The Big Egg Hunt (Part One)

You can probably remember, a couple of posts back, how I mentioned Faberge's Big Egg Hunt and how excited we all were at the prospect of traipsing around London looking for the elusive ova.  Well last Sunday was the day that our hunt was to begin.  We had printed out some of the twelve zone maps from the website, packed a picnic and ensured that we were all wearing comfortable footwear.  If I'm honest, despite the fact that the children had been begging to go on this egg hunt since before it had even begun, I was dubious as to how long their interest would hold out and was expecting the usual cries of 'Our feet hurt', and 'Can we stop now?' to begin after the first hour.  But I was to be pleasantly surprised.

We'd decided to opt for the Convent Garden zone first, thinking that we could combine a bit of egg hunting with some street entertainment.  Walking up from the Strand and entering the piazza, we were immediately confronted with our first egg.  I cannot describe the thrill of pure pleasure that seized us when we saw that decorated oval of loveliness.  The hunt had begun in earnest.  The children were almost hysterical as they darted around Convent Garden ticking off the eggs on the map and duly having their photograph taken.  

Once the Convent Garden zone was completed, we decided to walk down to St. James' Park for our picnic and for some further egg hunting.  The park is beautiful on a sunny Spring-like day and there really is nothing nicer than having a picnic whilst partaking in a bit of people watching and squirrel counting.  The park is itself a zone in the egg hunt, so we took a slow stroll around the area before visiting the small children's playground at the end nearest Buckingham Palace.  The playground has a nice assortment of see-saws, swings, slide and a landscaped sandpit and there is a small kiosk next door for drinks and snacks.  

Once we had rested our feet and filled our stomachs we resumed the hunt with gusto.  Green Park, Picadilly and finally Trafalgar Square were the zones we crossed through.  I had not expected the children to be quite so enthralled with the egg hunting and we were eventually forced to go 'off-map' as  I hadn't printed off enough to sate their eggy appetite.  The eggs themselves are really quite breathtaking; the designs are intricate, clever and often quite humorous, so there is always an element of novelty even when it's your thirtieth egg that day.  The hunt is also made more interesting by the assortment of locations the eggs are hidden in; shop windows, parks, suspended above walkways and marooned on islands in a lake, were some of the places we discovered eggs.  For the hardcore egg hunters there is the 'Wally egg'.  This is an egg decorated like the character from the popular children's book series 'Where's Wally?' who moves location on a daily basis and for whom you must check the Facebook page to get a clue as to his whereabouts.  What more could an egg hunter ask for?

The zones are much larger than I expected and the precise location of each egg is not identified on the map, although there is a street reference for each one.  As a result, there really is an element of difficulty in finding some of the eggs and you may want to consult the cheatsheet (available online) if your intrepid egg hunters are starting to feel disillusioned.  There is however a crossover element between the zones, meaning that you are always relatively close to an egg and don't have to wander for miles in between each one.

We started our hunt at 11am and we eventually called it a day at 5.30pm.  The children did not complain once about being bored or tired, despite the fact that we had been on the move almost constantly.  When the sun had almost disappeared behind the skyline and we finally called an end to the day's hunting, the children were on the verge of tears that there would be no more eggs to be found that day and as we half-dragged, half-carried our tired children back to the car they declared that it had been 'the best day of their lives.'  Even as we pulled away, they were still craning their necks out of the car window to see if they could spy one final egg.  What more recommendation do you need?


Zone maps and all other information regarding The Big Egg Hunt can be found at:
http://thebigegghunt.co.uk/

Barleyland's Farm

There are some places which, because of their close vicinity, are frequent destinations for a day out, despite them not always being the most enjoyable.  Barleylands is somewhere that we have been going since we were blessed with the arrival of the boy child, nearly eight years ago.  It has always been a rather reluctant visit, if I'm honest.  In those earlier days, animals were rather sparse, play equipment was non-existent (except for the fleet of blue ride-on tractors) and you had to leave the farm and venture to the nearby craft centre for toilets and food, unless you counted a battered looking hot drinks vending machine in the cold barn.  Not ideal for a young family.


Oh but how things have changed.  A recent visit to Barleylands during half-time could not have been more different.  Arriving fairly late in the morning, we were immediately drawn in by the prospect of the organised scarecrow hunt and Hungry Caterpillar trail advertised on noticeboards around the craft centre, as well as the opportunity to make your own scarecrow.  Once inside, the children were like well-trained heptathletes, charging around the farm looking for the clues; jumping mud puddles (Clementine far less successfully than Harper), bouncing on giant inflatable pillows, shooting each other with plastic balls and occasionally 'oohing and ahhing' at the appearance of a farmyard animal in their pursuit for the Hungry Caterpillar.  There were the same assortment of animals, with the addition of some birds of prey, that I remembered from before.  Being an animal lover, I would have liked to have seen this element of the farm being extended but it was adequate enough for the children's interest.

The biggest changes came in the form of the new play equipment that the farm has acquired.  There is a large outdoor play area, with the required assortment of swings, climbing frames and zip wire.  But there is also the huge inflatable pillow which deserves its very own mention.  Even as an adult, you can not underestimate how alluring that large, striped, marshmallowy pillow of loveliness is.  Take the children's shoes off?  What children?  I was tugging my boots off and launching myself at this thing before I remembered that I even had children.  I have never seen one of these anywhere else that we have visited, but I suspect that they will be taking over children's play areas everywhere.  


Once my mother had managed to lure us away from the pillow of pleasure, we discovered another play area in a nearby barn.  This one took the form of a kind of shoot out gallery.  Children can take their place behind one of the canons in the three tiers facing each other, whilst sending smaller and more gullible children down into the middle to collect balls as ammunition, often leading them to become targets for the opposing team. Needless to say, Harper was the gunner, Clementine was the ball runner.  Whilst the older children engaged in ball wars, Claudia was free to wander around the remainder of the barn meeting some friendly animals.  Everyone was happy.

At the other end of the farm, there is another indoor play area, made up of the usual slides, ball pits and large swingy things.  This area also houses the cafe and the majority of the indoor picnic tables.  On a cold, wet, half-term afternoon, this place was packed and we were forced to brave the fresh air for our picnic.  Needless to say, it was a rather rushed affair as the bracing February weather didn't really lend itself to a leisurely lunch.  Ideally, there would be another picnic area available as it seems that many parents, once settled in the play barn, have no inclination to leave it, thereby making many of the tables unavailable unless you're a skilled practitioner in the art of evil glares to shame people into moving.  


In addition to the play areas, there are a selection of other activities for the children to take part in; sand diggers; go-karts; tractor rides and a farming exhibition centre.  Admittedly, some of these things have been at Barleylands for a few years, but the difference is the organisation and communication that the farm now demonstrates.  A visit used to be a somewhat aimless meander around the paddocks and pens, but now there are tannoys and leaflets to ensure that visitors know what is going on and don't miss out.  It is a far more slick and professional affair. 

The website states that the farm is suitable for toddlers to ten year olds.  Having three children that fall into this bracket, I can confirm that it is indeed an ideal attraction for this age band.  Harper loved the play areas, whilst Clementine and Claudia loved feeding and petting the animals.  And me?  You don't really need to ask do you?  I wonder if my garden is big enough for an inflatable pillow?


http://www.barleylands.co.uk/index.html


Barleylands Farm,
Barleylands Road,
Billericay CM11 2UD


Tel: 01268 532253

The Big Egg Hunt

OK, so technically this is not one of our Sunday-bound destinations, but it is something that me and the small people are hugely excited about (what self-control I exhibited there, I was dying to write eggcited). It is the Faberge Big Egg Hunt!  It begins on the 21st February and for forty day and forty nights, 200 fibreglass eggs will be hidden amongst the streets and attractions of the capital.  Many of them have been designed by famous artists,designers, architects and jewellers such as Vivienne Westwood and Zandra Rhodes and the proceeds all go to charity.

The 'hunt' lasts until 8th April, so plenty of time to obtain a map or alternatively download the app, and get eggbusting whilst seeing more of the wondrous city.  What better way to discover the sights of London, whilst putting your detective skills to the test?  And just think of the photo opportunities.  I am making it my mission to get a photograph in front of each of the 200 eggs.  Should you wish to rise to the challenge and embark on your own egg hunt eggsperience (snigger, snigger) feel free to send me your own photographs of your good selves posing in front of your discovered yolky treasures (keep it clean and keep it nice and if you can't manage that, then at least make it funny).


For more details check out:
http://www.thebigegghunt.co.uk/the-hunt/eggsplore-the-streets-of-london/