On Essex Mums this month
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  SUMMER HOLIDAYS EVENTS  *  SUMMER HOLIDAYS PLANNER
SUMMER MEET-UPS  *  FREE EVENTS - CAN YOU HELP? 
PLACES TO GO   *  NEW: BABY NAMES SECTION 
FEEDBACK WANTED: EVENTS LISTINGS  *   HALF PRICE ADS
EVENTS  *   NEW GROUPS & CLASSES

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On Essex Mums this month
It's looking summery out there and rightly so as the summer holidays are just around the corner. As many of you will be thinking of ways to keep the kids happy over the coming six week break, I will be using the next two newsletters to focus on fun things to do! There's also lots of news this month, but August's will be devoted almost entirely to all the amazing things that are on. 

Please feel free to use the buttons below to add your own event, business etc:

Summer Holidays Meet Ups
Would you like to meet up with other mums this summer? It's a great way of entertaining the kids and having a nice time yourself too. If the sun is shining, why not organise a picnic in the park, visit to a country park or walk in the woods? Come and suggest something fun in the Meet-Ups section of the forum, and if you want to suggest an event, I can add it to the Facebook Group too, to spread the word. You're bound to find someone local who is also at a loose end. Keep an eye out on this section for events organised by others too and don't be afraid to join in!


Free Events for Families - Can you Help?
In a similar vein, I was thinking it would be fun to organise a few events over the summer that have a bit more going on. I've been speaking to the lovely Zoe from fitbugs about getting together to do some sporty picnics in the Southend area and was wondering if there is anyone else out there who would be interested in getting together to host some events elsewhere - whether it's sporty, crafty, storytelling or something completely different, I'm open to ideas. I would like these to be free events for families so I'm thinking parks would be ideal. So if you're happy to spare a bit of time to do something fun for families, get in touch! Likewise, I'd welcome any feedback from parents about what sort of events they might like to go to.
 

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Events
As always there is lots more going on this month! Below is a small selection of the fantastic things going on but you can find full listings on the Things to Do section. 

Barking and Dagenham
2^nd: Pond Dipping & Exploring, Oval Road North
6^{th &}  7th: The Magical Playroom with CBeebies’s Cerrie Burnell, The Broadway Barking
7^th: Family Fun Day, Dagenham
20^th: William Bellamy Primary School Summer Fete
25^th: Sculpture Trail and Stories, Oval Road North
27^th: Transport Day, Valence House
30^th: Beautiful Boats, Valence House
31^th: Bees and Butterfly Day, Oval Road North
 
Basildon
2^nd: Child's Work is Never Done! Billericay Parents’ Forum
5^{th –} 7th: Millennium Paintball Event, Barleylands
Every Saturday: Outdoor Activity Fun - (Family), Action Park
6^th: Runwell Community Primary School Summer fete
7th: Festival of Transport, Barleylands
9^th: Hartbeeps Summer Sessions, Billericay FC
11^th – 21^st: Billericay Art Trail
13^th: Family Forest Fun, Langdon Hills
14^th: Billericay Summerfest, Sun Corner
20^th: Insect Afternoon, Wat Tyler
21^st: Nature Quest, Wick Country Park
22^nd onwards: Super Camps Multi-Activity, Mayflower School
23^rd: Sportacular: Total Wipeout, Bromfords School
24^th: Arts & Crafts, Messy Play and Face Painting, Wickford CLC
25^th: Roller Disco at The Place, Pitsea
26^th: Just Bounce Inflatable Session, Bromfords School
28th: Summer Festival and Fire Walk, Barleylands
29^th – 31^st: Arsenal Soccer School, Janet Duke School
30^th: Katies - Ultimate Girls – Butterfly Babes, Wickford CLC
31^st: Drop-in Bug Hunting, Langdon Visitor Centre
 
Braintree
3^rd: Baby Sensory Demo, Hatfield Broad Oak Baby Group
5^th: Summer Fete, St Michael’s School
6^th: All Saints' Terling Fete on the Green
11^th: Baby Sensory Picnic, Little Goslings CC
13^th: Witham Carnival
13^th & 14^th: Tractor, Country & Family Dog Show, Blake House Craft Centre
17^th: Music in the Castle, Hedingham Castle
20^th onwards: Haunting History Summer Trails, Braintree Museum
20^th onwards: The Original Great Maze, Blake House
22^nd – 26^th: Mad Science Summer Camps, Gosfield Prep
23^rd – 25^th: Go Wild Safari, Cressing Temple
24^th: Detective Xperience, DeVere Primary School
25^th: Sport Xperience, DeVere Primary School
26^th: Make a Kite, Braintree Museum
29^th: Go Bonkers, Great Notley Country Park
30^th: Princes & Princesses Story Telling and Drama Workshop for Children, Hedingham Castle
 
Brentwood
3^rd: Hugless Douglas, Chicken and Frog Bookshop
4th: The Tiger Who Came to Tea Party, Chicken and Frog Bookshop
5^th – 7^th: The Brentwood Festival, Brentwood Centre
6^th: Summer Fete - Holly Trees Primary School
7^th: Meet and Greet with Fireman Sam, Old MacDonalds Farm
11^{th &}  25th: Hartbeeps Summer Sessions, Knights Way Centre
13^th: Brentwood Fire - Friendly Game, Shenfield Sports Centre
13^{th &}  14th: Pet Our Animals Weekend , Old MacDonalds Farm
21^st: Hopefield Animal Santctuary Funday
22^nd – 26^th: Mad Science Summer Camps, Poplar Lodge
24^th onwards: Summer Funshine at Weald Country Park
24^th onwards: Megacamps, The Brentwood Centre
26^th: Family Funday, St. George’s Playing Fields
27th: Punch and Judy at the Farm , Old MacDonalds Farm
29^th onwards: Sports Stars Summer Camps, St Martin’s School
31^st: Water Splash, Thriftwood Scout Centre
 
Castle Point
4^th: Starting School in Sept Get Together - Robert Drake, Farmer Fred’s
6^th: Summer Fete Extravaganza, Kents Hill Junior School
8^th: Starting School in Sept Get Together – Corringham Primary, Farmer Fred’s
11th: Starting School in Sept Get Together – Holy Family, Farmer Fred’s
13^th: Fire Station Open Day, Canvey Fire Station
14^th: Rare Plants of Benfleet Downs, Hadleigh Country Park
15^th: Starting School in Sept Get Together – Canvey Schools, Farmer Fred’s
19^th: Glow by Night, Hadleigh Country Park
20^th: Fun Day and Bazaar, Canvey
21^th: Roundhouse Open Day, Hadleigh Country Park
28^th: On the Trail of the Old Smugglers, Hadleigh Country Park
30^th onwards: Bailar Dance Summer School
31^th: Aliens Have Landed!, Hadleigh Country Park
 
Chelmsford
1^st – 4^th: The 3 foot People Festival, Central Park
2^nd: Stargirl Academy Party, Just Imagine Story Centre
3^rd: Little Acorns Pre-School Club, RHS Hyde Hall
5th: British Bake Off Summer Fair, Collingwood Primary School
6^th: The Fling Festival 2013, Central Park
7^th: Horse and Carriage rides, Hylands House & Estate
9^{th, 16th & 23rd}: Weight Loss Challenge, Chelmsford FC
12^{th  & 19th}: Hartbeeps Summer Sessions, Creepy Crawlies
13^th:  Make a Victorian Police Lamp, Essex Police Museum
14^th: The Three Billy Pigs, Chelmsford Civic and Cramphorn Theatres
15^th onwards: Super Camps Multi-Activity Summer, New Hall School
17^th: Miniscule Festival, Creepy Crawlies
18^th – 20^th: Danbury Players - Little Shop of Horrors, Danbury Village Hall
20^th: Fairy School Workshops, Chelmsford
21^st: Wildflower Walk, Hanningfield Reservoir
22^nd onwards: Jester's Out of School and Holiday Club
24^th onwards: Summer Fun at the Zoo, Tropical Wings
Every Wednesday: Wild Wednesday at Danbury Country Park
25^th: Busy Fingers - Foil Printing Workshop, Hobbycraft
27^{th & 28th}: West End Summer School Workshops, Little Waltham Memorial Hall
28^th: Summer Fair, Hanningfield Rservoir
29^th onwards: Stagecoach Summer Workshops, St John Payne Lower School
30^th: Play in the Park, Chelmer Village
 
Colchester
1^st – 3^rd: Tiddler and Other Terrific Tales, Mercury Theatre
2^nd: Cheeky Monkeys Tea Party, Stable House
3^rd: Bat Walk, High Woods Country Park
6^th: Family Fun Day, Highwoods Community Centre
7^th: Butterflies & Dragons, Abberton Reservoir
10^th: KMS Colchester Information Evening, Colchester United
12^{th – 14th}: Children’s World, Lower Castle Park
13^th: Alice and Her Adventures in Wonderland - Outdoor Theatre, The Minories
14^th: Dinky Disco Under 3s, firstsite
19^th: Glow Worm Walk, Blue House Farm
20^th: Colchester Carnival Fun Day
24^th onwards: firstsite Lucky Bag
24^th: Springlands Sports "Queens Coronation", Gosbecks School
26^th: Y.A.K. Games Sessions, firstsite
27^{th &} 28th: Mediaeval Festival, Feast & Multi-period Dance Festival, Coggeshall GrangeBarn
29^th onwards: Junior Musical Theatre Week, Stagecoach Colchester
29^th onwards: Taztastic Performing Arts Summer School Mini Stars, Thurstable School
30th: Tracks and Trails, High Woods Country Park
31^st: Earth week - Clay sun plaque, Hollytrees Museum
 
Epping Forest
1^st – 7^th: The Epping Festival
5^th: Chilming – The Blues Brothers, North Weald Airfield
6^th & 7^th: North Weald Bus Rally, Epping Ongar Railway
12th: Lambourne Primary School Summer Fete
13^th: What's on at Asquith Day Nurseries
14^th: Classic Vehicle Show, Royal Gunpowder Mills
18^th – 22^nd: Aladdin – Summer Pantomime, Lopping Hall
19^th: Chilming in the Woods
20^th  onwards: Rocket Factory, Royal Gunpowder Mills
23^rd, 25^th, 30^th: Epping Forest Gymnastics Club
24^th – 26 & 29^th onwards: West End on Demand, Loughton
26^th: Elliott and the Rainbow, The Limes Centre
27^th: Hainault Forest Sleepover
29^th onwards: Adventure Academy, Lambourne End
29^th: How to Draw! Epping Library
30^th: Forest Families: Survival Skills, Epping Forest
31^st: Peppa Pig at the Farms, Lee Valley Farms
 
Harlow
6^th: Fire Station Open Day, Harlow Fire Station
23^rd: Family Disco with Rocky the Rhino! Harlow Leisurezone
24th: Soccer Tots, Harlow Leisurezone
25th: Tennis Day Camp, Harlow Leisurezone
26^th: Lady Windermere's Fan Friday, The Gibberd Garden
27th: Wet & Wacky Fun Swim, Harlow Leisurezone
28^th: Chris and Pui Roadshow, Harlow Playhouse
29^th onwards: Hip Hop Pop SUMMER SCHOOL, Harlow Playhouse
30th: Fab Science: Potty Potions, Old Harlow
31st: Aqua Jets , Harlow Leisurezone
 
Havering
3^rd: Marks Gate Infant School Summer Fete
6^th: Harold Hill Fun Day
7^th: Tackle Tots Summer Camp Open Day, Redden Court School
12^th: Bedford’s Nature Rangers, Bedford’s Park
13^th: Mawney Foundation School Victorian Summer Fayre
14^th: St Patricks School Fun on the Field
20^{th & 21st}: Upminster Windmill Open Day
22^nd onwards: Romford YMCA Holiday Club
22^nd onwards: Junior Activity Week, Stubbers Adventure Centre
24^th onwards: Megacamps, The James Oglethorpe Primary School
25^th: Free child car seat safety check, Fentiman Way car park
26^th: Teddy Bear’s Picnic, Havering Museum
27^th onwards: Treasure Island, Queens Theatre
28^th: Friends of Cottons Park Family Funday
29^th onwards: The Elms Holiday Schemes, Hornchurch & Romford
29th onwards: Young Beginners Holiday Swimming Course, St. Mary's School
30^th: Wildlife Discovery Club, Bedford’s Park
31st: Den Building, Bedford’s Park
 
Maldon
6^th: Little Totham Fete
7^th: Lilleshall Steam Day, Museum of Power
14^th: Summer Garden Party, Butler Cottage
24^th onwards: Megacamps, Blackwater Leisure Centre
27^th: Fire Station Open Day, Tillingham Fire Station
28^th onwards: Maldon Carnival Week
29^th: Up in Lights Musical Theatre Summer Classes, Woodham Walter
 
Redbridge
All month: Caught on Camera! Redbridge Museum
2^nd: Explore, Make and Do for Under 5s, Valentine’s Mansion
5^th: All Aboard the Fairlop Frigate
6^th: Fairlop Fair
7^th: St Aidan's Primary School Fete
13^th: Eastbury Manor House Heritage Day
23^rd onwards: Really Wild Things Exhibition, Redbridge Museum
24^th: Summer League Football for Under 18s, Powerleague Fairlop
29^th onwards: Theatrebugs Summer  Courses, Wanstead
29^th: Creepy Face Painting, Keith Axon Library
30^th: Egg Box Bugs, Woodford Green Library
31^st: Donkey Rides at Foxburrows Farm
 
Rochford
6^th: Ashingdon Family Fun Day, King George V Playing Field
7^{th & 14th}: Karate, Clements Hall LC
13^th: Saturday Kids Art & Nature Club - Fancy Fabric Wreaths, Rayleigh View Nursery  & Craft Centre
18^th: Special Needs Fun House, Rayleigh Megacentre
20^th: Family Fun Day, King George V Playing Field
22^nd – 26^th: Blues Football First Holiday Club, Grove Wood School
24^th: Inflatable Play Session, King George V Playing Field
25th: Cricket Camp, Sweyne Park School
26^th: Bushcraft Session, Abbotts Hall Farm
27^th: Fire Station Open Day, Rayleigh Fire Station
29^th onwards: Crash Course Swimming, Clements Hall
29^th: Family Wacky Woods, Hockley Woods
30^th: Gruffalo Arts & Storytelling, Mushroom Theatre Company
31^st: Bouncy Castle Fun Days, King George V Playing Field
 
Southend
5^th: Baby and Children’s Clothes Swap Shop, Summercourt CC
6^th onwards: Bees - The Pollinators of the World, Southend Central Museum
6^th: Heycroft Inflatable Fun Day and BBQ
10^th – 13^th: The Big Charge, Chalkwell Park
11^th: First Aid for Parents, Southend Hospital
13^th: Village Green, Chalkwell Park
15^th: Benjamin Britten's children's opera Noye's Fludde at St Luke's Church
20^th: Fun Day with Gemma’s Farm, Little Treasures
21^st: Learn to Ride Summer 2013, Southend
22^nd: Come and Dance, Blenheim CC
23^rd, 24^th, 30^th, 31^st: 3Lions Soccer School, St Thomas More School
23rd: A Squash and a Squeeze, Blenheim CC
24^th – 26^th: The Soccer Hub Football Camps, PlayFootball
24^th – 26^th: Fitnessary Summer Holidays Kids' Boot Camps, Chalkwell Park
26^th: Archaeology Day at Prittlewell Priory
27^th & 28^th: Superhero Weekend, Sealife Centre
27^th: Southend YMCA Community Fete
29^th: Spy Xperience, Prospects Futures College
29^th onwards: Holiday Art Club at Chalkwell Hall
31^st: Den-Building at Belfairs
 
Tendring
1^st – 7^th: Harwich Art Trail
6^{th & 20th}: Family Evening Entertainment, Boardwalk Bar and Grill
7^th: Circus Day, Space Kingdom
8^th: Mother, Baby, Toddler & Kids Summer Fair, Weeley Village Hall
13^th: Tendring Hundred Show, Lawford House Park
13^th onwards: The Napoleonic Home Front, Jaywick Martello Tower
13^th: Fossil Hunts with the Nazeman, Walton on the Naze
14^th: Storytelling, Jaywick Martello Tower
20^th: Sixth Annual Jaywick Summer Fayre
21^st: Open Day and Fun Dog Show, National Animal Welfare Trust
26^th: School’s Out Party, Space Kingdom
27^th: The Main Event Fireworks, Clacton Pier
28^th: Harwich Sea Festival and Lifeboat Day
 
Thurrock
5^{th & 20th}: Dragons and Damsels, Rainham Marshes
6^th: Family Fun Day, Bulphan
13^th: Family Variety Day, Corringham
13^th: Kite Building, Thurrock Thameside
19^th: RoQ - Secondary School, Civic Hall
22^nd onwards: JTD of Performing Arts School Holidays Workshops, Grays
23^rd: Conservation Club, Rainham Marshes
24^th onwards: Grangewaters Acti-Fun
26^th: Bugs Bonanza Day, Cory Environmental Trust Centre
27^th & 28^th: T-Fest, Grays Beach
29^th onwards: Create a Musical in a Week, Thameside Theatre
29^th onwards: Alison Anderson School of Dance Summer Workshop
31st: Wet Wackness on Wednesday, Rainham Marshes
 
Uttlesford
Every Saturday and Sunday: Bringing Audley End to Life
6^th:  Medieval Combat Weekend, Mountfitchet Castle
7^th: Sherlock Holmes, Bridge End Gardens
13^th: Sizzling BBQ Kiddy Cook Workshops, Ugley Village Hall
19^th: The Woman In Black (12) Open Air Cinema, Hatfield Forest
20^th onwards: Summer Holiday Activities, Audley End Minature Railway
21^st: Public Open Day and Concert, The Gardens of Easton Lodge
22^nd – 26^th: Time Travellers Go… WWII Training School, Audley End
22^nd: Adventure Xperience, RA Butler Junior School
23rd: Sport Xperience, RA Butler Junior School
22^th: Spy Xperience, RA Butler Junior School
28^th: Mills open Day - Aythorpe Roding Post Mill
29^th onwards: Time Travellers Go… Kings and Queens, Audley End
29^th onwards: Summer Activities for Kids, Dunmow Arts Centre
30^th: Futsal Xperience, Dunmow St Mary’s School
31st: Martial Arts Xperience, Dunmow St Mary’s School

New Classes and Groups
A selection of new information about classes and groups added this month.  Some are brand new to the site, some just have updates about new venues, details etc.Take a look at the Things to Do section for complete listings.

• Alison Anderson School of Dance 
• ArtZone After School Art Club 
• Baby Massage classes in Brentwood and Gidea Park 
• Bake It Make It Cooking School - NEW CLASSES - FREE SESSION 
• Blenheim Children's Centre Timetables 
• Bouncing Baby Yoga - a Birthlight baby yoga class 
• Buddies Play and Sensory 
• Chelmsford Children's Centres 
• Children's Club - Barking Learning Centre 
• Club Mellow Parent, Baby & Toddler for LGBT Parents & Carers 
• Diddi Dance Essex – Rock n Roll Had Begun
• Epping Forest Gymnastics Club  
• Epping Forest Parent Inclusion Forum 
• Funky Voices Modern Youth Choir - Thursdays at Barleylands! 
• Gentle Touch Infant Massage £5.00 off 
• German Speaking Baby & Toddler Group - Colchester 
• Great Wakering Rovers FC 
• Happy Play Days under 5s soft play centre 
• Harlow Leisurezone Activities 
• Hartbeeps 
• Havering Hedgehogs 
• Highcliffe Children's Centre 
• Infant Massage babies 4 months and older! 
• Kids Dance and Musical Theatre Workshops
• The LITTLE Sing Factor - Summer Workshops 
• Little Treasures 
• Mr Bright's Maths Club for Young People - Dagenham Library 
• Musical Tots 
• Play in the Park, Chelmsford 
• Pop Up Play, Romford 
• Rascals Theatre School 
• Sing and Sign - NEW to Loughton & Buckhurst Hill 
• Sit and Fidget Arts - Workshops in Southend - 7-16yr olds 
• South Essex Gymnastics Club 
• Stagecoach Classes 
• Streetlife Toddler Dance Classes 
• Summercourt Children's Centre 
• Talking Tots 
• Taztastic Performing Arts School 
• Term time courses at Riverside Ice and Leisure Centre 
• Thameside Children's Centre Timetables 2013 
• Triangle Children’s Centre 
• Up In Lights Dance Academy 
• West End Summer School Workshops 
• Yoga & Massage for children with Special Needs 

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Product Reviews

Here's a list of what's been added this month! You can see a bit about each of our reviewers here, or can go straight to the reviews here.

• BabyLit
• Circa – The circular calendar
• Everything’s Rosie: Bubble Trouble and Other Stories
• Funsize Golf
• James and the Giant Peach – Palace Theatre, June 25th
• Personalised My Daddy Photo Frame
• Precious Little Films
• Priddy Books Play and Learn with Wallace
• Silliest Situations

Special Offers for Essex Mums

CLASSES & GROUPS
Bouncing Baby Yoga: 10% off baby yoga classes when you quote Essex Mums
EWTO Essex: 2 weeks free taster classes across their little Dragon and Juniors WingTsun Kung Fu classes in Chelmsford and Loughton. Call SiFu Kul on 07977 132111 to book a space. 
Little Scrummers: 20% discount on membership to all new members when quoting Essex Mums.
Mini Footie: Quote ESSEXMUMS for a free session
Tappy Toes: Quote 'Essex Mums' for a FREE trial class at Tappy Toes classes on Mondays at 1.30pm for 20months to 2.5years and 2pm for 2.6-4.5 years in Epping

Zumba Sue: Free Zumba class for new customers when you quote Essex Mums at reception
 
CLOTHES & ACCESSORIES
Angel Cashmere: 10% off with code ESMUM10
Bambino Merino: 10% off with code EMTEN
Eternal Creation: £10 off with code ESSEX10
Harry and Molly: 15% off with code HMESM
Indivijewels: Like them on Facebook for a 15% discount
Jane deBono: 20% off with code ESSEXMUMS
Kids Do Travel: 20% off with code ESSEXMUMS
Little Lollipop Kids: 15% off with code essex15
My Wife Your Wife: 10% of with code ESSEX13
Peep Baby: 20% off with code ESSEXMUMS
Props & Frocks: 15% off hire costumes or 10% off retail with code Essexmums1
So-Hooked handbag hooks: 20% off with code LOVEMUM2013
Sweetpea: 15% off with code essex13
 
GIFTS & TOYS

Circa Calendar: Special Essex Mums price of £29.95 with code ESXMUM10
Fairwind: Quote Essexmums for 10% off
Nest: 15% discount with code essexmums
Smart Start Toys: 5% discount with code EM12/13
 
PHOTOGRAPHY
Splash Studios: Quote Essex Mums for complimentary photo session and 10x8 print
Perfect Image Photography: £50-£100 off a wedding shoot if you quote this newsletter
 
EVERYTHING ELSE:
2013 Cheap Adventure Island Tickets
Bish Bash Birthdays are offering a 10% discount off any party entertainer booking if you quote 'Essex Mums'.
Chez 357: 20% off your first treatment when you quote Essex Mums.
Claire Sarah Wedding Planner: Quote Essex Mums for a 10% discount
Halcyon Beauty: 20% off treatments for readers of Essexmums* Please quote `Emums’ when booking
Loch Fyne Restaurants: Children eat free! (T&CS: One child eats free from the children's menu per adult main course ordered from the à la carte menu only. Children 10 years or younger. Offer not available in conjunction with any vouchers, offers or promotions)
Spin Collective: 10% off with code mumsjustlove10
VidaYum: Special Offer of first month free & £3.99 thereafter


New in the Shopping Guide

New Pregnancy and Parenting Articles
New articles in our Pregnancy and Parenting section this month:

Everything else
As always, please send any events, feedback, ideas etc. to me at louise@essexmums.org. I love hearing how people use the site and ways I can improve it. 

I hope you have a lovely month and that I'll get to see you at a meet-up soon.

Kind regards
Louise
 

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