Children enjoy holiday fun at Hillier Horsham

Hundreds of children have enjoyed the summer holiday fun at Hillier Horsham this year.
Summer fun at Hillier Horsham SUS-140909-120350001Summer fun at Hillier Horsham SUS-140909-120350001
Summer fun at Hillier Horsham SUS-140909-120350001

Entertainment at the Hillier Garden Centre on Brighton Road ranged from weird and wacky animals from Animazing, to hilarious humour with Tomfoolery and green fingers with the Little Growers.

The antics of the animals from Animazing proved to be a real draw for children who got the chance to get up close and personal with tarantulas, cockroaches and a parrot – to name but a few on the first and last weeks of the school holidays.

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Simon, 11, got the chance to hold the boa constrictor. He said: “It was so exciting getting to hold the snake – it was ever so heavy, but really soft. I loved seeing the tarantula too, that was cool.”

The second week of entertainment included free crafting at The Shopfest Craft Den. Children of all ages came along to have a go at decopatching.

Mia, age five, said: “I love doing this, I can get messy but it’s nice to have something to take with me. I think I’ll give mine to my grandma.”

Tomfoolery came to visit during the third week, with his sidekick Jim Pansy. He put on two shows, entertaining 200 children. He was thrilled with the event, and said: “I get such a great reaction when I come to Hillier. The children are fantastic, and they loved the shows. A really fun day!”

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Hillier’s very own gardening club, Little Growers, took place on the fourth week, with four sessions fully booked. Children aged from two to ten had fun with staff members Sally and Dec, where they got to create caterpillars with grass hair and hear all about how to encourage bugs and beasties to your garden.

Mum Sarah, was full of praise for the gardening club, she said: “My son had a fab session at Little Growers with Dec and Sally. It was well worth it…thank you Hillier.”

Running throughout the holidays was a teddy bear picnic trail. Children got the chance to bring their teddies along and answer the clues around the garden centre and its surroundings.

Maria, mum of two, said: “We had lots of fun on the teddy bear trail. It was fun, informative and free! What more can you ask of to keep them entertained during the summer holidays!”

Little Growers will be back in the October half term, see facebook.com/hillierhorsham for further details, or ask in-store.

Report and pictures contributed by Hillier Horsham.