February 2021:- Even though Lockdown 3.0 shows no sign of easing anytime soon and the weather turns icy cold, there are many ways to enjoy half-term and indeed those post home -schooling hours this February and on into Spring for both children and grown-ups.
This half-term coincides with several national and international events which can inspire all sorts of fun activities and dressing-up. Chinese New Year on 12th February calls for paper lantern making, dumplings and fireworks and learning about the Year of THE Ox. Valentine’s Day is an excellent excuse to make cards and endless cut-out hearts and it’s also Mardi Gras season that could lead to plenty of cooking, dancing, and dressing up as the Brazilians, Venetians and the good folk of New Orleans do!
Alternatively, there are many virtual experiences focussing on more local entertainment. For example BCP Tourism have updated their “ Buuut I’m Bored” Challenge online which has lots of fun activities to beat lockdown boredom and keep everybody entertained.
Even though travel isn’t possible, beautiful locations, landscapes and panoramas can be enjoyed via clicking on links to strategically placed web cams from around the region. For example, live web Cams at The Harbour Heights Hotel observes Sandbanks Bay while Studland can be perused via a camera positioned at The Haven Hotel. Meanwhile Rick Stein restaurant gives us a stunning perspective on the extraordinary Poole Harbour.Virtual Swanage contains multiple live camera feeds around the harbour town, The Isle of Purbeck, and Corfe Castle.
Wildlife cams provide terrific entertainment for all the family. Birds of Poole Harbourgive us Live Osprey Nest, the camera at Hengistbury Head lets us into the world of breeding herons while Marwell Zoo gives us access us behinds scenes with shots of flamingos and penguins and regular updates on the lives of all the animals and keepers on Facebook. Other fascinating online insights into animal antics across the county can be found at Monkey World, Dorset’s amazing Ape Rescue Centre, Bournemouth’s Oceanarium with its Blacktip shark and crocodiles and for meerkat madness, Paulton’s Park, home of Peppa Pig World.
From the world of art and culture, the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra (BSO) provide concerts on demand for £6.00 plus optional pre-concert talks. The magnificent Salisbury Cathedral offers an interactive Virtual Art Tour of their extraordinary Spirit and Endeavour Exhibition which includes works by Henry Moore, Antony Gormley, Grayson Perry, Conrad Shawcross and Shirazeh Houshiary.
The Russell-Cotes Art Gallery & Museum is running a series of quizzes about its history,collections, and founders and some of the art can be viewed online, where you can also see listings for upcoming talks and fun half term entertainment. The Poole Museum website gives us the Museum from Home which contains several interactive resources including digital tours, exhibits and kids’ activities.
The incredibly popular Tank Museum has its own You Tube channel “A Source of Entertainment Not Just For Tank Fanatics!” while Dorset Mind UK reminds us of the importance of absorbing and enjoying the beauty of the countryside around us on mental health and well-being.
So, explore from your door and stay safe this half term.
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