Easter Activity Guide 2012

this isthis is

Alton

Activity Guide 2012

easterholidays!

Page 2 www.thisisalton.co.uk

Alton Lane, Four Marks Tel: 01962 773225

Email: [email protected]

Summer Hanging Baskets

Bring your baskets in NOW for professional dressing and have the best looking summer baskets in your road!

We have a comprehensive range of products for your garden pond. Food , chemicals and equipment — including pumps, filters etc., plus

filter foam, hose, hose fittings, barley straw etc. etc.

Lots of things have been happening at Garthowen since Christmas with dozens of new stock items arriving almost daily. There has been some

reorganising going on both in the shop and outside — come and see our new stock and have a look at the new layout — tell us what you think, we think its

a definite improvement!

Our Loyalty card scheme continues and we have our next lucky draw on Easter Monday so there is still time to complete your card and enter the

draw to win one of three prizes of £20 Garthowen Gift vouchers

Continue to feed the birds as they raise their young. Huge range of bird food, feeders, tables, fat balls, suet treats etc

.Fully stocked shrubs, perennials, alpines, roses etc

Easter Opening: Good Friday, Easter Saturday & Easter Monday 9am to 5pm

To comply with Sunday trading laws we are CLOSED Easter Sunday

Page 3www.thisisalton.co.uk

Alton Lane, Four Marks Tel: 01962 773225

Email: [email protected]

Summer Hanging Baskets

Bring your baskets in NOW for professional dressing and have the best looking summer baskets in your road!

We have a comprehensive range of products for your garden pond. Food , chemicals and equipment — including pumps, filters etc., plus

filter foam, hose, hose fittings, barley straw etc. etc.

Lots of things have been happening at Garthowen since Christmas with dozens of new stock items arriving almost daily. There has been some

reorganising going on both in the shop and outside — come and see our new stock and have a look at the new layout — tell us what you think, we think its

a definite improvement!

Our Loyalty card scheme continues and we have our next lucky draw on Easter Monday so there is still time to complete your card and enter the

draw to win one of three prizes of £20 Garthowen Gift vouchers

Continue to feed the birds as they raise their young. Huge range of bird food, feeders, tables, fat balls, suet treats etc

.Fully stocked shrubs, perennials, alpines, roses etc

Easter Opening: Good Friday, Easter Saturday & Easter Monday 9am to 5pm

To comply with Sunday trading laws we are CLOSED Easter SundayArticles, comments and opinions expressed in this publication are those of the contributing authors and may not necessarily be shared by the publisher. All photography and images are the copyright property of This is Publishing Ltd or the contribution author unless otherwise stated. Whilst every care is taken to ensure this website and the contents, including advertisements are accurate and factual, This is Publishing Ltd accepts no responsibility for any loss or damage that may arise by error, omission, inaccuracy, or for any misrepresentation, implied or otherwise in any article or advertisement. Visitors are strongly advised to make their own enquiries about contractors and trades people they choose to use. This is Alton is a trading name of This is Publishing Ltd. Company Registration No: 07521783. Registered Office: Charwell House, Wilsom Road, Alton, Hampshire, GU34 2PP, United Kingdom. Postal Address: Garthowen, Alton Lane, Four Marks, Hampshire. GU34 5AJ

Edited & Designed by: Martin Saban-SmithWeb: www.thisisalton.co.uke-mail: [email protected]: 07713 349883Address: Garthowen, Alton Lane, Four Marks. GU34 5AJ

this

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is is

Alton

Hello, everyone and welcome to this special activity guide for Alton and Hampshire this Easter Holidays.

Now the kids are off school, or maybe you’re taking some time off work, you are possibly looking for something to do with your time. In this guide, we’ve included many of the events going on in Alton this Easter Holidays as well as some of those from further afield.

There’s also a baking suggestion from last year’s printed edition of This is Alton for a Simnel Cake, kindly put together by Denise Allen from Cupcake and Bake and some hints and tips of a fun and successful Easter Egg Hunt for Easter Sunday.

If you are putting on an event at any time this year, but especially over the Jubilee weekend or Olympics, please let us know so it can go into our popular event calendar on the website.

Wherever there is a website detailed in the guide, you can click it and go straight to the website for the information you are looking for.

Have you got anything you would like to say about the magazine or the town? Would you like to tell your story? If so, drop me a line at [email protected].

That’s all for now. Enjoy the guide!

Martin Saban-SmithEditor

Welcome

Host Your OwnEaster Egg Hunt


Possibly originating from the time of the Inquisition where children would be encouraged to find ‘Pagans’ represented by eggs, the modern Easter Egg Hunt is a far more harmless and fun way to get outside at Easter and have some fun!

This short guide will give you some hints and tips on putting together your own Easter Egg Hunt.

What You Will Need:

1: Lots of eggs (chocolate ones!) and maybe a golden egg or one ‘star prize’ egg.

2: Choose your area - A safe, designated area for the hunt where no eggs will be hidden outside of would be best. Your garden, a public park or a National Trust property would be good. Maybe Alice Holt. Do not play near traffic!

5: Invite your friends and their kids too! Loads more fun with more kids . . . perhaps you could split the cost between you, and maybe a picnic.

4: A simple set of rules, such as: No more than ten eggs each. No fighting, kicking, biting etc! The winner is the person who finds the golden egg. That sort of thing.

How to do it!

Keeping a note on how many eggs you have, hide them away in as many different places as you can. Some easy, some difficult and make sure you hide the golden egg especially well. Keep a note on where you hid the golden egg, especially if you have put something special inside it!

Make sure the hunters all understand the rules and where the boundaries are before the hunt begins.

If you have a wide age range of participants, try giving the littlest ones a minder to assist them and maybe a head-start over the older ones. Keep it fair!

Let them loose!

Keep an eye on the bigger ones so that there are no aggressive hunting tactics employed, but this shouldn’t be a problem if you have the maximum number per person rule in place!

When everyone has finished, count all the eggs found. If there are some missing, send them out again, until they are all found!

After all the eggs are found, and to prevent the dreaded ‘sugar-rush’, it might be a good idea to limit the number of eggs eaten before returning home.

Above all though, have fun with your family and friends whilst enjoying watching your own Easter Bunnies tearing around looking for the hidden booty!

Use foil wrapped eggs to protect edible eggs from contamination!

Host Your OwnEaster Egg Hunt

this isthis is

AltonEvent Guide

Easter 2012


Here comes Easter again! This event guide gives you an overview of just some of the events going on around Alton and in Hampshire over the Easter Holidays. Plenty for the family to experience and enjoy together!

East Holiday Events Tuesday 3rd - Saturday 7th

Gentle Giants & Wild Egg HuntMarwell Wildlife Colden Common Winchester Hants SO21 1JH. 01962 777407Meet the giraffe and enjoy encounters, feeding sessions and fascinating talks. Also enjoy family crafts - make your very own giraffe! Plus, for the Easter bank holiday weekend (6 – 9 April) enjoy a Wild Egg Hunt – and follow the Wild Egg Trail! The Easter Bunny will be giving away a free chocolate egg with every completed trail along with the chance to win a monster chocolate egg.

Wednesday 4th

The Annual Birdworld Easter Egg HuntBirdworld, Holt Pound, Farnham, Surrey. Starts: 11:00 am Ends: 4:00 pm. Crack the clues to claim your egg plus the opportunity to win some other great prizes. Join in with some seasonal arty fun. For more details, call 01420 22140, or visit our web site at www.birdworld.co.uk

Wednesday 4th & Wednesday 11th

Crafty KidsALTON ASSEMBLY ROOMS, High Street, Alton, Hampshire. GU34 1BA. 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm.Craft sessions for children up to 12 years old. Just £3.00 per child – price includes ALL materials, a soft

drink and a chocolate biscuits. Parents and guardians are ask to stay and supervise / assist their children with their creations. Tea / Coffee and snacks will also be on sale. No need to book – just turn up.

Thursday 5th

Petersfield Easter Fun FairFun Fair on Petersfield Heath - all the usual rides, including dodgems, waltza’s, twist, rock ‘o’ plane, round-up, various kiddies rides, inflatable giant slide and bouncy castles.

Thursday 5th

Easter AnticsAlice Holt Forest, Farnham. GU10 4LS. Contact Kathleen Calver on 01420 520212.An action packed session of activities in the forest.You’ll hunt for evidence that spring has sprung, search for easter eggs and join in some eggy challenges. Easter Antics starts at Forest Classroom in Alice Holt Forest Centre which is part of Alice Holt Forest.

Thursday 5th

Butterfly WalksINTECH Science Centre, Winchester. 01962 863791. www.intech-uk.com. Take a short walk from INTECH to Butterfly Conservation’s neighbouring

nature reserve with the Reserve Manager. Free with your admission ticket book your place on the day. There are only 12 places on each walk, so you may wish to come early to be sure of a place


Friday 6th - Monday 9th Easter at Hinton AmpnerNational Trust Hinton Ampner Bramdean Nr Alresford.Standard admission fees apply, Trust members free. 01962 771305. Bring all of the family for the joys of our Easter egg trail.Have an eggstatic time following the egg trail around the garden and park searching for the clues. £2 per person charge for Easter egg trail

Friday 6th & Friday 13th

Falconry DisplaysNTECH Science Centre, Winchester. 01962 863791. www.intech-uk.com. Falconry. Birds on show all day. Flying demonstrations at 11am, 1pm and 3pm. Free with your normal

entry ticket.

Friday 6th - Saturday 7th Celebrity Street at Festival PlaceFestival Place,Basingstoke.RG21 7LJ. 01256 326022. 11:00 - 4:00pmEnjoy the perfect family day out this Easter with our Celebrity Street – Kidz Only event. Come along on the 6 & 7 April and marvel at the wonderful gardens built by TV gardener David Domoney. Including Scooby-Doo’s spooky shed, Peppa Pig’s garden and Beramy Bear will be giving away free sunflower seeds with the help of Kenny the Kestrel, courtesy of Kestrel FM.

Friday 6th April - 19th MayLark Rise ExhibitionNew exhibition at the Allen Gallery on Church Street. The Lark Rise to Candleford trilogy by Flora Thompson has been a critically acclaimed study of a disappearing rural England at the end of the 19th century. The works have prompted illustration and artistic interpretation since their publication in the early 1940s. This new suite of original wood-engraved prints by Sue Scullard has been inspired by Flora Thompson’s texts. The gallery is open Tuesday - Saturday 10am - 4:30pm. FREE ADMISSION

Friday 6th

Victorian Tea PartyCome along to the Allen Gallery and hear local stories such as the thrilling tale of the outlaw Adam de Gurdon, learn of the fearsome battle of Alton and, for adults only, the sorrowful tale of Sweet Fanny Adams. See the Pedlars and their magic tricks whilst enjoying tea and cake from the Allen Gallery cafe. Ticketed event £5 per person to include afternoon tea. Advance bookings only. 01420 82802

Friday 6th - Monday 9h

Mini Beer Festival - Lasham Gliding SocietyEaster Mini Beer Festival at The Lasham Gliding Society Bar. Saturday 7th - Sunday 8th April - Open All Day. Friday 6th & Monday 9th April - 12:30pm

- 2:30pm then 5:30pm - 10:30pm. 14 Real ales available over the weekend with 6 at any one time.Large patio, Childrens’ Play Area, Viewing Area and Trial Flights. Lasham Gliding Society The Avenue Lasham Hampshire, GU34 5SS

Friday 6th

Sacred Music for Good FridayThe combined choirs of St Lawrence Church, St Mary’s Froyle and friends will be singing Louise Vierne’s (1870-1937) Messe Solennelle, Ave Maria and Anton Bruckner’s (1824-96) motets Locus iste, Os justi, Ave Maria and Christus natus est. From 6pm at St. Lawrence Church, Church Street, Alton. 01420 543628

Friday 6th - Monday 9th AprilCraftworkers Easter ExhibitionPhysic Garden Room, High Street, Petersfield. 10:30am - 4:00pm. Free Entry. 01730 892662.8 Local craftsmen and women showcase their recent work. Beaded jewellery, glass, textiles, wood and silk to name a few.

Friday 6th - Monday 9th AprilEaster TrailsIron Hill, Liphook, Hampshire, GU30 7LP. 01428 724900. This Easter Hollycombe will again be holding its popular Easter Trails where children (and adults!) can hunt for clues around the site. Those returning a completed trail sheet will receive a small prize!

Friday 6th - Sunday 15th AprilDay out with ThomasWatercress Line, Alton and Alresford Stations. 01962 733 810. Don’t miss a day out with Thomas the Tank Engine and friends. Ticket includes: Travel all day on steam trains. Trains run approximately every 30-40 minutes from 09:35am to 4:30pm. FREE ‘live’ entertainment with Mr Wizard on Ropley picnic area. FREE rides with ‘Thomas the Tank Engine’, ‘Diesel’, ‘Toad’ the brake van and rides on the miniature railway! FREE face painting, transfers, stickers, colouring and Thomas & Friends DVD shows in the Imagination Station at Alresford.

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Tuesday 10th

Northney Explorer WalkThe Ship Inn, Langstone, Hampshire. PO9 1RD 10:00am - 1:00pm. £3. Contact Judi Darley 01243 512301 [email protected] Northney Explorer Walk starts at 10am and is expected to take approximately 3.5 hours. A 4½ mile walk from Langstone over the Hayling Island bridge to explore the Northney countryside and shoreline. Stop at the Northney Farm cafe for refreshments and to hear about farming in an AONB. Some paths may be muddy.

Tuesday 10th - Friday 13th

Easter Farm FunBirdworld, Holt Pound, Farnham, Surrey. Usual park prices apply. 10:00am - 4:00pm. 01420 22140, or visit www.birdworld.co.ukArts and Crafts, Tractor and pony rides and lots of spring farm babies to see.

Tuesday 10th - Friday 13th

Four Marks (Social) Tennis Club Easter Camp – 4-10 year oldsFour Marks Tennis Courts, Uplands Lane, Four Marks. £34 (members)£42 (nonmembers). Contact Frauke Golding 079 20797 636.We are holding 2 sessions during the Easter holiday. A great way for young players to get ready to play tennis for the summer. Players will be working on skills and technique on all strokes. Places are limited. Session 1 is for 4-10yr from beginners ot improvers 3-4.30pm. Session 2 is for 10-16yrs from beginners to improvers 4.30-6pm Costs to Members of the Four Marks (Social) tennis club are £34 for the week or £10 per session. Costs to Non Members are £42 for the week or £12 per session.

Tuesday 10th

Petersfield Folk Session – Acoustic MusicThe Good Intent, College Street, Petersfield. Free entry Contact 01730 263838. 7:00pm - 10:00pm.Acoustic folk music session, held on the second Tuesday of each month in The Good Intent pub.Mainly English, Irish and Scottish traditional tunes, but also songs and anything unplugged and folk/roots. Come and join in the playing, or just enjoy the music!

Saturday 7th

Alton Craft and Hampshire Farmers’ MarketCross & Pillory Lane and the Market Square will be closed for this popular market of hand made arts and crafts from 10am. www.altoncraftmarket.co.uk

Saturday 7th

Teddy Bear’s Easter Picnic in AltonWaterstones Bookshop, 41 High Street, Town Centre, Alton. 01420 80888 from 10amCome and have some fun at our Easter Teddy Bear’s picnic. Liz and Moira, the creators of ‘Binky’s Big Adventure’ will be in store and they will have a special guest with them.Bring your teddies along to meet the special guest. Tickets £2; available from the shop and redeemable against a purchase in the store on the day.

Sunday 8th - Monday 9th

Easter Hunt at The Pavilion, Stansted ParkThe Pavilion Stansted Park Rowlands Castle Hampshire. 10:00am - 3:00pm £2.50. Contact Laura Jefferies, 02392 413432 or [email protected] us between 10am and 3pm on Easter Sunday and Monday and take part in a fun Easter Hunt around the Walled Garden and Arboretum. Search high and low for the clues and questions to complete the hunt.A Cadbury’s surprise will be given to all participants. PLEASE NOTE YOU MUST PRE-BOOK IF YOU WISH TO TAKE PART.

Monday 9th

Mill Cottage Farm ExperienceAndrews’ Endowed School, Holybourne.Lots of our animals present as well as local donkeys, refreshments, demonstrations, gifts, craft and trade stalls and other fun and games for all the family. Full timetable of events. Fundraising for Hampshire Search and Rescue: Parking at Treloars College, London Road. No dogs belonging to members of the public

will be permitted into the school grounds. Entrance: £4 adults; £2.50 children; Family Ticket £12


Saturday 21st

Alton Concert Orchestra’s Spring ConcertThe Forum, Alton College Old Odiham Road Alton Hampshire, GU34 2LX. From 7:30pmAlton Concert Orchestra plays an exciting selection of music for all the family. The orchestra are really looking forward to performing Elgar’s Cockaigne overture and then will be joined the local soprano soloist, Rebekah Abbot who will be singing Mozart’s Exultate Jubilate. After the interval, the orchestra will be playing Dvorak’s 8th Symphony. Admission free. Retiring Collection for the CAB.

Saturday 21st

Ballroom & Latin 50/50 DanceFour Marks Village Hall Lymington Bottom Four Marks Hampshire, GU34 5AA. Call 077 5858 9441 Tickets £4.

Wednesday 25th

Film Quiz at Alton LibraryAlton Library, Alton.7:00pm - 9:00pmf you enjoy films come along to a fun and friendly quiz night. Tickets are £3 per team of 3 to 6 people. The winning team will receive one Annual Film Membership worth £40

Friday 27th - Sunday 29th

Wall’s Fun FairThe Butts, Alton, Hampshire.Enjoy all the fun of the fair on the The Butts.

Saturday 28th

Psychic & Holistic FairAlton Community Centre, Amery Street, Alton GU34 1HN. 10:00am - 4:00pmPsychic & Holistic Fair at Alton Community Centre offering taster treatments and readings at special rates. We hope to have lots of shopping opportunities too, Neals Yard remedies, a fabulous array of Crystals from Wendy at Crystal Cradles and many more, jewellery and new aged themed stalls.

Saturday 28th

Come DancingAlton Assembly Rooms High Street Alton Hampshire, GU34 1BA. Contact Ysanne on 01420 89418. From 8:00pm50/50 Dances Ballroom Latin and Social Sequence. Please bring along your own refreshments. Helping to raise funds for a Treloar Student. Raffle on the night. £5 admission.

Tuesday 10th & Saturday 14th

Public Consultation: Project Ideas for Tesco £1MAlton Assembly Rooms, High Street, Alton. 01420 82203. [email protected] 200 ideas for projects were put forward to Alton Town Council following a campaign looking for creative and useful ideas on how to spend the Tesco money. Now, a working party has been created to look after a shortlist of 30 projects chosen to be presented at two public consultations. Everyone is welcome to attend, view the ideas and tell the Town Council your thoughts on them.

Wednesday 11th

Easter AnticsAlice Holt Forest, Farnham. GU10 4LS. Contact Kathleen Calver on 01420 520212. 3:00pm - 6:00pm. Ages 10+. Learn essential camp skills like fire lighting and tasty cooking! Join Nigel, one of our rangers, for an outdoor forest supper. “Sizzling sausages, marshmallow heaven, whether you’re 8 or over 11, come join the fun, give mum time off, or bring her with you and have a great scoff!” Starts at Forest Classroom in Alice Holt Forest Centre.

Saturday 14th

Family Bushcraft DayAlice Holt Forest, Farnham. GU10 4LS. Contact Mollie on 07979 321369 / 01252 781309 or email [email protected]. 10:00am - 4:00pm. All Ages.NO DOGS. As a family learn the secrets of the forest! From fire lighting to shelter building and a spot of open fire cooking. Mollie from bushcraft specialists “Gone to the Woods” will cover skills to help you feel comfortable and confident in the wildest woods! Please bring your own packed lunch but refreshments will be available all day. Minimum of one adult per group. Starts at Forest Classroom in Alice Holt Forest Centre which is part of Alice Holt Forest.

Saturday 14th

Table-Top SaleAlton Assembly Rooms, High Street, Alton. 01420 82203. [email protected] Top Sale for crafts, gifts, pre-loved or up-cycled goods/items. ALL tables are just £10.00 each and MUST be booked in advance. Refreshments and cakes will also be on sale from PAT’s KITCHEN


Hopefully, the weather will be kind this Easter, and if you don’t fancy anything in our event guide, here are some ideas to get yourselves out and about to experience some fresh air and the beautiful part of the world we live in!

the greatoutdoors!

The South Downs National ParkThe South Downs Way is one of 15 National Trails in England and Wales and was the first bridleway National Trail in England. It is also the only National Trail to lie entirely within a National Park. Stretching from the ancient cathedral city of Winchester in the west, first capital of England, through to the white chalky cliffs of the Seven Sisters and Beachy Head at Eastbourne in the east, almost all of its stunning 160 kilometre length from is blissfully off-road.

For more information, visit www.southdowns.gov.uk

Hampshire by BikeCycling has increased (again) in popularity in recent years, and there are over 750 miles of off-road cycle routes and

urban cycle paths making Hampshire a great place for cycling.

If you fancy pounding the roads or a bit of off-road excitement, there are downloadable route maps available from www3.hants.gov.uk/cycling

The Solent WayThe Solent Way is a 60 mile footpath linking Milford on Sea with Emsworth Harbour, much of the path following the Hampshire coast line and passing through the New Forest. More information and routes can be found on the Solent Way website: www.solentway.co.uk.

The Hangars WayThe Hangers Way is a 21-mile long-distance walking route starting at Alton Railway Station, out into the lush Hampshire countryside, along

a series of steep-sided wooded hills, known as “The Hangers”, through the pretty market town of Petersfield to finish at Queen Elizabeth Country Park.

The Way has been divided into eight sections, each providing a really good day out. Choose between quiet villages or bustling market towns, meadow picnics or cosy pubs, steep hills with exhilarating views or cool, peaceful woodland. The route passes through the famous village of Selborne, once home to Gilbert White, the 18th century naturalist and author of “The Natural History of Selborne”.

More information at:www3.hants.gov.uk/longdistance/hangers-way.htm

St. Swithun’s WayPassing through Alton, St Swithun’s Way runs between Winchester, the capital of Saxon England, and historic Farnham. Whilst not tracing the original route of the Pilgrim’s Way, as much of this is now the busy A31, St Swithun’s Way follows some of the county’s best countryside paths. Starting at Winchester Cathedral, the route weaves its way east through the picturesque Itchen Valley,

More information at:www3.hants.gov.uk/longdistance/st-swithuns-way


Springtime this year begins with Easter and it just begs to be celebrated with a cake or two and these two will allow you to run riot with colourful icing and decorations.

So what to bake? Well, oddly enough, Simnel Cake (pictured above right) is a light fruit cake with connections to Mothering Sunday and Easter time celebrations, when the addition of the 11 marzipan balls to represent the Disciples of Jesus.

I also like to make Simnel cupcakes at this time of year; light fruity individual cakes topped with scrumptious little Mini Eggs and “runny icing”.

Why not make yourself this Simnel Cake following the “how to” instructions here and in no time at all you’ll be enjoying teatime treats with your nearest & dearest.

simnel cakeIngredients

100g glace cherries, 200g sultanas, 200g raisins, 100g currants, 175g butter (unsalted) 175g caster sugar, 225g plain flour, 1 tsp baking powder, half tsp ground cinnamon, 25g ground almonds, 2 tablespoons milk. 1kg golden marzipan, sprinkling of icing sugar, tablespoon of apricot jam, 1 egg white (lightly beaten)

easter

baking!Inspirational baking by Denise Allen from

this isthis is

AltonView our online event guide for Alton at

www.thisisalton.co.uk/eventsor submit your own event details at

www.thisisalton.co.uk/events/submit-an-event/

GeocachingGeocacaching is a real-world, outdoor treasure hunting game. Players try to locate hidden containers, called geocaches, using GPS-enabled devices and then share their experiences online.

The “Treasure” In its simplest form, a geocache contains a logbook or logsheet for you to sign. Caches may also contain items for trade, but the journey in discovering a geocache is often the greatest reward.

Location, Location, LocationThere are geocaches on every continent, from Antarctica to North America. They may be at your local park, the end of a long hike, underwater, or onthe side of a city street.

A Global CommunityPeople from all age groups can participate in geocaching, including families with children, students, adults and retirees. Geocaching is a great way to bring friends and family together while having fun outdoors.Geocaching combines technology with outdoor adventure and is a great way to explore locations near and far. Pair geocaching with camping, hiking, biking, boating or any number of activities for an even more enjoyable experience.

Geocaching Around AltonAs a Geocacher, This is Alton editor Martin knows of at least 300 caches within a 3 mile radius of the centre of Alton. Some are tiny, others are big, but if you don’t know where they are, you won’t find them!

If you have a smart phone, download the free app for Geocaching and find a few for free before paying a small amount to become a member of the global community. Then, you can hide your own and find any of the millions of other caches around the world.

Go to www.geocaching.com for all the information.


Method:

Preheat your oven to Gas Mark 3/170°C. Butter & line (with grease proof paper) a 20cm tin (ideally a spring-clip tin as show in pictures).

Finely chop the glace cherries (rinse first in lukewarm water to remove the syrup and then dry) and mix with the sultanas, raisins and currants. Sift the plain flour into a large bowl with the baking powder, cinnamon and ground almonds and mix together. Now cream together the room temperature/softened butter with the caster sugar until light and fluffy.

Add the eggs, one at a time and each with a tablespoon of the flour mixture. When all 3 eggs are added and well combined with the butter and sugar you should gradually beat in the remaining flour mixture. Finally you can now “fold in” the dry fruit to the butter/flour batter.

Spoon half the mixture into the tin and level down gently (left). Now you should roll a disc of marzipan to the same size as your tin and place this on top of the cake mix already in the tin. Finally, add the remaining cake mix on top of the marzipan disc and gently smooth off the top (below).

This now goes into the oven. After 40 minutes reduce the temperature of the oven to Gas Mark 2/150°C and bake for a further hour and a half. Don’t be tempted to open the oven door too early, but about 15 minutes before the baking time is up, gently turn the cake around in the oven to ensure even cooking. Once the cake is slightly raised and a beautifully golden brown with a firm texture you can take it out and leave to cool in the tin.

When the cake is cold remove it from the cake tin and remove the grease proof lining.

Cut out another disc of marzipan large enough to cover the entire top of the cake. Warm the apricot jam in a saucepan on the hob (or briefly in the microwave) until it is fluid (don’t let it burn).

Brush the top of the cake with this warmed jam using a pastry brush and gently lift the marzipan disc on top. With the remaining marzipan roll out 11 equal sized balls and stick to the marzipan disc using a little of the egg white mix*

At this point you can brush the cake top and balls lightly with the remaining egg white and put the cake briefly under the grill in order to burnish the top OR leave it as it is – choice is yours.

Place on a cake board or plate, decorate with a springtime patterned ribbon and serve.

*If you prefer you can leave off the marzipan disciples/balls and decorate with other Easter-time decorations (rabbits or chicks for example) or maybe with Mini Eggs to match the Simnel cupcakes?

For more information about Cupcake and Bake and the services Denise Allen offers her clients, please visit their website at www.cupcakeandbake.co.uk

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Documents

Easter Activity Guide 2012