Berkshire


<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://berkshire.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2022/07/ForestFestivalGiantLadyGreenwood.jpg" alt="ForestFestivalGiantLadyGreenwood BRACKNELL" class="wp-image-44982" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2022/07/ForestFestivalGiantLadyGreenwood.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2022/07/ForestFestivalGiantLadyGreenwood-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2022/07/ForestFestivalGiantLadyGreenwood-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2022/07/ForestFestivalGiantLadyGreenwood-400x267.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2022/07/ForestFestivalGiantLadyGreenwood-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2022/07/ForestFestivalGiantLadyGreenwood-788x525.jpg 788w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">The lowdown</h2>



<p>As we limp to the end of the summer holidays many of us on our knees – clinging to the digital nanny, a bottle of wine and our sanity. Then up pops Bracknell’s Forest Festival.&nbsp;</p>



<p>It’s a joint project between The Lexicon and Bracknell Forest Council to celebrate the 5th birthday of the town centre and encourage us to get outside and explore the countryside spaces right on out doorstep. Basically you want to put the Persil non bio, channel your inner Attenborough to reveal the secrets of places like Swinley Forest. Discover the  animals, the bugs and the harmonious role they all play in our eco system.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">What to expect</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://berkshire.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2022/08/7-9.jpg" alt="Forest Giant at Forest Festival The Lexicon Bracknell" class="wp-image-45937" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2022/08/7-9.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2022/08/7-9-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2022/08/7-9-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2022/08/7-9-400x267.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2022/08/7-9-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2022/08/7-9-788x525.jpg 788w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p>There are five Forest Giants to discover, a Seedling Sprite Trail, play with new giant Will Wildwood in Princess Square, there&#8217;s an immersive theatrical show and entertainers who spring into action around the town centre, plus on Saturday 3 September there will be a special birthday proms.</p>



<p>The best bit? If you&#8217;ve got shopping to do, back to school or otherwise, the Forest Festival is a welcome distraction. Dare I say it, it&#8217;s actually an enjoyable day out. Also, places like Bill&#8217;s and Tangs are offering free kids meals when you order a main. Every little helps – especially when you&#8217;re splashing out on uniform and school shoes. *Gulp*.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Don&#8217;t miss</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://berkshire.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2022/08/1-17.jpg" alt="Alba the Barn Own THE Night Forest immersive theatre The Lexicon Bracknell Forest Festival" class="wp-image-45931" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2022/08/1-17.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2022/08/1-17-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2022/08/1-17-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2022/08/1-17-400x267.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2022/08/1-17-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2022/08/1-17-788x525.jpg 788w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p>While the Forest Giants are the superstars (a totally free activity), we also booked tickets for <em>The Night Forest</em> (£5pp). It&#8217;s an immersive theatrical experience that transports you from shopping centre to a magical woodland world. Hosted by Swinley the Stag and friends, you&#8217;re introduced to the natural world, quizzed about the creatures you might find and taken on a twinkly night-time forest adventure. It&#8217;s then you meet Alba the Barn Owl – a mechanical puppet – who is utterly captivating. She explains the riddles that we must solve, spreads her wings and manages to hypnotise the room of little people – much to the relief of frazzled parents. </p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://berkshire.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2022/08/2-19.jpg" alt="The Night Forest The Lexicon Bracknell Forest Festival" class="wp-image-45932" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2022/08/2-19.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2022/08/2-19-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2022/08/2-19-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2022/08/2-19-400x267.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2022/08/2-19-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2022/08/2-19-788x525.jpg 788w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p>It&#8217;s then your job with the help of Swinley and pals to solve the riddles to release the magic. Only then do you get to see the shy creatures that survive in the shadows of the forest. It&#8217;s beautiful, only 30 minutes long and at £5, it&#8217;s worth the money. Even the wriggliest of bums managed to stay tuned in. </p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://berkshire.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2022/08/4-13.jpg" alt="Will Wildwood The Lexicon Bracknell Princess Square Forest Festival" class="wp-image-45934" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2022/08/4-13.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2022/08/4-13-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2022/08/4-13-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2022/08/4-13-400x267.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2022/08/4-13-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2022/08/4-13-788x525.jpg 788w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p>I&#8217;ve got to be honest, I don&#8217;t often to make it down to Princess Square, but Forest Giant Will Wildwood can be found right in the middle – and he&#8217;s holding up a slide. Grab a coffee, you might be here a while. A trail of kids were whizzing through the tub on repeat for some time. Fun for the first 30 times, but when it gets into triple digits and your tummy&#8217;s rumbling you might need to bribe them away. It makes such a difference when things can be touched and not just looked at.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://berkshire.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2022/08/3-15.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-45933" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2022/08/3-15.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2022/08/3-15-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2022/08/3-15-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2022/08/3-15-400x267.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2022/08/3-15-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2022/08/3-15-788x525.jpg 788w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p>While you in this part of town, you can meet Elderma the Forest Guardian and stand in the palm of her giant hand, listening to her wise words. There are arts and craft activities to do here too and you can make a pledge to the forest. All wholesome stuff and my 8 year old was enjoyed the green message. </p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://berkshire.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2022/08/8-6.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-45938" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2022/08/8-6.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2022/08/8-6-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2022/08/8-6-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2022/08/8-6-400x267.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2022/08/8-6-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2022/08/8-6-788x525.jpg 788w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p>Make sure you also scan the QR codes at each stop. Some trigger music, others, eco info and there&#8217;s the opportunity to open a woodland filter on your phone to post on your socials. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"> The Muddy Verdict</h2>



<p><strong>Good for:</strong> Anyone new to The Lexicon, the Forest Giant trail helps you get your bearings. Also good for reluctant little shoppers to keep them putting one foot in front of the other. </p>



<p><strong>Not for:</strong> Not sure the appeal stretches to older kids, but the entertainers and Insta-worthy giants may hold their gaze long enough to give them screen break for a few minutes.</p>



<p><strong>What&#8217;s the damage?</strong>: It&#8217;s totally free. So well worth taking a look when you&#8217;re back to school shopping or out for some retail therapy. If you have young children, <em>The Night Forest</em>, the £5 fee is well worth it.</p>


Nature calls! Muddy meets Bracknell’s Forest Giants

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