Where's safe to eat in SE23? Some shocking results!!

The Guardian Data blog has produced a map which shows the hygiene ratings for all the restaurants, cafes, bakeries, butchers and shops in the UK. All the red dots indicate businesses that have failed food inspections by the Food Standards Agency. You can click on the dots to see the name of the business and when it was last inspected.

Here is the link, so please check before you venture out for something to eat!

http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/datablog/interactive/2013/jul/26/food-outlets-hygiene-interactive-map-uk

In SE23, those that failed to make the grade on the last inspection include (perhaps sadly and surprisingly):
Sugar Mountain
Aga's Little Deli
The Butchery
Fairlawn Nursery School
Question Bar (now The Hill)
Berries

On the flip side, several places scored the highest rating. So well done to:
Canvas & Cream
Pizza al Forno
The Dartmouth Arms
Tapatisserie
Babur
Le Querce

Forest Hill Road Closed Mon 22nd July - NOW REOPENED

Forest Hill Road is currently closed due to an accident at the Brenchley Gardens junction. There is no access from Honor Oak Road end at all and quite a bit of traffic building up in the area. Buses P12 and 63 aren't currently running or are being diverted.

Hopscotch now has family evening meals from 5.15pm

Good news if you don't fancy cooking - Hopscotch cafe, Honor Oak Park, SE23 now does evening meals including a children's menu from 5.15pm to 9.15pm.

Forest Hill in the Evening Standard

Once again Forest Hill makes it into the Evening Standard's London Area Watch as 'a perfect place for commuters'. No mention of the fantastic schools in the area but apparently 'families love bohemian forest hill'. What are your thoughts?
http://www.homesandproperty.co.uk/area_guides/london/foresthilllondonareawatch.html

Devonshire Road Nature Reserve Open Day - 28th July

Following on from the fantastic music festival in June, Devonshire Road Nature Reserve is opening its gates on Sunday 28th July for its annual open day.
There will be music, food, drink, yoga, face painting, nature walks and a chance just to enjoy the lovely space and let the kids run free! If you haven't been before then this will be a great opportunity to explore the area and find out more about the local wildlife.

What's on today (Wednesday) for kids in SE23

1. Ackroyd Centre Stay and Play
9am-2pm
Drop-in session
0-5 years
£2.50 for one child and £3 for two children or more
4 Ackroyd Road, Forest Hill, SE23 1DL

2. Boppin' Bunnies
2.35pm-3.05pm (0-2 years) or 3.20pm-3.50pm (18 months-4 years)
Sign-up classes £66-£72 per term (see website for details)
St Saviours Scout Hall, Brockley Rise, SE23 1JN

3. Pop Dance
4pm-4.45pm
Sign-up classes
3-6 years
£4.50 per class
Forest Hill Pools, Dartmouth Road, SE23 3HZ

4. Messy Makers 
Fantastic Messy Makers art workshop at Grow Mayow Community Gardens in Mayow Park between 10.15am and 11.45am run by local artist Jeni Johnson (www.jenijohnson.com). 
Designed for pre-school children aged 15 months and above so they can get messy with creative play. The cost is £3 per family. Please wear old clothes!
For more information visit www.growmayow.blogspot.co.uk


Finally don't forget the view from One Tree Hill - lovely in this weather - here's a reminder to tempt you up there!

Where to cool off now it's hot, hot, hot!

Now the warm weather has arrived (at last) here are the best free places for your little ones to paddle, play with water and generally get wet. Most of them are easily accessible from SE23 by bus or car. If you know of any others please share!

1. Ladywell Fields (stretches between SE6 and SE13)
The three fields each have the Ravensbourne river flowing through them, which is wonderful for river dipping and paddling. If you're lucky you might spot a kingfisher. Don't forget nets and shoes suitable for paddling on pebbles! Ladywell Fields has also been awarded a Green Flag Award.

2. Sydenham Wells Park (Wells Park Road, SE26)
Fantastic water play area in the children's playground, perfect for cooling down! Another Green Flag Award winner.

3. Hilly Fields (SE4)
Small water play area in the playground with a pump leading to a large sandpit... great for creating sandcastles and water channels. Good for toddlers.

4. The Scoop Fountains (between London Bridge and Tower Bridge, SE1)
Okay this is a little further from SE23 but well worth it!
Riverside location, fantastic fountains for children to run in and out of, plus plenty of of space for a picnic.

What's on today (Tuesday) for kids in SE23

1. Little Acorns
9.30-11.30
Drop-in session
0-4 years
£1.50 per child, then 50p for each extra child (includes free teas, coffees, juice and fruit)
St Augustine's Church, One Tree Hill, Honor Oak, SE23 3LE

2. Ackroyd Childminders
9.30am-11.30am
Drop-in session
0-5 years
£2
4 Ackroyd Road, Forest Hill, SE23 1DL

3. Busy Bees
10.45am-11.15am, 11.30am-12pm, 12.15pm-12.45pm
Drop-in sessions 
Under 5s
Free
100 London Road, Forest Hill, SE23 3PQ


In this weather don't forget SE23's lovely parks too! Enjoy the sunshine!

What's on... this weekend!

Loads of fun things happening in SE23 this weekend for families including...

Saturday:
10.30am-12pm: Small mammals nature trail at the Horniman Museum
12pm-5pm: Blythe Hill Fields Festival

Sunday:
11am-3pm: Forest Hill Food Fair
1pm-3pm Wacky Races at Mayow Park

Enjoy the weather!

What's on today (Friday) for kids in SE23

1. Ackroyd Centre Stay and Play
9am-2pm
Drop-in session
0-5 years
£2.50 for one child and £3 for two children or more
4 Ackroyd Road, Forest Hill, SE23 1DL

2. Busy Bees
10.45am-11.15am, 11.30am-12pm, 12.15pm-12.45pm
Drop-in sessions
Under 5s
Free
100 London Road, Forest Hill, SE23 3PQ

3. Pop Dance
4pm-4.45pm
Sign-up classes
3-6 years
£4.50 per class
Forest Hill Pools, Dartmouth Road, SE23 3HZ

Lewisham A&E in High Court today

Although not in SE23, Lewisham Hospital is the closest hospital to many Honor Oak and Forest Hill residents. Today the Save Lewisham Hospital campaign is in the High Court to challenge Jeremy Hunt's plans to close the hospital's A&E, maternity unit, children's acute wards and critical care unit. These closures would have a devastating effect on SE23 families, forcing many residents to go to the already stretched A&E at King's College Hospital.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2013/jul/02/jeremy-hunt-lewisham-hospital-unlawful

Another fantastic campsite under 2 hours from SE23

Just come back from a lovely weekend at Heaven Farm. Large field for lots of ball games, ducks, geese, hens and wallabies, plus a tea room, hot showers and a nature trail. There were also baby changing facilities, electric hook-up should you need it and campfires allowed off the ground. It took an hour and a half to get there and, though the cost was a bit steep for camping (£30 per night for a family of four), it was well worth it for a peaceful, quiet spot.
Visit www.heavenfarm.co.uk for more information.

Events for kids at the Horniman this month

Sat 6th July 10.30am-12pm: Small Mammals - Furry Friends or Urban Past
Join in on a nature trail to discover all about small mammals and dissect an owl pellet to find out what mammals owls eat! £4 per child

Sat 13th July 10.30am-12.45pm: Close Encounters of the Crawling Kind - Bugs in our Gardens
Collect bugs in the Horniman Gardens and find out more about bugs and bug research. £4 per child

Sun 28th July 3pm: Summer Bandstand Concert
The first weekly concert of the year featuring Brazilian trio Mafua de Yaya. Free. All welcome.

Forest Hill Food Fair Sunday 7th July

Don't forget it's on the first Sunday of every month in Forest Hill Station's car park between 11am and 3pm!