FEBRUARY half-term is upon us already and parents are on the hunt for things to keep their little ones entertained. Here is our guide to what's on across the North East.
Family ticket pounds 17, children under three go free. www.sevenstories.org.uk Great North Museum, Newcastle ONE of the region's newest attractions, Great North Museum joins together exciting collections from a number of museums.The Woodland Garden blooms until the end of May with magnolias, camellias and rhododendrons.Pygmy marmosets are the world's smallest monkey species and measure less than 30cms including their tails. They are found in the tropical rainforests of Central and South America.The Amazon rainforest is under threat due to rapid deforestation, this is the process where forested areas are cleared for land development such as farming.Traditional Sunday carvery is served every week. There is a pub on site with home cooked food and live bands playing great music.Here are some interesting facts about The Dunes: Its indoor soft play area is the largest in the UK. There is a12-lane, ten pin bowling alley.Howick Hall Gardens and Arboretum THE gardens at Howick are peaceful and tranquil and deliberately aimed at garden lovers.The grounds are also home to rare red squirrels, and staff at Belsay Hall are doing all they can to ensure the population flourishes.www.beamish.org.uk Woodhorn Museum, Northumberland WOODHORN'S fantastic entrance has to be seen to be believed. The recently opened museum tells the story of Northumberland and its coal mining heritage.org.uk/belsayTamarins are among the smallest of the primates, often weighing no more than half-a-kilogramme and with a total length of just 30cms.GREAT OUTDOORS Howick Hall Gardens are delightful all season whether full of summer's lavender or the snowdrops of early spring HOLIDAY FUN Young visitors at the Blue Reef Aquarium, Tynemouth, above and rightYoung and old adults share in the care of the young. Unusually for primates the female nearly always gives birth to non identical twins which the male then carries on his back.For more information visit www.dunesadventureisland.com or contact 0191 455 5255.The elegant and ever popular Earl Grey Tea House - so named since Howick was the home of the second Earl Grey for whom the tea was specially blended - offers light lunches and afternoon teas. The earl was also the Prime Minister responsible for the passing of the Great Reform Bill of 1832 and his monument stands at the top of Grey Street in Newcastle. Howick Hall Garden is six miles north east of Alnwick, off the B1339 between Craster and Longhoughton.Highlights of the new museum include a large-scale, interactive model of Hadrian's Wall, major new displays showing the wonder and diversity of the animal and plant kingdoms, spectacular objects from the Ancient Greeks and mummies from Ancient Egypt, a planetarium, a lifesize T-Rex dinosaur skeleton.CAPTION(S):Plus there is a magical mix of special events, story times and workshops.Summer brings colourful borders with the famous agapanthus in August and the Bog Garden has been planted with many unusual plants. The season ends with brilliant autumn colour.Common marmosets live in social family groups and have a strict hierarchy ranking.The arboretum covers 65 acres of woodland walks and many of the trees were grown from seed collected by Lord Howick and the head gardener on plant hunting expeditions abroad. The Howick Family Explorer Challenge takes visitors on a nature trail through the arboretum. Look out for red squirrels, herons, swans and ducks.But as well as reliving life down the pit there's also the chance to dress up in the unique shoe lounge.As well as Amazing Amazon, Blue Reef is also home to the spectacular outdoor Seal Cove display, a family of Asian short claw otters and hundreds of tropical and native marine and freshwater species including tropical sharks and stingrays, poison dart frogs and giant lobsters.At Blue Reef their spacious, naturally-themed enclosures provide plenty to keep them busy including rope swings, climbing frames and an ever-changing programme of environmental enrichment features.Life Science Centre, NewcastleGateshead LIFE has been selected as one of the venues for Wallace and Gromit's 'World of Invention' roadshow. Inspired by Wallace's love of inventing, you can experience a fun Wallace & Gromit workshop and see original animation sets from the show. Family tickets from pounds 24.10, children under four go free. www.life.org.uk Seven Stories, The Centre for Children's Books, Newcastle SEVEN Stories recently saved Enid Blyton's archive at auction and to celebrate has a whole week dedicated to one of the most famous authors of the 20th Century. The public will be able to view the collection for the first time, which includes The Famous Five, Secret Seven, Malory Towers and Noddy.A number of the monkeys have been rescued after being found living in unsuitable conditions while others have been made homeless after their owners could no longer look after them.History buffs will head for the study, research and storage centre where more than four miles of shelving were built to house the Northumberland archives. www.experiencewoodhorn.com Discovery Museum, Newcastle NORTH East England's most popular free museum. Discover all about life in Newcastle and Tyneside, from the area's renowned maritime history and world-changing science and technology right through to fashion and military history.For more information call the site direct on 01661 881636 or visit the website at www.englishheritage.The Dunes features an arcade with prizes such as Xboxes and plasma televisions.The season starts in February with Snowdrops Walks. Later in the season there are daffodils and tulips aplenty.To help conserve this amazing habitat there are various things you can do such as only purchasing sustainable rainforest products; supporting international charities and raising sponsorship for conservation projects.The cottontop tamarin gets its name from the white crest of hair on its head and chest. In German-speaking countries they are known as 'Liszt monkeys' due to their resemblance to the composer.Snowdrops have been present at Belsay since the 1800s when Lady Middleton, part of Belsay's ancestral family, originally planted them.It is open from Wednesday to Sunday, 10.30am until 4pm. From March 27 to November 13 daily from noon until 6pm. Entrance: Adults pounds 6, Pensioners pounds 5, Children free.Contact 01665 577285/577191 for more information or visit www.howickhallgardens.org.uk Blue Reef Aquarium, Tynemouth AMAZING Amazon is a spectacular new display based on the tropical rainforests. The new feature includes a selection of freshwater rainforest fish species alongside realistic planting and a waterfall and is home to a colony of rescued monkeys including common and pygmy marmosets and cottontop tamarins.The aquarium is currently looking after three different species of New World monkeys.The Dunes, South Shields THE Dunes, is the heart of entertainment in South Shields. It is a family activity centre with something for everyone.www.twmuseums.org.uk/discovery Belsay Hall, Castle and Gardens, Northumberland The Grade I listed garden attraction, in the beautiful Northumberland countryside, is home to thousands of snowdrops that create a magnificent white carpet when in full bloom.Also on-site is Emilio's Italian Restaurant with an authentic stone pizza oven.Entry charges are adults pounds 8, concessions pounds 6.80, children pounds 4 and families pounds 20. English Heritage members and under fives free.www.twmu seums.org.uk Beamish - The Living Museum of the North, County Durham WHILE this is an open-air museum there are many ways you can still enjoy the museum in colder weather, such as by taking a trip down the mine or a ride on the tram to The Village. Beamish open-air museum vividly recreates life in the North East in the 1800s and early 1900s. This winter there's an exciting new addition to the Pit Village - an ice rink. Open at weekends only until February 27.
GREAT OUTDOORS Howick Hall Gardens are delightful all season whether full of summer's lavender or the snowdrops of early spring HOLIDAY FUN Young visitors at the Blue Reef Aquarium, Tynemouth, above and right
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