Little LegendsWhat's on for Kids around the UK

Give dad a special treat this Father’s Day, Sunday 20th June, with a day of excitement, challenge, activity and family fun at the Weald & Downland Open Air Museum at Singleton, near Chichester. England’s leading museum of historic buildings and traditional rural life is planning an event packed with unusual and traditional rural activities for dad, and the rest of the family, to discover and enjoy.

Fathers will have a chance to experience a number of specialist countryside skills all in one event-packed day, with activities, demonstrations and competitions designed to appeal to fathers, grandfathers, and children of all ages – and of course, mum will be welcome to join in as well! There will be a chance to drive a vintage tractor, archery, and an opportunity to drive a horse-drawn cart pulled by one of the Museum’s team of working Shire horses. The working Tudor kitchen is also sure to be a popular destination for fathers because there they can discover the art of traditional brewing.

Haredown Mountain Boarding Centre from East Dean, near Chichester will be in attendance once again, giving brave visitors the opportunity to experience rolling downhill on a small set of wheels, with just gravity and a sense of balance to guide them! The team from the Centre will provide instruction and equipment, with a couple of expert demonstrations during the day. There will also be a wooden sculpture activity, using shaped wooden sections which are assembled to make the design of the visitor’s choice. This activity proved extremely popular last year, and resulted in a magnificent variety of items ranging from steam trains complete with smoke, to aeroplanes, helicopters, owls and penguins!

There will also be welly boot throwing – always more difficult than it looks; a golf activity with a difference, field target air rifles, and of course with the World Cup firmly on everyone’s mind, a number of football challenges. There will be a falconry display, with a chance to get up close to the birds themselves, and the historic Timber Yard will be in action. For younger visitors, there will be a special Father’s Day arts and craft activity, and the chance to try some traditional Tudor and Victorian games.

Visitors on Fathers Day will be able to enjoy all of the Museum’s exhibits, which include over 45 historic buildings, rescued from destruction and carefully reconstructed in the heart of the South Downs National Park. They will be able to see the traditional breed farm animals including Tamworth pigs, cattle, and sheep. The 17th century watermill will be grinding flour sold in the shop and used in the café, while children will love the woodland walks and feeding the hungry ducks on the lake with grain from the mill.

The Museum is open daily until 23 December. It is open from 10.30am to 6pm during British Summer Time, and until 4pm for the rest of the year. Admission is adults £9, over 60s £8.15 children £4.80, family £24.75, under 5’s free.