Latest news with #SummerofPlay
South Wales Argus
a day ago
- Entertainment
- South Wales Argus
Gwent's weekend packed with events for every age group
The popular Big Splash festival will return for 2025, transforming the city into a bustling arts hub on Saturday, July 19, and Sunday, July 20. Organised by The Riverfront, the annual festival is expected to draw thousands to the city, with a line-up of live music, street theatre, dance performances, workshops, and family-friendly activities. Big Splash returns to Newport this weekend (Image: Newport Live) The event is free and open to people of all ages. It has been described as "a slice of Covent Garden in Newport." They will play classics from the Pet Shop Boys, Erasure, and other 80s favourites. The Place on Bridge Street will be running a Silent Disco City Tour on Saturday, July 19. (Image: Supplied) This family-friendly activity involves donning headsets and exploring the city and Big Splash Festival in a unique way. The tours will be held from 1pm to 1.30pm and from 2pm to 2.30pm, but booking is essential. Tredegar House will also be hosting a "Summer of Play" starting from Saturday, July 19. Tredegar House's 'Summer of Play' launches this weekend (Image: Supplied) This is an Edwardian-inspired event with a giant sand pit, colourful beach huts, and sensory tents filled with sea sounds and textures, aimed at neurodivergent visitors. The event is sponsored by Starling Bank and is designed for all ages. Children can enjoy building sandcastles, dressing up in Edwardian seaside fashion, and make-believe play. Visitors can even pose in a traditional seaside cut-out or take a family photo on a giant deckchair. There are also 90 acres of grounds to explore, with shady picnic spots for enjoying an ice cream. No pre-booking is required for the Summer of Play. Normal admission charges apply, but National Trust members can enjoy free entry and parking. The National Trust Cymru has promised a "joyful day out" for families at the event. They said: "Whether you're chasing that classic holiday feeling close to home or looking for a fun day out with the family, Tredegar House promises an adventure that will last all summer long." For more information, visit the National Trust website. With such a variety of events on offer, Newport promises a weekend full of fun and excitement for all ages.
North Wales Live
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- North Wales Live
6 places in North Wales to enjoy a ‘summer of play' with the whole family
The summer holidays are just around the corner, which means endless opportunities for fun, shared experiences with the whole family. And if you're looking for inspiration, you're in luck. There are a number of places across North Wales, cared for by National Trust Cymru, that have an incredible programme of activities and events coming up. Sponsored by Starling Bank, the Summer of Play events* will run throughout the summer holidays, and are the perfect chance to get outdoors, explore, and make special memories together. Read on for a glimpse at some of the places and activities you won't want to miss this summer… Chirk Castle and Garden, Wrexham This summer, go on a Big Play Adventure at Chirk Castle. Explore nature-inspired zones and unleash your creativity by designing your own obstacle course or building a den. Finish your adventure by climbing the straw bale lookout posts to admire your creative efforts from above. On selected weekends, you can even have a go at archery** and fencing. Erddig Hall and Garden, Wrexham Step back in time and experience the garden at Erddig through the playful eyes of Philip and Simon Yorke, the children who once called Erddig home. Dress up and take to the lawn to put on a performance before enjoying traditional garden games, including large dominoes, skittles, and badminton. Plus, don't miss Storytelling Wednesdays with Jake. Plas Newydd House and Garden, Anglesey Take the perfect summer photo on the big green armchair at 1Plas Newydd's garden, before seeking out poetry pebbles to compose your own poem and competing in your very own sports day. Inside the house itself, dress up, spin, and dance in the music room. On Wednesdays during the summer holidays, the garden is open late until 8pm. Penrhyn Castle and Garden, Bangor Why not make the garden and grounds of Penrhyn Castle your playground over the summer holidays? Show off your talents on the performing stage, test your building and creative skills in the construction zone, and get the whole family involved in racket games. With plenty of places to picnic amongst the meadows, Penrhyn Castle is the perfect place to kick back and relax on a warm day. Powis Castle and Garden, Welshpool Enjoy a fun-packed summer's day on the great lawn at Powis Castle. Test your speed in a sack race, try your balance on the balance beam, or hop like a frog across the lily pad. If you're feeling sporty, you can even challenge your friends and family to a game of football, badminton or volleyball. Bodnant Garden, Conwy Experience Bodnant Garden in a whole new way as Aardman Animation brings its most famous characters to the beautiful garden with 'Wallace & Gromit: All Systems Go'. The perfect way to get everyone outside this summer, help Wallace and Gromit by completing a variety of activities and games around the garden using a fantastic new Augmented Reality (AR) trail. Following the release of the new movie 'Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl' earlier this year, the beloved characters will be familiar to kids and parents alike.
South Wales Argus
11-07-2025
- Business
- South Wales Argus
National Trust to cut 550 jobs as costs 'increasingly tough'
In a statement, the charity said: "Our job is increasingly tough due to sustained cost pressures beyond our control." It went on: "Although demand and support for our work are growing with yearly increases in visitors and donations; increasing costs are outstripping this growth. Happy birthday to us! 130 today and still going strong 💪 A big thank you to everyone who is celebrating with us ♥️ — National Trust (@nationaltrust) January 12, 2025 "Responding to this situation means making some internal changes to the organisation. Pay is the biggest part of our costs, and the recent employer's National Insurance increase and National Living Wage rise added more than £10m to our annual wage bill. "We are proposing to reduce our pay bill and are beginning a 45-day consultation period with our staff in order to find savings of £26 million. The proposals would lead to an estimated 6% reduction in jobs." The 130-year-old trust said in the statement this follows months of other cost-saving measures, as they are "prioritising the things people told us are important". The statement concluded: "We'll still be caring for nature and heritage every day, as we have done for the last 130 years. The National Trust has existed for so long because it keeps adapting and planning for the long term. "The proposed changes will allow us to keep on caring for and championing our shared historic and natural environment in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, long into the future." This comes as the trust throws open its gates for families, with 175 National Trust places across England, Wales, and Northern Ireland putting on special activities. Running throughout the school holidays, Summer of Play has been sponsored by Starling Bank, so prices are included with standard admission (and free for National Trust members).
Rhyl Journal
11-07-2025
- Business
- Rhyl Journal
National Trust to cut 550 jobs as costs 'increasingly tough'
In a statement, the charity said: "Our job is increasingly tough due to sustained cost pressures beyond our control." It went on: "Although demand and support for our work are growing with yearly increases in visitors and donations; increasing costs are outstripping this growth. Happy birthday to us! 130 today and still going strong 💪 A big thank you to everyone who is celebrating with us ♥️ "Responding to this situation means making some internal changes to the organisation. Pay is the biggest part of our costs, and the recent employer's National Insurance increase and National Living Wage rise added more than £10m to our annual wage bill. "We are proposing to reduce our pay bill and are beginning a 45-day consultation period with our staff in order to find savings of £26 million. The proposals would lead to an estimated 6% reduction in jobs." The 130-year-old trust said in the statement this follows months of other cost-saving measures, as they are "prioritising the things people told us are important". The statement concluded: "We'll still be caring for nature and heritage every day, as we have done for the last 130 years. The National Trust has existed for so long because it keeps adapting and planning for the long term. "The proposed changes will allow us to keep on caring for and championing our shared historic and natural environment in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, long into the future." This comes as the trust throws open its gates for families, with 175 National Trust places across England, Wales, and Northern Ireland putting on special activities. Running throughout the school holidays, Summer of Play has been sponsored by Starling Bank, so prices are included with standard admission (and free for National Trust members).
North Wales Live
27-06-2025
- Entertainment
- North Wales Live
The National Trust sites to visit in Wrexham during the National Eisteddfod this summer
This summer, Wrexham locals and visitors are in for a cultural treat with the arrival of the National Eisteddfod of Wales. And for visitors to the city, especially, it's the perfect opportunity to explore the north-east of Wales beyond the vibrant festivities. If you're looking for some incredible things to see and do, did you know that Wrexham is home to two grand heritage sites, run by the National Trust? Chirk Castle and Garden and Erddig Hall and Garden both offer a brilliant blend of heritage, natural beauty, and fun activities for all the family, to make your Eisteddfod experience even more memorable. Read on for a brief look at the sites and what they've got coming up this summer… Chirk Castle and Garden A medieval fortress with stunning gardens and rich history, Chirk Castle and Garden is truly a sight to behold. The castle's expansive 5.5-acre gardens are a delight all year round, but in the summer months, the rose garden is a particular highlight. Visitors can follow the accessible path to experience the fragrance and colour of the Rose Garden and look out for displays of tall climbers, such as Rosa 'Madame D'Arblay'. And with manicured lawns, clipped yews, and stunning views of the Shropshire and Cheshire plains, there's something to enjoy around every corner. There's also plenty to experience inside the 13th-century Marcher castle, with its lavish interiors and diverse collection of art, furniture, and more. Visit the historic Adam Tower to see signs of the castle's medieval past, explore the recently re-opened library, or discover the new reading room where you can also play board games. For families, the castle will host a Summer of Play event from July 19 to August 31, sponsored by Starling Bank. Here, you can discover four themed zones in the Field of Play, each packed with interactive activities, from den-building to designing your own obstacle course. There will also be fencing in the courtyard on July 26 and 27, storytelling events taking place on July 21 and 28 and August 4, and visitors can even put their bow and arrow skills to the test in an archery session* on August 23, 24 and 25. Erddig Hall and Garden Just nine miles from Chirk Castle, you'll find Erddig Hall - a late 17th-century country house with a Grade I listed garden. Wind-fell oak sourced from the 1,200-acre estate, located on the outskirts of Wrexham city centre, has been used to create the ceremonial chair for this year's National Eisteddfod, while foliage will feature in displays across the Maes. Within the estate's restored 18th-century walled garden, visitors can wander the paths to discover a Victorian parterre, herbaceous borders, and apple trees brimming with fruit. Inside Erddig Hall itself, you can journey through a family home filled with a collection of servants' portraits and poems, fine interiors, textiles, and furniture. Like Chirk Castle, Erddig Hall is hosting a Summer of Play, full of exciting activities for the whole family, from July 19 to August 31. Have a go at traditional garden games, including dominoes and badminton, or try making music in Wolf's Den natural play area, where you can soar high on the rope swing or balance on beams. Throughout the summer, visitors can also design their own postcard on Mondays, listen to storytelling on Wednesdays, or brush up on their art skills on Fine Art Fridays. Plus, during Eisteddfod week itself, from August 2 to 9, 2025, you can visit a special Welsh book corner within Erddig's secondhand bookshop, or have a go at making your own ddraig goch (red dragon) out of paper on August 2 and 9. Plan your visits So, what are you waiting for? Both Chirk Castle and Erddig are must-see places in north-east Wales, and with a free programme* of activities and events happening throughout the summer, there's really no better time to visit.
