This summer there’s something strange happening at your local library – and that’s where the Animal Agents come in!

The Animal Agents love solving mysteries and they need YOU to help them crack their biggest case yet. Who has painted graffiti on the library wall? Why are things suddenly going missing? Join the Animal Agents for the Summer Reading Challenge 2017 and help them uncover the truth!

Taking part is simple – sign up at your local library from Saturday 15th July. Read six library books (or more!) by 16th September to collect special stickers and complete the Challenge. Each time you visit the library, you’ll discover new clues and evidence that will help you solve this cryptic case.

Use your eagle-eyes and test your skills and ingenuity by reading books to collect stinky stickers for your case file. Super sleuths who read all six books to complete the challenge and solve the case get a medal, certificate and a complimentary child’s ticket for Wild Place Project* or free library DVD hire.

South Gloucestershire libraries are also staging FREE Animal Agents activity sessions throughout the school holidays. Activities are drop-in activities most suitable for primary school children unless otherwise stated.

*Complimentary child’s ticket for Wild Place Project available while stocks last. Tickets expire 30th May 2018.

More: Programme of Animal Agent activities at Bradley Stoke Library »

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An update from Sara Messenger of the Bradley Stoke in Bloom group.

Sadly, some of our work has been the target of vandalism in recent weeks, both at the Twinned Roundabout (bottom of Brook Way) and The Common East.

Twinned Roundabout

We, and many of the town’s residents, were hugely disappointed to see that our beehive was again targeted by vandals and although their first attempt failed, their second attempt to do some damage did not. Two panels, the roof and the supports posts have all been badly damaged, some beyond repair and many plants were trampled and will need to be replaced. From the complete hand print one of them kindly left on the roof we know that at least one of them has small childish hands and earlier had probably tried to climb something painted with anti climb paint. This is criminal damage and it has formally been reported to the police as such.

On a positive note, although it is a genuine ‘WBC’ hive, for the safety of the contractors who cut the grass, we had removed the base and the combs to discourage real bees from nesting in it, so no bee colony was harmed in the attack. In further good news, Almondsbury Garden Centre has offered to replace all the damaged plants for free, and once the police have finished with the roof, the hive will be repaired and replaced.

More: Vandalism on The Common East. June workday. »

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On the third weekend in June, all the sections from 1st Bradley Stoke Scouts took part in their largest ever Group camp at Woodhouse Park National Activity Centre near Almondsbury. Over 150 young people from Beavers (aged 6 – 8), Cubs (8 – 10.5) and Scouts (10.5 to 14) took part, supported by over thirty young leaders and adult volunteers. They crate-stacked, abseiled, completed the adventure course (an excuse to get really muddy and wet!), made bracelets out of para cord and fidget spinners with real coins, flew down a water slide and took part in archery and air rifle shooting. But mostly, they had fun and challenged themselves.

There was excellent adult support in raising tents the night before the camp, especially from parents who came out in large numbers and, in many cases, raised their first tent! Overall we pitched over sixty tents from Beaver pop ups to eight man tunnels for Scouts and marquees to cook and eat in.

Everyone arrived excited on the Friday evening and very quickly were playing across age groups, exploring the camp and – most importantly – the woods! Organised games followed to burn energy and give them an opportunity to learn the names of the different leaders. Hot chocolate followed before they went into their tents and lights out.

Leaders were still finalising the following day’s activities and went to sleep in the early hours but were promptly woken around 3.30am by the sounds of football and excited chatter. Sleep is a privilege on camp! After breakfast, they started a day of activities with leaders either shepherding or leading their events. With temperatures rising into the high 30s, sun cream, sun hats and regular hydration were essential for everyone. The day finished with a traditional campfire circle with Scout leader Matt leading songs punctuated with a number of investitures of young people.

More: Beavers, Cubs and Scouts work together in teams »

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Pupils from Bowsland Green Primary School in Bradley Stoke recently entered a ‘Colour a Cheetah’ competition organised by local independent financial advice firm Aspirations, who sponsor the cheetah enclosure at the Wild Place Project near Cribbs Causeway.

Pupils sent in some highly imaginative, fantastically coloured cheetahs. The two winners received family tickets to the Wild Place Project. As a special ‘thank you’ to Bowsland Green for taking part, Aspirations also presented the school with £340 to spend on equipment for all the pupils to enjoy.

Speaking on behalf of Aspirations, Debbie Whitton said:

“We were given the tickets as part of our sponsorship of the Wild Place Project’s cheetahs and it is nice to be able to give something back to the families in our local community. We were especially delighted when Bowsland Green agreed to take part in our competition. My three children attended Bowsland – in fact the two eldest were among the first pupils to set foot in the school on the day it opened, so it is very special to my family too.”

“Congratulations to all the children who took part, especially Maja Lamberska and Ashmas Rizvi who won the family tickets.”

• There are still more tickets to be won. Go to the Aspirations website www.aspirations-ifa.com or our Facebook/Twitter pages, follow the competition instructions, and your family could win family tickets to Wild Place Project too!

Photo: Maja Lamberska (left) and Ashmas Rizvi receive their colouring competition prizes from Debbie Whitton of Aspirations (right), watched by Bowsland Green teacher Mr Young.

Above: Winning entries by Maya (left) and Ashmas.

This article originally appeared in the June 2017 issue of the Bradley Stoke Journal news magazine (on page 32). The magazine is delivered FREE, EVERY MONTH, to 9,500 homes in Bradley Stoke, Little Stoke and Stoke Lodge. Phone 01454 300 400 to enquire about advertising or leaflet insertion.

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