Summer Reading Challenge
🌿 Story Garden: Summer Activities for Families 🌿
Wednesday 23rd July – Friday 29th August
Join us this summer for creative, story-inspired adventures across Oldham’s libraries and green spaces! Our Story Garden is packed with free, fun activities designed especially for children aged 5–11 and their families — from hands-on crafts to exciting walks and artist-led workshops.
🎨 Weekly Drop-In Craft Sessions
Each library will host a self-led Story Garden craft session once a week. Come along and get creative — no booking needed!
Materials are available on a first-come, first-served basis, so pop in early if you can.
🗓 Running throughout the school holidays
From Wednesday 23rd July to Friday 29th August
Available on:
- Mondays
Chadderton – 2pm-3pm
- Tuesdays
Failsworth – 2.30pm-3.30pm
Greenfield – 2.30pm – 3.30pm
- Wednesdays
Crompton – 10.30am-11.30am
Fitton Hill – 2.30pm-3.30pm
Royton – 2pm-3pm
Uppermill – 1.30pm-2.30pm
- Thursdays
Lees – 10.30am-11.30am
Northmoor – 2.30pm-3.30pm (please note Northmoor is currently being refurbished and will re open in August.)
Oldham – 1pm-3pm
- Fridays
Limehurst – 11am -12noon
Artist Lead craft sessions – drop in sessions
Carnivorous Plant Puppets
Thursday 7th August, 10.30am-11.30am -Lees Library
Pop up Floral Card
Monday 18th August, 2pm-3pm – Chadderton Library
Flower Bouquets
Wednesday 20th August, 2pm – 3pm – Royton Library
Junk Bugs
Wednesday 27th August, 2.30-3.30 – Fitton Hill Library
Pick and Mix Summer at Gallery Oldham – drop in sessions
Join us every Wednesday 1–3pm throughout the Summer holidays for free art sessions inspired by our Pick and Mix exhibition which is created by and for children.
Colourful Bird Mobiles
Wednesday 30th July, 1–3pm – Gallery Oldham’s Education Suite
Giant Paper Flowers
Wednesday 6th August, 1–3pm – Gallery Oldham’s Education Suite
Abstract Art Lanterns
Wednesday 13th August, 1–3pm – Gallery Oldham’s Pick and Mix exhibition (Gallery 3)
Super Sculptures
Wednesday 20th August, 1–3pm – Gallery Oldham’s Pick and Mix exhibition (Gallery 3)
Plasticine Paintings and Models
Wednesday 27th August, 1–3pm – Gallery Oldham’s Education Suite
🌟 Special Events & Creative Sessions
In addition to our weekly craft sessions, we’re excited to host a range of extra-special activities (booking essential), including:
Nature Walk and Creative Drawing with Illustrator Gillian Flint
Thursday 31st July, 11am-1pm Northern Roots, Oldham
Join us for a relaxed and engaging family-friendly walk at Northern Roots, specially designed for children aged 5–11 and their families.
We’ll begin by meeting at the Northern Roots sign in the car park, then set off to explore the beautiful surroundings together. Along the way, children will be invited to take inspiration from nature and create their own artwork, guided by local illustrator Gillian Flint.
Adventure Walk
Thursday 14th August, 11am-12noon, and 2pm-3pm, Lions Den, Alexandra Park, Oldham
An intrepid explorer has come from Adventure Arts to create a brand-new story. One that is completely improvised, never before heard, 100% made up on the day. And they need your help… Working as a team you will accompany the explorer on a walk around the local area, all contributing to the creation of a unique story by taking inspiration from everything that surrounds you! See your local community through fresh eyes and who knows what amazing adventures can be conjured up!
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/adventure-walk-tickets-1491575014019?aff=oddtdtcreator
Junipers Garden by Colour the Clouds
Juniper loves to garden! She loves to plant seeds and watch them grow. More than anything she loves to show people they can garden too. (with bubbles and a song or two thrown n for good measure) With her wheelbarrow, seedlings, and ukulele, she will delight children with her gentle interactive theatre experience, showing how her plants grow from the tiniest of seeds to the most beautiful flowers
Wednesday 20th August,
Crompton Library – 10.30am
Uppermill Library – 1.30pm
Story Time with Goats
Tuesday 29th July, 2.30pm, Failsworth Library.
We’ll meet at Failsworth library to choose your favourite books and then walk to meet our friends at Northern Lily for a story time session, cuddled up with goats!
Please note this event includes an 11 min walk on flat terrain.
from:
Failsworth Library (old town hall), Oldham Rd, Failsworth, Manchester M35 0AE
to:
Grass Roots Oldham Women’s (GROW) Enterprise, Marlborough Dr, Failsworth, Manchester M35 0LP
Please come dressed appropriately, recommended ages 4+ (and their younger siblings)
Tickets are required for adults and children.
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/story-time-with-goats-tickets-1491540741509?aff=oddtdtcreator
Mini Challenge Event
Tiny Nature Explorers.
Tiny Nature Explorers at Northern Roots – 21st July and 11th August, 10.30am
Bring your Tiny Nature Explorer (pre-schooler) to Northern Roots Urban Farm and connect with nature through creativity, activities and stories!
You might make a seed bomb or a nature crown, listen to a story in the Community Garden, plant some seeds or see what bugs and birds you can spot. If it’s a sunny day, why not bring a picnic and explore the wider Northern Roots site after your visit.
Tiny Nature Explorers is a collaboration between Gallery Oldham and Northern Roots and has been designed especially for 2–3-year-olds(pre-school) and their families.
The session is FREE, but you must book your place via Northern Roots’ Eventbrite
Tiny Nature Explorers at Northern Roots is generously supported by Art Fund.