 Go for a Glow Walk at Dinton Pastures
Would you fancy an autumn walk around a lake under starlight?
First Days, a children’s charity, will organise a Glow Walk at Dinton Pastures Country Park on 26 November (Saturday) to raise fund for its work on child poverty.
From 5pm, you can walk around Black Swan Lake under the stars and take in the illuminated woodland and various light features. The last start time is 8pm.
Hot chocolate, hot dogs and mulled wine will be on sale, so you can bring something warm with you while immersing yourself in the lights.
To add in more fun, you are encouraged to put on your own accessories to make yourself glow in the dark! You may also buy some glow sticks on-site, if you wish.
To make the event accessible to as many people as possible, First Days is offering tickets at four different prices starting at £5 per adult. You can contribute based on your own circumstances and how much you can afford.
To find out more and book a ticket, visit the First Days website.
 Limited time only: Indoor climbing at Dinton Activity Centre
Our popular indoor climbing sessions will return to Dinton Activity Centre, for a limited time only, from 23 October to 27 November.
The climbing wall in the activity centre is seven meters high and hand-painted with murals that capture the beautiful lake and woodland scenes from the Dinton Pastures Country Park. You will notice all the flora and fauna of Dinton come to life as you climb the triffid out of the lake or say hoot to the owl at the top of the tree.
Equipped with 11 automatic belays, our fun holds and wildlife murals are a clip and go haven of adrenaline filled exploration.
The climbs are suitable for beginner to intermediate, and no previous experience is required. For the best climbing experience, we will only book in 10 climbers per session, so there is plenty of room for everyone.
For more information or to book a session, visit the Dinton Activity Centre webpage.
 Don’t miss out: October half-term holiday club
There is still time to book your children in the Wild Days holiday club at Dinton Pastures Country Park for the coming half-term.
All Wild Days sessions are suitable for youngsters aged eight to 13. There are two sessions per day, and each consists of two activities, which is either two land, two water sports or a combination of both.
Land activities such as climbing, archery and survival skills session will be running alongside water sports including stand-up paddle boarding (SUP), kayaking and giant SUPs.
Wild Days holiday club will be running from 24 to 28 October (Monday to Friday) and places are selling quickly on some dates.
Each Wild Days holiday club session costs £30. Book now before they are full!
 Happy Halloween at California Country Park
Jackson’s Café in California Country Park is getting ready to celebrate Halloween with you and your family in the most spooktacular way.
Half-term pumpkin trail
In the run-up to Halloween, Jackson’s Café will team up with First Days, a children’s charity, to host their October half-term pumpkin trail around California Country Park from 22 to 30 October.
All you need to do is to collect a map from the café for a suggested donation of £3 or more. You and your children can set off to explore the country park following the trail, and then head back to the café to be rewarded with a treat (or trick!).
All money raised will go towards First Days’ work supporting local families who are struggling with financial hardship.
Spooky Halloween party
On Saturday 29 October, Jackson’s Café will open its crypt doors to a spooky, family-friendly Halloween Party. From 7pm until it closes at 11pm, you will enjoy a sumptuous buffet and spooky cocktails, alongside great music from DJs in the café.
It will also run a best dressed competition on the day. So, be sure to put on your fancy dress if you want to win a prize.
Tickets cost £10 per adult and £5 per child aged 16 and under. Grab your tickets by calling the Jackson’s Café at (0118) 973 0776 or emailing info@jacksonscalifornialake.com.
 National Harvest Mouse Survey
Did you know the harvest mouse is at risk of extinction?
Harvest Mouse (or Micromys minutus) is Britain’s smallest rodent and an iconic character in the countryside. They weigh only 5 to 8g and can be difficult to spot, but they build characteristic above-ground nests which are used for shelter and breeding.
The second annual National Harvest Mouse Survey organised by the Mammal Society is now taking place to find out how many harvest mice there are in the wild, so that suitable conservation actions can be put in place for them.
Volunteers are welcome to go outside and look for harvest mice nests in their local area from now until the end of March 2023. No prior experience or specialist equipment is required to take part in the survey. Records from the survey will be analysed and shared after March 2023.
If you want to know more or sign up to the National Harvest Mouse Survey, visit the Mammal Society website.
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