A Little Lyrical

29Sep 2017

Planning ahead for Christmas – Sending flowers as a gift

This week we were offered the chance to review a bunch of flowers from Prestige flowers.

Of course I couldn’t say no to a bunch of flowers being delivered. I love getting flowers. Flowers really brighten up the house. Part of the reason I also said I’d love to review a bunch is because I’ve been thinking about sending flowers as Christmas gifts this year to family and friends who live far away. When you order online prestige flowers will arrange to deliver the flowers via Royal Mail to the chosen recipient in a beautiful packaged box.

I think a bunch of flowers would be lovely to receive just before Christmas because it would last through the festive season. We always have people popping in and out at Christmas and having fresh flowers would be lovely. When you do you’re mad last minute shop for fresh food a few days before Christmas I never think to get flowers for the house too. To receive a bunch as an early Christmas present would be fab. Which is why I’m going to be sending some myself this year.

The flowers that Prestige flowers sent for me were a stunning bouquet of autumnal colours.

As I opened the box I was blowed away by the beautiful combination of like pinks, autumnal yellows and pretty red touches.

Fresh from the Box Flowers

I lifted them out carefully and was amazed that they opened up into a gorgeous bunch. They had survived a journey in the postal service thanks to the robust packaging.

As with all flowers they will last longer with proper care and attention. It is recommended to cut their stems at a 45 degree angle every few days so that they can soak up lots of water. Be sure to top the water up daily too and use the flower food included. When someone has taken the time and money to send such a thoughtful gift its important to make the most of them.

I almost didn’t want to remove the beautiful wrapping from the outside of the flowers. It was clearly wrapped with care and hand tied before sending. All the stems were beautifully lined up and symmetrical. I know though to keep them at their best the care is vital.

Thankfully it was easy to trim them and make them look just as beautiful as they did when they arrived.

Prestige flowers really are stunning. You can tell that they are passionate about creating a great looking product. A product that arrives with the intended recipient in perfect condition. I hope my bunch last a long time. They look fab brightening up the kitchen table during the current rainy weather.

Thanks again to Prestige flowers for sending the bunch to review. I was gifted the product in exchange for an honest review. I was not paid to write about the flowers. As always I would only review items I really like or should by myself.

23Sep 2017

Does 3 children tip the balance too far? – Thoughts at 30 weeks pregnant

by Lyric ⋅ Leave a Comment

3 Children – My thoughts

If you haven’t read my blog before then the first thing you should know about our family is that we have two boys age 6 and 3. Our third little boy is due to join us at the end of November this year.

Growing up I always saw myself with 3 children if I was to be blessed with any. I like odd numbers. I know some people don’t but to me odd is good. The age gap will be pretty even between them all. They are all boys too which I think is nice. I won’t lie I have always loved the thought of a girl but it wasn’t meant to be and I’m ok with that. I’m head over heels in love with my boys now and I already feel a connection to the one I’m growing inside me.

I do worry though that three is two many for me to cope with! I know millions of mums have done it before me. Lots of families now have three or more children. They all seem to cope fine. With this one being a boy we do already have a lot of things suitable for him. Which is obviously a finiancial saving. We will of course have to pay for him to go to nursery and having already spent an eye watering amount on childcare throughout the boys short lives this is a part I’m not looking forward too. But after this one is born and I’m lucky enough to have had my maternity leave then I will want to go back to work.

I’m not the sort of person suited to staying at home all day, as much as I’d love a job I could work from home, I’m far to easily distracted by the other household jobs, cleaning, washing, tidying etc! Plus after this baby I want to focus on me and my career. I want to try as hard as I can to be the best I can be at work. I want to feel like I’m doing a good job and making a difference.

But how will we juggle three? Two will be in school so thats a single drop off and pick up at breakfast club and after school club. The youngest will be in nursery so thats another drop off. We’ve managed two drop offs before, we can do it again!

What about when we’re walking to school though, I only have two hand, to hold when crossing the road. Will my eldest be ok to hold a younger brothers hand? It’s the small things I’m worried about. What if he starts walking into the road and I can’t grab him back in time as I don’t have his hand?

Being emtophobic I can’t bypass the elephant in my head either, what if they are all ill at the same time? How will I cope? What if we all come down with d&v? The rational part of my head says of course I will cope but the anxious part says how?

I’ve had a baby and a toddler together at the same time but what if this time its different? What if I’m trying to feed baby and the middle one needs the toilet while we are out and about? That’s without adding the eldest into the mix! A sling will probably be my best friend again. I remember writing last time about how I cope with a baby and a toddler at the same time. You can read that post here.

Learning to Cope

I’m sure I’ll manage some how but sometimes it just feels like I’m wobbling just a little bit. Of course I don’t regret the decision to have 3. In fact I’m pretty damn excited to be doing it all one last time. I’ve been given one last chance to have and hold my very own newborn. I know how quickly time will pass with a baby so need to make sure I enjoy every single second. Including enjoying the last few weeks of pregnancy. But sometimes, just sometimes the wobble happens and I need to give my own head a wobble to stop worrying. Things will work out, it will be ok.

At 30 weeks time is passing very quickly, it’s now roughly 10 weeks until he joins us and I become a new mum for the very last time.

18Sep 2017

Blog On Christmas Linky 2017 – I’m joining in!

by Lyric ⋅ 3 Comments

BlogOn Christmas 2017

I’ve been to quite a few BlogOn conferences (I think it’s 4 now?) but I still get nervous going. I don’t really feel like I fit in very well. I have no idea why, everyone has seemed very friendly! In my full time job I am confident in walking into a new room full of people I don’t know and just making networking. With blogging for me it’s very different, I still get very nervous. I love to join in with the link up though as I feel like I get to know something about other people going and that I’m not the only nervous one! So here goes…

1. Please share your favourite photo of you.

Ekk do I have to? I’m like most people I don’t like photos of me but I suppose this one is ok. I’m the one in the middle taking the photo, it just makes me laugh when I see this photo. I love the make-up artists style, she was so cool!

2. If you could choose a band to play in your garden for your birthday, who would you pick?

Easy – Take That, I have always been a TT fan but imagine them in the garden, now that would be awesome!

3. What do you take with you for long visits to the toilet?

I’m shy, I don’t use the toilet……

4. What word can’t you spell?

I actually can’t think of that, not because I’m perfect (far from it!) but because by the time I’ve typed things and looked back up the Mac has autocorrected for me!

5. What’s the most unusual job you’ve ever had?

Not had that many different jobs but I suppose driving a tractor on a farm when I was a teenager was pretty unusual?

6. Knitting, sewing or crotchet?

Sewing – I would love to crochet but I have tried several times and I’m pretty rubbish so I’ve given up 🙁

7. Without looking it up, what is a jerkinhead?

I have no idea, at a guess some kind of pickle or maybe a beer?

8. If you could have as much of one food as you wanted forever, what would it be?

Mango – I love mango

9. What is the scariest thing you’ve ever done?

Lived through a sickness bug as I have emetophobia (phobia of vomit and vomiting) so to me its the scariest!

10. If you needed a getaway driver, who would you choose?

My brother, he drives like a maniac but so far touch wood hasn’t hurt himself so I think he could get me away!

11. Would you rather live in Narnia or at Hogwarts?

Hogwarts, the people of Narnia seem to cry a lot and its very very cold!

12. What snack food says ‘Christmas’ to you?

Mince pies – is that technically a snack?

13. Is there life on Mars?

Yes I think so

14. Which Christmas movie would you be a character in, and who would play you?

Jovie in Elf, it’s my all time favourite Christmas film and I’d love to be her singing in the shower with Elf!

15. What are you proudest of?

My children, I’m so proud that I made them and so far have kept them mostly safe growing up!

I’m really looking forward to BlogOn Christmas as it’s my absolutely favourite time of year. I can never have too much Christmas. This time at blog on I’ll be the heavily pregnant one, looking tired and worn out! Can’t wait to see everyone there, please say hi to me it would make my day! I’ll make an effort to say hi to everyone else too without feeling nervous or awkward!

16Sep 2017

My Sunday Photo – Brothers

by Lyric ⋅ 17 Comments

This week my favourite photo was taken just yesterday on a last minute day out. I love this picture because it’s completely natural, no posing, no filter.

What ever big boy does the little one copies. He adores his big brother. This picture means so much to me because in just a few short weeks time these two will become three. I hope they always share and remember the bond they had as a pair before their final brother joins them in this world.

14Sep 2017

Dear Boys – It’s been a while

by Lyric ⋅ 2 Comments

Dear Boys,

Sorry I haven’t written in a while and when I started writing to you I thought I’d have more to write about. I guess life gets in the way. I’ll try and make more of an effort and make sure our little moments aren’t forgotten about with the passing of time.

So much has happened since I last wrote and so much is about to change.

To my beautiful first born big boy. This summer you turned 6 years old. Where has the time gone? It doesn’t seem two minutes since you were a new born and I was struggling with all those sleepless nights. The long lonely nights of feeds and comforting. Back in the early days it was hard but I had no experience of this before and it was all so new. How quickly 6 years has passed. You are now developing into a handsome, thoughtful, clever little boy who makes me proud everyday. You really like reading comics and playing computer games just like your daddy. You are most proud of you ‘Library’ and ‘office’ in your bedroom. For your birthday you asked for stationary, a microscope, a cricket set and some other littel things. You were happy with the carrot cake we bought at your request.

The stationary went down really well, you were so happy with all the bits and pieces that Grandma had bought for you, including the hole punch and paper clips.

You have now started year 2 in school and I think you’re getting on ok. It’s only been a week but so far so good. I know you dislike writing so will try and get away with minimum effort on that but it would be nice if you at least tried! Maths and reading are your absolute strong subjects. You are a little wizard with numbers, I hope you carry on learning and enjoying maths as much as you do now. All I ever ask is that you try your very best with everything.

To my beautiful baby boy (soon to be not such a baby) you are fast developing the cheekiest little personality. Your speech over the last few months has come on so quickly and I can now hold full conversations with you which I love doing. You are showing more of an interest in books too and love listening to a bedtime story (if you’re not distracted too much!) Your favourite thing is to be outside, you’re such an outdoor person. You love nothing better no matter what the weather than throwing on a pair of shoes and getting out. The first thing you tell me about nursery is if you’ve had chance to go out or not.

At nursery you’ve now moved up to the pre-school room and you are learning more and more each day. The lovely ladie have also noted how you’ve started to come out of your shell and speak a lot more. You are good at nursery which I’m pleased about as you’re not always an angel at home! I think you and your brother wind each other up quite a bit when you are together though so it’s not just you! After Christmas you’ll be starting at the new nursery which is attached to the school I hope you will attend. To prepare you we’ve visted and talked about it lots, so much so that you want to go now. I do hope you love it as much as your current nusery. Your current nursery i so much more homely and they’ve known you a long time. the new nursery is much more like a school but I guess I have to let you grow up sometime. You won’t be my baby forever. Although for now I treasure the times you get so tired on a Friday night when we watch family films that you fall asleep in my arms, like a baby. I love it.

We’ve started toilet training 5 days ago and so far so good. You seem to have mastered the wee’s and were doing ok with the poo’s until you got to nursery. Hopefully you’ll get it very soon and stop having the accidents. I think you just get so distraced when playing and forget! I’m proud of how you’ve done though so far.

All too soon boys our little world of just you two will change forever as you’re new brother arrives to join us. I’m worried that you’ll feel pushed out but I’ve tried to include you in everything. I hope you remember watching the bump grow as you grow older yourselves. At 6 and 3 you’re likely to not remember a whole lot about the pregnancy but I do want to involve you. This is the last little person we’ll be adding to the family and I guess he will take the place of ‘baby boy’. I hope we don’t upset the balance.

I’m planning another home birth and I sort of hope it coincides with you being able to be there when he’s born. I think it would be a fabulous thing for you to experience and I think you’d be ok with it all and take it in your stride. I thik it would help you understand that the baby just didn’t turn up out of the blue but arrived into this world surounded by love.

Just becasue we’re having another baby doesn’t mean I will love you any less, in fact I hope my love will just keep on growing like it always has with you both. My heart can accomodate one more little guy.

I can’t wait for you to all grow up together, I hope you all stay close. By close I mean close at heart, no matter where life takes you. No matter what journey you follow or how far you travel always know you have each otherNever forget I love you with all my heart forever and always.

Mummy xxx

11Sep 2017

Baby Wish List – Newborn 2017

by Lyric ⋅ Leave a Comment

Baby Wish List 2017

I’ve thought about writing this baby wish list post for a while now. Whilst thinking about it I have managed to be able to buy some of the things on the list. As it’s baby number three for us you’d think I’d already know what I’d like. Or have most things. It’s true we did keep some things from the other two boys. Some things on the list are things I’ve always wanted and some are dream things.

This baby is our last baby so I’m really trying to enjoy every single second of my last pregnancy.Therefore I also want to enjoy every single moment of the newborn days. I want to enjoy every sleepless night. Every cry that I’m called to. Each nappy change. Every pointless walk to try to get baby to sleep in the pram.

Transport

The first thing on my baby wish list was a new pram. I’ve always loved prams, ever since I was a little girl. I’ve had quite a few with the boys (as my hubby will tell you!) The one I’ve always wanted though is a Bugaboo. The one I’d really like is a Bugaboo Buffalo as I do a lot of walking. Most of my walks involve not so smooth paths and some off-road tracks the buffalo seems perfect for that. Plus I like the height of the handle. Being a 6ft lady I need a high handled pram and the Bugaboo Buffalo really fits the bill with this. I also like the ability to choose a variety if colours for the hood and the accessories available.

The one I’ve been looking at is available many places but I love John Lewis customer service so will probably buy it from there. Just to mention I have no affiliation with John Lewis they have not asked me to link to them, I just genuinely like shopping there and the customer service they offered.

Car Seat

For the boys I had a pretty standard car seat and I borrowed a base from a friend which made getting in and out of the car with a baby and a toddler far easier! This time I’ve looked at a lot of car seat systems and I’ve decided I’d really like a Cyber Cloud Q. I really like that it lies flat when not in the car to make sure baby is in the best possible position. It’s compatible with the Bugaboo Buffalo too which is ideal. It comes in loads of colours and although I currently can’t choose a favourite I do like the dark blue one!

Sleeping

Both boys were breastfed and so wanted to be fed little and often on demand throughout the night. I’m hoping if all goes well I can once again breastfeed this little one. So I expect to be feeding in the night lots and so I want to keep baby close to me. Safe sleep guidelines by UNICEF recommend baby being in their parents room for at least the first 6 months of life. My second baby and I coslept for almost a year. We always followed the golden rules of bed sharing which are:

Baby was born full term
I did not drink alcohol or use any illegal drugs or legal drugs that would make me drowsy
I’m a non-smoker
I kept blankets and pillows away from baby (I did not even use a blanket I just dressed appropriately)
My hair was tied back and there were no loose cords etc
The mattress was a firm flat one not memory foam, we NEVER slept on a sofa or chair, always the bed
My husband didn’t stay in the bed with us, this was a choice we made together
Baby was not over dressed for the room temperate

I have no idea what this baby will be like in terms of sleep. I would like him to be able to have his own space at night and so would really like a small bed for baby beside our bed. I’ve looked around and have my eye on a Chicco Next to Me Crib to add to the baby wish list. I really like how close it can be to my bed and as space in the bedroom is limited it looks like an ideal solution.

I love this grey one with the white cloud design. I’ve used grey and white to decorate the nursery so I think it’s colours I’m drawn too. Again I’d most likely be buying it from John Lewis as well.

Changing Bag

As this is a baby wish list and not my shopping list I have found my dream changing bag. I doubt I’ll be able to afford it since I’m due to go on maternity leave soon but it doesn’t hurt to look!

With the boys I had a Pacapod changing bag. I used cloth nappies with them both and so found the organisation of a pacapod bag ideal. It as the name suggests has several ‘pods’ to store things and keep organised. Since I bought my first pacapod in 2011 things have come on quite a lot with them and they now produce some amazingly beautiful bags. When I saw this Pacapod Firenze bag in the shop I was immediately drawn to its beautiful looks. I didn’t realise at first it was a Pacapod changing bag. It really does look stunning.

Stunning Pacapod Firenze changing bag

Inside the bag are Pacapods signature pods to keep yourself organised.This really is the stuff my changing bag dreams are made of! I’ve fallen in love with a changing bag!

These are what I’d call my ‘big buys’ the things that will likely cost the most of all the things I’d love for baby. Despite being my third baby it’s taken me a while to make my final choices. I’ve looking at whats out there to buy, things change so quickly in a few short years since my other two were babies.

Now to start working on a wish list for the smaller items and the nursery decorations. I can’t believe there’s only 12 weeks to due date. Where has the time gone?

10Sep 2017

My Sunday Photo

by Lyric ⋅ 5 Comments

This week it’s another photo of the boys. I love to watch them grow. I love it when they are being nice to each other. I really want to keep the memories of them whilst they are small. This was last Sunday afternoon, walking back from a very wet Kite festival in Lytham St Annes. We went to look at the kites despite the weather. We did get wet but at least we got some exercise, although I wished I’d worn a jumper. I did start to get cold. I think the weather is really starting to turn towards Autumn now.

09Sep 2017

Reflections of our Summer – Back to school and back to routine

by Lyric ⋅ Leave a Comment

Goodbye Summer…Hello Autumn..

Well that’s it the summer holidays are over for another year! Where has the time gone?

We haven’t been away this year, partly because I’m pregnant, partly because we’re saving for our holidays next year.

At the start of the summer holidays the first few days seemed to drag. How was I going to keep them entertained for 6 and a half weeks?

The youngest is still at nursery 3 days a week over the summer holidays. So for some of the time it was just going to be the boy and I. I am lucky that I am able to take some annual leave from work over the holidays too. Not the whole 6 weeks and not a whole week at a time. Thankfully it meant that between hubby and I the boy didn’t need to go to a holiday club this year.

The summer started well. I somehow survived the first week and was soon hurtling towards weeks two. Although I have to admit the first day was long. I think it always is when you don’t have a purpose for the day or somewhere to go!

In the second week I am very lucky and grateful to have been offered help with he boy by my mum. She let him stay at her house for the 3 days that I had to work and the youngest was still at nursery. His holiday started with a carpet picnic. Is there anything better on a rainy day than a carpet picnic on the floor? We picked all the foods and enjoyed a last dinner together before it was time to leave him there. I don’t really get upset when I leave him at mums for a few nights because I know he’s safe and having a ball with Grandma!

They got up to all sorts, went to a model village, went to the beach, played board games, visited a hall and gardens. I get lots of regular updates from my mum and by all accounts he had a fab time!

Birthday Week

The next week involved a certain persons 6th birthday! How did my first baby get to 6 years old? He’s made a modest birthday list and we were quite happy to help him obtain his dreams! At first he’d been asking for a Nintendo Switch which is pretty costly at around £300 so we persuaded him to change his mind and he did. He asked for stationary bits (he loves stationary despite not being keen on writing) a microscope, a cricket set, and a nerf gun.

I always like to take a photo of the present set up so that in years to come the boys will be able to remember special occasions like birthdays and Christmas. It was a good job I did take a photo on this occasion as that lovely number 6 balloon didn’t last very long and was sadly popped not long after they got up by littlest person in the family, I was so sad.

For his birthday daddy took the day off work so we could go out on a day trip, sadly the weather didn’t look great so we changed our plans from Alton Towers to Blackpool attractions as they are more indoor based. So we headed off to Blackpool Tower.

I’m trying to take more pictures of myself with the babies these days. I don’t like pictures of me but I know they will want to look back on them in years to come and I don’t want them asking where I was all the time.

After lunch at Pizza Express we headed up the tower to the very top. The boy loved looking out over the town. Not long after we started to come down the rain also started to come down! We were right to chose and indoor day out. The tower also has a children soft play area, so despite my dislike of those places we let them play there for a while too. Followed by a trip to the circus inside the tower. The circus in the tower dates back to 1894. The boys had a great time, laughing at the slapstick comedy and watching in awe at the amazing acts of skill on display.

In the evening although we got back quite late we made time for birthday carrot cake (as requested by the birthday boy) and candles (compulsory on birthdays!).

On the Saturday after his birthday we held a mini birthday party for him with just a couple of close friends. With a party lunch and nerf guns everyone enjoyed themselves I hope!

Summer Illness

The holidays were all going so well then disaster struck! I think it originated from the youngest after he was sick in the night but then I was ill. Really ill with vomiting and diarrhoea. If you’ve read my blog before you may know that I have emetophobia (fear of vomiting) so this to me is my worst fear! But I coped, with the help of my amazing husband I got through it. Thankfully I was able to hide out in the bedroom as we have an ensuite, lock the world out and just get through it. For 3 days I stayed in there, trying to recover, it hit me hard. Maybe because I’m pregnant it seemed worse?

My fabulous husband left me a care package outside the room which really helped.

The salted pretzels really were the turning point I think. Thankfully the timing of the illness worked out well as hubby was on annual leave from work that week to look after the boys. So I was able to recover in peace and quiet while he took care of everything else. I’m most proud of myself though because I got through my greatest fear and came out the other side, I made it!

Just as I was starting to feel better by day 5 the boy was struck down too. If theres anything worse than being ill yourself it’s when your babies are poorly. So I took him into our bedroom. That I had only just finished bleaching and steam cleaning and looked after him to keep him away from hubby.

Thankfully just like his brother he only had vomiting symptoms and luckily they only last for about 12 hours before he was much better. Another long day of washing everything that wasn’t glued down on a very hot wash. Bleaching the whole bathroom and I think we were finally on the mend. Not what we wanted for the holidays but I suppose the timing fit in well. I have to look on the bright side for that one!

The Final Weeks

Time was flying. A week written off to illness and there were only a couple of weeks left until school started. I tried to arrange some fun things to do but again the weather hadn’t been great. For the rest of the post I’ll use photos for the memories.

Playing in the sand at a food festival Movie night watching Trolls for the first time now that it’s come onto Now TV Afternoon tea at Brookholes Nature Reserve

Playing in the park (with wellies and raincoats!) Donut treat with his Auntie Legoland discovery centre Manchester Sunday lunch on another rainy day!

Walking back hand in hand from the kite festival at Lytham St Annes (in the rain!)

Last night of the Lytham Proms – the wettest I have ever been from rain! (was just mum and I but had to slip in the memory)

Cinema trip to watch the new Disney Cars movie

I hope we made the most of the holidays. I hope the boys will carry some of the memories with them of how much we got up to. Despite not going on a holiday away from home.

I loved writing this post because it reminded me actually how much we did manage to do. We managed to do it all on a small budget. Whilst trying to fit it all in while still working.

Next years summer holiday may be a little bit different with me trying to juggle the 3 of them! Maybe I should start planning now!

04Sep 2017

CSI Soundcore

by Lyric ⋅ Leave a Comment

Soundcore™

Congregate, collaborate, and be heard. Soundcore™ blurs the lines between art and function to solve your design. Whether you need a bold and hip-to- death installation to unify a conference room, or are just looking to keep the sound waves where they ought to be, Soundcore™ has the fix. Subtle or strong, central or sideline, Soundcore’s™ flexible array of applications will fit right in. This cost-effective, responsible material is the perfect choice for any place people need to be. Break free from the concrete, doll-up the drywall, and design a place that says “This is who we are, and this is the space we occupy”.

In order for a place to become something more than four walls and a door, it needs something extra. It needs depth, function, and a human touch. Soundcore™ answers that call with a cost-effective way to provide form and function in a beautiful display.

Rescue a room while skipping the surgery. Soundcore™ installs quickly and easily to transform the sensory output of a static environment into something to marvel at. Bring the humble focus of a hushed library into your everyday life. Feel the stillness and calm afforded by acoustic dampening, helping you to stress less and focus on the present. Find the beauty in the marriage of style and function with a visual masterpiece that serves a tangible purpose.

Soundcore™ is the supreme solution for cost- effective renovation. Make your space entirely something else, something artful and austere, without knocking out drywall and tearing up the carpet. Soundcore’s™ affordability makes it an easy choice for wall-to wall coverage, or a cohesive complementary addition to bring the energy where it needs to be.

Wall Paneling: Invest in cheap acoustic panelsif you like, to make your hotel rooms unique from the others. A modern traveler likesacoustic paneling of walls that fit the furniture of the hotel room. You may choose glass or wooden panels to decorate your hotel rooms, but they should be of quality to appealmore customers. The contemporary wall panels come in different shapes and sizes. The most sought-after variants are the 3D wall panels, acoustic felt panels, and the wooden decorative wall panels.

19Jul 2017

Weekend Fun – Treetop Trek, Heaton Park

by Lyric ⋅ Leave a Comment

Treetop Trek

Treetop Trek is now now open at Heaton Park, Manchester and we were delighted to be invited down to try it out! Well one of us was delighted.

My 5 year old has been nagging me since he first saw it being built to go. I would have loved to go up and have fun but being pregnant it’s a no no for me sadly. So I recruited some lovely friends of ours who were happy to help out and give the Treetop Trek a try.

There are two types of Treetop Trek available the mini trek and the full trek. As my oldest is only 5 he couldn’t take part in the full trek as you have to be 7 or over. The mini trek takes between 1-2 hours and the full trek is longer taking 2-3 hours.

Starting at 5m high, this lower treetop adventure features 16 fun challenges, including 3 zip lines. Perfect for the younger and less confident trekkers or those with a bit less time on their hands.

The first step is to get the harnesses on and attend a brief safety demo.

Then they were off!

With both the mini trek and the full trek you are continually clipped on. There’s no need to clip and unclip at any part. The wire is continuous and so children should feel extra safe.

Getting Started

The only issue our children had was getting round the trees, its quite tricky for smaller ones to get the right ‘whipping’ action with the harness to pass to the next obstacle. Staff were on hand to help but if you are the only adult with more than one child I’d recommend being in the middle of them so that you can help each one to make sure the clips get around the trees. It didn’t happen all the time but just sometimes the smaller ones struggled with it and needed a little help.

The obstacles started off at around 5m off the ground but as confidence built the platforms got higher!

The first zip wire came shortly after two obstacles and by then the nerves seem to be fading in all the children, they started to love it! As a spectator you need to wear a wristband to be able to view the start and finish of the Treetop Trek but it’s free to watch. You can view the trek from outside the spectator area but you won’t be able to see it all. The full trek goes much further into the woods and you can’t see most of that one from the spectator area.

Even my friend was loving the challenge!

The obstacles vary but the children were all agreed that this one was the most nerve wracking, they all completed it though without a wobble or slip!

I was so jealous that I wasn’t up there with them. I love doing activities like this!

It took a little under an hour for all of them to get round the whole mini trek. Which seemed to be just the right amount of time for them not to get too tired.

Finishing the Trek

The trek finished with a zip wire to the floor. Despite all of them trying to run as they hit the ground everyone ended with a muddy bottom! That was all part of the fun though.

And the verdict….