Do you want an unusual gift for a friend this Christmas? How about a hurdle or a rag rug? Perhaps those are a little way out - would jewellery or some hand-made soap be more acceptable? If so there's one local place this November that you'd be able to buy any or all of those items at once - the Rural Life Centre at Tilford.
The annual Christmas Craft Fair will be held at the country life museum from 10.30am to 3pm on Saturday November 21st and, as usual, entry will be free. Whilst not all the museum will be open, there will be plenty to see and many talented crafts people on hand to talk to.
The fabulous range of crafts on view and sale this year include those mentioned above, but also include hand-made greeting cards, baby quilts, wood turning, woollen goods, soft furnishings, pottery, ceramics and many more. If you're short of ideas, go along and browse for inspiration. Seasonal refreshments will be available while you're deciding and you are assured of a warm welcome.
The Rural Life Centre's Christmas Craft Fair is on Saturday 21st November from 10.30am to 3.00pm at the accredited museum of village life on Reeds Road, mid way between Tilford and Frensham, just off the A287 three miles south of Farnham. For further information telephone 01252 795571.
Volunteers at the Rural Life Centre in Tilford are feverishly preparing for Santa's visit on the 5-6 and 12-13 December. His much anticipated annual weekends promise to be the best Santa Specials yet, chasing away recession gloom and getting everyone into the spirit of Christmas. Families who have been before know what a treat children have in store, so tickets are already selling fast.
This unique celebration is enjoyed each year by nearly 1000 children and the 2000 plus adults who accompany them. Visitors are given a time slot to reduce waiting times, but there is plenty to entertain families from the time they arrive until that special moment when the children arrive at Santa's grotto.
The only way into the museum on Santa Special days is by enchanting steam train, bringing visitors into the little station for the start of their adventure, which includes a castle, a model railway themed with favourite childhood characters, and the toy workshop. Here the museum's special contingent of gnomes, elves and fairies will be on hand to keep the children entertained while they wait to see Santa and receive their gift.
Depending on which day you visit, delightful donkeys, calves, sheep or reindeer will be on hand, while beautiful fairy lights and seasonal music add to the festive atmosphere. Seasonal refreshments will also be available.
The Rural Life Centre's Santa Specials are now widely known and very popular, with visitors booking as early as July onwards, but there are still places available. Bookings can be taken by post or by telephone on 01252 795571 (recommended if the postal strike continues). You will find a booking form on the museum website www.rural-life.org.uk and a video showing highlights of last year's Santa Specials.
The Rural Life Centre is an accredited museum of country life which lies midway between Tilford and Frensham in Reeds Road off the A287 three miles south of Farnham.
Old Kiln Museum 
