Please Share our Film: We’re giving 20% of Sales to Victims of Rana Plaza

The Fableists are helping to raise funds for the event Raising for Rana. We are pledging 20% of all sales in April and May to helping victims of the Rana Plaza factory collapse in Bangladesh last year. All of the money that Raising for Rana collects will go directly to the victims.

20% of all sales (exclusing shipping) from TheFableists.com will be donated, so this is a great time to place your order and help support a great cause.

All of The Fableists’ clothes are ethically produced in factories that have been certified as safe for the workers. We do not use sweatshops and we do not use child or slave labour during any part of the making of our clothes; from the planting of the cotton to the delivery of the goods to your door. We believe that it’s high time that all businesses operate this way.

Please watch our film, which lets everyone know about the money we’re pledging to Raising for Rana. Like, share, and tweet the film and help us to raise a lot of money.

Thanks

The Fableists

 

National Trust Properties are the Places to be in May!

A family admire the peacocks at Brownsea Island, Poole harbour, Dorset

With spring flowers in full bloom, warmer weather on the way and those extra days off to enjoy, May is the ideal time to get outdoors and discover some amazing coast and countryside locations.

The National Trust looks after beautiful gardens and some remarkable places. This May you can go back in time and relive history, get back to nature or learn to use a telescope and search for the stars. And that’s not all, there’s a raft of activities for all the family with trampolining, archery, tree climbing and ‘50 things’ adventures.

Spend half term and some long weekends and with the Trust and explore some unforgettable places. What’s more, every single visit helps support the charity’s work looking after special places for ever, for everyone.

Out of the ordinary

Ickworth, Suffolk
Climbing wall and bungee trampolining, 4 May, 11am – 4pm
Climb and bounce as high as the Rotunda, well almost, for great fun and great views with Barracudas’ climbing wall and bungee jumping system. You’ll be harnessed onto the wall and the automatic belay system will hold your weight whilst you bounce up and down. Along with the wall there’ll be a trampoline bungee system for the children under the age of eight to enjoy and jump as high as they can. These fantastic bungees will have you jumping great heights and allowing you to do flips and turns whilst in the air. After all the excitement take a walk around the Italianate garden, and spot the spring flowers and young lambs around the tranquil parkland.
Price: Tickets £10 (Unlimited climbing), Tickets £2 (1 climb), Tickets £5 (3 climbs)
Normal admission fees apply
For more information, please call 01284 735270

Knightshayes Court, Devon
Victorian circus workshops, 24 May – 1 June, 11am – 5pm
The Victorian period saw a surge in the popularity of the circus, so why not come along and give it a go yourself at Knightshayes. From juggling to plate spinning, and a whole lot more, it’s the perfect way to keep the kids occupied this May. Afterwards you can explore the acres of glorious parkland, fine gardens and Gothic revival house.
Normal admission fees apply
For more information, please call 01884 254665

St Agnes to Padstow, Cornwall
Sun and stars at Carnewas, 31 May, 7pm – 10pm
Join the National Trust rangers and Kernow Astronomers for some stargazing at this stunning cliff-top location, recently awarded Dark Skies status. As the sun, our nearest star, sets slowly into the sea, you may see sunspots and flares on its surface with a special solar scope. The moon will follow close behind. Look for ‘seas’, mountains and craters through telescopes. Thousands of stars of various colours and brightness will gradually appear and local astronomers with telescopes will guide you through the amazing Cornish sky.
Free event.
For more information, please call 01208 863046

Tyntesfield, North Somerset
Shiver me timbers, pirates ahoy! 31 May – 1 June, 10am – 4pm
Come and experience life on the ocean waves as Tyntesfield is invaded by a motley band of pirates and their cannon. There will be loud bangs and Jolly Roger japes throughout the weekend. Lose those sea legs and become a land lover for just long enough to uncover the pirate’s treasures around the Tyntesfield estate.
Normal admission fees apply
For more information, please call 01275 461 900

Uffington White Horse, Oxfordshire
White Horse Hill – chalking the horse, 4 – 5 May, 10am – 3.30pm
Get hands on and help keep the wonderful historic Horse white for future generations. Every year, hours are spent scouring the White Horse of weeds and moss and then re-chalking it. Come and get stuck into this peculiarly satisfying task, and play your part in this dramatic monument’s history, helping to keep it visible for miles around. Protective gloves and a hammer are provided. While you’re there, why not tick off some of your ‘50 things’ challenges, by flying a kite, climbing a hill and rolling back down again.
Booking essential, free event
For more information, please call 01793 76220

Cherryburn, Northumberland
Folk in the farmyard, 4 May, 1pm – 3pm
Bring a picnic and enjoy a toe-tapping afternoon of folk music in Cherryburn’s traditional Northumbrian farmstead. Find out more about the birthplace of Thomas Bewick, perhaps one of Northumberland’s greatest artists at this cottage and farmyard with glorious views over the Tyne Valley. There’s lots for all the family to enjoy, you can take a picnic on the lawn, see historic fruit trees in the orchard, vegetables growing in the allotment and farm animals on the paddock walk.
Normal admission fees apply
For more information, please call 01661 843276

May Day family fun, 5 May, 11am – 3pm
Join in the fun this May and dance around the Maypole and watch the crown being placed on the May Queen at Cherryburn. Enjoy live music, face painting, Thomas Bewick’s whistling competition and much more.
Normal admission charges apply
Booking not needed.
For more information call 01661 843276

Bewick’s boredom busters, 26, 27, 29 & 30 May, 11am – 3pm
Enjoy Cherryburn as Thomas Bewick did as a young lad with free outdoor art and nature adventures every day during half term.
Normal admission fees apply
For more information, please call 01661 843276

50 things to do before you’re 11 ¾

Aberdulais Tin Works and Waterfall, Neath Port Talbot
50 things to do before you’re 11¾ – Launch Weekend, 24 – 26 May, 11am – 4pm
Aberdulais Tin Works are kicking off a summer of hands-on outdoor adventure and fun. Tick off number 45 and 47 of your ‘50 things’ by learning to find your way with a map and compass and cooking on a camp fire and then eating the results. There are lots of family activities, including pooh stick races, making daisy chains and discovering geocaches. Explore the famous waterfall and this fascinating industrial site set in a steep gorge with all the family this May.
Normal admission fees apply
For more information, please call 01639 636674

Carrick-a-Rede, County Antrim
50 Things, 5 May, 10am – 12pm
Join the Rangers and explore this rocky island connected to the cliffs by a rope bridge for a morning of fun and adventure. Have a go at completing your ‘50 things’’ with den building, hunting for bugs and much more.
Normal admission fees apply
For more information, please call 028 2076 9839

Croome, Worcester
‘50 Things’ challenge trail, 24 May – 1 June, 10am – 4.30pm
Croome is one of the best places in the country to get stuck into the challenge of completing your ‘50 things.’ Take the outdoor challenge trail this half term and receive a prize. Head to the natural play area beyond the RAF themed playground and make your own adventure with balance beams, a wooden throne and den building materials.
Price: £1.50 per child
Normal admission fees apply
For more information, please call 01905 371006

Dunstable Downs, Chilterns Gateway Centre and Whipsnade Estate, Bedfordshire
50 things activities, 4 May, 2pm – 3pm
Bring the kids to explore these extensive chalk grasslands in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty this May. On the first Sunday of the month you can get outdoors and try something new with ‘50 things’ activities.
For more information, please call 01582 500925

Gibside, Tyne & Wear
May bank holiday family fun, 5 May, 11am – 3pm
Visit Gibside this May and discover a stunning landscape garden and a haven for wildlife. It’s just the right place to enjoy a bumper batch of family activities including den building, campfires, family sports, storytelling, face painting and lots more.
Normal admission fees apply
For more information, please call 01207 541820

May half term family fun, 26 – 30 May, 11am – 3pm
Visit Gibside for fine Derwent Valley views and refreshing open spaces for the kids to run around in this May. With free family activities and outdoor adventures on offer every day of half term, it’s the perfect place for all the family to explore. There’s a lot to do with explorer Monday, foodie Tuesday, wildlife Wednesday, adventure Thursday and fab Friday.
Normal admission fees apply
For more information, please call 01207 541820

Glendurgan Garden, Cornwall
50 things fun at Glendurgan, 24 May – 1 June, 10.30am – 4.30pm
Glendurgan in Cornwall is a subtropical garden full of fun, natural beauty and amazing plants, and there are lots of activities to keep you entertained this May. You can have a go at skimming a stone on Durgan beach or spot some crazy creatures in the rock pools. Make a trail with sticks through the garden for your family to follow or hunt for bugs in the bushes and long grass.
Normal admission fees apply
For more information, please call 01326 252020

Lydford Gorge, Devon
Den building, 3 – 5 May, 10am – 5pm
Visit the deepest gorge in the South West with a spectacular 30m waterfall this May. Tick off an activity from your ‘50 things’ list with this self-led event enabling everyone to have a go at building their own den. Materials and inspiration will be provided as you learn how to build your own magical or practical natural outdoor shelter.
Normal admission fees apply
For more information, please call 01822 820320

Lyme Park, House and Garden, Cheshire
The Lyme Park ’50 things’ challenge, 24 – 26 May, 11am – 4pm
Lyme Park is nestled on the edge of the Peak District and is the perfect place for ’50 things’ activities. This half term they are offering 26 of the ’50 things’ activities. It was voted as the top spot in the UK for den building, so see how many activities you can tick off over the bank holiday weekend or even in one day.
Normal admission fees apply
For more information, please call 01663 762023

Overbeck’s, Devon
50 Things to do before you are 11 ¾, 1 May – 30 September, 11am – 5pm
There’s lots of excitement to be had at Overbeck’s this May. Collect your ’50 things’ scrapbook at reception and you’ll be well on your way to having lots of fun at this hidden paradise with subtropical gardens in the Devonshire countryside. Be an adventurer and discover bugs around the garden or walk barefoot and feel the grass between your toes. Never mind the weather – run around in the rain and see if you can catch a falling leaf to complete another task in your scrapbook.
Normal admission fees apply
For more information, please call 01548 842893

River Wey and Godalming Navigations and Dapdune Wharf, Surrey
Let’s go fly a kite, 4 May, 11am – 3pm
Come and make a kite and test its build quality by flying it high on the meadow at Papercourt and tick the box in your ‘50 things’ handbook. Afterwards you can explore this tranquil waterway running for nearly 20 miles through the heart of Surrey.
Price: £2.50
For more information, please call 01483 561389

Shalford Mill, Surrey
Have a go at geocaching, 4 May, 11am – 4.30pm
With lots of caches hidden near the watermill, why not try your hand at geocaching?
Bring your smartphone or GPS, or borrow one of the GPS handsets and follow the co-ordinates to go off and hunt.
Normal admission fees apply
For more information, please call 01483 561389

Saltram, Devon
Wild in the wood, 30 May, 10am – 2pm
Saltram is the perfect family day out: close to Plymouth and yet in a world of its own. Join the Forest School leader for a creative day of woodland activities and games.
All children must be accompanied by an adult.
Booking essential
Price: Child £7.50
For more information, please call 01752 333500

50 things activity day, 24 May, 12pm – 3pm
Tick off lots of your ‘50 things’ wish list this May at Saltram and have some outdoor fun in the park. Free guided activities include pond dipping, wild art and bird spotting. The Garden Team will be showing how to plant it, grow it and eat it with plants you can take away and grow yourself. There’s a wide range of self-led activities including den-building, tree climbing, crafts and much more.
Normal admission charges apply
For more information, please call 01752 333500

Things with wings, 29 May, 11.45am – 12.15pm
Tour the magnificent Georgian House and children will discover some of Saltram’s winged inhabitants and a side of Saltram’s decor that adults don’t notice. Meet cranes, griffins and more mythical, winged creatures that hide in Saltram’s sophisticated decoration.
Suitable for children aged 5-12 years.
Normal admission fees apply
For more information, please call 01752 333500

Sheffield Park and Garden, East Sussex
50 things to do before you’re 11 ¾: Plants & planting week, 26 – 30 May, 11am – 12pm & 2 – 3pm
Tick off number 41 of your ‘50 things’ at the beginning of the growing season and take home your very own potted seed to nurture into a full-grown plant. There’s lots to explore in the acres of landscaped gardens and woodlands as well as the flood meadow and river Ouse that form a haven for wildlife in the area.
Price includes pot, soil & seed: £2.50
Normal admission fees apply
For more information, please call 01825 790302

Stackpole, Pembrokeshire
May holiday ‘50 Things to do before you’re 11¾’ challenge, 29 & 30 May, 11am – 3pm
There’s nothing quite like fresh air, exercise and family time. You can’t beat the fun you’ll have in the great outdoors whilst creating memories that will last a lifetime. Visit Stackpole this May and encourage the kids to get mucky, discover their wild side and most of all enjoy what Mother Nature has to offer. Explore the beautiful stretch of coastline and wooded valleys and complete as many of the ‘50 things’ activities as you can. Parents and older brothers and sisters are welcome to join in too.
Price: £2
For more information please call 01646 661425

Standen, West Sussex
May-hem, 24 May – 1 June, 11am – 4pm
Visit Standen, a beautiful Arts and Crafts family home with hillside garden this May and have some ‘50 things’ family fun. There’s a lot to do with walks and trails in the garden and woodlands as well as special activity days with ‘Batty about bats’, ‘Go bird watching’ and a ‘Fantastic photography workshop’.
Normal admission fees apply
For more information, please call 01342 323029

Wray Castle, Ambleside
‘50 Things’ activity days, 27 & 29 May, 10am – 4pm
Visit Wray Castle this May and tick off more ‘50 things’ activities with a little help from the friendly ranger team. Catch a falling leaf, roll down a really big hill, run around in the rain, climb a tree or build a den – which will you try? There’s plenty to do outdoors with rope swinging, den-building and trails, in the family-friendly gardens and grounds.
For more information, please call 015394 33250

Get back to nature

Blickling Estate, Norfolk
Blickling spring fair, 24 – 26 May, 10.15am – 5pm
Step back in time to the early days of the Blickling Estate when knights showed their skills and jesters entertained the crowd in the Norfolk countryside. With cameos from many eras of Blickling’s history and a modern day craft and plant fair, there is something for everyone this bank holiday weekend. The landscape, with its narrow hedges and tree lined lanes, woodlands and red brick buildings is little changed over the centuries. Hire a bike, or grab a map of way-marked walks and head out into the park with all the family.
Ticket: £3 admission to craft and plant fair and entertainments, children under 14 are free.
Normal admission applies to rest of house and garden.
For more information, please call 01263 738030

Clumber Park, Nottinghamshire
Gourd seed sowing, 5 May, 12pm – 3pm
Visit this beautiful expanse of parkland, heath and woods this May and discover a haven for wildlife in an idyllic setting. Children can get stuck into seed sowing whilst parents can explore the walled kitchen garden that grows hundreds of varieties of fruit, vegetables and herbs. The gourd plants will be used to form a ‘gourd tunnel’ in the kitchen garden over the summer.
Normal admission fee applies
For more information, please call 01909 544917

Evening owl walk, 27 May, 5pm – 6.30pm
Join this hands-on owl walk where you can be up close and personal to some wonderful birds of prey in the beautiful woodland of Clumber Park.
Booking essential, all tickets £10
For more information, please call 01909 544917

Cotehele, Cornwall
May half-term fun, 27 – 30 May
Visit Cotehele for some half-term family fun this May. You’ll be able to tick off some great stuff in your ‘50 things’ scrapbook with plant it, grow it and eat it on Tuesday, hunting for bugs on Wednesday and pond dipping on Friday.
Normal admission fee applies
For more information, please call 01579 351346

Nostell Priory and Parkland, West Yorkshire
Bat watch, 3 May, 7pm – 9.30pm
Join a bat expert to discover more about the different species of bats the make Nostell their home. Take a walk and use a bat detector to track them feeding after dusk and see if you can spot them whizzing above your head.
Price includes supper and a walk: £10
Normal admission fee applies
For more information, please call 01924 863892

Polzeath to Port Quin, Cornwall
Marine discovery day, 29 May, 11am – 4pm
The National Trust, Cornwall Wildlife Trust, Cornwall Council and Polzeath Marine Conservation Group among many others are joining forces to bring you a Marine Day you will never forget. Come and celebrate the seas in Polzeath, a rugged coastline with an abundance of wildlife this May. You can go rock pooling with marine experts, create beach sculptures, take part in an arts and crafts animation, and learn how to save dolphins with marine life rescue experts.
For more information, please call 01208 863046

Powis Castle and Garden, Powys
Pond dipping & bug hunting, 17 & 18 May, 11.45am – 3pm
Visit Powis Castle for an action packed afternoon looking for mini-beasts and micro-monsters in the world famous Powis gardens. What’s the creepiest crawly you can find whilst looking under rocks and logs in the Powis wilderness? Try a spot of pond dipping and catch dragonflies, skaters and waterboatmen, and discover what else lurks beneath the surface of the stable pond.
Normal admission fee applies
For more information, please call 01938 551929

Stowe, Buckinghamshire
50 Things to do before you are 11 ¾, from 24 May – 30 September, 10am – 6pm
Pick up a Stowe explorer map where you can do 34 of the possible ‘50 things’ activities and see how many you can tick off in one day. Join in with an adventure and use a range of natural materials to build a den in the parkland on the 24th May. There are lots of things to do on your ‘50 things’ list in the surrounding parkland from taking a bike ride to hunting for bugs.
Normal admission fee applies, parkland free of charge
For more information, please call 01280 817 156

Sensing spring – family activity, 24 April – 24 May, 10am – 6pm
Discover Stowe in a new way and use your senses to experience things you might usually miss. Stowe’s vast gardens and huge temples often catch our eye, but there is more than meets the eye. Pick up a bag and pencil from our visitor welcome area and make your way to the garden to discover Stowe with your other senses. You can collect blades of grass, leaves, and bird feathers, taste the herbs from our farmhouse garden, listen to the bird song, and draw what will remind you of your walk. Close your eyes and imagine the people visiting the gardens in the eighteenth century as you walk in their footsteps.
Normal admission fee applies
For more information, please call 01280 817 156

Studland Beach, Dorset
Explore this vast area of sandy beaches which are ideal for water sports and the heathland which is haven for wildlife this May. You can get closer to nature and learn about birds, go bug hunting and track wild animals.
Wildlife explorer: go birding, 26 May 11am – 12.30pm & 27 May, 2pm – 3.30pm
Wildlife explorer: bug hunt, 26 May, 2pm – 3.30pm & 28 may, 11am – 12.30pm
Wildlife explorer: track wild animals, 27 may, 11am – 12.30pm & 28 may, 2pm – 3.30pm
Booking essential
Price: individual tickets £3, family £10
For more information, please call 01929 450500

Wicken Fen National Nature Reserve, Cambridgeshire
Pond dipping and mini-beast hunt, 27 May, 10.30am – 3.15pm
Wicken Fen, one of Europe’s most important wetlands, supports an abundance of wildlife. There are more than 8,500 species, including a spectacular array of plants, birds and dragonflies. Come and discover the minibeasts that live here with a 30 minute pond dipping session, followed by a mini-beast hunt.
Booking essential
Price: Child £2.50
For more information, please call 01353 720274

Get active

Attingham Park, Shropshire
Game On! : Attingham’s big sports weekend, 3 – 5 May, 11am – 4pm
Visit Attingham this May and explore the beautiful parkland and mansion set in the heart of this great estate between Shrewsbury and the River Severn. There’s a packed bank holiday weekend of sports activities for the whole family in the play field where you can meet local sports groups, try taster sessions and challenge your friends and family to a game or two.
Additional charges will apply for some activities: please see visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk/attingham-park/ nearer the time for more details.
Normal admission fee applies
For more information, please call 01743 708148

Brimham Rocks, North Yorkshire
Family outdoor climbing day, 26 May, 10am – 4pm
Have a go at weaselling, bouldering, roped climbing and abseiling at these dramatic moorland rock formations with Harrogate Climbing Centre. This amazing collection of weird and wonderful rock creations makes a great day out for families, climbers and those wanting to enjoy the simple pleasures of fresh air and magnificent views over Nidderdale.
No previous experience necessary and a maximum of two children per booked adult.
Booking essential
Price: all tickets £50
For more information, please call Harrogate Climbing Centre on 01423 815024

Castle Ward, County Down
Game of Thrones archery experience, 4 & 17 May
Have a go at archery in the very place where the BAFTA award winning TV show was filmed, also known as ‘Winterfell.’ Stand in our recreated Game of Thrones archery film set, dress in some Game of Thrones style costumes and take aim.
Booking essential, please call 028 4372 3933

Sea Safari Sightseeing Boat Trip, 25 & 31 May
Everyone loves this sightseeing boat tour of Strangford Lough with its abundance of nature and wildlife. See the SeaGen, Angus Rock Lighthouse, surface whirlpools and some of the many seals at Cloughy Rocks Nature Reserve. You might even see a pod of porpoise or even a basking shark. Suitable for age 3 years plus.
Trips leave from Strangford Pier.
Booking essential, please call 028 4372 3933

Lizard Point and Kynance Cove, Cornwall
Kayaking at Mullion, 17 May, 9am – 1pm
Take to the water at Mullion on this guided kayak trip exploring caves, coves and the island. Spot seals and basking sharks and if you’re feeling lucky have a go at fishing for your dinner. Novices to experts are welcome and children over eight years.
Price: all tickets £40
For more information, please call 01326 558424

Polesden Lacey, Surrey
Big tree climbing, 4 May, 10.30am – 4.30pm
Climb in the canopy of the big tree in Preserve Copse with the supervision of highly skilled friendly instructors and get a bird’s eye view of Polesden Lacey and the Surrey Hills beyond. If you’re brave enough, take the zip wire back down to the woods below.
Hourly from 10:30am – 4:30pm each day
1 hour sessions limited to 7 children per session. Suitable for children from age 6 years (no height restriction)
Full tuition, safety equipment and harness will be provided.
Price: £15.50 per hour session. Free entry to Polesden grounds for participant (+ 1 accompanying adult).
For more information, please call 0800 0556760

Studland Beach, Dorset
Paddle boarding for teenagers, 28 May 10.30am & 28 May, 1.30pm
Studland Beach is a glorious slice of natural coastline in Purbeck featuring a four-mile stretch of golden, sandy beach, with gently shelving bathing waters and views of Old Harry Rocks and the Isle of Wight. Get outdoors this May and have a go at this popular new activity.
Booking essential
Price: all tickets £12
For more information, please call 01929 450500

Relive the past

Bodiam Castle, East Sussex
Medieval merriments, 3 – 5 May, 11am – 4pm
Visit Bodiam this May and celebrate the arrival of spring with some medieval games and music. This evocative castle is one of Britain’s most romantic and picturesque, set in the heart of a historic landscape. The medieval household will be on hand to show you how life was never dull in the castle in days gone by. To celebrate the arrival of spring they will be demonstrating and encouraging you to join them in playing some medieval games and enjoying medieval music from the Wondering Mistrals, Portcullis.
Normal admission fee applies
For more information, please call 01580 830196

Borrowdale, Cumbria
Force Crag mine open day, 31 May, 10.30am – 3pm
With an air of the ‘Wild West’, Force Crag was the last mineral mine to be worked in the Lake District. Join a guided tour to explore the processing mill and other remains revealing the history of mining at Force Crag.
Tours available throughout the day, Adult £5
Not suitable for children under the age of ten.
For more information, please call 017687 74649

Dunster Castle, Somerset
Siege and surrender experience, 5 May & 27 May, 11.30am – 1pm & 2pm – 3.30pm
Journey back in time with our Civil War soldiers to the siege of Dunster Castle. Dramatically sited on a wooded hill, a castle has existed here since at least Norman times, with an impressive medieval gatehouse and ruined tower giving a reminder of its turbulent history. Hear tales of sixteenth-century surgery, meet the camp cook, and feel the weight of a 400 year old cannonball.
Normal admission fee applies
Booking essential
Price: Adult ticket £3.50, Child £2
For more information, please call 01643 821314

Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal (Water Garden), North Yorkshire
World Heritage weekend, 3 – 5 May, 10am – 5pm
Fountains Abbey is a World Heritage Site, Georgian water garden and medieval deer park set in the beautiful Yorkshire countryside and they’re having an all-singing, all-dancing World Heritage weekend. You’ll be able to see Fountains’ ages brought to life by medieval crafts, dance and cookery as well as elegant Georgian costumes and fan-making activities for the children to enjoy.
Normal admission fee applies
For more information, please call 01765 608888

Speke Hall, Liverpool
Tudor May Day Festival, 4 – 5 May, 12pm – 4pm
Celebrate spring in Tudor style with sixteenth-century dancing, musicians and children’s crafts at Speke Hall, set on the banks of the River Mersey in glorious gardens. Try your hand at archery, discover the historic display of Tudor weaponry and armour and join in with some Morris Dancing.
Normal admission fee applies
For more information please call 0151 427 7231

Trerice, Cornwall
Medieval village, 31 May & 1 June, 10.30am – 4.30pm
Explore the tented Medieval Village at this Elizabethan manor and see what life would have been like around 1471. Come and see how archers would have used their bow and arrows in the archery demonstrations and be delighted by the medieval fashion show. Speak to the cook, fletcher, herbalist, spinner, box weaver among others; all brought to life through living history enthusiasts who give a real window into the past.
Normal admission fees apply
For more information, please call 01637 875404

Tudor Merchant’s House, Pembrokeshire
A Tudor May Day, 5 May, 11am – 4.30pm
You’ll find the Tudor Merchant’s House on Quay Hill, a narrow alley overlooking Tenby Harbour. The merchant had a shop at the front of the house, opening onto the street. Discover how the merchant and his family would have spent May Day back in 1500. Explore the merchant’s shop and working kitchen on the ground floor. The first-floor hall is newly transformed for this year with colourful wall hangings and replica Tudor furniture.
Normal admission fees apply
For more information, please call 01834 842279

Online Auction to Benefit Rana Plaza Victims Ends Soon!

In just over three hours, the online auction will conclude. This is the time to bid!

All the items featured are ethically made and 100% of the money you bid will go directly to victims of the Rana Plaza factory collapse in Bangladesh last year. There are some great items available – including a selection of clothes from The Fableists – currently at terrific prices. There are a few of our graphic tees, a western shirt, breton and baseball tops and a pair of our beautiful denim jeans. So come and check it out here: http://www.myminiauction.com/rana.

Those who make winning bids will be notified when the auction is over. If you bid on items from The Fableists and are unable to collect your spoils, then I will pick them up and post them to you. (This offer only applies to items from The Fableists in the auction site!). Just email me using the contact us page on this blog to let me know what you’ve won.

For more information on where the money will go, visit the Raising for Rana site. 

Sarah

 

Raising for Rana in support of Rana Plaza Victims – TONIGHT!

Raising for Rana is a charity fundraiser organised by London-based documentary film company Rainbow Collective. It is taking place TONIGHT in London, to mark the one year anniversary of the Rana Plaza disaster at a garment factory in Bangladesh.

Documentary filmmakers Hannan Majid & Richard York travelled to Bangladesh earlier this year to film how those affected by the building collapse are coping a year on. Their not-for-profit film, Tears in the Fabric will premiere at tonight’s event. Please view the trailer below.

Funding for this project was made possible by OpenVizor, TRAID and Made In Europe and tonight’s event has been put together entirely with donations.

In addition to the film premiere, there is a charity auction being held online, which ends at 12 noon on Friday 25th April. Everyone can get involved by bidding on some great merchandise donated by a whole host of ethically minded companies from all over the world. Check out the auction site here.

Winning bidders will be notified by email at the auction’s conclusion.

Rainbow Collective have also launched a resource site with photos, testimonials and campaign info on the Rana Plaza disaster. They have made this a free-to-use resource, so if you need materials and information for your own campaign, or for your school, then it is available here for you to access.

Following the event tonight, photos and details of the event will also be available to download at the Raising for Rana web site.

How can you help?

1 – Go online and bid, Bid, BID! There are some amazing items to be won in the auction.

2 – You can also make a direct donation at Just Giving. All the money raised will go directly to the victims of the Rana Plaza disaster. There is no administration team or any other groups who will get a share of the funds raised.

3 – Buy from The Fableists. 20% of all our net sales until June 1st will be donated to the Raising for Rana fundraising effort.

If you are interested in attending the fundraiser and film premiere tonight in London, there may still be space, so get in touch with Raising for Rana via their web site.

Don’t forget to shout about it on social media using:
@trcdocumentary @RaisingforRana #RaisingforRana

24-04-14: Calling all Fableists – Will You Be Part of the Fashion Revolution?

 

For the one year anniversary of the Rana Plaza building collapse in Bangladesh, the Fashion Revolution are asking you to find out

Who Made Your Clothes?

We’re curious about food provenance, being sure to buy local and organic but consumers seem to be happy to buy clothes regardless of where they come from, or who made them. It’s time for all of that to change.

The clothes we choose say a lot about who we are. Let’s let them tell their whole story. The Fashion Revolution organisers are asking you to wear your clothes inside out on April 24th – with the tags visible – to show the world that you’ve found out where your clothes come from. The aim is to raise awareness and spark a change in the fashion world that will lead to a more sustainable industry.

Take a photo of your inside out look and share it on social media with the hashtag #InsideOut and tag it with @Fash_Rev. Get your kids involved! Your children will love this and will learn so much about being responsible consumers.

If your little punks have clothes from @TheFableists, then they are already part of the revolution because we tell the whole journey of our clothes on this blog. Please tag @TheFableists on any photos you share of our clothes on social media.

Have fun with this and be sure to join in. Don’t let another year go by without making a change in the way you buy clothes.

 

Support our Kickstarter Campaign and Grab a Bargain!

We are running a Kickstarter campaign to raise funds for our second collection. The campaign ends in less than 24 hours. We urgently need your help in order to make the campaign a success and get our new range ordered! You can pledge as little as £1 but please have a look at the fabulous rewards that we are offering, many of which include discounted items from The Fableists’ current range!

Please check out the campaign by clicking on the image:

April 22 2014: Make Your #EarthDay Pledge a #FashionPledge

Earth Day began in April 1970 and it is widely credited with kick-starting the modern environmental movement. It led to the passing and implementation of environmental laws. It also led to the creation of one of the most universal environmental icons, the recycling symbol, which is now a part of our daily life. The Earth Day Network (EDN) now works with over 22,000 organisations in over 190 countries to “broaden, diversify and mobilize the environmental movement”. More than 1 billion people now participate in Earth Day activities each year, all over the world, making it the largest civic observance on the planet.

At The Fableists we aim to make our clothes without drawing on the Earth’s resources. The cotton we use is organically grown and relies on rainwater from India’s monsoon. The dyes we use are chemical free and also applied in a closed-loop system which purifies the water so that it can be recycled. It is not leached in to the local ecosystem. We use a number of factories that employ renewable energy sources such as wind farms and the burning of rice husks rather than fossil fuels. We are committed to achieving our eco credentials.

So, what will you do today to celebrate #EarthDay?

Earth Day Network is asking you to take a ‘Pledge of Green’, from eating less meat, to starting to compost, to reducing your energy consumption. They aim to reach 2 billion pledges (they are currently over 1 billion), so take a look at their campaigns.

This week also marks the one year anniversary of the Rana Plaza building collapse in Bangladesh, where over 1,100 people were killed in the name of fast fashion. But there are thousands more victims of this terrible disaster where garment workers toiled in un-safe conditions and were unable to escape when fire raged through the building. The victims include the injured, disabled, widowed, orphaned and those left destitute. The Earth is also a victim of these sweatshops, which cut costs at every corner. These are the victims of the way that we all buy fashion.

On this Earth Day, TheFableists would like you to pledge to change to the way that you buy your clothes – from today forward. Find out where your clothes are made before you buy them. Make a commitment to buying clothes that are sweatshop-free and produced according to ethical and environmental standards. We don’t want to see rivers turned blue with toxic dyes or land filled with discarded articles of clothing. Teach your children that they need to consider where and how an item was made before they buy. Tell us about your pledge with the hashtag #FashionPledge.

Rana Plaza is just one of many such disasters to claim victims in the name of fashion. Let’s make sure that it is the last.

Please support our Kickstarter campaign for a new range of Kids eco and ethical clothing here.

Fableists: Show your Support for Positive Fashion – Fashion Revolution Day – #INSIDEOUT

            

On April 24th last year, 1133 people were killed when the Rana Plaza factory collapsed in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Many more were injured. Today, people are still suffering as a direct result of our fashion supply chain. Fashion Revolution Day says enough is enough.

This year, to mark the one year anniversary of the factory collapse, people from across the globe – from designers and icons, to high street shops and high couture, from cotton farmers and factory workers, to campaigners, academics, the media and any individual who cares about what they wear – will come together to ask one simple question: “Who Made Your Clothes?”

            

Everyone can be part of Fashion Revolution Day by wearing an item of clothing inside out, photographing it and then sharing it with the hashtag #insideout. To all of The Fableists, wear your clothes from The Fableists and add the hashtag #TheFableists to your post. That way, our tribe can show their support for better connections and transparency across the fashion supply chain.

Visit the Fashion Revolution Day website to find full details and how you can get involved.

Interested in being a country co-ordinator? Find full details here.

Don’t forget to follow Fashion Revolution Day on Twitter and Facebook.

via Ethical Fashion Source Network

The Fableists’ First Brand Film

The Fableists, Brothers and Sisters and Great Guns, with the amazing support of leading creative companies across London, unveil their first film for their kids clothing label The Fableists.

The moving film, a collaboration between Brothers and Sisters, Great Guns, Jungle and D&AD nominated director Olivier Venturini, features Finn, a fearless young London boy escaping to an urban jungle on his skateboard. The 2 minute brand film is the first in an unprecedented, ambitious series of films documenting extraordinary kids around the world – kids with a gift, kids with drive, kids with ambition, kids who have overcome adversity. Other collaborators included the cutting edge visual effects company Electric Theatre Collective and the Edinburgh based psychedelic rock band Delta Mainline.

“The film is a childhood fantasy and a melting pot of the UK’s foremost talent. The joint venture reflects how innovative, entrepreneurial agencies are prepared to invest in brands, not just work for them, allowing all involved to learn as a brand owner, not just supplier. An experience that can only enrich all involved.” Matt Cooper, founder and entrepreneur of The Fableists.

“This is a unique collaboration between top London creative talent from advertising, film and design coming together to launch a new sustainable brand. This is the first of many collaborations for Brothers and Sisters.” Andy Fowler, Founder and ECD of Brothers and Sisters.

Olivier Venturing, out of Great Guns, has directed spots including the D&AD nominated ‘Dressed to Kill’ for Wallis, Adidas, Playstation, BBC, Coca Cola, Cartier, BMW and many others. “Matt and Andy wanted something that reflected the positivity, yet rebellious stance of the brand. It was a very pleasurable process throughout, sitting down with top players, with none of the politics I am accustomed to. The idea of portraying kids embodying the brand’s core values came in the early stages and stuck. Matt and Andy were keen to film the first one of these ads in London where the brand was born. We were straight away impressed by Finn’s skills and attitude, he’s incredibly brave and sweet, and he loves to break the rules. He is also enormously driven. A great first Fableist.” Olivier Venturini.

The ad goes live this week across the Viral Ad Network. The children’s brand is a mix of timeless, unisex and ultra-stylish clothes, built to last with solid ethical roots all made for a new generation of clued up consumers who want to buy differently. The label represents a move away from mass-produced fashion manufactured under sinister conditions and laden with chemicals.

“Like so many people, we were concerned with the growing throw-away fashion trend that led to such tragedies as the Rana Plaza collapse last spring,” says The Fableists founder and entrepreneur Matt Cooper. “When we searched for great looking clothes whose provenance we could trace for our own kids, we couldn’t find what we were after. We created The Fableists to meet our own needs and those of our friends and colleagues in the creative industries.”

Olivier Venturini concludes: “The Fableists are a label with a vision, I’m thrilled to be part of the collaboration.”

 

‘FINN’
Credit List

Skateboarder : Finnian Rocillo-Martin

Agency : Brothers and Sisters

Director : Olivier Venturini
Production Company : Great Guns Ltd.
DOP : Steve Annis
Exec. Producer : Laura Gregory
Producer : Tim Francis
Editor : James Demetriou

Post Production : Electric Theatre Collective
Colourist : Houman Abdallah
Flame Op : Taran Spear / Dave Birkill
Post Producer : Dafydd Upsdell

Sound Design : Jungle Studios
Sound Engineers : Culum Simpson / Alex Wilson-Thame

Music : ‘Hope/Grace’ by Delta Mainline
Camera & Grip Equipment : Take 2 Films

Additional thanks to:
Kevin Martin, Rick Lewis, Sarah Rollason, Thomas Barber, Ed Sinclair, Jayson Hunte, Mark Yeshin, Sam Masters, Adrian Hirons and Chris Grey.

Take the Kids: New York Transit Museum, Brooklyn, NY USofA

We’ve offered you a few family days out and events within the UK over the past several months, but we thought it worth branching out after our recent trip to New York. There are loads of kid-friendly places to visit within the famed ‘Five Boroughs’, adding to the area’s cachet as a fabulous tourist destination. Today we’re in Brooklyn – an area worthy of many blog posts – and discovering the New York Transit Museum.

It’s located at the corner of Boerum Place and Schermerhorn Street in the Brooklyn Heights neighbourhood. It’s a short walk from the Hoyt-Schermerhorn subway station, which is accessible from the A, C and G trains from Brooklyn or Manhattan and Borough Hall Station and the 2, 3, 4 and 5 train. The museum is in the disused Court station. Entrance is via a traditional NY subway entrance, down the stairs marked by the green-painted iron railings. You pay your entrance at an historic ticket booth and enter through an area devoted to the early planning and excavation of what would become the subway station.

There are loads of hands on areas in the museum and kids are encouraged to try things out and discover for themselves. More than just a museum of modes of transit, it showcases different types of energy and their histories. Displays explore energy sources and how energy is created and stored, how it travels and is put to work. Kids can see first-hand how switches affect the flow of electricity, assemble a motor and see it work, and generate their own electricity, amongst many other things.

There are a few old partial buses that kids can drive and explore, with lots of switches and buttons for eager fingers to press. Take another set of stairs down to the old platform for the real stars of the show: vintage subways and elevated carriages, or cars to North Americans.

There are carriages dating back to the early 1900s, lined up and down either side of the platform so that you can see the progression through time – once again illustrating that things used to be better made, with more attention to detail and with design that stood the test of time. The older carriages still look beautiful and the adverts are all really worth a look as you move through the decades and consider the historical context of the times.

Bring a packed lunch to break up your visit in the lunchroom, which provides bench seating and walls decorated with some great old signs.

www.mta.info/museum