Tree Dressing at Sherwood Forest and Aurora at Rufford Park

As E is currently fond of saying "I'm back!"

We took E to the Tree Dressing at Sherwood Forest. She made a spider-on-a-stick in the nature workshop. She met St Nicholas. She ran and ran in the woods. At 4 o'clock a man called Gordon ("but everyone calls me Toad") told us a very theatrical story about a storm in the woods. It got dark very quickly. E made wind noises and waved her spider vigorously on demand. Everything was going fine until we all had to shout for Santa to come and switch on the lights. Her lip trembled. She full-on bawled. She hates shouting.

She calmed down quickly for the switch on of the lights. The tree looked amazing covered in ribbons and flags made by children to celebrate nature. S took her back to the car for a picnic of warm pasta, while I got hot drinks from the cafe for us. Everyone had left. It was cold and very very dark and quiet.



After getting warm in the car with our coffee, hot chocolate and warm fusilli, we headed over to Rufford Park, to see their Aurora exhibition.
Around every corner was a stunning, dramatic light display set to atmospheric sounds.


E LOVED it, running through tunnels of light, and between trees.


S and I agreed it was the BEST £2 we've spent this month so far. Superb.