Things To Do For FREE

I SPY BINGO - These FREE printable sheets are designed to be taken on any journey by foot, by pushchair or in the car.  How many of the items in the pictures you can spot on your travels?  You win when you spot a whole row of things (mark them off like a bingo card).

EASTBOURNE PLAY RANGER SESSIONS
The Play Rangers bring along an exciting collection of toys and games to local parks for children to play with, encouraging them to get active and make the most of their leisure time.  C
hildren over 8 may come and go as they please, under 8s must be accompanied and supervised by a responsible adult at all times.  Please note that the Play Ranger is not responsible for your child - these  sessions are not a substitute for child care as your child can leave at any time.

21 February: Kingsmere.  1-3pm.
25 February: Oakwood School, Willingdon Trees. 10am-12 noon.
6 March:
Gildredge Park,  Old Town.  2-4pm.
9 March: Holly Place,
 Willingdon Trees.  3-5pm.
13 March: 
Shinewater Park.  2-4pm.

For more details visit the website:
www.eastbourne.gov.uk/leisure/parks/play-ranger-service/
 
or contact the Parks & Gardens Dept at Eastbourne Borough Council: 
(01323) 415464.  

February 2011

19-25 
KIDS FUN WEEK.
Hillier Garden Centre, Hailsham Rd, Eastbourne. 
From 10am daily. 
FREE kids’ entertainment. Magic, juggling and comedy with Charlie the Clown and Mr Pineapple Head plus pottery painting (extra charge) and face painting. (01323) 763240.

20 
FREE FAMILY DROP-IN DAY & FILM SCREENINGS.
Towner, Eastbourne. 11am-3pm. 
FREE family drop-in event. Make a mini Plasticine model of yourself or tiny puppets, plus a large 2D figure. 
FREE screenings at noon and 2.30pm of “Spirited Away” (PG), an Oscar-winning animated film about a young girl and her family’s fight for freedom. (01323) 434670.

March 2011


WORLD BOOK DAY
. £1 tokens to be redeemed by 27 March. 
Books are available for only £1 - so don’t delay! 
Favourite characters’ games & activities at www.worldbookday.com 

12 
STAR PARTY.
Redoubt Fortress, Royal Parade, Eastbourne. 
7-10pm. 
FREE stargazing event with Eastbourne Astronomical Society.  Pay only for admission: adult £4.50, child £2.50, family £12, reductions for local residents. (01323) 410300.

19 
“FAIRYTALES”. 
Moira House Junior School, Upper Carlisle Road, Eastbourne. 10–11.30am.   
A fun production, by the acclaimed Rainbow Theatre Group, that will delight young children aged 3–7.  
This event is FREE.  Please call (01323) 636800 to book places.  

April 2011


MOTHERS’ DAY TREAT.
Spring Barn Farm Park, Kingston Road, Lewes. 9am-5pm. 
Mums admitted FREE with one paying child. Mothers’ Day menu in the restaurant. 
www.springbarnfarmpark.co.uk

9, 10
ATTEN - SHUN!
  Redoubt Fortress, Royal Parade, Eastbourne.
Special FREE opening event from 11am. Watch the fortress come to life with the Diehards Company of Victorian soldiers.  Pay only for admission: adult £4.50, child £2.50, family £12, reductions for local residents. (01323) 410300.

16
ARTIST-LED FAMILY DROP-IN DAY.
  Towner, College Rd, Eastbourne.  11am-3pm. Make a Spring sculpture or a little Easter tree for your home using both natural and craft materials.  FREE. (01323) 434670.

20
FAMILY STORYTELLING.
Redoubt Fortress, Royal Parade, Eastbourne. 
2pm. 
FREE with admission: adult £4.50, child £2.50, family £12, reductions for local residents.  (01323) 410300.

21
MEET THE FRIENDLY FERRETS.
  
Polegate Library, Windsor Way.  10am-12.30pm.  
Pevensey Bay Library, Richmond Road.  2-4.30pm.
There will be friendly ferrets in the libraries today.  Everyone is welcome to come and stroke them and hear about their lives.  No booking required.  FREE.  (0345) 6080196.

22
GOOD FRIDAY WORKSHOP.
St Mary’s Church, High St, Old Town. 9-11.30am. Good Friday and Easter crafts plus short family service to finish (parents welcome). Ages 3-11, under 7s must be accompanied. FREE. (01323) 645225. 

29
ROYAL WEDDING CELEBRATIONS.
 
Be the star of your local community and organise a street party! You’ll need to start early to ensure it’s a success. For lots of helpful info, visit 
www.eastbourne.gov.uk/business/licences/street-parties/eastbourne/

29
EASTBOURNE'S OWN ROYAL WEDDING CELEBRATIONS. 
Princes Park, Eastbourne seafront.  Bring a picnic and watch Kate and Wills tie the knot on the special 25 metre square big screen.  Then party to the sound of live music all afternoon and through until early evening.

30
RATTON SCHOOL DISPLAY AND FREE FAMILY DROP IN EVENT. 
Towner, College Road, Eastbourne.  11am-3pm.  Bring along your old shoes or a piece of furniture to customise or revamp.  Students from Ratton school will help with ideas and materials, plus you can view their work on display.  FREE.  No need to book.  (01323) 434660.

30 Apr - 1 May
MAGNIFICENT MOTORS.
Princes Park & Eastern seafront, Eastbourne. 
Huge FREE motoring event with vehicle displays, funfair, french market and live entertainment. 
More info at: 
www.visiteastbourne.com 

May 2011

7  
PIRATE SHOWTIME & ACTIVITY MORNING. 
10.30am–12.30pm.  Moira House Junior School, Upper Carlisle Road, Eastbourne.  One of the UK’s most established and respected children’s theatre companies, Hurricane Productions, will be performing their amazing live “Pirates” show, aimed at young children from 3–7 years old.  This event is FREE.  Please call 01323 636800 to book places.

Weekends

Saturdays, Sundays and holidays
FREE FAMILY LEARNING PACK and materials available in the Learning Area of the Towner Art Gallery, College Road, Eastbourne.  10am -5pm, just drop in. 
Room subject to availability - please phone to confirm (01323) 434670.

 
copyright www.newtownertrust.org.uk

Weekly
(please phone to confirm the times of the activities below)

TOYS IN MOTION TOY LIBRARY.
A mobile toy library for all children aged 0-5, in the Eastbourne and Wealden areas.
Call for more info: (01323) 440002.  Please confirm these dates and times before setting off.  (They can change). 

Old Town Library 
Victoria Drive, Eastbourne
Every Thursday 10-10.30am

West Rise Children's Centre
Chaffinch Road (next to West Rise School), Eastbourne
Every other Friday (from 15th January 2010) 9.45-10.15am

Willingdon Trees Children's Centre
Magnolia Drive (next to Oakwood school), Eastbourne
Every other Friday (from 22nd January 2010) 9.45-10.15am

Shinewater Children's Centre
Milfoil Drive (next to Shinewater School)
Every Friday 10.30-11am

Devonshire Children's Centre
43 Seaside, Eastbourne
Every Friday 11.15-11.45am


LOCAL LIBRARY RHYME-TIMES.   
Singing, playing musical instruments and learning rhymes for babies, toddlers and their parents, with activities organised by library staff.
Tel: (0345) 60 80 196 for more info and to confirm these dates and times before setting off.  (They can change). 

Eastbourne Library, 
Grove Road, Eastbourne
Wednesdays 10.30-11am and 
Fridays 10.45-11.15am

Hailsham Library, 
Western Road, Hailsham
Every fortnight on Tuesday 2.15-2.45m 

Langney Library,
Unit 3 The Shopping Centre, Kingfisher Drive, Langney, Eastbourne
Every Tuesday 2.10-2.30pm 
(except school holidays).

Lewes Library, 
Styles Field, Friars Walk, Lewes
First Tuesday in each month at 10.30-11am. 

Seaford Library,
17 Sutton Park Road, Seaford
First and third Tuesday in each month at 2–2.30pm.

Willingdon Library,
Coppice Avenue, lower Willingdon, Eastbourne
Second and fourth Thursday in each month at 10.30-11am (except school holidays).  

LOCAL LIBRARY STORYTIMES.  
For children aged under 5 and their parents.  Fun introduction to reading.  
The staff choose brightly illustrated picture books and read them to the children.
Tel: (0345) 60 80 196 for more info and to confirm these dates and times before setting off.  (They can change). 

Eastbourne Library
Grove Road, Eastbourne 
Every Monday 2–2.30pm.

Hailsham Library
Western Road, Hailsham  
Tuesdays 11-11.30am and
Wednesdays 2.15-2.45pm.

Hampden Park Library 
Brodrick Close, Hampden Park, Eastbourne
Last Thursday in each month at 2.15-2.45pm. 

Lewes Library 
Styles Field, Friars Walk, Lewes
Every Monday 2-2.30pm.
Chatterbooks Reading Groups for children every third Wednesday at 4-5pm, 
in term time only.

Seaford Library
17 Sutton Park Road, Seaford.  
Tuesdays 2–2.30pm (except first and third Tuesday in month).  

Daily

If you're planning to take the kids to London, make sure you look at this site before you go: www.daysoutguide.co.uk/free-london
Lots of London's best attractions are free
and there are also some very good value fares for families travelling there by train (outside peak times).

GLASS SCULPTURES. The Glass Studio on Eastbourne Pier. 10am - 6pm. Watch the craftsmen sculpting miniature models out of glass. FREE demonstrations. www.pierglassstudio.co.uk

BEACHY HEAD COUNTRYSIDE CENTRE. Top of Beachy Head. 10am-4pm. Enjoy the Downland Experience: meet the Talking Shepherd and the Saxon Man, plus experience the feel and sound of local wildlife. FREE entry - this is too good to be free - so make the most of it! (01323) 737 273.

FRISTON FOREST. Park either at the Litlington Road car park (signposted from the A259 at Seven Sisters Country Park, or at the Butchershole car park off the B2105, approx 1 mile north of Friston village. (These are ‘pay and display’ car parks £1 per hour, max £2.) Walk, cycle, go nature-spotting, build shelters out of fallen wood, picnic or even try your hand at orienteering (maps are available from the Seven Sisters visitor centre). Trails are waymarked by coloured circles, stick to the one colour and you shouldn’t get (too) lost!

FARMERS' MARKETS
While only the entry to these is FREE, a visit to a farmer’s market is a much more of an event than a visit to a supermarket, and a lot less stressful. There is also usually something you can buy to keep the children happy - homemade cakes and buns for instance!

Community Wise Farmers' Market.
Last Saturday of every month.  10am-2pm.  Ocklynge Rd, Eastbourne.  Local produce, homemade cakes.  (01323) 722924.

East Dean Village Market
Every Wednesday 10.30am-12.30pm. East Dean Village Hall. Tel: 01323 423481 or 07730 325398.

Hailsham Market
2nd Saturday in every month 9am-12.30pm. Hailsham Cattle Market. Tel: 01323 833359.

Pevensey Bay Village Market
2nd Saturday in every month 9am-11.45am (April – September). St Wilfrid's Hall, Eastbourne Road. Tel: 01323 460178.


Or (weather permitting) ...

Fly a kite up on the Downs.

Pretend you are a tourist. Sit on the beach, paddle in the sea, go rock-pooling, eat a picnic (or take a flask of hot soup - depending on aforementioned weather!)

Take a stroll around the marina and admire all the boats.

Rollerskate / cycle along the Eastern end of the seafront, where you’re in a car free zone. 



 
 


 

 




Autumn / Winter 2010
Publication



Mums and Dads
I know you're busy and won't be able to stay long, so click here to go to your own folder, at the top of which are subject labels which will lead you to items of interest.  
There are ideas for celebrations, fun activities for your kids, links to useful websites and stuff to entertain you while you sit down with a nice cup of tea, all tidied away into their own sections. 
Hope you enjoy them!



Tinies
Pre-school boys and girls.  
Click here for the folder, then click on one of the subject labels at the top of it's front page.  
You'll find lots of good stuff under the headings: 
Celebrate, Find Out, Go Out, Stay In, Join and Organise.



Tikes
Boys and girls aged 5-11.  
There's nothing for babies or old people here - just fun, useful stuff for kids.  
Click here to go to your own folder, then click on one of the subject labels at the top of the page.  
You'll find lots of good stuff under the headings: 
Celebrate, Find Out, Go Out, Stay In, Join and Organise.  
They'll take you where you want to go.