The Family Grapevine Mid Surrey

02/10/2025

🎃 Celebrate Spooky Season at Chessington World of Adventures Resort 👻🦇
Roller coaster rides at dusk, fancy dress contests and a host of brand-new spooky shows are all part of the Howl’o’ween fun set to take place at Chessington World of Adventures Resort
The animal residents at Enchanted Hollow – Trick or Treat with HARIBO & MAOAM* are back for those seeking an extra treat this Halloween
Event runs over the first two weekends of October and daily from 18th October to 2nd November 2025
Tickets for Howl’o’ween start at £32 per person, which includes entry to the theme park, zoo, and SEA LIFE aquarium

Britain's Wildest Family Adventure. Theme park, Zoo & SEA LIFE aquarium, plus two themed hotels. Book a fun family day out online and save.

02/10/2025

🍏🎃 Throwback Thursday: Apple Bobbing! 🎃🍏

Who remembers this classic game? A big bowl of water, a pile of shiny apples… and a lot of soggy faces! 🤣 Apple bobbing has been a favourite autumn tradition for generations — simple, a little bit silly, and guaranteed to make everyone laugh.

Back in the day it was a must at Halloween parties and autumn fairs, but did you know apple bobbing actually goes back hundreds of years? It was once thought that whoever caught an apple first would be the next to marry! 💍

These days, it’s still a brilliant low-cost, high-fun game for kids (and brave grown-ups!) — though we won’t judge if you prefer to stab the apple with a fork while blindfolded instead… much less messy! 🙈

Did you ever bob for apples as a child? And have your little ones had a go yet? Share your funniest apple bobbing memories (and photos if you dare!) below 👇 🍏💦

25/09/2025

Today's Totally Local Tuesday is Claremont Fan Court School - set in 100 acres of historic grounds, Claremont is known for focusing on pupils' academic potential, but not at the expense of their pastoral wellbeing. With Open Events coming up over the next few weeks, now is the perfect time to go along and see what they have to offer.

We invite prospective families interested in Reception entry to visit Fan Court, home to our Pre-Nursery to Year 2 children. Families can explore our facilities through open mornings. Autumn term open events: Tuesday 30 September 2025 – click here to book. We look forward to welcoming you to ou

23/09/2025

Today's Totally Local Tuesday is Big Dreams Nursery in Epsom.
A positive and creative nursery, where children are encouraged to dream big at every stage of their development and follow their dreams through life. The setting's Director Vaishali has tapped into her substantial experience as a paediatric Speech and Language Therapist to make sure children leave nursery with effective language skills in order to excel in school. PLUS they're open 51 weeks a year and have funded places available.

FUNDED SPACES AVAILABLE OPENING TIMES Open 51 weeks a year Monday to Friday8am – 6pm Excluding Bank Holidays and Inset days A positive and creative nursery, where children are encouraged to dream big at every stage of their development and follow their dreams through life. Our ground floor, purpos...

17/09/2025

✨ Hump Day Hack ✨
Feeling the midweek lunchbox slump? 🍞🥗 Warburtons are here with a spoof that’ll give you a giggle – and maybe even some inspo! They’ve just launched a hilarious “beauty range for sandwiches,” featuring things like Volumising Feta Whip to make those Insta-worthy lunches.

The collection pokes fun at the unrealistic pressure so many parents feel to create picture-perfect lunchboxes while juggling everything else. Because let’s be honest… sometimes just getting food on the table is a win! 🙌

To keep things real (and tasty), Warburtons have teamed up with TV presenter and mum of 3, Helen Skelton, to share easy, stress-free lunchtime recipes that actually work for busy families.

👉 Check out the recipes and the full story here:
https://thefamilygrapevine.co.uk/mid-surrey/warburtons-launches-spoof-beauty-range-for-sandwiches-as-picture-perfect-parenting-pressures-on-the-rise/

As the back-to-school routine settles in, new research* from Warburtons, the UK's largest bakery brand, highlights the extent of 'lunchbox guilt' amongst parents, with 60% saying they feel pressure to make a perfect looking lunchbox. For 7 in 10, this pressure has increased in the last 12 months,

14/09/2025

An evening stress free Sunday post for you....
Warburtons have 'launched' a spoof collection of products poking fun at the picture perfect lunches featured on social media. The ‘collection’ features items such as ‘Volumising Feta Whip’ that ‘provides gravity defying lift, and sculpts sandwiches with a fuller, more defined silhouette to maintain its structural integrity’, ‘Crème de la Correct Concealer’ which is a ‘full-coverage, weightless cream cheese concealer with a high-pigment formula to neutralise any burnt spots on toast’, and ‘Pickle Perfect Patches’ to ‘instantly brighten and awaken dull flavour profiles’.
As well the tongue in cheek collection have partnered with TV presenter and mum of 3, Helen Skelton, to release two of her go-to packed lunch recipes. Jonathan Warburton, Chairman of Warburtons, noted, ” We understand the pressures parents are facing today, but we want to champion a more realistic and reassuring approach to lunchtimes. Forget the unrealistic expectations of ‘rose petals and gift-wrapped sandwiches’ – we know busy parents simply don’t have the time. Nourishing your family should be a joy, not a burden and we want to empower parents to trust that a wholesome sandwich on our bread is perfectly sufficient, and that simple, nutritious choices are always the best.”
Check out the recipes and read the full articles on our website here:

As the back-to-school routine settles in, new research* from Warburtons, the UK's largest bakery brand, highlights the extent of 'lunchbox guilt' amongst parents, with 60% saying they feel pressure to make a perfect looking lunchbox. For 7 in 10, this pressure has increased in the last 12 months,

14/09/2025

🌲🌷 Today's Screen Free Sunday Suggestion is: 🌷🌲
The Surrey Hills Wood Fair - with lots of children’s activities (colouring, tree climbing, wild-craft stuff, face painting), woodland trails, stalls, and food it's a relaxed way to spend the afternoon together.

The Surrey Hills Wood Fair is brimming with traditional rural charm celebrating our woodland heritage, wildlife and the beauty of wood.

13/09/2025

👑🏰 This week's Stress Free Saturday Suggestion is: 🏰👑
Head to West Horsley Place for the Hosting Henry VIII Festival.
An amazing family day out full of jousting, falconry, music and Tudor food.
Step right back in time in a dramatic weekend of history and family fun.
West Horsley Place will recreate King Henry VIII's visit in an authentic festival based on real research. Explore all the incredible pastimes of the Tudor court including the spectacles of jousting and falconry.
Come and party like it's 1533. This is a multi‑sensory history experience that is not to be missed

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12/09/2025

Great deal from West Horsley Place for tickets to Hosting Henry VIII this weekend...

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