Make, Do & Push!

Life in the Motherhood Wilderness

Family Fun // The Hepworth Wakefield

the hepworth wakefieldWe had big plans for Bank Holiday Monday involving outdoor adventures, but as the date swiftly approached, the weather looked fairly miserable (and we forgot to take our wellies over to Nick’s parents house!). So today, instead of heading to Yorkshire Sculpture Park, or Nostell Priory, we made our way to The Hepworth Gallery in Wakefield.

It’s somewhere we’ve been wanting to visit for ages, and I’m so glad we did as it’s a fantastic place to take the kids!

The gallery is full of sculptures and paintings by various artists (including Barbara Hepworth herself), and Busby loved wandering around examining everything and asking hundreds of questions. She loves art galleries, so she was in her element. [Read more…]

Family Fun // North Cliffe Wood Nature Reserve, East Yorkshire

North Cliffe WoodThe move to Yorkshire from Sussex was a difficult one for me. I’d romanticised our relocation; we’d get a dog, we’d all be in matching Hunter wellies, and everyone in our village would be gamekeepers, walking around in flatcaps, saying “aye up lass”… I guess this is what happens when you read a lot of D.H Lawrence as an impressionable teenager?!

Anyway, pregnancy happened. Perinatal depression happened. Postnatal depression happened. And two years on we’re finally starting to explore our area – and it’s rather gorgeous! And exactly what I imagined Yorkshire would be (although less flatcaps and we still don’t have a dog).

Last week I captured a family shoot in Hagg Wood, just outside of York. The bluebells were rife, and I felt a little envious of the family I was capturing for having all of these beautiful bluebell photos in their possession…  So, we decided to visit North Cliffe Wood Nature Reserve yesterday (which is in between York and Beverley) so I could capture our own children frolicking in the purpley-blue floral sea! [Read more…]

Family Fun // Bridlington Beach

The thing I love most about living in Yorkshire are the beaches. Having grown up with Brighton beach as my back garden (almost literally until I was 10), I love being near the sea. I’m drawn to it. So living close(ish) to the beach is quite important for me – and what beaches they have up here!

For a start, there’s sand! I’m so used to pebbles that bruise every surface of your body, and feet that have become so hardened by stepping on these pebbles, that sand is a novelty! And not one I think I’ll ever get bored of!

And the beaches here stretch for miles and miles… and they’re so gloriously quiet in comparison to the South East.  [Read more…]

Family Fun // Honeysuckle Farm, Hornsea

honeysuckle farm, hornseaWhat a glorious weekend we’ve just had here in Yorkshire! The sun shone, we shunned the coats and, on Saturday, visited Honeysuckle Farm in Hornsea for the first time.

We had big plans to visit Honeysuckle Farm while Nick was on paternity leave two years ago, and again last year, but we’ve never quite made it (I’m blaming sleep deprivation!), so I was quite determined that would indeed visit last Saturday.

Honeysuckle Farm is just outside the seaside town of Hornsea. Set in beautiful Yorkshire countryside, it’s one of the only farms in our part of Yorkshire that is open to the public, which makes it a popular destination. In actual fact, it was MUCH quieter than a farm would be in Sussex on a sunny day – which was a relief!

Entry was less than £5 each – and under twos are free. We opted to buy a bucket of animal feed (for £2), and the bucket kept us going the whole way round.  [Read more…]

Family Life // Kingston Unity Junior ISA

Kingston Unity Junior ISAWe’ve recently been on the lookout for an ISA account for H-Bear. There are so many different options on the market that it’s felt like quite a daunting task at times. So I was relieved when Kingston Unity got in touch and introduced me to their new Junior ISA account.

Kingston Unity are a small mutual society based in Wakefield, Yorkshire, and they have created a Junior ISA with a difference.

The Friends & Family Junior ISA was developed by busy working parents within the company; people who really understand that life becomes one big juggling act when you have children.

It’s quick to set up, easy to use, and allows the user to share links with friends and family without the need for cheques or bank transfers (although these are still possible). [Read more…]