Family Life

Play for free in Princesshay this summer

Princesshay has unveiled its line-up of summer activities, including PrincessPlay; a free playground, alongside the return of its Independent Market, street food traders and live music for visitors to enjoy in the heart of Exeter.

The start of the school holidays will see the main square transformed into PrincessPlay an all age playground and pitstop with grass and seating to create a place where people can stop, relax and spend time together while enjoying a range of free activities including table tennis, mini golf, giant chess, hopscotch, snakes and ladders and climbing...

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Scare up a pumpkin at A la Ronde

It’s Hallowe’en season at A la Ronde, with lots of spooky half-term activities for any little ‘monsters’ who enjoy this frightful time of year.

From Saturday 24 October to Sunday 1 November there will be a pumpkin trail around A la Ronde and any children who find all the pumpkins will win a prize.

For those who want to get creative, there will also be a fun day on Tuesday 27 October. Bring your own pumpkin along for a carving session, or have a go at creating apple monsters - perfect for a fun snack or decorating the home.

With A la Ronde once described by Lucinda...

Hallowe'en in the Heart of Devon

Spooky events including ghost tours and fright nights have been unveiled across Exeter and the Heart of Devon for Hallowe'en.

Exeter is regarded as one of the most haunted cities in the country, based on reported ghost sightings, with recorded tales of strange apparitions around the city, including a three headed ghost and tall glowing figures around Exeter Cathedral.

Richard Dyke, an Exeter Red Coat Guide, will be one of the many guides leading groups on the popular Halloween special Spooks and Broomsticks tour that sets off from Cathedral Green, on Thursday 29 October,...

Half-term at The Donkey Sanctuary

Colder days may be just around the corner but there’s plenty of fun and adventure to keep the whole family entertained at The Donkey Sanctuary this autumn.

Open from 9am to dusk every day, an array of family-friendly activities will be on offer.

While the weather’s still good grab the kids and enjoy the outdoors, wander around the heart of the Sanctuary, explore the Maze, or take a walk through the beautiful woods and amazing scenery.

Chris Phillips of The Donkey Sanctuary says “Half term will be packed full of adventure with signs of autumn nature packs and a...

Spooktacular fun at Devon's Crealy

Devon’s Crealy Great Adventure Park will kick start its Halloween celebrations this half term, with a brand new spooktacular entertainment programme. New to Devon’s Crealy, Patch the Pumpkin will join Buddy Bear and friends for live daily performances on the Piazza Stage. Devon’s Crealy is also pleased to offer each child visiting the park during October Half Term one of its very own home-grown pumpkins absolutely free.

Guests of all ages can enjoy daily meet and greets with Patch the Pumpkin or join the Crealy animal keepers at the Halloween Bug Show and take part in a creepy...

Indoor athletics winter fun in Exeter

Back by demand, starting this half term are the ever-popular winter Sportshall sessions, hosted by the the award winning South West Athletics Academy.

Hugely popular with children between the ages of four and 14, Sportshall adapts outdoor athletics for all year round indoor participation with lots of specialised equipment available for children to use - light up sparkly shot puts, turbo javelins, racing hurdles and speed bounce are just a few of the activities children love to try.

Sonya Ellis, Director of Coaching at the Academy said: “Sportshall is a fantastic way for...

Are children too old to adopt at 4?

As part of this year’s National Adoption Week (19 – 25 October) campaign, Adopt South West is asking people to consider adopting an older child as they pose the question “Too old at four?”

Due to the high demand for babies, older children waiting to be adopted are often likely to be over looked as well as those in sibling groups and children with disabilities.

During National Adoption Week 2015, Adopt South West - a partnership of adoption agencies across the region - including Barnardo’s, Devon County Council, Families for Children, Plymouth City Council and Torbay Council...

Divorces: full financial disclosure needed

Two Supreme Court rulings on the 14th October have reiterated the need for full and frank disclosure of financial circumstances and assets in divorce cases, a leading South West law firm says. The two cases concerned women who said that their husbands had not revealed the full extent of their financial assets when their original divorce cases were settled. Both cases are now likely to return to the High Court. In one case, Alison Sharland accepted a settlement of £10 million and 30% of the shareholding in her husband’s business believing that to represent half of his wealth. However, when...

Trick or Treat with the Treehouse Trolls

Devon’s Crealy Great Adventure Park is launching its brand new spooky attraction, Trick or Treat with the Treehouse Trolls this October half term.

Guests brave enough to take a trek into the spooky Wilderness will come face to face with the mischievous Treehouse Trolls. A trick or treat is in store for guest of all ages, but the question is, “do you dare to enter the creepy treehouse to see what fate waits.”

The legendary Witch’s Cavern returns to Devon’s Crealy with ghastly surprises at every turn. The Crealy witches awake from their summer time slumber ready to spook and...

Couples say ‘I do’ to cost-friendly weddings

A new study conducted by crafting company Stampin’ Up! UK reveals South West residents to be cost-conscious where wedding spending is concerned.

The survey asked respondents to state how much they thought reasonable to spend on a wedding – not including honeymoon.

Previous surveys conducted by a variety of businesses have suggested that a ‘typical’ wedding comes in at the £18-20,000 figure. Even popular BBC1 show ‘Don’t Tell the Bride’ gives husbands-to-be a budget of £14,000 to play with. But it would seem attitudes are changing. A fifth of respondents in the South West (...

Call for prospective adopters to foster first

Devon County Council is calling for potential parents who want to adopt to consider fostering first under new plans to help reduce disruption to children in care.

Babies and children, who are likely to be adopted, can wait months in foster care sometimes moving from carer to carer.

Devon Adoption has introduced the Government-led ‘foster to adopt’ scheme to protect these children from experiencing multiple moves within the care system and provide them with good quality, uninterrupted and consistent care, while detailed assessments of their birth family are completed and the...

Family Life

Play for free in Princesshay this summer

Scare up a pumpkin at A la Ronde

Hallowe'en in the Heart of Devon

Half-term at The Donkey Sanctuary

Spooktacular fun at Devon's Crealy

Indoor athletics winter fun in Exeter

Are children too old to adopt at 4?

Divorces: full financial disclosure needed

Trick or Treat with the Treehouse Trolls

Couples say ‘I do’ to cost-friendly weddings

Call for prospective adopters to foster first

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