Ghost Hunt in Wycombe's Most Haunted Spot 👻

Good morning, Wycombe!

It's the Wycombe Pulse. The local newsletter that you can consider your cheat sheet for the week ahead.

Check out some of these happenings:

• Harry Potter is hitting up the library 🧙🏻‍♀️

• A Most Haunted Experience at the Hellfire Caves 👻

• A brand new Thai restaurant opening up in the space of... an old Thai restaurant 🇹🇭

Plus we've rounded up everything you need to start organising Half Term, plenty of live music, art shows, markets, sports fixtures and more.

This Week's Highlights

• Ghost Hunt at the Hellfire Caves on Friday 18th October from 7.30-11.30pm - head underground for this official Most Haunted Experience where you'll delve into the caves' dark history and see what secrets lie within... 👻

• Priestfield Arboretum Open Day on Sunday 20th October from 10.30am-4pm - this hidden Chilterns gem is opening its metaphorical doors this Sunday and allowing you to view their collection of 200 rare and interesting trees over their 6 acres in Little Kingshill. Entry is just £2 and there are guided tours throughout the day (self-guided tours can be taken at any time), plus children's games 🌲

• Harry Potter Book Day at High Wycombe Library on today, Thursday 17th October from 4-6pm - a FREE event for ages 4+ where you'll join in mystical activities to celebrate the magic of the wizarding world! 🧙🏻‍♀️

• Spirit & Moon Fayre at Cressex Community Centre on Saturday 19th October from 11am-5pm - fans of the esoteric will love this spiritual fair, which features stalls specialising in numerology, tarot, head massage, crystals, reflexology, clairvoyance and much more 🔮

• Buckinghamshire Archives Drop-In at Wycombe Museum on Friday 18th October from 12-4pm - if you're curious about the archive collections, want answers to a family history conundrum or indeed anything local-history related, come along to this drop-in session with the knowledgeable Archives team 📜

• Flackwell Heath Market at The Three Horseshoes pub on Saturday 19th October from 9am-12pm - there's a bunch of amazing stalls this month, including fresh baked goodies, a coffee roaster, honey, vegan sweets, jams and sauces, a farm shop and much more 🛍️

• Women's Wellness Autumn Retreat Weekend at Riversdale, Bourne End from Friday 18th to Sunday 20th October - this event by Wellness Sanctuary promises a blissful weekend of nurturing, nourishing and wellness. There'll be reiki, meditation, yoga, aromatherapy, crystal healing, sound spa and much more 🪬

• Ceramic Pumpkin Painting Workshop at Peterley Manor Farm on Wednesday 23rd October from 6.30-8.30pm - a creative evening awaits as you paint a folk-art inspired ceramic pumpkin alongside a glass of fizz 🎃

Entertainment

• Magic Show at the Hellfire Caves on Wednesday 23rd October at 6.30pm - it's all going on at the Hellfire Caves this week! Ben's Magic will take you on a haunted tour through the veil of the caves... 🪄

• "Absurd Person Singular" at Hazlemere Community Centre on Friday 18th and Saturday 19th October at 7.30pm - the Hazelmere Players present this Alan Ayckbourn classic that charts the changing fortunes of 3 married couples over 3 years of Christmas Eves 🎭

• Ladies' Night Out at The Stag Pub and Kitchen on Friday 18th October from 8pm - expect cocktails, music and a special guest... 🍹

• Our Friends Acoustic XLIV at The Rose and Crown on Friday 18th October from 7-11pm - an evening of music from Maz Manzini and friends (get in touch beforehand if you'd like a slot too!) 🎵

• Halloween Salsa Dance Social at the Mad Squirrel on Friday 18th October at 8pm - costumes are encouraged at this FREE dance class with the Latin Shine Dance Company 💃🏻

• Shopmobility Quiz Night at the Riverside on Wednesday 23rd October at 7.30pm - a quiz night to raise money for Shopmobility. Teams of up to 6 are welcome at a cost of £5 per person 🧐

• "Nell Gwynn" at Lane End Village Hall on Friday 18th and Saturday 19th October at 7.30pm (plus extra 2.30pm show on Saturday) - Nell Gwynn continues its run for its final weekend. This witty and lively play documents the life of Nell Gwynn, from orange seller to the first woman on the English stage and the mistress of King Charles II.

Arts and Culture

• Hughenden Art Group Art Exhibition at Hughenden Village Hall from Friday 18th to Sunday 20th October - it's FREE admission and refreshments at this opportunity to browse and buy work by local artists. There'll also be a photography exhibition on in the small hall on Saturday and Sunday too 🖼️

• Coffee and Quilts Day at Coleshill Village Hall, Amersham on Saturday 19th October from 10am-4pm - FREE admission and parking at this quilts exhibition from local crafters. There will also be a sale table so you can pick up some gifts, and refreshments with at least 15 different cakes to choose from! 🧶

• Art Expo at Holy Trinity Prestwood on Saturday 19th and Sunday 20th October from 10am-5pm (11am-5pm on Sunday) - come and see the creations of local artists to celebrate 175 years since its consecration of Holy Trinity. FREE entry 🎨

For the Kids this Week

• Pumpkin Hunt Trail at Wycombe Museum from Sunday 20th October to Sunday 3rd November - pumpkins have been hidden around the museum and gardens for you to find. Just £3 per child with a sweet treat prize 🎃

• Young Voices AIM Literary Festival at Roald Dahl Museum on Saturday 19th October from 11am-3pm - the 5th annual Author In Me Literary Festival is suitable for age 5+ and is packed with author sessions, workshops, storytelling sessions and more, just for kids 📚

• Scarecrow Competition at the Walled Garden from Thursday 17th to Thursday 31st October from 9am-5pm - bring your imagination to life and create a unique scarecrow for the Walled Garden. The public can vote in the competition from Saturday 19th October and there are prizes to be won!

• Creepy Critters by Zoolab at Waddesdon on Saturday 19th and Sunday 20th October at various times - get up close and personal with exotic animals, including snakes, lizards and tarantulas 🕷️

• Tiny Talk Time at Wycombe Museum on Friday 18th October at 10am - 2-5 year olds are invited to this storytelling and crafting session based on "Room on the Broom" by Julia Donaldson 🧹

Sports and Activities

• Wycombe Wanderers vs Peterborough United at home on Saturday 19th October at 12.30pm - gates and bars are open from 10am, tickets start at just £5 for kids and £22 for adults ⚽️

• HWRUFC vs Buckingham at home on Saturday 19th October - come and support your local rugby union club first XV 🏈

• Parkrun (5k) near the Lido, Wycombe Rye on Saturday 19th October at 9am and Junior Parkrun (2k) near Pann Mill, Wycombe Rye on Sunday 20th October at 9am 🏃🏻‍♂️

• Marlow Moonlight 10km Guided Run on tonight, Thursday 17th October at 7.20pm - an exhilarating nighttime trail run with Play in the Wild UK.

Do you run a sports team and are looking for players/spectators for upcoming fixtures? Please email me at [email protected] with the details if you'd like to be featured.

Half Term Highlights

It's just over a week until the October half term and so you might be starting to think about how to entertain your little darlings during their time off school.

We've picked out a few amazing activities to enjoy in Wycombe and the surrounding area:

• Hughenden Village Halloween Trail from Thursday 24th October to Sunday 3rd November - you can purchase a trail map for £3 from Hughenden Village Store (bring your own pencil!) and there'll be a sweet treat prize on return of your answer sheet at the end. It'll take around 1.5 hours to finish 🎃

• Aesop's Fables Half Term Trail and Storytelling at Hughenden from Saturday 26th October to Sunday 3rd November - flex that National Trust membership and take the kids to Hughenden Manor for an interactive trail based on Aesop's Fables. There's storytelling and crafts available through the day too.

• Hedgehog Animal Trail at Cliveden from Friday 25th October to Sunday 3rd November - Cliveden is hosting an Autumn animal trail around the gardens to help find Spike the hedgehog. There's drop-in crafting sessions too 🦔

• Creepy Critters by Zoolab at Waddesdon on Saturday 26th and Sunday 27th October at various times - get up close and personal with exotic animals, including snakes, lizards and tarantulas 🕷️

• Scarecrow Festival in Marlow Bottom from Sunday 27th October to Sunday 3rd November - a map is £3 and can be bought from a few local businesses in Marlow Bottom.

• Rebel Rangers conservation sessions on Monday 28th, Tuesday 29th October and Friday 1st November from 9.45am to 3pm - join the Chiltern Rangers in these FREE conservation sessions for 11-16 year olds.

• Easely Does It family workshops at the Walled Garden from Monday 28th October to Friday 1st November at various times - check out Easely Does It's websites for all the different workshops they're running this half term, from painting to needle felting, making a mini witch to creating a magic potion, there's something spooky for everyone 🎨

• Discover and Make: Who Lives in the Woods? at Wycombe Museum on Tuesday 29th and Wednesday 30th October at various times - make an animal mask and learn all about our local wildlife. Tickets are just £4.25 per child

• Pumpkin Pop-Up Creative Session at Patch on Tuesday 29th October at various times - Create Your Happy are hosting this kids' event to create some Autumnal crafts. Tickets are £12 (cheaper for subsequent siblings) and include materials, squash and biscuits.

• Pumpkin Carving at the Polecat Inn on Tuesday 29th October from 10am-1pm - creative fun at the Polecat in Prestwood! Either bring your own pumpkin or use one of those available 🎃

• Cupcake Making Class at the Brunch Lounge on Wednesday 30th October from 4.30-6pm - £15 per child to make 4 spooktacular cupcakes 🧁

• Crafting Bats and Ghosts at High Wycombe Library on Wednesday 30th October from 2.30-3.30pm - a FREE relaxed sensory session to decorate spooky characters, SEND inclusive 👻

• Iconic Chairs in History: creative writing session at Wycombe Museum on Thursday 31st October at various times - a FREE session lead by Arka Learning for kids between 7 and 11. A fun, educational and historic workshop to unleash your child's imagination 💭

Half Term Childcare Options

Working with young kids is HARD. And almost impossible during the school holidays.

So thank goodness for holiday camps and childcare options - here's what we've found in Wycombe:

• Ultimate Activity Camps at Godstowe School for 4-14 year olds - an amazing holiday camp focusing on activities with wrap-around care available, from 8am-6pm. £57 per day and £260 per week.

• Calm Little Minds Holiday Camp at Holtspur School for 4-10 year olds - this is a great alternative if your child loves arts and crafts and cooking alongside outdoor play and games. Early drop off available, between 9am-3pm. £40 per day and £110 for 3 days.

• Barracudas Activity Day Camps at Wycombe Abbey for 4.5-14 year olds - another great camp with a focus on activities. Wrap-around care available, from 8am-6pm. £52 per day and £235 per week.

• Let’s Play at Wycombe Leisure Centre for 5-12 year olds - multi-sports, arts and crafts, swimming, rock climbing and more! Wrap around care available, from 8am-5pm, just £27.50 a day.

• Fun Fest at Great Kingshill School for 3-12 years - a new club camp for half term with half day sessions available alongside full days (8am-6pm). Sessions are child-led so kids can design their own programme. Full day £38, half day £23 and weekly block booking £175.

• Rachel's Creative Cooking Workshops at Carrington Junior School - cookery workshops where your child will make a selection of different foods, including their lunch! Tuesday 29th October for 5+ and Wednesday 30th October for 7+, 10am-3pm. £40 per day.

Community Notes

• Family Indian Curry Evening in support of Kaiden's Cancer Fund at Wrights Meadow Centre on Saturday 19th October from 6.30pm - an Indian curry evening to support local boy Kaiden in his cancer journey, with a raffle too 🍛

• Wycombe Homeless Connection's Annual Showcase is on Thursday 24th October at 7pm at The Hub on Easton Street - all are invited to hear about WHC's important work, including the return of the winter night shelter, as well as view Christopher James Hall's "Breaking the Stereotype" photography collection.

• Second hand tack sale at The Horse Trust on Saturday 19th October from 1-4pm - calling all in the riding community! The Horse Trust have got a huge tack sale on this weekend with all proceeds going directly to charity 🐴

• Help Collectables R Us build their train layout - Collectables R Us on Church Street are crowdsourcing help from train enthusiasts and creative builders who can help them design and build their layout. You can drop in at any time during their opening hours to help out and in appreciation of your time and effort, your name will be displayed in the shop and you can enjoy a hot drink and biscuits while you help 🚂

Business News

Locals were gutted when Eat Thai on Easton Street closed its doors last year for a seemingly impromptu refurb but the Bucks Free Press are happily reporting that it's reopening this week under new ownership. Now called Eat Nua, its established sister restaurant in Fitzrovia is well renowned so we're hopeful that it'll be another knockout Thai restaurant -- exactly what Wycombe needs. As former Bangkokians, we're desperate to find somewhere serving up authentic Thai in the town and the menu certainly looks promising 🇹🇭

HWBidCo have recently launched a new 'Shop Wycombe' gift card enabling you to support almost 100 local businesses in the town centre -- independent stores, high street chains, coffee shops, beauty venues and restaurants are all involved. You can load the card from £10-£500 and can choose either an E-card or a physical one.

Where in Wycombe am I?

Where can you find this amazing piece of street art imagining the people of the High Street through the ages? There's so much detail - what can you spot?

Last week's answer: I was standing by the cascade and grotto at the end of the Dyke on the Rye. This is normally a busy spot with families and dogs during the summer but is deserted as soon as the temperature drops. Understandably!

Weather in Wycombe

It's that time of year when you can start the day in a woolly hat and scarf and then just be in a light hoody by the afternoon. And the big question, of course: when to put the heating on?!

Friday

🌤️ 15°C - 💨 11 mph - ☂️ 0% chance (but expect a misty morning)

Saturday

🌤️ 15°C - 💨 10 mph - ☂️ 70% chance

Sunday

🌤️ 15°C - 💨 40 mph - ☂️ 70% chance

We hope you've enjoyed this week's edition of the Pulse!

Have a brilliant weekend, but first...

• Do you know somebody who would enjoy this email? Please share it ❤️

• Were you forwarded this email? Please subscribe here so you don’t miss the next edition.

• We are active throughout the week on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter/X. Follow us and say hi!

• Do you have an event or local news story that our readers would love? Drop us an email!

Until next Thursday...

Steph

Publisher and Editor, Wycombe Pulse