Good morning, Wycombe!
We’ve reached the point in the summer holidays where I’ve stopped looking at my bank balance. Three “quick trips” to Tesco a day, a soft play adventure, seemingly endless ice cream and a “can we just have a look in the shop”— I’m spending ‘big night out’ money on people who go to bed at seven.
Small mercy: much of this week is free or close to it.
Some highlights:
🪨 A geology walk through Hughenden’s ancient past
🎪 The Caribbean festival lands in town
🧸 Bears on Chairs — a free kids' trail around town
Plus all the usual fun and games…
🧘♀️ Physio, Massage & Stretch Therapy — Now All Under One Roof 💆♂️
Aches and pains rarely have just one fix. That's why The Massage Company High Wycombe has brought physiotherapy and assisted stretch therapy together with their massage treatments — so you get a proper diagnosis and a treatment plan, not just an hour of relaxation.
✨ New: Chartered Physiotherapy for injuries, mobility issues and rehab — private health insurance accepted (WPA, AXA, Aviva, Vitality, Healix; and Bupa — coming in Feb ‘27)
✨ New: Assisted Stretch Therapy — guided deep stretching to ease stiff muscles and improve movement
🔔 Introductory offer: £59.95 for 50 minutes — on both massage and assisted stretch
🩺 Physiotherapy: £69.95 per session (initial assessment & follow up)
🌿 Membership options available, with monthly credits usable across all their services, plus discounted additional sessions
📍 1 Castle Street, High Wycombe
Whether it's a niggling injury, a stiff back from your desk, or you just need a proper reset, it's all handled by one team who know your history and can tailor each visit accordingly.
Editor’s Highlights
📍 Hughenden Manor | 🗓️ Today, 10am
Discover 100 million years of history underfoot on this 3.5-mile guided walk through Hughenden — from Cretaceous chalk laid down by ancient tropical seas to flint, clay, and the legacy of the Ice Age.
📍 The Rye | 📅 Sat 8th Aug, 10am–8pm
A vibrant Caribbean food and music festival on The Rye — jerk chicken, curry goat, roti, lobster and more from 45+ traders, live music from The Marley Experience, UB4D and a steel pan band, plus funfair rides, face painting and kids' activities.
📍 Waddesdon Manor | 🗓️ Weds 12th August, 11.15am
An exclusive small-group guided tour of the Rothschild Treasury at Waddesdon. Over 300 precious objects on display — from Roman cameos to royal jewels — with stories behind items never previously on public display.
📍 We Make Wycombe Hub | 🗓️ Fri 7th August, 7pm doors
A free evening of true, unscripted stories told by ordinary people on the theme of "Home" — sit in a circle, listen, and hear from painter Arunthathi Ratnaraj, whose work is on display throughout the night. Iced tea and floor cushions provided.
🧘🏻♀️ Wellness Moments
🔔 Sound Bath: Returning Inward
📍 Hughenden Village Hall | 📅 Fri 7th August, 7.30pm
A restorative evening of guided breathwork and crystal singing bowl sound healing to help you reconnect and recharge.
🌿 Lion's Gate Gathering
📍 Bovingdon Green Hall | 🗓️ Sat 8th August, 5pm
An evening marking the Lion's Gate Portal with activities ranging from restorative forest bathing in the woodland to guided journalling, gentle cleansing yoga, and a meditation and healing gong bath.
🎨 Get Creative
✍️Introduction to Creative Writing Course
📍 Wycombe Museum | 📅 Sun 9th, 23rd Aug, 6th & 20th Sep, 1.30pm
A beginner-friendly four-session course exploring the building blocks of storytelling — characters, plot, dialogue and point of view. Inspired by the Museum's collections.
🎨 Hand-Painted Hat Workshop & Tray Painting
📍 Daws Hill Lane, High Wycombe | 🗓️ Sat 8th August, 10am
Spend a relaxed morning painting your own sun hat or decorative tray. All materials provided, refreshments included, and take your creation home.
🎨 Art for Wellbeing Club
📍 Wycombe Arts Centre | 🗓️ Sun 9th August, 10am–12pm
A relaxed, welcoming space to wind down and make art with no pressure or expectations — explore materials and create at your own pace.
🎨 Drink & Draw
📍 Mad Squirrel | 🗓️ Tonight, 8pm
Grab a drink and unleash your creativity with a guided painting session.
🪵 KraftinWood Gallery Closing Down Sale Continues
Robert Bishop has spent 25+ years turning native and exotic woods into pieces that don't exist anywhere else. He's retiring — and everything in the gallery must go.
There are still over 500 bowls, vases and hollow forms on the shelves, in every size and timber you can think of. But it's one gallery, one retirement, and once a piece walks out the door… that's the last of it.
🪵 500+ wood-turned bowls, vases and hollow forms — plus hand-carved leaves and wooden fruit
🎨 Original art in oil, watercolour, ink and resin
🐦 Native bird photography and raku-fired ceramics
✨ Handmade lace bookmarks, painted eggs and batik greeting cards
📍 Kraft Village, Grafton Street, HP12 3AJ
🗓️ Mon, Tue, Fri & Sat 9am–5pm | Sun 12–5pm (closed Wed & Thu)
🅿️ Free parking — follow the brown tourist signs to the Chair Making Museum
👉 See some of what's left at kraftinwood.com
🔍 Family Fun Finder
Twelve teddy bears have taken up residence on chairs in shop windows across town. Can you find them all?
The trail launches today and runs to 26th August, giving kids a proper excuse to wander round town picking up bits of Wycombe's chairmaking history along the way. Find all 12 and your child wins a teddy of their own to take home. Entry forms are free from the Library.
Kicking it off is a Chairs Fun Day around the Guildhall today, 11am–4pm — free crafts, face painting, buskers, a giant teddy on the door, and a picnic area where you're actively encouraged to bring your own bear. No booking, just turn up.
🌿 Young Growers Summer Club
📍 Grow Together allotment, Wycombe Marsh | 🗓️ Mon 10th August, 9am & 11am
Two free sessions for kids aged 5+ at the Grow Together allotment. Grow & Explore (9am) is hands-on in the beds — exploring plants and food, harvesting and seed saving. Make & Create (11am) is a creative session using natural, sustainable materials.
🦊 Discover & Make: Arty Animals
📍 Wycombe Museum | 🗓️ Tue 11th & Weds 12th Aug
Create colourful prints of local wildlife in this child-friendly lino printing workshop — using a safe 'no cut' lino substitute perfect for little hands.
Entertainment
🔥 Summer BBQ
📍 The Crown, Penn | 🗓️ Fri 7th & Sat 8th August, 3pm–7pm
Food fresh off the grill from 3pm both days alongside everything on the Summer Drinks Menu.
🎱 Bingo Night
📍 The Front Room | 🗓️ Fri 7 August, 7pm
The Front Room's monthly game runs every first Friday, with prizes and plenty of laughs.
Sports & Activities
🏃🏻♂️ No Parkrun this Saturday!
Due to the Caribbean Festival taking place on the Rye. If you’re desperate for your running fix, maybe check out Higginson Park (Marlow), Black Park or Wendover Woods instead.
⚽️ Jack Sparrow Fund Football Tournament
📍 Holmer Green Football Club | 🗓️ Sun 9th August, registration 11am, kick off 12pm
A fun day of five-a-side football in memory of Jack, with a bar, BBQ, cakes and raffle, raising money for Bone Cancer Research Trust. Free to attend and watch.
Community Notes
🧁 Calling all bakers, makers and growers
Wycombe Homeless Connection need homemade and home-grown goods for their stall at the Beaconsfield Country Fayre on Bank Holiday Monday, 31st August. Bakes, jams, plants, crafts — whatever you can make or grow. Every item sold raises money for local people who are homeless or facing homelessness. Plenty of time to get your oven on!
👉 See what they need or call 01494 447699
☕ Silver Series Coffee Social
📍 Eden | 🗓️ Mon 10th Aug, 11am
A free monthly social morning for older adults at Eden Shopping Centre — a relaxed coffee catch-up with fellow locals lasting around 90 minutes. Limited spaces, RSVP to hello@atomicbee.co.uk for the exact venue details and to book your place.
🗓️ Dates for your Diary
🦋 Family Stream Dipping at Hughenden
📍 Hughenden | 🗓️ Weds 19th August
Get hands-on at this free family session led by the Chilterns Chalk Streams Project — dip for creatures in Hughenden's stream and discover what's hiding beneath the surface.
🔥 Homage du Fromage
📍 B'Hive | 🗓️ Sat 15th August
An evening dedicated entirely to cheese — a curated selection of specially chosen cheeses and accompaniments, all unlimited, plus a free glass of port or house wine to wash it down.
🎨 Patchwork Collective: An Upcycle & Recycled Fashion Show
📍 Patch | 🗓️ Sat 5th September
A runway night given over entirely to upcycled and recycled fashion, put together by Wyrd Wycombe, The Tired Dressmaker and Wycombe Creatives. And in a strange turn of events… they’ve asked me to model. Practicing my vogueing as we speak. £5 on entry, with all proceeds going towards the next Wyrd Wycombe event.
The Wycombe Wordle
Six guesses. Five letters. One Wycombe connection. Let me know if you get it!
🟩 Right letter, right spot
🟨 Right letter, wrong spot
⬜ Not in the word
That’s a wrap for this week’s Pulse!
Have a spiffing weekend — but before you dash…
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See you next Thursday,
Steph
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