Rainbow Barrows and Barefoot Books Bell Tent

Lisa Igo, a qualified teacher, gave up her safe job and lifestyle to explore an alternative way of life with her family.  Here she shares the highs and lows of her festival-filled summer Read more…

NEWSFLASH: The Festival Angels have landed!

Entrance to Angel GardensAngel Gardens take family festival spaces to a whole new level

My friend Sam, the oh-so-lovely Angel Sam of Angel Gardens, has just told me about their exciting new ventures for 2012.  Anyone who has already had the good fortune to visit Angel Gardens in any of the festivals they went to last year will know how lovely they are.  But not content with being wonderful already, they are ramping up their offering a notch or ten, to be THE most thoughtful family space in the country!

So without further ado…  We are VERY excited to announce Angel Garden’s Plans for 2012:

Kindred Cafe

As some of you may know, Angel Gardens have decided to change their cafe this year, and after lots of chats and careful deliberation they are proud to announce….. Kindred Cafe.  This cafe will be run by Angel Crew Lisa and Kirk as part of Angel Gardens.  Not only will it serve teas and coffees, but it will have a real focus on providing child friendly breakfasts and snacks.

Also part of the space will be an activity table for free creative work, books and games for children to engage with.  With a shabby chic interior, the theme will change yearly and this year will be an Alice in Wonderland theme, this theme will run into Angel Gardens too and also into the new Cabaret Tent.  The Kindred Cafe page will be on www.facebook.com/kindred-cafe.  Lisa wrote us a Guest Blog about her festival summer which makes a nice read.

angel gardens daily scheduleThe Cabaret Tent

This will be decorated to match the cafe and Angel Gardens as a whole, it will host larger activities such as Yoga, Tai Chi, Dance, Drama, Science Demonstrations, Performers, Kid’s Discos and Karaoke, and on an evening it may show films too. There are also plans to host a Cabaret on Sunday evenings, in which children and families can show the things they have learned over the weekend.  With funky lighting, smoke machine and UV lights, you can expect some exciting performances and discos, and even UV painting parties.

The cabaret tent will be attached to the Kindred Cafe and will have a hatch in which folks can get refreshments, the Cafe will also be able to open up into the gardens in good weather.  The Cabaret Tent Facebook page can be found on www.facebook.com/whiterabbitcabaret

baby tent angel gardensBaby Tent

The Angel Gardens Baby Tent has changing mats, nappies and wipes, as well as a few toys and books for older children waiting for mum or dad to sort out the baby.  They also have comfy seating and places to breastfeed or have a little nap too.  All this really helps mummies and babies through the festival.

Kid’s own Loos

PERFEST POOS and WONDERFUL WEES will be part of the space again with free sun cream, loads of loo roll, cleaning stuff, mops and wipes to make the loo situation much nicer for little bums.  They are decorated with Fairy Lights in the evening so there is no need to bring a torch… (we all know how hard it is to balance a torch while trying to wipe little bottoms).  Just don’t forget to sign their guest book when you’ve done!

Lost Kids

The Angel Gardens Lost Kids Service is the best and parents and kids love it!  They have a registration scheme where parents and kids can register details and contact information, both parent and child get a wristband with a number that links to the form with the info on, this means they can start looking for lost kiddies the second they are reported.  With their lovely painted and heated caravan full of toys, snacks, drinks and places to sleep and have nappies changed, kids may get lost just to visit them… 😉

angel gardens kids crewWant to be part of the Team?

Angel Gardens are inviting people with skills and children to apply to work with them.  They have a scheme in which they share childcare and have a Crew Children’s Tent where they do activities and lessons. This gives mums and dads the chance to work the festival with their children in tow.  They will still have the bell tents with activities but will be looking for larger group activities that work alongside in the larger tent.  Of course there will be also be crew opportunities both in the cafe and in the cabaret tent but information will be sent out about that later.  Contact Angel Sam via the Angel Gardens Facebook page.

We are so excited about the changes to Angel Gardens and can’t wait to try them out.  We hope you feel as excited as we do about this…

Well done Angel Sam and all your fabulous team, 2012 is going to be AMAZING!

To find out where Angel Gardens will be at this year, visit:

Angel Gardens TOUR DATES

Your 2011 Festival Highlights

Over on our Facebook Page, we asked you for your most memorable festival moments of 2011.  Here are our favourites:

Alli – Watching my 12 yr old lose all his inhibitions to Babyhead at Shambala and watching my 10 yr old talk about open fire cooking with a group of Ghanian drummers around a camp fire at 3 in the afternoon at Small Nations Festival. I love the UK festie season, so diverse!!!

Karon – Camp Bestival firework finale truly was my festy moment of the year… mindblowing… goosebumps… kids couldn’t believe how fab it was and we still haven’t stopped talking about it!! Guy Fawkes night will be nothing in comparison anymore!! Booking our summer holidays around Camp Bestival next year as we hated leaving on the Monday morning to traffic jams and tears!! Camp Bestivalwe ♥ you!! x

Sam – I agree with Karon that the finale at Camp Bestival was truly magical, & seeing our kids faces, priceless. Another highlight was watching John Grant at Standon Calling Festival, a true lyrical genius. The icing on the cake, ending our fantastic festival season by dancing to ‘A Perfect Love Song’ by The Divine Comedy at Harvest at Jimmy’s with my hubby (our wedding song)… Sorry Romany, but to choose just one was impossible… WOW, what a year! x

Read more…

Who’s got The Power?

One of my most unexpectedSnap the Power festival highlights of the summer performance-wise was Snap! at Penn Festival.

Now I must admit, when I saw Snap! on the line-up I laughed… or rather snorted with a sort of superior derision at a cheesy 90’s band dragged back from the dead.  I never liked them the first time round (except maybe once when I was vey vey drunk in a Swiss nightclub…) let alone now, when surely my musical tastes are even more honed and mature?

Read more…

Exciting opening in Oxford

Barefoot Books logo

Barefoot Books Studio in Oxford

Grand Opening Weekend Family Events
Saturday and Sunday, 8 and 9 October from 8.30am to 5pm

Storytelling, crafts, drama, yoga, music-making and so much more!

See grand opening weekend events schedule>>

What is the Barefoot Books Studio?

It’s a café, a bookshop, a workshop venue, and an arts centre… all in one gorgeous space!

Barefoot Books StudioThe Oxford Studio brings Barefoot Books to life in a vibrant and magical community centre where families can gather to browse books and experience live storytelling, music, arts and crafts, yoga and more!

Stop by the Storyteller’s Café for delicious, seasonal, organic and free range food. The Café is headed by Vladimir Niza, former senior tutor at the Raymond Blanc Cookery School, and a key chef at the world famous two-Michelin starred Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons.  Read more…

Pregnant Festivalling Part 2

I was 16 weeks pregnant when we went to Camp Bestival. Now if my last pregnancy was anything to go by then I felt amazing at 16 weeks, in fact the whole second trimester was just wonderful for me and we went on a lovely holiday to Cornwall where we did a lot of walking. I had more energy and was able to eat normally again and started to glow. Read more…

Family Talent Show at Camp Bestival 2011

One of our reader’s gorgeous little 5 year old daughter Rose entered the Family Talent Show, judged by Sara Cox, at Camp Bestival this year… and guess what?… SHE WON!!!!

Thanks so much to her proud mum Catherine for sharing this special moment with us x

Now, if that was my daughter up there, I would’ve been blubbing my little heart out with pride!  Here’s what Catherine had to say about the experience:

Read more…

Charity Teddy Bears’ Picnic at Camp Bestival

READY, TEDDY, GO!

Time to dig out your old children’s unwanted teddies because this summer saw the launch of ‘Persil Pass on the Love‘ picnics, fronted by DJ, TV presenter and mum Jo Whiley.  Mums and their little ones were encouraged to get together with friends, bring along their once-loved-but-now-forgotten teddies  – newly washed – and swap them with other children to be cherished again!

We all know that kids quickly grow out of their teddies, so rather than throw them away, Jo is encouraging families to bring their old (but clean!) soft toys and then pass them on for another child to love – either by swapping with a friend or donating them to charity partner Oxfam.

Read more…

Car Journey Games

pub cricketHow to make long journeys bearable with kids!

Inspired by Jessica’s recent post, Three Special Things, I thought I’d share our family’s favourite car journey entertainments too.

I do not have an in-car DVD player, and I will resist buying one as long as I possibly can because I know that once we have one we will never go back to using our journey time to play family games together, or quietly contemplating life as we watch the world whizzing by outside.  Children live in a very hyped-up over-stimulated world already, and I personally believe that long car journeys are good for children in that they teach them about spending time more calmly: talking, singing, listening, and thinking.

Much of the time we listen to music or talk as a family.  There are often long silences while we are all lost in our thoughts staring at the countryside.  And on the whole we enjoy long car journeys (and we do them a lot!), but my children are not always angels and sometimes we do need something to entertain them and stop the bickering.  For times like this we have a collection of old favourites on standby Read more…

Three Special Things…

Mr TumbleMy little girl is a HUGE Mr Tumble fan. So much so that she reenacts the “spotty bag” routine and the mighty Tumble is one of the many reasons why we have chosen to attend Camp Bestival.

In preparation she has watched, many a time now, the episode where Justin goes to Wychwood festival and meets a family for some festival fun. Read more…

Rainbow Barrows and Barefoot Books Bell Tent

Lisa Igo, a qualified teacher, gave up her safe job and lifestyle to explore an alternative way of life with her family.  Here she shares the highs and lows of her festival-filled summer Read more…

Your 2011 Festival Highlights

Over on our Facebook Page, we asked you for your most memorable festival moments of 2011.  Here are our favourites:

Alli – Watching my 12 yr old lose all his inhibitions to Babyhead at Shambala and watching my 10 yr old talk about open fire cooking with a group of Ghanian drummers around a camp fire at 3 in the afternoon at Small Nations Festival. I love the UK festie season, so diverse!!!

Karon – Camp Bestival firework finale truly was my festy moment of the year… mindblowing… goosebumps… kids couldn’t believe how fab it was and we still haven’t stopped talking about it!! Guy Fawkes night will be nothing in comparison anymore!! Booking our summer holidays around Camp Bestival next year as we hated leaving on the Monday morning to traffic jams and tears!! Camp Bestivalwe ♥ you!! x

Sam – I agree with Karon that the finale at Camp Bestival was truly magical, & seeing our kids faces, priceless. Another highlight was watching John Grant at Standon Calling Festival, a true lyrical genius. The icing on the cake, ending our fantastic festival season by dancing to ‘A Perfect Love Song’ by The Divine Comedy at Harvest at Jimmy’s with my hubby (our wedding song)… Sorry Romany, but to choose just one was impossible… WOW, what a year! x

Read more…

Exciting opening in Oxford

Barefoot Books logo

Barefoot Books Studio in Oxford

Grand Opening Weekend Family Events
Saturday and Sunday, 8 and 9 October from 8.30am to 5pm

Storytelling, crafts, drama, yoga, music-making and so much more!

See grand opening weekend events schedule>>

What is the Barefoot Books Studio?

It’s a café, a bookshop, a workshop venue, and an arts centre… all in one gorgeous space!

Barefoot Books StudioThe Oxford Studio brings Barefoot Books to life in a vibrant and magical community centre where families can gather to browse books and experience live storytelling, music, arts and crafts, yoga and more!

Stop by the Storyteller’s Café for delicious, seasonal, organic and free range food. The Café is headed by Vladimir Niza, former senior tutor at the Raymond Blanc Cookery School, and a key chef at the world famous two-Michelin starred Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons.  Read more…

Family Talent Show at Camp Bestival 2011

One of our reader’s gorgeous little 5 year old daughter Rose entered the Family Talent Show, judged by Sara Cox, at Camp Bestival this year… and guess what?… SHE WON!!!!

Thanks so much to her proud mum Catherine for sharing this special moment with us x

Now, if that was my daughter up there, I would’ve been blubbing my little heart out with pride!  Here’s what Catherine had to say about the experience:

Read more…

Car Journey Games

pub cricketHow to make long journeys bearable with kids!

Inspired by Jessica’s recent post, Three Special Things, I thought I’d share our family’s favourite car journey entertainments too.

I do not have an in-car DVD player, and I will resist buying one as long as I possibly can because I know that once we have one we will never go back to using our journey time to play family games together, or quietly contemplating life as we watch the world whizzing by outside.  Children live in a very hyped-up over-stimulated world already, and I personally believe that long car journeys are good for children in that they teach them about spending time more calmly: talking, singing, listening, and thinking.

Much of the time we listen to music or talk as a family.  There are often long silences while we are all lost in our thoughts staring at the countryside.  And on the whole we enjoy long car journeys (and we do them a lot!), but my children are not always angels and sometimes we do need something to entertain them and stop the bickering.  For times like this we have a collection of old favourites on standby Read more…

NEWSFLASH: The Festival Angels have landed!

Entrance to Angel GardensAngel Gardens take family festival spaces to a whole new level

My friend Sam, the oh-so-lovely Angel Sam of Angel Gardens, has just told me about their exciting new ventures for 2012.  Anyone who has already had the good fortune to visit Angel Gardens in any of the festivals they went to last year will know how lovely they are.  But not content with being wonderful already, they are ramping up their offering a notch or ten, to be THE most thoughtful family space in the country!

So without further ado…  We are VERY excited to announce Angel Garden’s Plans for 2012:

Kindred Cafe

As some of you may know, Angel Gardens have decided to change their cafe this year, and after lots of chats and careful deliberation they are proud to announce….. Kindred Cafe.  This cafe will be run by Angel Crew Lisa and Kirk as part of Angel Gardens.  Not only will it serve teas and coffees, but it will have a real focus on providing child friendly breakfasts and snacks.

Also part of the space will be an activity table for free creative work, books and games for children to engage with.  With a shabby chic interior, the theme will change yearly and this year will be an Alice in Wonderland theme, this theme will run into Angel Gardens too and also into the new Cabaret Tent.  The Kindred Cafe page will be on www.facebook.com/kindred-cafe.  Lisa wrote us a Guest Blog about her festival summer which makes a nice read.

angel gardens daily scheduleThe Cabaret Tent

This will be decorated to match the cafe and Angel Gardens as a whole, it will host larger activities such as Yoga, Tai Chi, Dance, Drama, Science Demonstrations, Performers, Kid’s Discos and Karaoke, and on an evening it may show films too. There are also plans to host a Cabaret on Sunday evenings, in which children and families can show the things they have learned over the weekend.  With funky lighting, smoke machine and UV lights, you can expect some exciting performances and discos, and even UV painting parties.

The cabaret tent will be attached to the Kindred Cafe and will have a hatch in which folks can get refreshments, the Cafe will also be able to open up into the gardens in good weather.  The Cabaret Tent Facebook page can be found on www.facebook.com/whiterabbitcabaret

baby tent angel gardensBaby Tent

The Angel Gardens Baby Tent has changing mats, nappies and wipes, as well as a few toys and books for older children waiting for mum or dad to sort out the baby.  They also have comfy seating and places to breastfeed or have a little nap too.  All this really helps mummies and babies through the festival.

Kid’s own Loos

PERFEST POOS and WONDERFUL WEES will be part of the space again with free sun cream, loads of loo roll, cleaning stuff, mops and wipes to make the loo situation much nicer for little bums.  They are decorated with Fairy Lights in the evening so there is no need to bring a torch… (we all know how hard it is to balance a torch while trying to wipe little bottoms).  Just don’t forget to sign their guest book when you’ve done!

Lost Kids

The Angel Gardens Lost Kids Service is the best and parents and kids love it!  They have a registration scheme where parents and kids can register details and contact information, both parent and child get a wristband with a number that links to the form with the info on, this means they can start looking for lost kiddies the second they are reported.  With their lovely painted and heated caravan full of toys, snacks, drinks and places to sleep and have nappies changed, kids may get lost just to visit them… 😉

angel gardens kids crewWant to be part of the Team?

Angel Gardens are inviting people with skills and children to apply to work with them.  They have a scheme in which they share childcare and have a Crew Children’s Tent where they do activities and lessons. This gives mums and dads the chance to work the festival with their children in tow.  They will still have the bell tents with activities but will be looking for larger group activities that work alongside in the larger tent.  Of course there will be also be crew opportunities both in the cafe and in the cabaret tent but information will be sent out about that later.  Contact Angel Sam via the Angel Gardens Facebook page.

We are so excited about the changes to Angel Gardens and can’t wait to try them out.  We hope you feel as excited as we do about this…

Well done Angel Sam and all your fabulous team, 2012 is going to be AMAZING!

To find out where Angel Gardens will be at this year, visit:

Angel Gardens TOUR DATES

Who’s got The Power?

One of my most unexpectedSnap the Power festival highlights of the summer performance-wise was Snap! at Penn Festival.

Now I must admit, when I saw Snap! on the line-up I laughed… or rather snorted with a sort of superior derision at a cheesy 90’s band dragged back from the dead.  I never liked them the first time round (except maybe once when I was vey vey drunk in a Swiss nightclub…) let alone now, when surely my musical tastes are even more honed and mature?

Read more…

Pregnant Festivalling Part 2

I was 16 weeks pregnant when we went to Camp Bestival. Now if my last pregnancy was anything to go by then I felt amazing at 16 weeks, in fact the whole second trimester was just wonderful for me and we went on a lovely holiday to Cornwall where we did a lot of walking. I had more energy and was able to eat normally again and started to glow. Read more…

Charity Teddy Bears’ Picnic at Camp Bestival

READY, TEDDY, GO!

Time to dig out your old children’s unwanted teddies because this summer saw the launch of ‘Persil Pass on the Love‘ picnics, fronted by DJ, TV presenter and mum Jo Whiley.  Mums and their little ones were encouraged to get together with friends, bring along their once-loved-but-now-forgotten teddies  – newly washed – and swap them with other children to be cherished again!

We all know that kids quickly grow out of their teddies, so rather than throw them away, Jo is encouraging families to bring their old (but clean!) soft toys and then pass them on for another child to love – either by swapping with a friend or donating them to charity partner Oxfam.

Read more…

Three Special Things…

Mr TumbleMy little girl is a HUGE Mr Tumble fan. So much so that she reenacts the “spotty bag” routine and the mighty Tumble is one of the many reasons why we have chosen to attend Camp Bestival.

In preparation she has watched, many a time now, the episode where Justin goes to Wychwood festival and meets a family for some festival fun. Read more…