Lincolnshire author teams up with housing developer for Easter family reading and craft event
Lincolnshire families are invited to a free reading and craft event during the Easter school holidays, as local housebuilder Chestnut Homes partners with children’s author Bethany Walker to bring stories, fun and adventure to the local community.
Taking place on Saturday 11 April, at Chestnut Homes’ show home at Kings Manor in Coningsby, the event will run from 10.30am until 1.30pm, with staggered entry times available at 10.30am, 11.30am and 12.30pm.
The event ties in with the National Literacy Trust’s Go All In National Year of Reading Campaign 2026, which aims to make reading joyful, relevant and visible for all – whether it’s at home, at school or in the community. It follows recent statistics which revealed that only one in three children and young people say they enjoy reading, with the percentage of people reading daily falling to under 21%.
Explaining more about the upcoming event, Robyn Pedley, marketing manager at Chestnut Homes, said: “We’re always looking for new ways to give back to the communities we’re part of, and when the opportunity came to work with Bethany, we knew it was a great opportunity to do just that, while celebrating a fantastic local talent. We’re looking forward to welcoming local families and helping to inspire children across Lincolnshire to discover the magic of reading, during what is sure to be a wonderful day.”
Hailing from North Lincolnshire, Bethany Walker is a popular children’s author who has made a name for herself thanks to her humorous and engaging middle grade books and picture books for younger children. Her books include ‘Olly Brown, God of Hamsters’, ‘How to Steal the Mona Lisa’ and ‘Do Lions Hate Haircuts?’.
During the upcoming event, she’ll be reading some of her favourite excerpts from her books, including her latest release, ‘Medusa Gorgon’s Bad Hair Day’. She’ll then be leading an arts and crafts activity inspired by the new book, which will see children get the chance to create their very own Medusa headdress.
A snake-themed treasure hunt will also be taking place around the show home, and light refreshments will be available throughout the day.
Bethany Walker said: “I’m always passionate about getting more children reading, especially across Lincolnshire, so this upcoming event is a particularly special one for me. With 2026 marking the National Year of Reading this year, what a perfect opportunity to get as many children as possible excited about the magic that can be found within the pages of a book. We’ve incorporated lots of fun activities for children of all ages to enjoy throughout the morning, so come along and join us for what is set to be a really exciting family event.
The event will take place at the Chestnut Homes Kings Manor showhome on Hoplands Rd, Coningsby, Lincoln LN4 4FU. Tickets are free and can be booked online: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1986192178272/?aff=oddtdtcreator. Entry slots are limited, so early booking is advised.
To find out more about Chestnut Homes visit www.chestnuthomes.co.uk