What’s on

THE Chilterns may be a fair distance from the sea, but that’s no excuse for not getting down to the waterside for a ramble this month.

With the Thames rushing down to London from Oxford and the slightly more sedate Grand Union Canal linking Paddington Basin in West London with Aylesbury, Milton Keynes and Birmingham, there’s no shortage of towpaths and cosy canalside cafes to explore.

Out in Berkshire, the Kennet & Avon Canal strikes west for a hundred miles from Reading, towards Newbury and Hungerford on its way to Bath and Bristol.

For wintry walks and an escape from traffic, the network provides a glorious break from office routine, with a stroll promising the opportunity to spot birds and wildlife, study industrial landmarks or just become a lazy “gongoozler” watching canal life from the towpath.

On its way through Reading, Henley, Windsor and Hampton Court, the Thames offers countless different vistas, while a canalside ramble can also leave you feeling happier and healthier.

Visit the Canal & River Trust website for maps and downloadable regional guides, as well as tips about nature spotting and details of open days and special events.

THE long summer holidays are here, so what better time could there be to prise the kids off their computers and smartphones and get them outdoors having fun?

There are dozens of great events and destinations listed on our What’s On pages – and if money’s tight, our article about outdoors activities might just give you a few ideas for free options.

The Chilterns boasts an outstanding array of parks, woods and walks for all the family, so arm yourself with a couple of nature guides, pack and picnic and set out hunting for bugs, butterflies or other wildlife.

There are plenty of free museums on our patch too which can help bring the past to life, along with local nature reserves and more challenging circular rambles that allow older teenagers to get back to nature.

WITH footpaths criss-crossing the Chilterns, you’re never too far from an enjoyable ramble.

Pub walks, riverside rambles and circular routes about, with several long-distance paths like the Beeches Way or Thames Path providing an additional challenge.

Check out Pete’s Walks for a cross-section of Chilterns paths, while the Chiltern Society has a range of free downloadable walks on its website.

TEENAGERS can grow to love the great outdoors too but may find woodland walks a little tame.

More ambitious outdoor adventures might be organised through the Scouts, Guiding and Boys’ Brigade movements, as well as cadet forces and specialist outdoor centres, if the family find camping, hiking and other pursuits a little too adventurous.

From mountain biking, sailing and skiing to climbing,pot-holing and abseiling, there’s no shortage of sports and activities to choose from, with challenges ranging from day trips to summer camps, treks and expeditions – or why not test the water with a bushcraft or wilderness living experience closer to home?

EVEN if the weather’s too grim to get out and about, it may still spark your creative side.

Many local artists draw inspiration for the local landscape and natural world – look back at the calendar entries for the Bucks and Oxfordshire art weeks in May and June to see the range of subject matter.

Animals, birds, landscapes – what inspires you most? It’s time to get drawing or painting…or have a read about how art can change lives, as it did for local artist Sue Graham.

WE normally only feature specific events on What’s On pages which have a direct wildlife or nature theme, but are blessed in the Chilterns to have a vibrant network of local theatres offering a first-class programme of live events.

Many of the venues offer a mix of theatre, music and even arts and crafts, combining gallery spaces with community cafes, educational classes and special half-term and school holiday entertainment and courses.

Among our favourites is the Norden Farm Centre in Maidenhead, a thriving arts centre built on the site of an ancient farm which hosts 150 events a season and opens seven days a week.

Other popular local venues include the Swan in High Wycombe, Elgiva in Chesham, Kenton in Henley (the fourth oldest in the country), the Aylesbury Waterside, the Hexagon and Progress Theatre in Reading, the MIlton Keynes Theatre , Watford Palace Theatre, and Colosseum, Abbey and Maltings Arts Theatre in St Albans, Grove in Dunstable and Watersmeet in Rickmansworth – to name some of the best-known ones.

EACH year, residents from the Hertfordshire village of Flamstead create fabulous scarecrows and display them in their front gardens or around the village.

The fund-raising event has been running since 2002 and includes a competition to see who can make the best scarecrow, as judged by visitors to the festival who purchase voting forms.

In 2018, the festival raised £23,000 towards saving the historic St Leonard’s Church in the village life.

There will also be a raffle and stalls manned by volunteers. Entry £4 (£2 for children over 4) for programme and voting forms.

EACH year, residents from the Hertfordshire village of Flamstead create fabulous scarecrows and display them in their front gardens or around the village.

The fund-raising event has been running since 2002 and includes a competition to see who can make the best scarecrow, as judged by visitors to the festival who purchase voting forms.

In 2018, the festival raised £23,000 towards saving the historic St Leonard’s Church in the village life.

There will also be a raffle and stalls manned by volunteers. Entry £4 (£2 for children over 4) for programme and voting forms.

EACH year, residents from the Hertfordshire village of Flamstead create fabulous scarecrows and display them in their front gardens or around the village.

The fund-raising event has been running since 2002 and includes a competition to see who can make the best scarecrow, as judged by visitors to the festival who purchase voting forms.

In 2018, the festival raised £23,000 towards saving the historic St Leonard’s Church in the village life.

There will also be a raffle and stalls manned by volunteers. Entry £4 (£2 for children over 4) for programme and voting forms.