Win Family Tickets to Tractor Ted’s Farm Show at Bowood House

Posted on April 29, 2014 by Fiona Martin

Tractor Ted’s Farm Show is coming to Bowood House on Sunday 8th June 2014 and I’m really looking forward to taking my children there. Mister B always asks if it’s Ted when he sees a green tractor and they both love watching the Tractor Ted DVD showing real life on a farm with lots of cute little animals. I think the Tractor Ted Farm Show is a great opportunity for a family day out where the children will learn and get to play at the same time.

Bowood House looks like a stunning setting for the show and I can’t wait to go. I also have 3 family tickets up for grabs for 3 lucky families to enjoy a fun day out too!

THE TRACTOR TED FARM SHOW 2014

BOWOOD HOUSE, CHIPPENHAM, WILTSHIRE, SUNDAY 8^TH JUNE 2014

The Tractor Ted Farm Show will be held in the glorious grounds of Bowood House, Wiltshire SN119NF on Sunday 8^th June 2014 10am – 5pm. More than 10,000 people are expected to enjoy a day of farming in action where the hit children’s series, Tractor Ted – Real Life Fun on the Farm is brought to life for young children and their families. Non-stop displays of tractors, diggers and a giant combine harvester take place, plus trailer rides, machinery repairs, animal husbandry and of course, the star attraction, Tractor Ted and Les the Tractor Driver star of the hit series.

Alongside runs the Bowood Charity Dog Show with pedigree and ‘have a go’ classes and a Summer Fair of artisan produce. On the day gate proceeds go to local Wiltshire charities with over £200,000 raised over the 8 years this event has been running.

Discount advance tickets are available online until 1^st June at http://www.tractorted.co.uk/ Adults £8 Children(2-16) £4 – a saving of 20% on gate prices. Carers accompanying wheelchair users are free.

Amongst the entertainments new to the day this year will be the Bath Rugby’s Farm Fitness. Famous players, from the Bath and England Rugby Squads will be running fitness events for children such as kicking the ball in the digger bucket or completing the Tractor Ted Obstacle Course. Other highlights include the sheep racing, sheep dog agility, sheep shearing, falconry, donkey rides, circus workshop and the Spanish horse display.

If you don’t win and want to go then make sure you buy your tickets on line at www.tractorted.co.uk for a 20% discount before 1st June.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tractor Ted Easter Activity Book – Review and Giveaway x 5

Posted on March 18, 2014 by Fiona Martin

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Tractor Ted is a cute green tractor that lives in Tractorland and gives children a great insight into tractors and farming life through a series of books, dvd’s, clothing and more. We were exciting to receive Tractor Ted’s Activity Book 2, a special Easter edition of the series of activity books from Tractor Ted.

My first impressions of Tractor Ted’s Activity Book 2 were really good. Firstly I loved the quality of the book, a high gloss cover and thick, durable pages inside covered in brightly coloured illustrations. Also the size of the book is quite handy compared to usual children’s activity books, as it’s easy to carry around and gives younger children just a one activity per page to concentrate on.It’s aimed at Early Years children and I feel that Mister B who’s 3 and a half next month is the perfect age to carry out the activities within the book. I also feel that the activities have been well thought out and put together, giving a great variety but also being of an appropriate level for Mister B to do.

The book shows children about farming and all things related to Easter time, such as baby animals and Easter themed recipes. There are also counting activities, colours, matching, mazes, recipes, colouring in, writing skills and baby animal recognition. I am really impressed with the variety and quality of this activity book.

Mister B has loved looking through this book, taking in the information from the pictures and really having a good practice of his writing skills. Even big sister Miss M joined in beside him copying the same words on a piece of paper and guiding him through the writing. She’s also keen to try out the recipes at the back of the book, being an eager cook. I can honestly say I’d recommend this book for a 3/4 year old to get to grips with pen skills and learn about animals and farming. Of course Mister B was loving all the tractors and enjoyed picking out his favourite coloured ones.

Tractor Ted have kindly offered 5 copies to give away to my readers, so if you have a little one who’d love to learn more about farming, baby animals and boost their writing skills then why not enter to win one below:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

UK only
Winners will be selected by Rafflecopter at the end of the giveaway.
Winners will be contacted within 48 hours of the giveaway ending and if I am unable to make contact within 14 days, then I may pick an alternative winner.
Your details will be passed to Tractor Ted who will be responsible for sending out the prize.

All reviews are my own and my family’s opinions and we received the book in order to write the review.

Animal Safari by Orchard Toys – Review

Posted on April 1, 2013 by Fiona Martin

Animal Safari is a fun, tactical board game from Orchard Toys suitable for ages 5+. With Miss M being a huge fan of games and loving her Orchard Toy collection I knew this was sure to be a hit and I was also keen to try a game with a higher starting age to give Miss M the challenges she needs and thrives on.

The game is suitable for 2-4 players who use a stand up jeep playing piece to move from the camp in the centre of the board, around the board hoping to collect some animals before returning to camp. There are various viewing points across the Animal Safari board that if you land on you can pick up an animal card.

To move around the board are two dice and this is where the game gets interesting. In place are the number six on each, is a picture of binoculars, and rolling one of these allows you to take an animal card of your choice from another player. You can also tactically use the amount rolled on the dice to determine where you land on the board by either moving the amount on just one of the dice or the total of both. By having to total up the two dice also brings in basic mathematical skills which is perfect for young players. Miss M who is 5 is just learning basic addition in her first year of school and I felt this really benefitted her in practicing without realising it.

I was surprised by the variety of different animal cards – to include monkeys, parrots, flamingos, lions, tigers, zebras, meerkats, giraffes to name just a few. They are all brightly coloured and fun pictures to look at which helped add value to the game. Miss M loved looking at them and picking her favourites when she had the opportunity to take some from my pile.

Animal Safari retails at £11.75 which we think is good value for such a durable lasting game that is fun, enjoyed by all and contains hidden educational aspects.

Please watch our short review video of the game in action:

All reviews are my own and my family’s opinions. We are not paid for reviews although we do receive the product to try out and enable us to write the review.

Threading Animals(wooden toy) by Asco Educational – Review

Posted on November 29, 2011 by Fiona Martin

We were asked to review the Threading Animals by Asco Educational for izziwizzikids.

The box we received contained two beautifully made wooden animals, a butterfly and a turtle which were painted to a perfectly smooth finish. 40 shapes and 20 laces in 4 bright colours were supplied which was more than ample so a very positive first impression.

Miss M had already attempted the basic process of threading with a little book she has that comes with a few laces and holes in the pictures on the pages to thread through – a bit like dot to dot with laces – so this toy was the next step up in the challenge for her.

With some guidance and assistance from mummy, Miss M happily sat threading away despite a few minor issues we had with the product, but we overcame these by using the shapes slightly differently to how we initially thought upon opening the box.

Overall we love the concept of this toy, found the wooden pieces to be beautifully made and are really pleased to see plenty of shapes & laces to work with for both animals. This is a lovely toy particularly for girls and really encourages great hand eye coordination. It ranges from ages 3 upwards so is great for little ones that require some help and encouragement or older children who would be able to play this independently.

Threading Animals is available to buy from Asco Educational.

Here is our video review for izziwizzikids:

All reviews are my own and my family’s opinions. We are not paid for reviews although we do receive the product to try out and enable us to write the review.