AUTMUMN FRIGHTS AND DELIGHTS FOR FAMILIES

An Autumnal calendar of family friendly events has been revealed by a Midlands stately home.

Weston Park on the Shropshire Staffordshire border will celebrate the seasonal change with fungi hunting, spooky Halloween trails and a firework extravaganza.

The Fungi Walk takes place on Sunday 10th October led by a Shropshire Wildlife Trust expert. Walkers will forage for mushrooms and be taught how to distinguish the edible and non-edible varieties found within the estates woodland. Baskets and spoons are recommended for collecting the mushroom.

A ‘fright’ to remember on Sunday 31st October will see young Halloween hunters embark, if they dare, on a Pumpkin lantern trail with spooky storytelling and a spine-chilling disco with creepy nibbles.

Weston’s Bonfire & Fireworks celebrations take place on Sunday 7th November. The action pack night features two firework displays, a giant Bonfire, a fun fair all hosted by Midland radio station, Beacon.

Embracing the taste of Autumn and to celebrate British Food Fortnight will see the arrival of a new autumnal menu in the Granary Grill, Bar & Restaurant. Rich in harvest festival favourite with an emphasis on game, seasonal fruit and vegetables from local produces and homemade pudding the new menu, available from 21st September is set to tantalise the taste buds.

Further Information
Fungi Walk, Sunday 10th October 2010. The walk includes lunch in the Granary Grill Bar and restaurant and costs £7.50 for adults, £7.00 for seniors and £5.50 for children.

Halloween – Weird and Wonderful at Weston Park, Sunday 31st October. Pre booking is required.

Bonfire and Firework Extravaganza – Sunday 7th November. The gates open at 3.00pm. The bonfire is lit at 5.30pm. The firework display are at 6.00pm and 7.30pm. The cost per car is £16 maximum six people per car, £45 per 16 seater minibus and £110 per coach.

British Food Fortnight start on 18th September 2010.

For further information contact Sue Foster at Connect PR on 01902 714957 or email sue@connect-group.com

Child maintenance debt prevents father selling house

One of the region’s most experienced family lawyers is warning parents that they could be prevented from selling their homes if they have unpaid child maintenance costs.

Steven Jackson, a consultant at Higgs & Sons with over 30 years' experience, said the recent case of a father being prevented, by Order of the High Court, from selling his house because he owes in excess of £78,000 in unpaid child maintenance should be a warning to other parents across the region.

“This is the first reported case of its kind,” says Steven. “The Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission, formerly the CSA, secured the order to stop the father from dissipating the proceeds of sale.

“The case follows the Commission being given new additional powers to deal with parents who fail to meet their maintenance liabilities by selling or transferring assets including to relatives, friends and new partners.”

Steven says that in this case, a ‘freezing order’ was made after the man placed the house on the open market online and the Commission has indicated that it has similar cases in the pipeline. The Commission now hopes to produce similar orders or reversals of the sales or transfers of property previously made by parents who have unpaid maintenance arrears.

Steven said: “The Commission are determined to send out a strong message that it will seek to close escape routes for parents who are intent on trying to cheat the system. In addition to this, Lump Sum Deduction Orders are also being pursued forcing banks to pay over monies held in accounts of defaulting parents.

“It’s clear that there will be an increased use of such powers and my message to parents who are liable to pay but who may well have genuine reasons for challenging assessments or alleged arrears must be to not allow matters to get to such a point.

“Seek legal advice at an early stage, be proactive and whatever you do, do not bury your head in the sand.”

Go Fishing Show set to reel in thousands of visitors

This July, Staffordshire is set to welcome back the fishing event of the year, as the Go Fishing Show returns to Cudmore Fisheries.

The action packed weekend will not only host the Fish O’Mania and Masters competition, but visitors will also get the opprtunity to become part of a world record attempt.

Last year the show boasted visitor figures of 7,500 and this year is set to be bigger and better, as there will be plenty of fun activities for the whole family to enjoy as well as experienced anglers.

The Go Fishing Show runs for two days, Saturday 17th and Sunday 18th July, and will give fishing enthusiasts the chance to put their questions to TV fishing celebrities such as John Wilson, Alan Scotthorne, Matt Hayes and four times world champion Bob Nudd. Bob will also reveal the tactics that made him a house hold name in his demonstration.

The weekend event ‘casts off’ on Saturday with the Fish O’mania grand final, which is televised on Sky Sports. Visitors will witness fisherman competing for first place with the winner taking home a prize fund of £25,000.

On Sunday the Go Fishing Show will attempt to get into the record books by putting on the biggest fishing coaching session ever staged. As well as the chance to be part of a world record, the coaching session will give visitors the chance to find out how to improve their own fishing skills.

Throughout the weekend, in the Carp Zone, the big names in fishing will reveal the secrets behind getting more bites ensuring you should never have to endure another session at the side of the lake or riverbank without a single bite.

After passing by the Angling Times’ Best of Britain Lake, where gear testers Mark Swayer and Jonathan Taylor will put the latest tackle and gear through its paces, you can put your new skills to the test in the Spod Casting Challenge where a leader board will track the top anglers at the show.

Britain’s favourite TV fishing duo, Matt Hayes and Mark Brown, will go head to head as they demonstrate fly fishing tactics. The pressure will be on to see who can come out on top as the duo show you how much fun fly tackle can be.

Kids under 15 go free on Sunday
And if all of the above is not enough to get you to bite the bait then the offer of free tickets for children on Sunday will. All children under the age of 15 can attend the show for free (when accompanied by an adult). Even kids who aren’t avid anglers will have a great day out enjoying the fun fair and trying their hand at extreme sports such as rock climbing.

The show will also give visitors the opportunity to walk away with prizes from The Go Fishing Show ‘Win Zone’. So, why not try your luck on the Angling Lottery or the Reel of Fortune!

Like any show, the event would not complete without a bit of retail therapy. The Retail Zone will showcase the latest still and river water tackle from the world’s best brands such as Shakespeare and Fishing Republic.

Marketing manager for The Go Fishing Show, Jo Burton, said: “The show is sure to be a fun filled family day out. Fisherman can learn new skills from the experts and families can enjoy all the fun on the fair and chat to the expert fisherman they recognise from TV.

“Last year, phenomenal numbers of people turned out despite the wet weather. Hopefully, this year the UK is on track for a hot summer but even if the weather doesn’t hold off, one thing is for sure, the whole family will have a great day out.”

For more information, please contact Connect PR on 01902 714 957 or email Kathy@connect-group.com

SUMMER ACTIVITIES FOR FAMILIES

Parents looking for affordable and safe ways to entertain their children this summer can turn to a Midlands stately home for an array of indoor and outdoor play activities.

Set in 1,000 acres of open parkland Weston Park is a woodland fantasy, adventure playground and stately home all rolled into one and has opened its gates to families for 2010 (Saturday 29th May – Sunday 5th September).

Children can go wild in the adventure playground, explore the countless woodland trails and lakes by foot or bike and discover the Medieval Deer Park and Hermits Cave. Just when you are running out of puff along comes the miniature railway that steams towards Temple Wood and more wildlife.

The Children’s Activity Centre located in the Stables Courtyard, with summer weather as unpredictable as ever, the sheltered area is full of fun things to do including drawing, dressing up and playing games. There are a variety of trail cards to be picked up to help explore the parkland.

Refreshments are available in the Stables Coffee Bar including homemade cakes and sandwiches. For a more substantial lunch the recently opened Granary Grill will sizzle up local cuts of meat, offer light bites and salads as well as homemade puddings.

The Granary Farm Shop and in-house Butchery offers families locally sourced produce plus monthly exhibitions in the Art Gallery.

Colin Sweeney, Weston Park’s chief executive said: “Weston Park has been described as the Midland’s best kept secret for a family day out, but it’s a secret we want to share with families. During the long school holidays Weston Park can provide a great day out for all.”

Weston Park opens for the summer on Saturday May 29th daily through to Sunday 5th September. Park and Gardens are open from 10.30am to 6pm whilst the House is open from 1pm – 5pm and is closed on Saturdays.

Park and Gardens admission: Adults £5.00, Children £3.00 and Seniors £4.50. A family ticket is £20.00 (2+3) and includes House entry.

To help plan a day out families can download a map of the estate or the easy to view on-line events programme to find out what Weston has planned for the rest of the year.

For further information contact Sue Foster at Connect PR on 01902 714957 or email sue@connect-group.com