Lambeth - What's on for the family - September 15th -16th 2012

Well, folks, it finally here. The weekend which half of Lambeth has been waiting the whole summer for!  That's right, it's the Lambeth Country Show weekend. For those who don't know what that is, over the last 38 years, Lambeth has run what it calls a country show: a large event in Brockwell Park, which has food stalls, craft stalls, funfair, music stage, farm animals, vegetable growing competitions...the list is endless. When I use to go as a kid, they had steam engines! I seen people sky dive into the event! It's that good!!!

But before we have a look at the country show, what else is on?

SATURDAY (15th September)

For those children who like boats, there is a chance to watch lots of them race down the River Thames.  Saturday is the Great River Race which starts at Docklands at 10:40am. According to information, the  boats will go past Westminster Bridge (Bus 159) at 11.30am and  Lambeth Bridge (Bus 3) at 11.35am. So either find a place on a bridge to watch them go past or along the embankment - take a small flask of a hot drink for the parents and some nibbles for the kids. And just remember to wave at all the boats as they go past!

If the kids don't like boats but like a bit of gardening then this is the thing for your family, the Big Dig Edible Open Gardens 2012. As the title of the event suggests this is all about creating spaces to grow your own food. There are several sites in Lambeth which will be doing workshops with children on the day.

Myatts Fields, Cormont Road, SE5 9RA (Buses 36, 185 and 436 to Camberwell New Road, Buses 3, 59, 159  and 133 along the Brixton road. A ten minute walk from there.)

Opening times from 10 til 4pm.

There will be an opportunity to visit the greenhouse, participate in a cooking session (10.30am-1pm), try the amazing food made at our Little Cat Cafe. There is also a vegetable trail that children can paint which goes from the greenhouse to the cafe

Cowley Estate, Gosling Way, SW9 6LZ (Buses 3, 59, 159  and 133 go along the Brixton road, past the Cowley estate)

Opening times from 11am til 4pm

They will be holding a harvest fun day with a BBQ, apple pressing, bird box building and wheat harvesting.

Colonnade Flats 8 Wren Road, Camberwell Green,  SE5 8QS (This is located behind the shopping centre in Camberwell. Buses 35, 45, 345, 36, 185 and 436 to Camberwell.)

Opening times from 11am til 4pm

There will be a BBQ at 2pm, tile-painting, art workshop, seed swap and a plant swap.

Looking for something less serious, perhaps a bit more fun and games, well maybe Hide and Seek Weekender at the Southbank is for you. Hide and Seek invent lots of new games for adults, children and families.I've been to an event before where we played a giant pass the parcel game and made a balloon disappear into the night sky by answering quiz questions! They have events all through Saturday and Sunday - not only are they fun to get involved in but they are often curious to watch.

SUNDAY (16th September)

As Saturday looks very busy with events and Sunday is quiet, I'll put the country show in here. What a lot of fun is to be had. I don't even know where to start.

Visiting the farm animals is fun. Last year I learnt all about the different types of sheep and was very excited to see St Kildas breed, which is a very rare sheep, in our city! I also love the owls and birds of Prey on display and still haven't got round to holding one yet. These creatures can all be found in the Farm Zone.

Another animally thing I like to do is watch the sheepdogs get the ducks into a box. This is in the Main Arena. And this years stars are some racing pigs which sounds great! They also have a Lurcher Falconry and Ferret display. What a combination - I wonder what that involves?

Asides from the animals, another event which many people seek to see or be involve with is the vegetable character competition in the Flower Zone. This competition has involved taking vegetables and turning them into famous people. Examples that spring to mind are AmyWinehouse and the Muppets.

Other stuff for the kids is in the Cultivate zone which has children's entertainments, workshops and taster classes.

And of course there is the funfair - lots of rides for older children. And there are plenty of food stalls to meet the demands of hungry big and little people.

To get to Brockwell Park, you are served by the overground at Herne Hill or Buses 3, 37, 196, 68 and 322 or on the other side of the park, 2, 415 and 432.

Here's a map of the site to help you out on the day. Print out and put in your handbag!

So fingers crossed for a good sunny weekend. Enjoy!!