Clift House Farm

Orienteering is a great idea for a family day out in my opinion. It is a great way to spend time together, see the outdoors, get exercise and also bond!
Orienteering is a challenging sport that exercises the mind and body with a course you have to follow. The aim is to navigate in sequence between the points on the course using maps and a compass to get to the end in the quickest time.
There are permanent course around the UK, which you can just turn up to and pay a small fee for a map and then off you go. You will also need warm clothes and trainers and a compass (not essential if you not sure how to work it!)
Image: Scott Ableman

Eating the right fruits and vegetables which are in season, is the best way to ensure the best flavour and taste. For example, eating a nice crisp salad in the summer and a nice hearty stew in the winter. Brussels sprouts in December and strawberries in June.
In October the best vegetable in season is sweetcorn and the best fruit is Cox's apples. So this month my family will be feeding on lots of these!
Not only eating seasonably guarantees better tastes but it also can mean better value and better for the planet. For example, buying strawberries out of season can be pricey as they are shipped in but local produce is a lot cheaper. It also saves the planet with less air miles and also less artificial inputs to grow the produce at the wrong time of the year.
Image: Shelley & Dave

Last weekend my family and I decided to take a trip to Gloucestershire and visit the Dick Whittington Farm.
The farm offers nature trails, tractor ride, a giant sandpit and a chance to meet some farm animals. You can also take a tour of the farm and learn about how a farm works and more about the animals.
We thought it was a good idea to visit the farm as it teaches our children where the food they eat comes from (perhaps not about what will happen to little calf they fell in love with!) and also teaches about farming.
There was also a historic display from the medieval days, which my children loved! The farm is open 10am-5pm all year round and is £6 for tickets. I think it is well worth a trip too! Their website is: www.dickwhittington.org