, blackcurrants, dessert gooseberries, broad beans & gooseberries. You must pre book your visit otherwise you will not be allowed to pick any fruit. There is a shop on site selling produce. For booking information and details of the safety measures in place click here.

Bloomfield Farm - Chipping Ongar, CM5 0NB (approximately 35 - 40 minutes from Romford)
UPDATE: Awaiting opening information for 2021
Planning to open mid July with Czar Plums to PYO - check Facebook page for up to date info.

Updated June 2021

Your Guide To Summer 2021

Whether you are having a staycation or are just planning to fill some days with fun things over the summer, Mum's guide to Romford is your best resource, sharing so much of what's on and what you can do. 

Click the links to find out all the info you need!

Events - keep an eye on our What's On guide as it is updated several times a week

Things to do - we have a huge selection of things to do and links to businesses including bowling, trampolining, cinema, rock climbing, high ropes, farms, animal sanctuaries, zoos, museums, soft plays etc. We also have 50 Things To do This Summer and NEW for 2021, 50 MORE Things To Do This Summer!

Holiday Clubs - there are over 20 running this summer. See Facebook post for most up to date information.

Useful articles - we have a host of really useful articles right here which will give you ideas.

• Picnics - what to pack and where to go
• Beach Days - find the best beach and read our Top Tips for a day at the beach!
• Parks - in Havering and beyond
• 70 Free Things to do in London with Kids - make the most of our amazing capital city
• Pick Your Own! - fruit tastes so much better if you've picked it yourself!
• Summer Reading Scheme - can your child read 6 books over the summer?
• Readers recommends - recommendations from other parents is always a winner
• Places to go Paddling - streams in and around Essex
• Splash Parks and Fountains - pack a towel!
• Our Top 10 Playgrounds - just 10 of the many amazing playgrounds near here
• Where to go Crabbing - a budget friendly activity which is lots of fun
• Boredom Beating Ideas - we've saved this from last summer, just in case we need it!
• Kids Week - half price theatre tickets for 30 family friendly shows
• Afternoon Tea - treat yourself!
• Top Tips: Camping with Kids - a great list of ideas to help you start planning
• Hares About Town - free trail looking for 30 unique Hare sculptures and 50 leverets in Southend
• Use these ideas to create a Bucket List of things to do this summer

Don't forget we have a page filled with FREE downloads perfect for rainy days.

If you have a child going into Year 7 in September then you might be interested in our Top Tips: Transition to Secondary School article. We have also done some research and put together Top Tips: Going to University for the First Time which is worth a look for for parents AND young people heading off to start their first term at Uni. 

Wild World Heroes

Summer Reading Challenge 2021

We are very pleased to say that we are back with a physical Summer Reading Challenge this year – with a couple of adaptations to make it as safe as possible for families to take part.

Registration opens on Saturday 10th July at all 10 Havering Libraries.

Background

The Summer Reading Challenge is aimed at all children aged 4-11 years old.  The Challenge is for them to read 6 books over the summer holidays – a time when reading levels often dip.  It is a very successful national reading initiative that has been running for over 20 years.

This Year's Theme – Wild World Heroes

We have teamed up with the WWF to deliver a Challenge all about wildlife, nature and protecting the environment.  So a very topical theme.

How to take part

Children will need to visit their local library to register from 10th July onwards.  They will be given a pack that includes a collector's folder, six stickers, a book review sheet, a 'How to Take Part' leaflet and a couple of other surprises.  If they are not already members of the library they can join straight away.  On this first visit they can also borrow all 6 books or just take a couple to start them off. 

They can choose any books – whatever interests them - fiction, nonfiction, poetry, joke books etc.  But they must be library books.  They are welcome to visit the library to choose more books as many times as they want to over the holidays.  But they should be aware that on occasion they may have to queue due to social distancing guidelines.

They then go away and start reading their books.  This year we are asking parents/carers to talk to their children at home about the books that they have been reading and to hand out one sticker at a time after they have read each book.   Children will also need to fill in the book review sheet with a short piece about the book or draw a picture on the review sheet.

Unfortunately we won't be having library staff or volunteers in our libraries to talk to the children about each book they have read this year.  Hopefully we'll be able to return to doing this next year.

When all 6 books have been read, they should return the completed book review sheet to the library, where a member of staff will mark down that the child has completed the challenge and all children who have completed the challenge will receive a certificate and medal in school in the Autumn term (library staff will deliver the certificates and medals to each school).

70 Free Things to do in London with Kids

We live so close to our capital city and I am guessing most of us don't make the most of what's on offer - I know I don't!

I've been doing some research to find family friendly places to go in London that are either FREE of don't cost the earth. 

You won't find any of what I call the 'big ticket' days out here. This is more about making the most of the city and exploring the hidden gems!

We have found

• Tips on public transport and how to make the most of it
• Interesting places that you might not know about
• Places to visit to see amazing views of the city
• Play parks - what's a day out without a chance to let off steam in a playground?!
• City Farms
• Museums & galleries with family friendly events and areas to explore
• Fountains and splash areas to cool off on a hot day

And so much more.

Click here and start planning your next day out!

Kids Week is Back!

During Kids Week (which actually runs for a whole month!), a child goes free when accompanied by a full paying adult to shows throughout August. This year will be a little different but will still be a fantastic deal. Rather than a free ticket for a child with each paying adult, this year adult and child tickets will be half price, with additional children's tickets also half price.

The age range has been extended to 17 and under for those that missed out last year.

Kids Week tickets will go on sale at 10am on 30 June for performances taking place between 1st  – 31st  August and can only be booked online.

There are fun activities to access here and all tickets must be booked via the main website here.

*Indicates shows which still have tickets available.*

Shows featuring this year are:

Amazing Bubble Man
*Amelie The Musical*
*Anything Goes*
*The Bagdad Cafe*
*Be More Chill*
*Billionaire Boy*
Cinderella
*Cirque Berserk!*
*Come From Away*
*Dinosaur World Live*
*Doctor Who: Time Fracture*
Dragons & Mythical Beasts
*Everybody's Talking About Jamie*
Fireman Sam Live - Saves The Circus
Hairspray
Heathers The Musical
*Horrible Histories: Barmy Britain - Part Five*
*Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat*
Hotel Paradiso
*Les Mis: The Staged Concert*
Disney's The Lion King
Mamma Mia
Mary Poppins
Morgan & West Present: The Three Musketeers
*The Mousetrap*
*The Phantom of the Opera*
*Pinocchio*
One Step, Two Step
*The Play That Goes Wrong*
*The Prince of Egypt*
*Sarah & Ducks Big Top Birthday*
Sam & Mark's On The Road Show
*Showstopper! The Improvised Musical*
*Singing in the Rain*
Six
Stiles & Drewe's - The 3 Little Pigs A Very Curly Musical Tale
The Tiger Who Came To Tea
*The Wolves of Willoughby Chase*
*Twirlywoos*
*The Very Hungry Caterpillar*
*What The Ladybird Heard*
*Wonderville Magic & Illusion*
*Zog*

Summer is coming and it's time to make some plans! Whether you are going away, or staying at home this summer, it's always helpful to have some ideas tucked up your sleeve to relieve the boredom.

The ideas always go down so much better when the children have come up with them themselves! 

Print our FREE download and ask the children to make their own summer bucket list.

Click here for your FREE download

If you are stuck for ideas, check out our 50 Things To Do This Summer download here or Our Guide to Summer 2021.