What's on this weekend...

If you're looking for a way to spend the last weekend of the Easter holidays then look no further. With temperatures set to soar this weekend, we've got loads of activities you can get involved with to get out and about, enjoying the sunshine and the last of the school holidays.

Friday:

Bedford Art Society @ Putnoe Heights Church, 7.15pm for 7.30pm start
Juliette Orton creates beautiful pictures using many different materials. She shows how they are made and where her inspiration comes from. Those keen to try can also have a go themselves. Entry is free for members, or £5 for visitors.

Easter Experiences @ Experience the country, Newton Longville, MK17 0BU
This is the second day of the Easter experiences, where you can take part in a 1 hour activity and off-road thrills ride for £25. Suitable for adults and those aged 12 and up. Add another activity for just £10, including archery, axe- throwing, air rifles and segways. Also available are young person's driving experiences in a Land Defender of £25. Morning and afternoon slots are available and must be pre-booked. Call 01908 630665 to book.

Saturday:

Jahnaiah Fundraising Dinner Dance @ Hilton Hotel, Kents Hill Park, 6.30pm-1am

Fundraising dinner dance in aid of orphans affected by Ebola in Sierra Leone. The money raised will support an existing orphanage in Sierra Leone which is already looking after children whose parents have died during the Ebola crisis, and also to help bring light to the lack of medical equipment and diagnostic materials available in Sierra Leone during this time. Tickets cost £50, and includes a three-course meal, entertainment and much more. Auction and raffle also available. Dress code is black tie/traditional. Click here to buy tickets and for more information.

No 38 Vintage Emporium Event @ High Street Newport Pagnell, 9am-5pm

The No 38 Vintage Emporium on the High Street in Newport Pagnell is celebrating being open for six months. There will be special events all day, including live music, free ice creams from the Shake 'n' Scoop ice cream shack, and a photo booth taking old fashioned style photos. 

Non-Stop Pop, featuring Union J and Stereo Kicks @ Arena MK, Stadium MK, Doors open 5.30pm for 6.30pm start

Headliners Union J will be joined by Stereo Kicks, Bailey McConnell and Harry Mondryk. Show will end at approximately 9.45pm. Tickets cost £14 and are available to buy by clicking here. 

Sunday:

That Time of the Month Comedy Night @ The Cannon, Newport Pagnell, 7pm

Nick Helm, star of BBC3's hit comedy drama, Uncle, Russell Howard's Good News, 8 out of 10 cats, and winner of Breakthrough Artists at the British Comedy Awards 2014, will be performing in a night of stand up comedy entertainment. Tickets cost £8 in advance or £10 on the door.

The Pad Presents: Marika Hackman @ Bedford Esquires, 7.30pm

Marika Hackman with support acts Sophie Jamieson and The Darling Mundaring. Following the release of her debut album, We Slept at last, and new single Animal Fear, Marika Hackman's songwriting speaks adventure; join the adventure for a great night of entertainment from a talented musician. Tickets cost £8 and are available online here.  

HULA Animala Rescue Bunny Bonanza @ Glebe Farm, Aspley Guise, 1-3.30pm

Enjoy some Easter activities at the end of the Easter holidays. Just when you thought all the Easter eggs had been found, come and join the Easter egg hunt and take part in the Easter Bonnet competition. Meet the rabbit welfare association and see a presentation on how to care for your pet rabbit. There will be a dog parade at 2.30pm, workshop, and family fun and refreshments will be available throughout the afternoon.

Education Centre Opening Day @ Howe Park Wood, 11am

Join the Parks Trust education team to celebrate the opening of the new education and visitor centre at Howe Park wood. Parking avaialbe in the car park off Chaffron Way, opposite the Westcroft Centre. 

Whatever you do this weekend, have a great time! As always, if we've missed any events, please feel free to share them to our Facebook page. 

Some fun facts about Easter...

Whether you're munching on your Easter eggs, going to church or having a roast dinner, you'll hopefully be getting the 4 day holiday from work 0this weekend.

We've got a few unusual facts about Easter to entertain you while you relax...

• The largest Easter egg hunt took place in Florida, and involved finding over 500,000 eggs
• The average child gets over £50 worth of Easter eggs from family and friends
• The UK's first chocolate Easter egg was made in 1873 by Fry's of Bristol
• 19% of children reckon they make themselves ill by eating too much chocolate over the Easter holidays
• In the past, pretzels were associated with Easter because the twists were thought to resemble arms crossing in prayer
• In medieval times, a festival of egg-throwing was held in church where the priest would throw a hard-boiled egg to one of the choirboys. It was then thrown between the choirboys, until the clock struck 12. Whoever had the egg at this point was the winner and would keep the egg.
• When people eat an Easter bunny, 76% bite off the ears first...

However you celebrate Easter weekend, have a great time, just try not to get sick from eating too much chocolate!

Farms and Forests to visit this Easter

There are loads of activities and events taking place over the Easter holidays, but if you're looking for things to do then have a read through our previous blogs, as we've collected information about some of the local events which are taking place. If you're looking for somewhere to go with the family this Easter, rather than necessarily organised events and activities, why not visit a local farm or forest for a day out enjoying the spring weather, along with the spring lambs and chicks?

Mead Open Farm in Billington offers a great variety of activities for kids and grown ups alike, with bottle feeding the lambs, seeing the cows being milked and the chance to groom the miniature Shetland pony. There's also lots of opportunities to play, with a new sky trail, play zone and go karts, tractor rides, rock climbing and more. A great way to see the spring farm animals, as well as the Easter activities which will be going on over the Easter holidays, with an egg trail, baby animals and a chance to meet Hoppy the Easter bunny. Click here for more information.

Another nearby farm is Rookery Open Farm, in Stoke Bruerne. This commercial sheep and cattle farm has made way for visitors to come and learn about farming and animals. There is the opportunity to get up close to a number of different animals, most of which can be stroked, and there is a 3 storey indoor play area for the kids to enjoy. During this lambing season you may have the opportunity to see some lambs being born. Attractions also include an outdoor play area, pets corner, go karts, sandpit, water-fowl area, pigmy goats, bouncy castles and more. Click here for more information.


To experience the outdoors and spring weather at your own pace, Salcey Forest is a great place to visit, and is situated just to the East of the village of Hartwell. There are a number of trails to follow through the forest at different distances, a tree-top walk, play area and cafe. Parking is just £3 for the day, and other than that it's a free day out. Another attraction situated in the forest is 'Tree ninja', a high-ropes course up in the trees, as well as a 18m high 'shock drop' swing. This must be booked in advance, more information can be found by clicking here.

WHAT'S ON: Easter weekend (April 2nd-5th)

Scrumptious egg hunts and chocolate prizes for whole family

This Easter bank holiday there are a range of activities across Bedfordshire, Northamptonshire and Buckinghamshire.

The Easter holidays mean different things to everyone, whether it be a time to eat as much chocolate as possible, a long weekend break from work or an important time in the religious calendar. Fancy getting out of the house? Try these events in the area. 

Easter egg hunts are taking place across the country this holiday, and Olney’s Cowper and Newton Museum (01234 711516) is no different with a trail until the 11th, alongside arts and crafts to keep youngsters busy. The clues are dotted around the museum and the centre of Olney, with a prize day for a Paddington Bear toy from Happy Days Top shop.

Further down the High Street, The Two Brewers is hosting an Easter fun day on the 3rd, with arts and crafts, a bouncy castle and face painting. 

Churches Together in Newport Pagnell are holding a procession and open air Service of Witness through the town on the same day. 

Hot cross buns and refreshments will be served in the Methodist Church afterwards. Easter Day Holy Communion will be held on Sunday morning (Newport-pagnell.org.uk). 

Children can become spies for the day at Bletchley Park throughout the holidays with a range of craft and Easter-themed activities at the site, including tours, trails, quizzes and collection handling. On the 6th, visitors can hunt for chocolate prizes in the Easter Eggstravaganza. 

Family Fun Wednesdays return to the site on the 1st and 8th, with under 12s getting free entry (bletchleypark.org.uk). MK Museum will be holding its own Easter egg hunt too (see our feature for full details). 

Lastly, The Park’s Trust egg hunt may be sold out but they are holding free themed fun and games on the 8th from 10am-2pm (theparkstrust.com).  

Northampton’s Abington Park Museum have a trail around the site, with treasure hunters winning a chocolate prize, from the 2nd-6th. The drop-in activity is just £1 per person (Northampton.gov.uk). The following day the museum is holding a nature-themed workshop where children can make their own caterpillar. 

The West Lodge Rural Centre is putting on its own Easter trail from the 4th-6th, with eggs hidden around the farm (westlodgeruralcentre.co.uk). For those wanting to head outside, Santa Pod is hosting the Festival of Power over the Easter weekend with drag racing, jet cars, stuns and air displays (santapod.co.uk). 

There’s the chance for children to sing, dance, recreate famous artworks and make their own Easter crafts at The Higgins in Bedford during the holidays (thehigginsbedford.org.uk) With holiday activities take place at 11am, 12, 2pm and 3pm. The town’s John Bunyan Museum is also offering a free Easter hunt until the 11th (bunyanmeeting.co.uk/museum). 

Until the 13th, there will be 25 places throughout Bedford with a picture of a bunny. If you find all of them you can win £100 worth of vouchers (lovebedford.co.uk). 

Further afield, the Roald Dahl Museum is putting on a range of spring-themed activities for families, including making crackling egg cups and  chirpy chicks (roalddahl.com). 

Anything we haven’t mentioned? Just get in touch on (01234) 713298.

Vital funding could mean bright future for MK Museum

Eggscellent - MK Museum is running its annual Easter egg hunt this April half-term holiday. 

Hidden from the spring sunshine by trees, the Milton Keynes Museum’s entrance is the front door of a farmyard house. To a first time visitor, it’s not that clear how big the site is until you step inside.

Parlour rooms littered with paintings and drawings of the 17^th century farm lead to a period style school classroom, complete with slate to write on and worn wooden desks. Following on, there is a warm farmhouse kitchen, complete with real fireplace, before visitors end up in an indoor High Street.

Shops have been painstakingly recreated, from groceries to medicines, there are objects as small as matchboxes to 6-foot high signs advertising products. There’s even a makeshift cinema and a Post Office (all created by the museum’s dedicated team of volunteers).

All without stepping foot outside, there’s a large barn dedicated to the area’s farming history, which leads onto the newest exhibition and activity gallery about human communication, Connected Earth. Elsewhere there is a transport gallery that features the world’s largest working phone and an enormous tram.

Needless to say, Milton Keynes Museum is bursting at the seams with activities for families, all relating to the history of the area. And following decades of hard work, it has been awarded a vital boost in funding from the Arts Council England. If they win the second stage, the council will give them a total of £7.2 million to renovate the site. 

Formed in 1973, the museum was a result of local people who wanted to collect items from farms and factories that were being closed down to build the new town. Volunteers bought the Stacey Hill Farm estate in Wolverton, with the long-term aim of building a museum. 

Today’s museum director, Bill Griffiths, says: “Milton Keynes had everything, but it didn’t have a museum. There was space here for expansion and changes, and people wanted to preserve their heritage.

“They had parents and grandparents who had lived in the area before the city was built. It’s part of their history and culture.”

After a fire in 1996 destroyed a lot of the grade II listed barn and cowshed, the past 15 years has focused on rebuilding the museum. Today, schools from the Milton Keynes area regularly visit the site, which saw nearly 30,000 visitors this year.

Bill adds: “The museum itself tells the story of the area’s heritage from the Victorians up until the start of the city. We all relate to the Victorian period because a lot of it is mechanical, we can see how it works, and we have a lot about farming too, although that can be more difficult to explain.”

This year, it announced plans for further expansion, funded by Milton Keynes Council, the Heritage Lottery Fund and the Arts Council. They include two major galleries being added, with special exhibits featuring some of the town’s biggest success stories, including Red Bull Racing and The Open University. Due for completion in spring 2018, it would also focus on the area’s early history dating back to the Bronze Age.

“I think Milton Keynes is a fantastic city. It has so much green space and wildlife too,” explains Bill.

And residents’ stories will play an important part in the transformation.

“There are many stories that have their roots here and my view is that museums should reflect the people who visit them.

“We want people to contact us with stories. Most of the time they won’t have that opportunity. It’s difficult to get to people and hear everyone’s story, if we don’t know we can’t do anything about it.”

Bill adds: “We are here to interest those who are just finding out about the world. If we are boring we won’t encourage that.”

For more information on Milton Keynes Museum and the expansion go to miltonkeynesmuseum.org.uk.

Easter activities

Milton Keynes Museum is putting on its annual Easter egg hunt this half term, with youngsters invited to hunt for treasure and unlock the way to chocolate prizes. Everyone wins something in the traditional game, and opening hours will have been extended ready for the summer. The museum is open Wednesday to Sunday, 11am until 4.30pm, until October. Normal admission prices apply for the Easter hunt, which lasts from Friday until Monday (April 3^rd-6^th). 

Win a family ticket to Milton Keynes Museum

Fancy paying the site a visit? We’ve teamed up with the museum to give away a family ticket (two adults and up to four children) to visit for a day. All you have to do is answer this simple question:

What concrete animals are commonly associated with Milton Keynes?

A. Cats

B. Cows

C. Chickens

All you have to do is send your answer, name, address and daytime contact number to competition@phoneboxmagazine.com or MK Museum Competition, Phonebox Magazine, Unit 2 Stanley Court, Olney, Bucks, MK46 5NH. The closing date is April 22^nd.

What to do this Easter holidays...

There are numerous activities and events to get involved with in and around Milton Keynes this Easter holidays. As the weather starts to brighten up and we can begin to venture outside, the numerous canal, wood and park walks are always something free and fun to do. For something a little more organised, we've collected a selection of events that are going on this Easter to give you a few ideas of what you could do and where...

Frosts Garden Centre, Woburn Sands

Saturday 28th March-Saturday 4th April, anytime from 10am-4pm: There will be a bunny hunt around the centre, as well as some Easter egg fun- children will be able to decorate their own chocolate Easter egg with some sweets, and will finish their activities with an activity sheet and a glass of squash. The activity lasts around 25 minutes and children must be accompanied by an adult. Tickets cost £5.99 per child.

The National Museum of Computing

Wednesday 1st- Sunday 12th April, from 12 noon-5pm: Digital fun and games for all the family, including: LEGO robots, mine craft, codeability- introducing youngsters to coding, FUZEliers to help control robots and many retro computer games.

Bletchley Park

Monday 30th March- Sunday 5th April and 7th-12th April from 9am-5pm: Fun activities over the Easter holidays for the whole family. See if you've got what it takes to be a Bletchley Park Codebreaker. Different activities each day, including craft and spy workshops, children's guided tours, trails, quizzes and more.

Intu Milton Keynes

Tuesday 31st March: For those of you with young children, you'll probably be well aware of the CBeebies' animated series 'Kate & Mim-Mim'. Mim-Mim will be paying children a visit this Easter at intu Milton Keynes. Children will have the chance to meet their favourite bunny, learn some bunny-hop movies and take part in some fun games, as well as getting a bunny hug with Mim-Mim himself. Mim-Mim will be making appearances at 11am, 12pm, 1pm, 2pm and 3pm, lasting for 30 minutes each time. Children can pick up their very own CBeebies activity booklet. Tickets for the meet and greet are  FREE and available by clicking here, additional tickets will be available on the day on a first come, first served basis.

Saturday 4th & Thursday 9th April : Have your face painted for free at intu Milton Keynes.

Tuesday 7th April: Come and have a go at some circus skills, and learn how to plate spin and juggle!

Friday 10th & Saturday 11th April: Pit stop challenge with Formula Fast Karting. Change the wheels in the fastest time to win a prize.

Newport Pagnell:

Good Friday, 3rd April: Come and join the Churches Together Newport Pagnell on a procession down the high street, with drama, music and readings. Meet outside the Parish Church and ending at Market Hill.

Gulliver's land 

Sunday 5th & Monday 6th April: This Easter there are two special days of Easter entertainment. Enjoy the Easter egg hunt, the big bunny bounce, meet the Easter bunny and see the Easter bunny parade- if you wear an Easter bonnet you'll get a £1 voucher to spend within the park.

MK Gallery

There will be a number of sessions throughout the Easter holidays, including 'start the art' sessions on Tuesdays from 11am-12noon, and Saturday mini makers sessions from 1-2pm and 2-3pm. These artist-led creative sessions are free, but places are limited and can be booked on the gallery website. 

Milton Keynes Council

Thursday 2nd April, 10.30am-12 noon and 2-3.30pm: Kids' recycling factory tour. A fun and free event where children aged between 7 and 14 can join the council's recycling team for a fun-filled morning at the factory to learn about recycling, tour the factory and make their own recycled item to take home. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Booking essential, click here to book a place. 

Beer Festival- Easter weekend

You don't have to wait for summer for this Beer Festival! The Club at Hanslope are holding a Beer Festival from Friday 3rd April until Sunday 5th, open from noon-11pm every day. There will be a number of Real Ales and Ciders from local breweries, with live music every day, quizzes, games and competitions for all the family.

On Friday there will also be 'The Wheel of Fortune', and on Saturday there'll be a quiz to see how well you know your beers, with great prizes to be won. The Clermont vs Northampoton rugby kicks off at 5.40pm, and there will be live music with The Jazz Collective from 8pm.

Easter Sunday (5th) includes a great variety of Easter-themed events. There will be a giant Easter egg raffle and drawing and colouring competitions for children, with chocolate egg prizes. From 5pm there will be live music with Chaos Theory, and at 7pm the festival will close with a quiz night.

All are welcome, and admission is free, sky and BT Sports available every day. Don't miss out on a great event this Easter weekend, in just over a week's time.

Springtime in Milton Keynes

Well it's back to the grind for everyone today, if you were lucky enough to get the Easter bank holiday weekend off work that is, and somewhat unusually, this year we only have to wait a couple of weeks until the next bank holiday weekend is here! Hurrah!

Blossom is beginning to give way to leaves and greenery, and the evenings are getting lighter, is summer really just around the corner?! Even better, it looks like we've managed to avoid the snow this year! (without speaking too soon!)

For something to do at the weekend, why not visit one of the local farms and see the lambs. Spring lambing at Open Mead farm is running until the 30th April, and you can expect to see an abundance of furry white lambs and enjoy the springtime scenery, check out the sky trail for a birds-eye view!

The countryside all across Milton Keynes and the surrounding areas is buzzing with wildlife and springtime flowers, and the weather seems to be picking up ready to allow for some nice springtime walks and fresh air! If you missed getting out there this weekend don't panic, this is only a 4 day week, and the next weekend is just around the corner!

A belated happy Easter from all at the Phonebox magazine, we hope you had a great time!

What's next?!...

Post Valentines day, what’s the next occasion our shops will be trying to sell us? Easter eggs will be in the stores within the next few days, if not already, and then there’s Mothers day, for which cards have already been seen on the shelves. They’re obviously nice things to be advertising, but why oh why do they feel the need to pounce on us so early?! It feels like the day of one event, the next is being advertised. It's like the classic 'back to school' adverts, which are always up in the shops before the school holidays have even started, making all children seeing it feel like their holiday is over before it's even begun!