Calendar

Families are invited to join in with a number of fun code-breaking themed activities at Enginuity during the February half-term school holidays.

Every day over the break you can crack codes by making your very own code-breaking devices:

*Make a cipher wheel to send and receive secret messages

*Have a go on an Enigma-style machine, one of the world’s most important code-breaking machines, and challenge family & friends to uncover a classified message

Children can also make their very own personalised keychain using binary code. Simple black & white beads that translate their initials into code will be threaded on to a chain – a very useful addition to any child’s spy kit!

There will also be a code-breaking themed trail around Enginuity where codes need to be cracked to reveal the secret password. The password can then be transmitted in Morse Code on our telegraph machine.

Afterwards play with the huge interactive exhibits at Enginuity; generate electricity using dams, build your own earthquake proof tower and see who can build the strongest bridge. You can also try and solve the free puzzles on the demonstration desk or see if you can make the paper helicopters fly.

These activities are from 10am-4pm and are included in the admission charge with the exception of the keychain workshop which runs from 10.30am-3.15pm and costs an additional £1 per keychain.

There will be heaps for families to get involved with at Blists Hill Victorian Town over the February half-term break from 15-23 February.

Candle Dipping
15, 16 & 22 Feb – See our Victorian Candlemaker in action and find out what it was like to light your home in 1800s England. Afterwards head to the Goods Shed and dip your own colourful candle to take home. (£1 per candle, 10am-3pm)

Going Postal
17, 19, 21 & 23 Feb – Discover why the Post Office was some important in Victorian England. Print a postcard and decide who to send it to, use a dip pen to write it and then take it to our Post Office to be franked and sent on it’s way. (£1.50 per card, plus 61p for postage if required, 10am-3pm)

Delightful Decoupage
18 & 20 Feb – Discover the delights of decoupage, the art of cutting patterned paper and gluing it onto items for decorative purposes. The Victorian’s loved to do this and often covered whole pieces of furniture! Have-a-go yourself, we will offer a selection of small items to decorate alongside paper & glue. (£4 per person taking part, 10am-12pm & 1pm-3pm)

All activities vary day to day and a valid admission ticket is required to take part. No booking required for any activity but there may be a waiting list at busy times. Delightful decoupage is suitable for children aged 4+

Here’s your opportunity to see newborn lambs in our huge indoor animal barn,
With lots of ewes due to have lambs you may even be lucky enough to witness a live birth,
We hope to start bottle feeding lambs too!

There will be lots of other farmyard friends waiting to meet you too: Honey the Shetland pony, Pluto the horse, and adorable rabbits and guinea pigs Don’t forget the massive indoor playbarns which ensure non stop play whatever the weather

February can be a tough time for body and soul. This hands-on cookery session is designed around fighting the blues with vitamin boosts and happy food. We will be using exciting combinations of natural ingredients to create delicious, colourful dishes to help you through the last phase of winter. From energy snacks and super soups to sharing bowls and indulgent treats.
This session will give you a new zest for cooking and as always you will go away with all you make so do bring plenty of containers!
£35 per person, booking essential

It’s well known that spending time with friendly animals is good for wellbeing, so combine a short walk around Erddig’s 1,200-acre estate with meeting our Erddig donkeys.
The short circular walk starts in Erddig’s stables and continues along the west front of the house into Big Wood. Relax and take in the changing scenery while learning more about these wonderful animals along the way.

The ability to Lip Read is not important –
until you lose your hearing.
A member of the Association of Lip Reading Teachers is offering a 10 week course on Thursday afternoons beginning 23rd January at the British Legion Club, Station Road, Dawley TF4 2NW. Total cost £60.00

A friendly comfortable environment to help you, or your friends, manage their deafness. Find out what you could be entitled to and discover you are NOT ALONE
More information from:
Tom Kane 01952 763578: tomkane57@yahoo.co.uk

JAN 23, 30, FEB 6, 13, 20, 27, MAR 5, 12, 26 APR 2

Do not bin, throw away, stop wearing or stop loving why not bring to the Telford Repair Cafe

Our next Telford Repair Cafe is at Forge at The Wakes on the last Saturday of the month. Like this event and we will keep you informed on the repairers who will join us on the day.

If you are planning to bring something over to our Repair Cafe then sometimes its a good idea to let us know, perhaps send us a message and we can plan for your item coming in.

All men challenged to find their voices
Learn a Song in a day

Free entry

It’s well known that spending time with friendly animals is good for wellbeing, so combine a short walk around Erddig’s 1,200-acre estate with meeting our Erddig donkeys.
The short circular walk starts in Erddig’s stables and continues along the west front of the house into Big Wood. Relax and take in the changing scenery while learning more about these wonderful animals along the way.

This 2 hour workshop is a gentle introduction into writing the self through poetry.

No experience of writing necessary.

Deborah Alma is a UK poet and editor, teaches Creative Writing at Keele University and works as a writer in the community. She is also Emergency Poet prescribing poetry from her vintage ambulance & co-founder of the Poetry Pharmacy in Bishop’s Castle with her partner James Sheard.

Cost: £20

PLEASE CONTACT US FOR DIRECTIONS AND AVAILABILITY!

Email – info@myartshack.co.uk
Phone – 07751 362171

See our website https://www.myartshack.co.uk/

The ability to Lip Read is not important –
until you lose your hearing.
A member of the Association of Lip Reading Teachers is offering a 10 week course on Thursday afternoons beginning 23rd January at the British Legion Club, Station Road, Dawley TF4 2NW. Total cost £60.00

A friendly comfortable environment to help you, or your friends, manage their deafness. Find out what you could be entitled to and discover you are NOT ALONE
More information from:
Tom Kane 01952 763578: tomkane57@yahoo.co.uk

JAN 23, 30, FEB 6, 13, 20, 27, MAR 5, 12, 26 APR 2

It’s well known that spending time with friendly animals is good for wellbeing, so combine a short walk around Erddig’s 1,200-acre estate with meeting our Erddig donkeys.
The short circular walk starts in Erddig’s stables and continues along the west front of the house into Big Wood. Relax and take in the changing scenery while learning more about these wonderful animals along the way.

Have you ever wanted to learn how to bellydance but didn’t know where to start? Or maybe you are already dancing but would like to revisit the basic moves to improve your technique?

Fun and friendly way to learn to shimmy, camel and do snake arms amongst many other moves, whilst learning a choreographed dance or two! With JWAAD instructor Sue Lloyd.

£10 including free parking and refreshments!

Small groups, so please book early to avoid disappointment.

Contact 07751 362171 or  info@myartshack.co.uk

https://www.myartshack.co.uk

In this day long workshop you will design and make a simple 3D vessel using a resist technique and fine merino wool. Wet felting is a process using wool, hot water, soap and repeated agitation to cause the fibres to hook together or weave together into a piece of fabric and you will learn different methods of doing this. Forming this fabric into a vessel can be very creative as felt is a very sculptural and responsive material. If you have particular ideas for design, colour or shape please let us know well before the workshop so that we can discuss.

*Further workshops will introduce more advanced skills in using the book resist technique, and different ways of creating texture and form in your work.

Cost £60 to include all materials plus refreshments

Gift vouchers available

Free parking

To book this event

Email info@myartshack.co.uk

Phone 07751 362171

Or see our website for more events https://www.myartshack.co.uk

It’s well known that spending time with friendly animals is good for wellbeing, so combine a short walk around Erddig’s 1,200-acre estate with meeting our Erddig donkeys.
The short circular walk starts in Erddig’s stables and continues along the west front of the house into Big Wood. Relax and take in the changing scenery while learning more about these wonderful animals along the way.

The ability to Lip Read is not important –
until you lose your hearing.
A member of the Association of Lip Reading Teachers is offering a 10 week course on Thursday afternoons beginning 23rd January at the British Legion Club, Station Road, Dawley TF4 2NW. Total cost £60.00

A friendly comfortable environment to help you, or your friends, manage their deafness. Find out what you could be entitled to and discover you are NOT ALONE
More information from:
Tom Kane 01952 763578: tomkane57@yahoo.co.uk

JAN 23, 30, FEB 6, 13, 20, 27, MAR 5, 12, 26 APR 2

Back by popular demand!!

This is a fantastic opportunity to have expert tuition in combining mixed media techniques with found images and drawings to create your own visual narrative. The workshop uses mixed media techniques in fun and effective ways to create unique 8 page books from a single piece of folded paper. We will be using image transfer and carbon paper so please bring laser printed or photocopies of any images you may want to use (There will be a supply of stock images you can use too) If you want to use text in your image transfer work remember to bring mirror image copies (we can do this for you if you can’t)

Katherine Soutar (Caddick) is an Artist and illustrator who specialises in themes of story and folklore. She has been illustrating folktales for both the history press and individual storytellers for many years. Katherine has also worked part time for the past 15 years in an academy school helping students develop both illustration and warm glass work for their GCSE’s and A levels. She regularly runs workshops in mixed media techniques and print and teaches on an annual art escape in Morocco. Katherine also has a diploma in Art therapy from Goldsmiths college.

Cost £55 including all materials, free parking, plus tea/coffee and cake throughout the day. We have a 30 minute break for lunch.

Contact us to book

Email – info@myartshack.co.uk
Phone – 07751 362171

Photo of Katherine by Jack Thompson

The Hermon welcomes back Kate Allan for more monthly singing sessions, offering the chance to share your singing voice with others to make music together.

FOR BEGINNERS heres an opportunity to find your singing voice (yes, its there!) in a supportive group!

You might be a CONFIDENT SINGER who wants to get away from the written page and see what comes from the group in the moment.

And for SONGWRITERS or anyone who would like to start making songs, this is a great way to open yourself up to fresh ideas and break the mould.

IN A CIRCLE, starting with gentle body and vocal warm-ups, we take any note, sing it together and then invite some of the group to add another note until weve built a chord, listening carefully to ourselves and each other.

THEN WE CAN
create and develop a rhythm
explore the different sounds we can make with our voices
vary the pitch (high, low), the sound, the speed and the volume
add some body percussion eg clapping, foot tapping
come up with new ideas as a group as we go
build confidence in and awareness of our own and other peoples voices
All this happens and develops very instinctively as our intuition, creativity and innate musicality come to life.

If youve never heard yourself SING FREELY, this is the chance to find that freedom in a judgement-free, natural way.

The sessions are facilitated by Kate Allan, an experienced freelance singer, songwriter and singing for health practitioner whose clients include the NHS, Severn Hospice and other health care providers.

You can find out more about Kate at:-
https://www.linkedin.com/in/kate-allan-4a219234/

ANOTHER DATE FOR YOUR DIARY: Watch out for our special Voices Amongst Rhythm workshop on Saturday, 11th July, 10am to 1pm! Kate Allan and percussionist Rick Wilson who runs our Drum Circle sessions join forces in this exciting collaborative WORKSHOP FOR SINGERS & PERCUSSIONISTS exploring rythmic challenges in new ways!

LIMITED SPACES – PLEASE HELP US WITH OUR PLANNING AND BOOK EARLY!

Built in 1728, Burford House and its beautiful gardens contain a spot where the three counties of Worcestershire, Herefordshire and Shropshire meet. The countryside around these three counties is rich in wild edible plants and fungi.
We will meet outside the cafe at Burford House. The course starts with a short introduction on what to look for, our foraging code and a brief of the Countryside Act.
Then we’ll set off on a roughly 2.5 hour walk around the gardens and along the River Teme, teaching you how to identify the different edible and poisonous plants, fruits and mushrooms that we find.
We’ll stop along the way for some seasonal homemade refreshments such as our lovely hogweed and wild garlic soup.
We will end the day with a wild food lunch based on what we have found and some homemade treats.
After the course, we will email you a list of everything we talked about on the day to help you to remember what you have learnt.
Please note extra course dates at this venue; 27th March, 2nd May, 12th & 26th June. See website for details of times etc.

It’s well known that spending time with friendly animals is good for wellbeing, so combine a short walk around Erddig’s 1,200-acre estate with meeting our Erddig donkeys.
The short circular walk starts in Erddig’s stables and continues along the west front of the house into Big Wood. Relax and take in the changing scenery while learning more about these wonderful animals along the way.

This full day workshop is a wonderful opportunity for newcomers as well as seasoned hand drum and percussion enthusiasts of all ages to work intensively on developing their understanding of rhythm and exercise their manual dexterity under the guidance of professional drummer and percussionist Rick Wilson.

Rick is an experienced tutor of many years, drawing from his extensive repertoire of Indian, African and South American rhythms, which he makes accessible in astonishingly creative ways whilst providing a joyful and focused learning experience.

The workshop is designed around aspects of percussion such as the sounds of the drum, hand and finger techniques, solid, basic timekeeping, body rhythms, spoken words as a basis of rhythm, call and response rhythms, 2, 3 and 4 part rhythms, as well as a variety of other rhythmic activities that, besides drums, involve the use of bells, gongs, chime bars, shakers and more or less anything else that comes to hand and springs to mind.

Schedule for the day:
10.30am – 1pm Morning Session
1pm – 2pm Free Lunch in the Pews: Your hosts at The Hermon will serve a delicious, vegetarian lunch of homemade soup, bread and fresh salad for all participants to enjoy a lovely opportunity to socialize and regain strength for the afternoon session! Drinks can be purchased from our in-house bar.
2pm – 4pm Afternoon Session

Please bring your own drum and percussion instruments if you have any, but no worries, there will be plenty of instruments at hand! Whatever your experience, plenty or none at all, be sure to bring your enthusiasm come and make a joyful noise!

DRUM CIRCLE FORECAST: Rick will continue his monthly drum circle at The Hermon with 2-hour sessions on 18th April, 16th May and 27th June! Plenty of opportunity for extending your gained skills in this friendly group!

ANOTHER DATE FOR YOUR DIARY: Watch out for our special Voices Amongst Rhythm workshop on Saturday, 11th July, 10am to 1pm! Percussionist Rick Wilson and singer Kate Allan who runs our Circle Singing through Improvisation workshops join forces in this exciting collaborative WORKSHOP FOR SINGERS & PERCUSSIONISTS exploring rythmic challenges in new ways!

MORE ABOUT RICK: www.eastorywilsound.co.uk/rick.htm
MORE ABOUT KATE: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kate-allan-4a219234/

Treat your mum to a 2 hour aqueduct cruise

Why not treat the special women in your life on Mothers Day
Take a return trip through the beautiful Dee Valley
Enjoy an afternoon tea with a selection of finger sandwiches, assorted sweet treats, (with tea or coffee)
and a glass of bubbly.