Summer holidays 2025 at your local library

Story Garden Character Hunt

Find our Story Gardeners in the library to have a chance of winning a prize. Suitable for under 12's. No booking required, just pop along and join in the fun. This is one of our Summer Reading Challenge Story Garden activities.

Weaving with Nature

Craft session inspired by nature, for 7-11yrs , booking essential. Get your free ticket at Beeston Library helpdesk. This is one of our free Summer Reading 2025 Story Garden activities.

Windmills

Make a pinwheel for your garden for 7-11yrs , booking essential. Get your free ticket at Beeston Library helpdesk. This is one of our free Summer Reading 2025 Story Garden activities.

Hullabamooo!

Stories, rhymes & simple craft for under 5s. Booking essential. Get your free ticket at Beeston Library helpdesk. This is one of our Summer Reading Challenge Story Garden activities.

Jellyfish Jiggleballoo

Stories, rhymes and a simple craft for under 5s, booking essential, get your free ticket at the Beeston Library help desk. This is one of our Summer Reading Challenge Story Garden activities.

Meet the Critters

Free drop-in session to make some Wildlife critters! Suitable for under 12's. No booking required, just pop along and join in the fun. This is one of our Summer Reading Challenge Story Garden activities.

Crowning Glory

Free drop-in session to make a celebration crown inspired by nature. Suitable for under 12's. No booking required, just pop along and join in the fun. This is one of our Summer Reading Challenge Story Garden activities.

Rocking Snails

Drop in session to craft a happy wobbly snail. Suitable for under 12's. No booking required, just pop along and join in the fun. This is one of our Summer Reading Challenge Story Garden activities.

Hot Air Balloons & Paper Plate Snails

Make 3D hot air balloons to brighten up the summer sky and design your own colourful paper snail! 

This event is part of the Summer Reading Challenge, and is suitable for children under 12. It is free of charge and no booking required.

Seed Planting!

Learn how to make an origami plant pot and plant your own lettuce seeds to grow into tasty salads!

This event is part of the Summer Reading Challenge, and is suitable for children under 12. It is free of charge and no booking required.

Secret Garden Collage

Design your own secret garden using mixed craft materials!

This event is part of the Summer Reading Challenge, and is suitable for children under 12. It is free of charge and no booking required.

Badge Making

Drop in between 10am and 12pm for some free badge making fun in the library!

This event is suitable for children under 12. It is free of charge and no booking required.

Make a 3D Elephant

Drop in between 10am and 12pm to make your own 3D Elephant!

This event is suitable for children under 12. It is free of charge and no booking required.

Make a Nature Crown

Drop in at the library between 10am and 12pm to make a Nature Crown!

This event is suitable for children under 12. It is free of charge and no booking required.

Make a Paper Plate Rabbit

Drop in at the library between 10am and 12pm to make a Paper Plate Rabbit.

This event is suitable for children under 12. It is free of charge and no booking required.

Make a Rainbow Cloud Decoration

Drop in at the library between 10am and 12pm to make a colourful Rainbow Cloud Decoration.

This event is suitable for children under 12. It is free of charge and no booking required.

Make your own fire-breathing dragon!

Create your own enchanting landscape

Lego Club (extra session) - children must be supervised by an adult.

Lego Club (extra session) - children must be supervised by an adult.

Lego Club (extra session) - children must be supervised by an adult.

Big Games! Enjoy playing our selection of giant games during your library visit.

Minibeast Mayhem

Make a minibeast of your choice to take home and display - a snail, a ladybird or you could even create a minibeast of your own!

Suitable for 4 years and above. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

This is a drop-in activity that runs from Tuesday 5 August until Saturday 9 August during normal opening hours. It is free of charge and no booking required.

Build a Bird Feeder

Make a beautiful bird feeder to hang in your garden - how may different birds will you see?

Suitable for 4 years and above. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

This is a drop-in activity that runs from Tuesday 12 August until Saturday 16 August during normal opening hours. It is free of charge and no booking required.

Create a Garden Scene

Create a picture of your perfect garden - it could be a flower garden, a vegetable garden or even a magical garden!

Suitable for 4 years and above. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

This is a drop-in activity that runs from Tuesday 19 August until Saturday 23 August during normal opening hours. It is free of charge and no booking required.

Flowers, fairies, toadstools and gnomes... what will you find in the mysterious shadow garden? Use our templates or design your own, then put them into the spotlight of our little Shadow Theatre. Free, booking essential, pop in or call 0115 9373509.

Stomp! Stomp! Who's that coming?! Phew, it's only an egg box troll! Cut, stick and decorate your own troll from recycled material. Free, booking essential, pop in or call 0115 9373509.

Secret garden book nook: using craft materials, make a little garden hideaway to sit on your shelf between the books! What's in your garden? Free, booking essential, pop in or call 0115 9373509.

Creepy crawlies: Ooh it's wiggly! Have a go at making moving paper mini-beasts. Free, booking essential, pop in or call 0115 9373509.

Garden Minibeasts

Join us for our drop in craft session and make a mini beast paper plate. Will it be a Buzzy bee, Ladybird or a mini beast of your own creation.

This event is suitable for children under 12, and children under the age of 8 must be supervised by a responsible adult at all times. It is a free event and no booking is required.

Vibrant Plants

Make your very own Vibrant Plant in our drop in craft session. Will it have petals, leaves, thorns or ears!

This event is suitable for children under 12, and children under the age of 8 must be supervised by a responsible adult at all times. It is a free event and no booking is required.

Magical Creatures - Dragons

Create your own flying dragon at our drop in craft session. Choose your colours and don't forget the flames!

This event is suitable for children under 12, and children under the age of 8 must be supervised by a responsible adult at all times. It is a free event and no booking is required.

Enchanting Landscapes

Use a variety of materials with different textures to design your own enchanting landscape. The more magical the better. Let your imagination go wild at our drop in craft session.

This event is suitable for children under 12, and children under the age of 8 must be supervised by a responsible adult at all times. It is a free event and no booking is required.

Dig into book characters

Dig into your favourite book and choose a characters or inspirational person to make into a collage, at our drop in craft session.

This event is suitable for children under 12, and children under the age of 8 must be supervised by a responsible adult at all times. It is a free event and no booking is required.

Games Club - challenge yourself or your friends and family to a game! Choose from our selection of available board games.

For under 5s and their grown ups, chat and play in a relaxed environment. A different selection of toys will be available each week.

A selection of toys are put out for children and toddlers to enjoy and it’s a chance to make new friends in a safe and fun environment.

Craft club with bugs and butterfly rings

Rock painting and Lego Club

Take part in our dragonfly craft

Take part in our frog craft

Make your own kite

Garden themed craft and Lego Club

Story Garden themed craft

Browse stalls, enjoy family crafts and more at our summer fayre!  Free refreshments available.

Bookworm Bookmark

Come along and create your own bookworm bookmark, perfect for keeping your page in your summer reads!

This is suitable for children under 12. Free of charge and no booking required.

Bird Feeder

Come along and create your very own bird feeder to take home and perfect for the birds in your garden!

This is suitable for children under 12. Free of charge and no booking required.

It is advisable to come wearing old clothes.

Ladybird Lifecycles

Come along and learn about the lifecycle of a ladybird and get creative in making your very own to take home with you!

This is suitable for children under 12. Free of charge and no booking required.

Potter's Wheel

Come along and have some creative painting fun with our travel potter's wheel!

This is suitable for children under 12. Free of charge and no booking required.

It is advisable to come wearing old clothes.

Blooming Hedgehogs

Create your very own garden friend; floral, bright and fun. Add some colour to our library garden.

This event is part of the Summer Reading Challenge, and is suitable for children under 12. It is free of charge and no booking required. It's a drop-in event during library opening hours.

Garden pull-alongs

What's living in the garden? Create a garden themed pull-along craft.

This event is part of the Summer Reading Challenge, and is suitable for children under 12. It is free of charge and no booking required. It's a drop-in event during library opening hours.

Craft Catch up

Missed any crafts over the Summer Holidays? Don't worry! Nip in to the library for our Craft Catch up.

This event is part of the Summer Reading Challenge, and is suitable for children under 12. It is free of charge and no booking required. It's a drop-in event during library opening hours.

Bees and Butterflies

Want to track your progress through the Summer Reading Challenge? You can! Decorate your bee or butterfly to see them fly along to the finish line.

This event is part of the Summer Reading Challenge, and is suitable for children under 12. It is free of charge and no booking required. It's a drop-in event during library opening hours.

Lollipop Flowers

Get creative and make your very own lollipop flower. What colours will you choose?

This event is part of the Summer Reading Challenge, and is suitable for children under 12. It is free of charge and no booking required. It's a drop-in event during library opening hours.

Cress heads

Make your very own cress head! Watch them grow a thick head of cress hair over the summer. How will you style it?

This event is part of the Summer Reading Challenge, and is suitable for children under 12. It is free of charge and no booking required. It's a drop-in event during library opening hours.

Story Garden Hunt the Character Quiz

Find the Story Garden Characters hidden around the Library and enter the prize draw! Part of the 2025 Summer Reading Challenge. Suitable for children aged 4 - 11 with a parent/carer. Free of charge and no booking required.

Story Garden Craft Session

A Story Garden Craft session. Part of the Summer Reading Challenge 2025. Suitable for children aged 4 - 11 with a parent/carer. Free of charge and no booking required. Children must be supervised by a parent/carer.

Story Garden Craft Session

A Story Garden Craft session. Part of the Summer Reading Challenge 2025. Suitable for children aged 4 - 11 with a parent/carer. Free of charge and no booking required. Children must be supervised by a parent/carer.

Story Garden Craft Session

A Story Garden Craft session. Part of the Summer Reading Challenge 2025. Suitable for children aged 4 - 11 with a parent/carer. Free of charge and no booking required. Children must be supervised by a parent/carer.

Garden Mini Beast

Join us for a drop in craft session making Mini Beast paper plates. Make a buzzy bee, Ladybird or use your imagination to create you own mini beast.

This event is suitable for children under 12, and children under the age of 8 must be supervised by a responsible adult at all times. It is a free event and no booking is required.

Vibrant Plants

Make your very own Vibrant Plant in our drop in craft session. Will it have petals, leaves, thorns or ears!

This event is suitable for children under 12, and children under the age of 8 must be supervised by a responsible adult at all times. It is a free event and no booking is required.

Magical Creatures - Dragons

Create your own flying dragon in our drop in craft session. Choose your colours and don't forget the flames!

This event is suitable for children under 12, and children under the age of 8 must be supervised by a responsible adult at all times. It is a free event and no booking is required.

Enchanting Landscapes

Use a variety of materials with different textures to design your own enchanting landscape. The more magical the better Let your imagination go wild.

This event is suitable for children under 12, and children under the age of 8 must be supervised by a responsible adult at all times. It is a free event and no booking is required.

Dig into book characters

Dig into your favourite book and make a collage of your favourite character or an inspirational person, at our drop in craft session.

This event is suitable for children under 12, and children under the age of 8 must be supervised by a responsible adult at all times. It is a free event and no booking is required.

Join us to celebrate Harry's birthday. We will be writing secret messages, getting sorted by the sorting hat and having a quiz trail for you to try. So, get your wands ready and jump on your broom to fly down to Warsop Library.

Use old socks and tights to create your own garden character - then sow it some cress for hair!

Make a badge featuring one of this year's Summer Reading Challenge characters

Pop in and create a plant pot wind chime to hang in your garden using old plant pots, beads and keys!

Help us create a beautiful display of pipe cleaner flowers to celebrate the end of summer