Page 62 • The HERALD • 1st August 2024 v THE HERALD - Your Community Magazine v School’s Out for Summertime Fun at The Watercress Line! School’s out for the long holiday, but there’s no reason to get bored with plenty of summertime fun in store at e Watercress Line! In addition to exciting visits from TV favourites Bluey and Bingo and omas the Tank Engine, there are three familyfriendly themed weeks on o er during the school summer holidays. e Watercress Line CEO Rebecca Dalley said: “We have a summertime calendar packed with fantastic fun events and special guest appearances, including Thomas and Bluey! There’s the opportunity to explore the fantasy world of SteamPunk; connect with nature and create fairy magic! Something for everyone to enjoy. Bring the whole family for a summer filled with adventure, imagination, and unforgettable memories at The Watercress Line. Find out more and buy your tickets now on the Watercress Line website. Don’t miss out - we look forward to welcoming you!” Popular children’s TV Heeler pups Bluey & Bingo will be meeting young fans from 9th–11th August. Families can meet the sisters, enjoy interactive games, and take memorable photos. It’s an event not to be missed for any Bluey fan! Take a magical journey with omas the Tank Engine when Day Out With omas returns to e Watercress Line between 21st - 25th August, o ering children the chance to ride behind omas, meet Sir Topham Hatt, Rusty & Dusty, and participate in a range of omas-themed activities. e Watercress Line’s entertaining themed weeks throughout the summer will include: SteamPunk Week - running until 4th August: Step into a world of Victorianinspired fantasy with SteamPunk Week. Have a ‘jolly splendid’ time experiencing the creativity and innovation of the SteamPunk universe at the railway with themed games and cra s. Nature Week – 14th–18th August: Connect with the great outdoors during Nature Week. Families can explore the local wildlife and engage in educational activities that highlight the beauty and importance of our natural environment. Fairies Week – 28th August–1st September: Enter a magical realm during Fairies Week. Children can dress up as their favourite fairies, create fairy cra s, and embark on an enchanting hunt for di erent objects around the fairy garden. For more details on event dates and activities, and to book tickets, please visit: https://watercressline.co.uk/fun- lled-family-summer/ Day Out With Thomas Butterflies Bereavement Support Desperately Needs Help! Sadly, Butter ies Bereavement charity which covers Hampshire and the Isle of Wight is nding that its funding will soon run out, due to a lack of grants and donations to meet running costs. Since launching a crowdfunding campaign back in May it has raised 20% of its target of £25,000 and the charity is extremely grateful to those who have donated so far. We all experience bereavement and grief at some time in our lives. Many people need support to cope, and Butter ies has been there for those throughout Hampshire and the Isle of Wight in need of counselling, group friendship or just a weekly friendly phone call from a ‘buddie’. It’s a service that has been vital especially through and since COVID and the NHS and mental health organisations have come to rely on Butter ies more and more. Butter ies is run by volunteers - with 60 people o ering their services. ese include professional, quali ed counsellors, trainee counsellors, buddies, group co-ordinators, and admin sta . Referrals for its support come from many di erent organisations - the bereaved themselves, surgeries, the NHS and, more and more, mental health services. Without Butter ies there would be a signi cant impact on these services and of course the bereaved themselves. Julie Lamont, Butter ies Chair says: “I can’t stress enough the urgency of the situation and the impact it will have if we close. So we are urging people to step up and donate - every little will get us closer to our target. One of our clients said it all when he thanked the charity for the support he had received and said, ‘I can now live my life again’. Since COVID we’ve seen more and more cases of people in desperate need. Many still feel great guilt and shame from not being able to see their loved one at the time of their death and we will see this for years to come.” Butter ies donations will allow them to keep their doors open and address the long waiting list of 40 clients needing counselling. In addition to this they suggest people could help by holding co ee mornings, BBQs, cake sales and other fundraising events. If you are in a position to donate please visit: crowdfunder.co.uk/p/save-butterfliesbereavement-support
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