Back to school so now were working on Easter Family Things To Do and have a great competition lined up in our spring issue...... so watch this space !!!!We have a Bump and Baby Feature online coming up so if you wish your company to be added just send us an email to info@thefamilydirectory.co.uk we have 15 free spaces. So book your space now.

The Owl & Monkey Haven is open and all year round and we really hope you will be able to pop along and join in the fun. Our monkeys absolutely love their fruit and veg, be it bananas, watermelons, broccoli or grapes! but the recent cold weather has slowed down the growth of our home-grown crops and left us reliant on supermarket produce. So if you've got any spare fruit and veg at home, bring it into the Owl & Monkey Haven. Thanks to everyone who has supported us with our Martin & Lulu Appeal. All your donations so far are bringing Martin one step closer to meeting the primate of his dreams! For more information on news, offers and future events at the Haven, please visit our website: www.owlandmonkeyhaven.co.uk

Pirate Cove is the new themed play area to open in 2012 at Blackgang Chine. The continuing appeal of the Cowboy town has encouraged the creative team at the park to develop this new Caribbean port quay-side, complete with two full-sized ships inviting all would-be pirates to do battle! A new refreshment trading shack, a buccaneer shoot-out game and other themed activities have all been added to finish the picture. On April Fools Day, we are holding some whacky fun competitions and games to celebrate St. Stupids Day so come along and join us in making fools of ourselves!! Blackgang's Fairy Festival will be held over the May day bank holiday weekend, on the 6th and 7th May. Live green-wood music, wizards, magic spells, fairies, elves and even belly dancing fairies will be appearing! The Queen's diamond Jubilee will be celebrated in style on the 3rd, 4th & 5th June with a 3 day Pirate Party, complete with sword fighting, live music & lots of competitions. Blackgang and Robin Hill open on Friday 30th March and are open daily from 10a.m. http://www.blackgangchine.com/

'The Needles Park at Alum Bay ' open this all year round so why not pop long to The Island’s most famous landmark attraction as it has so much more to enjoy than the stunning views.You will find some great walks on the west side of the Island you can park free at The Needles Park walk across the chalk downs and visits Tennyson Monument and carry on to Freshwater Bay. Or walk to the Needles Old Battery a Victorian fort built in 1862 and use in both world war. Then you can walk back to the Needles park for a nice warm cup of tea or coffee and cake at 'The Pantry' which cater for all the family. Alum Bay Glass is also open over the 1/2 term holidays you will be able to see what the local craftsmen have been making from vases, bowls and a wide range of ornaments. To check out what's on at The Needles Park go to the ‘what’s on’ page on their website www.theneedles.co.uk for all up to date events and information or call on 0871 720 0022.

Why not have at day out in Portsmouth and Southsea and travel with Hovertravel. Hovertravel provides the fastest Isle of Wight ferry service across the Solent and is the world's longest running and only commercial hovercraft operator in Europe. Our passenger ferry service takes you directly to the shore at Southsea or Ryde in just 10 minutes. Easy onward travel connections are available with our Hoverbus to Portsmouth, bus and train connections at Ryde plus large car parks at both terminals. Hovertravel - The 10 minute ferry link to the Isle Of Wight. For days out and for bookings go to http://www.hovertravel.co.uk/travel-guides/portsmouth-and-southsea/index.php

Robin Hill’s re-opening for 2012 on Friday 30th March… with a Hoot…as we introduce a new Owl Show! Great news, spring is almost here...and it’s nearly time to open the Robin Hill gates for the 2012 season. That all happens on Friday 30th March 2012 just in time for the Easter holidays. We have been busy working all winter to improve the park and to create some fabulous new things! We know how much you love our falconry displays...so we’ve gone a step further and introduced an extra one that’s just about owls!..Steve Hain and his team will be presenting the new 40 minute show at 1.15pm everyday in our new woodland bowl, a 300 seater, tree-lined auditorium just a stone’s throw from our squirrel tower. There will be some new extra special evening events happening later in the year as we create Robin Hill’s “Electric Woods”...Where we will lighting the woodland paths, pond and tree’s with beautiful lights to create a stunning new visitor experience... Watch out for details coming soon! And with Easter just around the corner we are glad to announce that our popular Chocolate Extravaganza will be back on Easter Sunday and Monday this year with our infamous Easter Egg Dash, with loads of tokens to find to swap for eggs of all sizes both days at noon. Chocolate fanatics will also love our Chocolate Marquee, full of chocolate fun and games for all the family! These include “Guess the Brand” and “Guess the Flavour” competitions, with lots more chocolate and Easter eggs to be won. For local Island residents the best value of all comes from joining our Membership scheme, which allows unlimited visits to both Robin Hill & Blackgang Chine all season long and includes over £50 worth of vouchers to redeem through the season. Over 1200 people joined last year... which proves how popular the scheme is for frequent loyal visitors! For more information go to http://gardenshow.robin-hill.com/ or http://www.robin-hill.com/index.php

One of the main tourist attractions on the top of your list could be, Carisbrooke Castle. It is best known as the place where King Charles I was imprisoned. You can still play bowls on the very green Charles used. For a castle that has lived through more than 800 years of service, including resisting a siege by the French and seeing off the Spanish Armada, it's also wonderfully well preserved. There are all the ingredients here for a great value family day out in the Isle of Wight. Children will love dressing up as Norman soldiers or Civil War troopers, and meeting the castle's famous donkeys, while for the grown-ups, the new Edwardian style Princess Beatrice Garden is a joy to explore. For more information about opening time click here http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/daysout/properties/carisbrooke-castle/