So yesterday I travelled the 115 miles to Lyndey in Gloucestershire, to visit Taurus Crafts and behold the great Luminarium as discussed on my blog on Monday. It was also a tweet up as I was going to meet ‘Me’ and the ‘boy’ from TheBoyandMe and also WouldLikeToBeYummy and her two daughters for the first time. And guess what? ‘Me’ has an actual face and everything and doesn’t actually look like a toy at all!
Taurus Crafts
*Is open all year round and enables people with learning disabilities and mental health problems an opportunity it to work within its busy and successful arts and crafts activities. Established in 1995 and created as a social enterprise the Taurus Crafts support community members who have special needs, in achieving qualifications at local colleges, as well as to offer them a programme of life skills training to help support them to gain relevant experience, greater interaction with the general public and work experience on site.
*Supports the local community by ensuring that the produce they sell is sourced locallly, eg, the coffee bought by the restaurant is purchased from a local supplier
*Offers a restaurant, craft units, a pottery, gallery, artists studio, organic food and wine shops and an organic vegetable garden (15 businesses in total)
*Also offers a programme of activities to co-incide with the school holidays – please check their website for current and future events.
The Luminarium
Being invited to attend this event meant that we were able to walk around the Luminarium before it was opened to the public, which seeing the size of the queue when we came out, I was very pleased about! From the outside the giant inflatable labyrinth certainly looks impressive
and as soon as Burton saw it he got very excited – he thought they looked a bit like the Haaa Hooos from In The Night Garden, bless!
As soon as we stepped inside the Luminarium the colours really hit you – I don’t think I expected them to be so bright and enough to make me squint slightly to begin with. It was beautiful – such a simple concept really but the effect was amazing
Walking through the sections in bare feet, it felt like walking over a semi deflated bouncy castle. All the children loved it and Burton didn’t stay still – he was just off excitedly exploring as much as he could.
He even recognised the colour blue and said it to me without me asking him!
Here are some more photos
Here is WouldLikeToBeYummy with her youngest daughter
Look it’s ‘Me’ and the ‘Boy’ from TheBoyandMe!!
However, as much as we all really enjoyed exploring the Luminarium it was so hot
inside and I for one was pleased when we were told it was time to end our tour, so that we could get outside for some fresh air.
The Luminarium is available to visit until 30th July and if you get the chance to visit then it is worth doing because it is like nothing I have ever seen or experienced before, and the children really enjoyed themselves. I can see why those with autism and/or special needs would find the Luminarium beneficial because it is a very sensory experience and very calming.
It only costs £3 to enter which is think is excellent value for money. It was a great day out.
(a big thank you to Alison and Elizabeth and the Luminarium staff and organisers for their time and support yesterday)
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Thank you xx
Thank you xx
It was a fabulous day and it was lovely to meet you and your gorgeous boys. I was a bit more broody after holding your little one haha xx
looks like lots of fun! I really wanted to go, but it was just too far away! x
It was great meeting you and your lovely girls too. S I am to blame then if you fall pregnant very soon )
I really wanted to go to this it looks great, looks like you all had a fun day out
x
We did have a great time didn’t we?
Thanks for linking it up to ShowOff ShowCase.