Summer in the city needn’t be all about sticky crowds and stuffy traffic fumes. This year cosmopolitan city-dwellers can seek out their own little slice of paradise in the midst of the madness with the sun, sand and sea of a pop-up urban beach

Centre in Wiltshire for exciting performances, and drama workshops. Sand SculptureAugust 21Enter a family treasure hunt on Porthcurno beach, Cornwall, then get digging for Porthcurno Telegraph Museum's annual sandcastle competition.Woodland Magic

With the school holidays now upon us many families will be excitedly awaiting a summer jaunt to distant shores, seeking a relaxing break from work, school and the daily grind. Alongside dreams of white sands and exotic cocktails, many parents

. Children love to play with sparklers but they should always be supervised, wear thick gloves and dispose of them in a bucket of sand or water, and children under five should never handle sparklers by themselves. Beware the bangsOne of the lesser known