Spooky things happening at Curraghs Wildlife Park for Hop-tu-Naa

SPOOKY things will be happening at Curraghs Wildlife Park in Ballaugh next week.

The park is teaming up with the local charity Crossroads Caring for Carers to put on a full day of Hop-tu-Naa inspired activities on Saturday, October 29.

Visitors to the park will find a ghost train, trick or treat treasure hunt, creepy crawly talks, lantern making and face painting on offer.

Local drama and dance groups will transform into ghosts, ghouls and creatures from the grave to take part in zombie walks and the creepy crawly talks will be conducted by the Friends of the Wildlife Park group.

Lantern making will start from 10am. Visitors will be able to weave butterflies and bats in the park’s summerhouse and there will also be paper lanterns, masks and colouring for younger children.

Turnip carving will also start at 10am and visitors will be able to turn the vegetables into terrifying Jack-o-Lanterns in the play area.

Tina Jauncey, the park’s duty manager, said: “It promises to be a fun day on October 29 with lots of Hop-tu-Naa activities laid on by Crossroads.

“We are very pleased to collaborate over these special activities and hope it raises lots of money for them while bringing additional visitors to the park.

“‘Children in fancy dress on the Saturday will have free admission so we look forward to the park being full of ghosts, ghouls and witches.”

Any children in fancy dress are invited to take part in the fancy dress competition where there are prizes for the top three costumes.

A special Bugs n Grubs ice cream made by Davisons will be on sale in the Lakeside Café where there will also be face painting, glitter tattoos and a raffle to win a mountain bike.

Alex Wilson, fundraising events co-ordinator at Crossroads Caring for Carers, said: “Crossroads cares for over 700 families providing over 100,000 hours of respite and meaningful care every year on the Island.

“The funds raised through events like this one enable Crossroads to continue to care. Three in five people have a chance of becoming a carer at least one in their lifetime so Crossroads’ work is vital in supporting the carer and the community.”

Curraghs Wildlife Park will be open from 10am to 4pm on Saturday, October 29. Children in fancy dress will get free admission and anyone travelling to the park by bus will receive a 10 per cent discount off the cost of their tickets.

The trick or treat treasure hunt will run from Monday, October 24, to Saturday, October 29.

Article from: http://www.isleofman.com/News/article.aspx?article=40267

FROZEN FUNGHI: Greig Davison and Kathy Irwin tuck into a surprisingly popular ice cream made with Greeba Farm mushrooms

MUSHROOMS are a stalwart of soups and risottos, but they are now proving a hit in ice cream.

The discovery was made thanks to a partnership between Greeba Farm and Davison’s Ice Cream at the Isle of Man Food and Drink Festival.

Now several restaurants are considering putting it on their menus and Davison’s is stocking its parlours with the unusual flavour.

Greeba Farm director Kathy Irwin said: ‘Visitors were flocking to our Manx Mushroom Experience tent demanding more ice cream.

We ran out of supplies on Sunday afternoon, a staggering seven gallons having been consumed.’

The blend of Manx milk and cream with Greeba Farm’s chestnut mushrooms produced what Ian Davison described as a ‘spectacular frozen rich mushroom dessert’.

The idea started as a bit of a joke but once a sample batch was whipped up, both food producers realised they were on to a winner.

Kathy said: ‘The final product was proof using top quality ingredients in innovative ways demonstrates their versatility. It was a subtle combination of flavours that many people commented should not have worked, but just did.’

Article from: http://www.iomtoday.co.im/news/isle-of-man-news/mushroom_ice_cream_is_surprise_success_1_3864153

Greeba Farm - Mushrooms

If you thought we had already made some weird and wonderful flavours this year, get yourself down to the Manx Food Festival as we are producing a Mushroom Ice Cream for for Greeba Mushrooms, Mrs Cathy Mushroom.

The Manx Food Festival is on 24th and 25th of September  2011.

Please be patient and we will be back up and running as soon as possible, if you should have any questions that you can’t find the answer to at the moment why not drop us an email webmaster@davisons.co.im.

As you will see the website is a bit bare and needs some pictures to get it looking good again. So we are currently creating and looking for some new photos for the website both old and new. If you should have any which you think will be appropite and would like to see on the website then please email them on and we will see if they can be used.

Ice Cream Mountain

Children’s Week in association with Davison’s Ice Cream invited you to create a brand new Luxury Manx Dairy Ice Cream Flavour!! And we have TWO!!

The lovely people at Davison’s Ice Cream have selected Anika Colligon (aged 7) and Trish Hood as the winners! Anika’s popping candy creation and Trish’s Green Tea Sorbet will be on sale at Davison’s Stores from Sunday 10th July.  If you want to enjoy a tasty treat and support a Manx Children’s Charity at the same time, get down to Davisons stores in Peel and Douglas.

Thank you to all entrants – there were some fantastic flavours and beautiful drawings and we appreciate your continued support. Don’t forget to see what else is going on during Children’s Week by checking out our Community Events page.

Article from: http://www.thechildrenscentre.org.im/events/children-s-week-ice-cream-competition-in-association-with-davison-s/

Davisons Ice Cream

Budding Heston Blumenthals are being invited to suggest their own wacky and wonderful flavours in a competition to celebrate Children’s Week (July 10 to July 16). Ice cream makers Davisons are supporting the week which is being promoted in the Island by The Children’s Centre and a competition to create a new flavour is being run in the build up to the event.

Once the winning recipe is chosen Davisons will make the new ice cream flavour in time for it to go on sale during Children’s Week – with 40p from every cone sold going towards The Children’s Centre’s services for families and children across the Island. Grace Phillips is Community Fundraiser at The Children’s Centre and is co-ordinating the charity’s plans for Children’s Week. She said the event will culminate with a mass participation ‘Happy Feet’ fun day on July 16 with hundreds of children and parents being encouraged to make 10,000 footprints on Douglas Prom. She said:

“A healthy adult ought to take 10,000 steps a day as part of a balanced lifestyle. Happy Feet aims to highlight this message and encourage families to keep active together. By painting, printing or chalking 10,000 footprints along Douglas Prom we will demonstrate what an achievable goal this is and offer parents an indication of how much activity their children should engage in as they grow and develop. Happy Feet will take place between 10am and 4pm on Saturday 16th July on Douglas Prom between the Sea Terminal and the Old Summerland Site. All paint will be provided and is water soluble and non-toxic to protect the environment. We aim to get 5,000 people involved to make 10,000 prints. Happy Feet welcomes all families, so bring your grandparents, your kids and even your dog!”

Ian Davison, Managing Director of Davisons, said:

“Davisons are pleased to support The Children’s Centre and help promote Children’s Week on the Isle of Man. The Children’s Centre offers an invaluable service to the children of the Island and as a Manx company Davisons are committed to supporting local charities and organisations as much as possible. We believe that as the Manx community supports our business it is our duty to put back into the community and help with sponsorship and support for local organisations charities.”

Each participant in the Happy Feet event will be asked to make a donation of £2 which will go towards funding The Children’s Centre’s many services for families and children across the Island – which includes the Centre’s new Community Farm. To add to the fun staff from Sharkey’s hair salon will offer mini pedicures, manicures and temporary tattoos.

In keeping with the theme of health and exercise the Happy Feet day also features a smoothie making machine powered by bicycle, a giant hopscotch game and skipping sessions. By staging various forms of exercise on the day organisers aim to illustrate that keeping fit can be fun and doesn’t require expensive equipment – it’s also a great way for families to spend quality time together. For the second year running, the Isle of Man will be the only area in the British Isles to celebrate Children’s Week although there are a total of 50 countries around the world which organise Children’s Week events. On the Island there will be around 70 activities, many of which welcome volunteers to organise or help out.

The Davisons ice cream flavour competition is open to children and adults – all you have to do is send your idea for a new recipe with your name, address, and contact telephone number to gracephillips@thechildrenscentre.org.im
Closing date for entries is 4th July. If you have any ideas for Children’s Week events email Grace Phillips at the same address or call her on 631944.

Article from : http://isleofman.isle-news.com/archives/let-your-imagination-run-wild-with-ice-cream-flavour-competition/11319/

The Royal Berry Berry Ice Cream sold well with a cheque being presented to Cross Roads Cares Isle of Man for £400.00.

Thanks for everyones support.

Davison’s Manx Dairy Ices and Crossroads Caring for Carers have teamed up to create the Royal Berry Bonanza – a “marriage” of raspberry and blueberry rippled into Davison’s famous vanilla ice cream.

50p from each ice cream sold in the Davison’s ice cream parlours in Peel and Douglas and the Chocolate Box in Douglas will be donated to the charity.

The Royal Berry Bonanza ice cream will be available from April 22 to May 2.

Crossroads Caring for Carers provides respite care for the Island’s carers and people with support needs. Crossroads help over 700 people every year in the Isle of Man and offer over 1,000 hours of direct respite and 1,000 hours of services to local people with care needs regardless of age or diagnosis, every single week.

For more information please contact Crossroads on 01624 673103 or e-mailmail@crossroadsiom.org.

Article from http://www.isleofman.com/news/article.aspx?article=35094

Loyd Grossman Article