Every Thursday afternoon, Woodland Explorers will be making the most of the great outside in the beautiful setting of Strid Wood on the Bolton Abbey Estate.

This will be an exciting new opportunity for pre-school children (aged 2 and above) to experience outdoor activities like den building and wild art, to enjoy taking part in sensory games and nature trails, and to learn about conservation and how to forage and make camp fires, all in the company of fully-qualified staff.

The School’s Woodland Explorers sessions are a great local introduction to forest school, a type of outdoor education in which children visit woodlands to learn personal, social and technical skills.  Children enjoy the outdoors in all weathers, allowing their natural curiosity to develop as they experience the woodland environment at first hand.  Forest schools use the woods and forests as a means to build independence and self-esteem.  Activities and experiences are many and varied, including building awareness of the natural environment, eg the recognition of specific trees, plants and animals, and construction projects using natural materials. However, the personal skills developed through this type of activity are considered highly valuable, such as teamwork and problem solving. The woodland environment may be used to learn about more abstract concepts such as mathematics and communication.

The activities offered at Woodland Explorers sessions are perfectly safe for young children.  They need to be accompanied by a parent or carer, and will always be in the care of highly-qualified staff, specifically trained in forest school techniques.  In the woods, by being allowed to take risks in a secure, controlled way, the children learn new life skills, including how to manage hazards to keep themselves safe in the world.  Above all, the activities will be fun and healthy!

Be a Woodland Explorer, and see how enjoyable these outdoor learning activities can be!

Sessions are on Thursdays 12.45-2.45pm at Wharfedale Montessori School.  Cost £3.50 per session, including a snack for the children. No booking necessary, but children and carers need to be dressed appropriately for the weather.

Free parking in the school parking area by the Dusty Bluebells cafe off the B6160.

Amanda

BabyNatal classes are 3 hour practical and fun workshops which will prepare you for the day when you first hold your baby in your arms.

BabyNatal is not about selling you a certain ‘way’ of caring for your baby – the classes are unbiased and aim to support you to explore your options, to learn skills and decide how YOU want to care for your baby.  The workshops cover topics like:

• Baby Care Basics – a hands-on chance to learn how to handle your baby, dressing, nappy changing, cord care, bathing, winding
• Calming and cues – learn techniques for calming your babies cries and learn how to interpret their cues
• Role of dads – how dads can bond with their little ones and how they can be actively involved in caring.

These new BabyNatal sessions are run by local mum-of-2 Amanda Bryant, who has been teaching Daisy Birthing pregnancy classes in the area for over two years.  Amanda is also launching NEW Lazy Daisy Baby Safe Workshops and NEW Lazy Daisy Newborn workshops in the Otley, Ilkley and North Leeds areas.

Amanda says: “I’m very passionate about pregnancy and birth. I have had two very positive birth experiences, even though my son Jacob was born nine weeks early. I believe that it really does make a difference being emotionally and physically prepared for your birthing journey, whatever twists and turns that birthing journey makes, and I also understand the importance of feeling supported in your birthing and parenting choices.

I am now very excited to be able to offer continuation of care to my expectant and new parents and carers by offering BabyNatal Practical Baby Care classes, and Lazy Daisy Baby Safe and Newborn classes, which can help you with the day to day practicalities of caring for your baby, enable you to learn basic first aid, learn about common illnesses and home safety, and also help you gain the confidence and knowledge to make the parenting choices that are right for you and your baby. Every family dynamic is different, and every family should be able to really enjoy those first precious months.”

For more information contact Amanda on:

amanda@lazydaisybirthing.co.uk or amanda.bryant@babynatal.co.uk

or call her 07879 274433.

www.thelazydaisychain.co.uk

www.babynatal.co.uk

Acupuncture originated in China where it continues to feature in mainstream healthcare, both as a stand-alone therapy and in combination with conventional western medicine.   It is a gentle drug free therapy which is very relaxing.  Angela uses acupuncture to treat a wide variety of complaints, including conception and IVF support, pregnancy and birth.

From May the relationship experts and largest providers of relationship support will be operating from Ilkley Moor Medical Practice, hoping to help hundreds of people by offering their full range of services to the residents of the town and beyond.

Relates expertise is widely recognised and trusted as the organisation to turn to when experiencing personal or family relationship problems and will help individuals, couples, families children and young people.

Centre Manager, Gill Midgley said: ‘We are particularly pleased to be offering services from this prime location right in the heart of Ilkley town centre, so that busy people can more easily access our expert relationship support services after work or looking after their children during the day.’

Relate Bradford can provide a neutral space for people to talk openly about their difficulties and improve their mutual understanding and communication.

We want to encourage people to invest in their relationship, not to let  difficulties grow, but  tackle them early in order to avoid more serious problems further down the line.

But for those who have already made the difficult decision to separate or divorce, Relate can help them to manage the changes ahead and minimise conflict and distress.

We hope that by providing this new service in Ilkley we can help hundreds of couples and families to have happier and healthier relationships.’

Relate Bradford services include:

• counselling for adults struggling with relationship difficulties, separation and divorce
• sex therapy for adults who are experiencing  sexual difficulties
• family counselling, supporting families who are finding it  difficult to communicate with each other, resulting in conflict and tensions; or where ‘new’ families are coming together or there are parenting issues after separation and divorce
• children and young people’s service is a dedicated service providing a safe space for them to talk openly about whatever is troubling them and to identify and work towards solutions

• Relate Bradford works flexibly and can offer single sessions to do really focused work on a specific issue, time limited 6 session contracts on a fortnightly basis or longer term work where necessary.

Relate currently offer services from their city centre premises in Bradford but want to provide more convenient locations to people who have busy working and home lives.

Sessions cost £65, but if cost is an issue Relate Bradford can offer subsidised services from their Bradford centre.

Services at Ilkley Moor Medical Practice will initially be available early evening between 4.00 and 7.30pm on Tuesday and Wednesday each week and people will normally get an appointment within 2 weeks of contacting the service.

For more information or to make an appointment please telephone Relate Bradford on 01274 768042 or see the MoorMums listing page.

Musical Mini’s is a fun time Music Group for babies, toddlers & pre-schoolers. The classes are stimulating and energetic, but most of all, they are designed to be fun. Great for siblings to attend together and siblings under 12 months go free with paying older sibling.

Bump and Babes

Also in-store now the brand new Wayfarer from Silver Cross, beautifull colours and an easy to use fold will make this a real winner.

Brand new colours available from Icandy and Quinny make the future bright and exciting.

SPECIAL OFFER – Quinny Buzz in red with carrycot and Maxi Cosi Cabriofix Was £725.00 Now £499.00 to order while stocks last!

The new location, just a stone’s throw from the centre of Ilkley, will provide the children, aged 2-4 years with an enviable location in Middleton overlooking the River Wharfe and at the foot of Middleton Woods.  The All Saints’ Pre-School committee has ensured that the new location is fitted with new facilities for the children, with all safety and security measures being applied to the building and its generous outdoor space.

Vicky Wood from All Saints’ Pre-School commented “We’re bowled over by this move. The location just at the edge of Middleton Woods is ideal.  As we take part in the Forest Schools programme of learning, a lot of our activities with the children focus on outdoor adventure and fresh air. We were always lucky to be based in Ilkley, but now to be positioned at the foot of the famous bluebell woods is perfect. The previous building was never meant to be a pre-school, and we were never able to make substantial changes. Our new home is much more suitable so we’re confident to invest in it and make it perfect for the children.” Vicky also hopes the space and greater flexibility at the new home will enable the pre-school to offer even more choice to parents in the future.

David House from Olicanian Cricket Club added “This arrangement suits us all.  Having All Saints’ Pre-School based here breathes new life into the grounds.  It is great to have local organisations working alongside each other and thriving. We’re proud to be able to share our beautiful environment with Ilkley’s youngsters and I think the relationship will continue to build and will be a benefit for the community. Perhaps there may even be some cricketing heroes coming up through the ranks!”

The pre-school currently offers morning sessions to 2-4 year olds five days a week, with a Lunch Club Monday to Thursday.  The unique ‘Rising 5 sessions’, which help prepare older ones for their move to school, are on Monday and Wednesday afternoons and there is a Tuesday afternoon session for all 3 and 4 year olds.  All Saints’ Pre-School was the first pre-school in Ilkley to be rated ‘Outstanding’ by Ofsted, employs 7 staff and operates on a not for profit basis. The pre-school is now taking bookings for September 2013 and beyond.

Please direct enquiries to allsaintspre-school@hotmail.co.uk or 07847 613547. Or for more information, visit www.allsaintspreschoolilkley.co.uk.

Workshops and classes run by Doulala:

• Water Birth workshop
• Hypnobirthing (The Mongan Method)
• Dad-to-be workshops
• BabyCalm Mother and Baby course
• BabyCalm Colic and Crying workshop
• BabyCalm Antenatal workshop
• Baby massage
• Pregnancy relaxation hour

Doulala

Amanda Wardle

With over 25 years’ experience as a midwife, Amanda offers insightful, expert and confidential support for you and your family through practical and educational group or personal services.  She provides a range of courses and workshops beneficial to new and existing mums and their partners, who are either expecting a new baby or have recently given birth. The courses are suitable for all stages of pregnancy and in the early postnatal period, and have been designed to  fully prepare you to feel confident about your labour, birth and being a parent.

Workshops and courses take place at a venue in Ilkley and include:
•HypnoBirthing®
•Dads To Be
•Water Birth
•BabyCalm™ workshops and BabyCalm™ Colic and Crying workshops
•Baby Massage

They may also be taken as one-to-one/personal sessions, held in the comfort of your own home should you desire.

What is a doula?

Doula (pronounced “doo-la”) is a Greek word meaning “woman servant or care giver”. A doula believes in “mothering the mother” and provides:
•Care for you and your baby, being someone you can get to know and trust.
•Friendship as someone who will share your journey with you.
•Support by standing alongside you and your partner.
•Information in an unbiased form, in order for you to make the best choices for yourself and your baby.

Every woman can benefit from having a birth doula package, whether it is for your first baby, second, third or more. Amanda provides a range of packages, and each one can be tailored to suit your preferences, please visit her website for more details www.doulala.co.uk or call 07828315622 to discuss your particular needs. Once your baby is born she offers postnatal doula services assisting you in general baby cares, infant feeding, and how to adapt to your new role as a parent in a calm and relaxed way.

And don’t forget to quote MoorMums to benefit from a 10% discount on classes and workshops.

To celebrate our 4th birthday, we’ve been featured in the local press!  And the story is currently listed as ‘most read’!!  I’ve taken a screen shot of it (left) to immortalise the moment!

Hope the website continues to be useful to more and more people.