Activity Hour at Coombe Mill

I had originally found out about Coombe Mill through Fiona’s CountryKids linky. My favourite posts were always those about the farm, especially the Activity Hour for the children staying there. I was always amazed by the huge variety of activities that Fiona found to put on week after week. The activities are always seasonal, and tailored perfectly to cater for the different ages of the children taking part.

We stayed at Coombe Mill in the first week of the Easter holiday. With Activity Hour taking place on Good Friday, it was hardly surprising that it had a very Easter-y theme. The first activity involved making bunnies from toilet rolls. When these were done, they were collected in and taken off to the Fairy Garden.

Meanwhile, the children moved on to their next crafty activity – making Easter crowns. They were provided with pieces of card from old cereal boxes, and the parents helped measure them around little heads and staple them together. Some bunny ears were added too. Double-sided tape was added (again with a bit of parental assistance). The children then went outside to gather up some natural decorations. There were plenty of leaves, flowers and even moss just outside the games room to be picked and stuck on. There were also Easter-themed pictures and stickers which could be added on to. Emily was particularly proud of her crown. I have a feeling we will be doing this ourselves at home very soon!

Freyja did really enjoy this too – despite looking a bit miserable in this photo. I think it was due to me stopping her having fun crafting to take the picture!

Then it was time to move on to the final activity. This was making some bunting for the Fairy Garden. The children were given Easter egg-shaped pieces of fabric and paint. They used toilet rolls to make prints and also brushes and fingers to create their designs.

Pictures completed, we set off to the Fairy Garden to hang up and create the bunting.

When the pictures had been hung up, the children were told that their toilet roll bunnies had been hidden by the fairies and that they had to go and find them. We spotted Emily’s on a nearby tree-stump. She then had the surprise of her life when she picked it up and realised there was something inside it. After she carefully opened it up and peered inside, she discovered that the fairies had left her a chocolate egg. I think it was my favourite moment of the whole holiday. The surprise and amazement on her face was brilliant. If ever a child believed in magic, it was Emily, right at this moment.

It wasn’t the only magic that happened that day. On the feed run that morning a lamb had been born that honestly looked like it wasn’t going to last very long. Hours later, after being bottle-fed, Friday the lamb joined us for Activity Hour. Although he spent the hour in a crate, at the end of Activity Hour, Fiona fed him. The children “helped” and were delighted to see him tottering around afterwards.

Yet again, another fantastic Activity Hour. I can’t believe how much was packed in to the time. The girls really enjoyed themselves, and I have been inspired for some more crafts to do with them at home. Fiona has lots more pictures and a video over on the Coombe Mill blog if you want to see more!