With the summer holidays upon us and the sun having finally made a welcome appearance here in Barnsley, I hope these next few weeks will offer a welcome break for folk to spend precious quality time together.

I know for many families the summer holidays mean balancing childcare with work and keeping the kids entertained. Fortunately, there are lots of affordable events and activities taking place on our doorstep for all to enjoy.

Cannon Hall and Cannon Hall Farm are both firm favourites for my family. You’ll have no doubt seen the farm on the TV, the petting farm is great for the kids and the hall itself recreates a Yorkshire stately home from the Georgian era to the First World War.

Yorkshire Sculpture Park combines stunning outdoor space with world renowned artwork, while Elsecar Heritage Centre, Worsbrough Mill, Wentworth Castle Gardens, Wortley Hall, Wentworth Woodhouse, Monk Bretton Priory and Pot House Hamlet are all gems in their own right! And if the sun continues to shine, what better way to cool off than a trip to Calypso Cove at the Metrodome…

If getting outdoors is more your cup of tea, Mapplewell Meadows Farms has great views and is the ideal place to pitch up for a few nights camping. There’s also the incredible Grimethorpe Nature Reserve and Rabbit Ings Country Park that connects Royston and Shafton. Or just have a nice picnic in Locke Park.

We’ve also got some incredible local parks and green spaces set to host some great community events – including two sports bonanzas – with zorbing, archery and axe-throwing as well as traditional sports, which was in Cudworth Park on July 30, and will be at the Darfield Road Recreation Field on August 27.

YMCA Barnsley are hosting a wide range of exciting, free activities in parks across the Borough, including rock painting in Mapplewell Park on August 6 and fruit kebab making in Darton Park on August 12.

For the chocoholics amongst us, YMCA Barnsley are also hosting a Chocolate Factory experience at a real chocolate factory in Redbrook’s Business Village on August 7. YMCA activities are free but be sure to book in advance by visiting their website or Facebook page.

If you’re a more of a culture vulture, the spectacular Underneath the Stars Festival returns this weekend with another stellar line-up including Bill Bailey, Lucy Spraggan, Barnsley Youth Choir, and – of course – the amazing Kate Rusby.

And of course, right in the heart of our wonderful town centre we have Experience Barnsley, in the town hall. It is totally free to visit and has lots of interesting things to see and do. It currently has exhibitions on Barnsley-born author illustrator Brian Wildsmith and the history of running in Barnsley, and a scavenger hunt – tasking children to find the Museums ‘weird and wonderful’ objects.

There’s all of this and so much more besides this summer in Barnsley – sorry if I missed you out. Whatever you decide to do, I hope that you find time to have a break, recharge your batteries, and spend quality time with family and friends. Enjoy.