Events | Abberley and Malvern Hills Geopark

What does 2022 hold in store for the Geopark?

The Geopark covers nearly 800 square miles and it takes in parts of the five counties of Gloucestershire, Herefordshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire and Worcestershire. You will find outstanding geology that spans 700 million years of our Earth’s history. This, coupled with dramatic landscapes and a wealth of ecological, historical, and cultural gems, makes the Geopark a unique destination.

There are lots of self guided walks for you to try out. They are available most of the year at venues such as Severn Valley Country Park, Arley Arboretum, Worcester Cathedral, Hartlebury Castle, Wyre Forest and National Trust at Croome and Dudmaston. They cover natural and man-made landscapes, wildlife, geology and history.

Severn Valley Country Park …

Rock and fossil hunt at Severn Valley Country Park

Arley Arboretum …

Arley Castle remains in local sandstone

Huntley Geology Reserve

There are also self-guided trails in the general landscape across the Geopark; and printed leaflets for these can be obtained from various outlets or downloaded from the website. Have a look at ‘Explore Geology and Landscape – Walking Trails’ for more details. Some of the walks are in town centres like Bridgnorth, Bewdley and Hereford and some are out in the countryside such as the Malvern Hills, the Froome Valley and May Hill. And there is the Severn Valley Railway train ride trail – from the luxury of your carriage seat.

Many walks across the Geopark landscape are incorporated in the Geopark Way – a 109 mile walking trail from Bridgnorth to Gloucester.

Geopark Way sign in Bridgnorth

It covers some spectacular scenery such as the valleys of the Rivers Severn and Teme, the Forest of Wyre, the Abberley Hills, the Suckley Hills, the Malvern Hills, and the Ledbury Hills. The Geopark Way booklet is available at lots of outlets and can be ordered via the website. Also there is a set of apps produced by BrooksDesigns that relate to the Abberley and Malvern Hills Geopark and the Geopark Way. The trail is divided into 17 sections to provide walks that can be comfortably achieved in a day.

A Geopark Way app has been produced for each section.

Another way of seeing the geology of the Geopark is by using the Les Morris Memorial Trail – a driving trail which looks at the vast store of our natural heritage tucked away in stone built walls. The leaflet can be picked up at various centres and is also free to download from the website.

Other trails that look at the stones used in towns and heritage structures are available to explore. Some impressive building stones trails to consider are Worcester Cathedral, Worcester city centre, Hereford Cathedral, Gloucester, Bewdley town and Museum, Hartlebury Castle, Abberley village churches and Great Malvern. There is more information under ‘Explore Geology and Landscape – Walking Trails’.

River Severn

There are many places throughout the Geopark that are open to the public with free easy access. Inspiring scenery, wildlife, rocks and heritage can be found at places such as Comer Woods at Dudmaston, Severn Valley Country Park at Alveley and Highley, the Malvern Hills with the famous Iron Age British Camp, the valley of the River Wye around Ross on Wye and just outside the Forest of Dean, the Bromyard Downs and the nearby rivers Teme and Frome, and walks along the gorge-like River Severn between Bridgnorth and Stourport.

Industrial heritage – the old Highley Colliery

There are many smaller towns and villages worth a visit – Cleobury Mortimer and the nearby Clee Hills, Tenbury Wells, Ledbury, Stourport on Severn with its wonderful canal history, Tewkesbury with its abbey, Upton on Severn, Fownhope and Woolhope in the hills known as the Woolhope Dome, Newent and the nearby River Leadon, Upper Arley with its arboretum, Goodrich and its impressive castle, and Abberley with its ancient church.

Exhibition at Bewdley Museum

The year will again see GeoFest during the months of June, July and August when plenty of activities and events are programmed for people of all ages. There will be activities for children at Severn Valley Country Park, Bewdley Museum, Hartlebury Castle and Cob House.

Geology craft days

Half Term in the Geopark

There’s lots of activities and places to visit this half term.

Bewdley Museum and Severn Valley Country Park have family activities during half term. Bewdley Museum’s Halloween themed activities run Monday to Friday, with half hour slots bookable in advance, costing £5. Their Pumpkin Trail, £2, requires no booking, and you get a spooky treat at the end. Then on Saturday they have Dippy’s Outdoor Halloween Extravaganza – An outdoor show in the Green Theatre area. Please be aware of social distancing. Please bring your own picnic chairs and be prepared for all weather. Prizes for fancy dress and carved pumpkins. Refreshments available from the Garden Kitchen – 4:45-5:30pm or 6:15-7pm. Booking essential.

There are Spooky Crafts and Spooky Lantern Walk at Severn Valley Country Park. The Spooky Crafts is Wednesday 27th October- 11am-12pm – Make some spooky Halloween creatures. £3 per child. The Spooky Lantern Walk is Fri 29 October 4:30-6pm – Make your own scary lantern and join Rangers for a spooky twilight walk in the dark woods. Price (£9) includes a snack pack for children (sandwich, drink, snacks).To book places, please call 01746 781192

Dare you take the Frightful Night Trail at Cob House? Take a walk through the dark park, around our ponds and along the trees. Stay alert and stay together… there are some frightful experiences coming.

Bringing children along is at the parents discretion… however, be mindful that you may encounter things that nightmares are made of.. It runs Wednesday to Saturday and time slots need to be booked in advance.

Explore the Rock n Roll Cycle at Lapworth Museum of Geology on Sunday 24 October 11am. Performance company Lynnebec will lead a fun and engaging dance workshop for families to explore the Rock n Roll Rock cycle! Hosted at the Lapworth Museum of Geology.

Autumn is a fantastic time for getting out an about. Arley Arboretum looks lovely this time of year, and opening hours this week are 10am until 5pm, Wednesday to Sunday.

The Malvern Hills are well worth a visit, as are the Wyre Forest and the National Trust sites of Croome, Brockhampton and Dudmaston. Dudmaston have an Autumn Explorer trail 24 – 28 and 31 October, 11am-3.30pm. Follow a family trail around the grounds and discover the sights and sounds of autumn. Catch a falling leaf, look out for fungi and make a bark rubbing of your favourite tree. Trail sheets are £2 each. Collect yours from the welcome tent near reception. There’s also a Halloween cats trail in the galleries, a free trail to follow in the house.

Severn Valley Railway have trains running, including the special Ghost Train 28-30 October, for those brave enough to take it!

If you’re looking for exhibitions, Hereford Museum and Art Gallery have Grayson Perry: The Vanity of Small Differences (£5) and Herefordshire Gets Creative. Over at Worcester Cathedral there is Angels: an Exhibition by Jacqui Parkinson until 28 October.

There is a great deal of mystery surrounding these heavenly-beings. In this exhibition, the textile artist, Jacqui Parkinson, explores some of the passages in the Bible that mention angels.

Summer Fun in the Geopark!

Join us in the Geopark at one of the visitor centres, where there’s plenty to do for the family.

As well as the usual fantastic visits and spaces, many of our Geopark Forum members have special events for families over the holidays.

Bewdley Museum, Severn Valley Country Park, Hartlebury Castle and Worcester Cathedral have lots of exciting craft activities and activities to do.

Worcester Cathedral have free ‘Back to the Charter’ activities on various dates throughout the holidays. There is also the chance to have a go at a Civil war pike drill on 16, 18 and 20 August 11am and 1pm.

Hartlebury Castle have Summer Fun each week Tuesday to Thursday. There will be fun hands on craft activities. Week one is Gypsy caravans, followed by nature, creating dinosaurs and crafty pirates. Usual admission applies, with £2 per activity. They also have a bat walk on sat 31^st July. The holidays end with a performance of Treasure Island on Sun 29 August, followed by a Swashbuckling Bank Holiday Monday – Join Captain Sharkbreath and his First Mate Ruby Cutlass to learn how to talk like a pirate, all about cannon drills and hear some pirate tales in our Swashbuckle Sessions.

Severn Valley Country Park have bug hunts, crafts, orienteering and den building with their Rangers on various dates. £2 each, booking required.

Bewdley Museum have crafts each Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, with different crafts each day including Viking shields, photo frames, superhero capes and bird feeders. Each cost £5 and need to be booked in advance.

The Great British Staycation is running this summer at Severn Valley Railway

Sunshine, the taste of ice cream, the feel of sand between your toes, the sounds of Punch and Judy, donkeys trotting on the beach and steam train adventures – the Great British Staycation returns to the Severn Valley Railway. From July 17th to September 5th, there’s so much to do for children of all ages, harking back to summer holidays from years gone by.

Alongside your journey, there’ll be a variety of interactive activities throughout the whole summer at The Engine House, including: A HUGE indoor beach every day, a giant deckchair, free Donkey Rides (every Monday starting 2nd August), Free interactive yellow-coat summer stage shows (every Tuesday from July 27th), Free Punch & Judy Shows (every Wednesday), Free Crazy Golf (every Thursday)

If you are looking for events at home then Lapworth Museum have events on Zoom each Wednesday. Ichthyosaur Jigsaw, Mammoth Fun, Family Fun day and a Quiz are some of the sessions. There will also be an Insect Safari on the University of Birmingham’s campus on 25^th August.

Dudmaston will have traditional outdoor games out to play, plus a sheet with ideas of activities to do whilst you are visiting. Brockhampton will also have cards with nature-based activities to have a go at.

If you’re looking for trails then Arley Arboretum have a choice of a fairy door or wildlife trail you can enjoy the tranquility of the Arboretum whilst the kids follow their clues.

Coupled with a maze, play area and lots of nooks and crannies to explore the Arboretum is a kids paradise! Visits need to be booked in advance.

There’s another chance to have a go at being an archaeology with an Archaeology Quest at The Hive. Worcestershire Archive & Archaeology are running their popular event on Fri 30 July. It’s free, but booking required.

The visitor centres are also well worth visiting in their own right, and plenty of space where you can get out and explore and run off energy. Cob House, Arley Arboretum, NT Croome, Wyre Forest and other places are great for a day out.

Check out details before visiting, as details can change, especially at present time! You can also check out the GeoFest pages for even more suggestions!

Thank you to Merlin for sponsoring GeoFest

Half Term Fun in the Geopark

There are some fantastic events at Geopark venues this Half Term, with special family activities at Bewdley Museum, Hartlebury Castle, Lapworth Museum of Geology, Worcester Cathedral and The Hive, Worcester.

Bewdley Museum as usual have special holiday activities each day Monday – Friday:

Monday – Cotton Summer Caps; Tuesday – Ceramic Dog Planters; Wednesday – Set of 3 Wooden Coasters; Thursday – Dinosaur Sand Art; Friday – Fabric Waist Aprons

£5 per activity per child, limited spaces available.

Worcester Cathedral have free craft activities and you can drop in and meet King John! There will also be crafts available from 10:30am – 3pm Tuesday – Friday, where families can have a go at creating their own stained-glass window or brass rubbing. Other trails and activities available too including a Treasure Hunt and Safari Trail which you can download before visiting.

Hartlebury Castle have Terrific Teddies & Toys Monday to Friday. Bring your favourite teddy bear along for a picnic! Join their teddy bear friends for some fun and games around Hartlebury Castle! Explore the Castle’s beautiful grounds, and enjoy the Castle and Museum’s amazing exhibitions and displays.

Lapworth Museum of Geology have an online Family Event – AlgoRHYTHM From Home: Rock (& Roll!) Cycle. It takes place on zoom on Wed 2^nd June 11am-2pm, with performance company Lynnebec leading a fun and engaging online dance workshop for families to explore the Rock n Roll Rock cycle! Free, booking required.

An Archaeology Quest will take place at Malvern Library (2 June) and The Hive, Worcester (4 June) 10am-1pm, organised by Worcestershire Archive & Archaeology Service. Come and have a go at being an archaeologist and see what you can discover!

Booking required.

Other Geopark venues are open for you to visit and explore the great outdoors. Book a visit to one of The National Trust sites, such as Brockhampton, Dudmaston and Croome, where there’s plenty to explore. Or take a trip to the Wyre Forest and enjoy a walk in the woods.

Cob House Country Park is open to see the animals and have a drink from their café, and you can also go for a walk at Severn Valley Country Park.

The Severn Valley Railway are back running their trains again, and Lapworth Museum of Geology has just reopened.

Have fun this half term!

See more events on our GeoFest 2021 page.

GeoFest is sponsored by

GeoFest 2021 Events

We’re pleased to present GeoFest 2021. As you would expect the programme is more fluid than usual, and events will continue to be added as Government guidance changes. For more details check with the venue. Events are free unless stated, although normal admission charges (if applicable) may apply. Keep checking the calendar on www.geopark.org.uk and our Facebook page for lots more events and latest news.

You can also download the GeoFest Events 2021 events programme.

Throughout GeoFest

Nordic Walking at Severn Valley Country Park

Our Nordic Walking group meets every Wednesday 10am-11am.

If you are interested in joining, please call 01746 781 192 for more details.

Family Fun at Worcester Cathedral

If you are visiting the Cathedral as a family you can download and print these activities to do while you are going round.

Treasure Hunt

Safari Trail

Tours of Worcester Cathedral

Turn up for a Socially Distanced Tour

Mon to Sat 11am or 2.30pm, Monday to Saturday. These Historical Tours of the Cathedral start from the Welcome area near the Cathedral entrance.

Tickets will cost £7 per adult (accompanied children free). visits@worcestercathedral.org.uk

Trails at Arley Arboretum

Join us this summer at Arley Arboretum for a lovely day out.

With a choice of a fairy door or wildlife trail you can enjoy the tranquility of the Arboretum whilst the kids follow their clues. Coupled with a maze, play area and lots of nooks and crannies to explore the Arboretum is a kids paradise!

Booking in advance required for all visits

Events

Cherry Fair and 1940s weekend at Bewdley Museum

Sat 24^th & Sun 25^th July 10am-4pm

Children’s activities including a cherry hunt! 1940s re-enactors, classic, cars, craft stalls, cherries for sale, live entertainment 1-3pm

A free family event with something for everyone!

School Holiday Activities at Bewdley Museum

Tue 27 July to Thu 2 Sept

Different activities each day Tue-Thu to have a go at, including bird feeders, Viking shields and bedroom plaques. £5 per activity per child. Booking essential due to limited spaces.

The Great British Staycation at Severn Valley Railway

From July 17th to September 5th, there’s so much to do for children of all ages, harking back to summer holidays from years gone by.

Summer Holidays at Dudmaston Hall

Bring the whole family along and seek out places to play and relax. There’s a selection of traditional outdoor games to play at Dudmaston this summer. Challenge friends and family to a game of croquet on the lawn or boules in the orchard.

A selection of games are available to borrow on a first come, first served basis from the gazebo near reception. All of the equipment is free to borrow, we just ask you to keep the games tidy and return them once you’re finished.

Summer Holidays at NT Brockhampton

Throughout the summer holidays families will be able to pick up a ‘Get, set, go’ card with different activities and stickers. All the activities are nature-based meaning the estate is the perfect spot to try something new, there are three cards to collect in total. Another fun self-led thing to do is to download or print a copy of the National Trust’s ‘50 things to do before you’re 11 ¾’ guide to bring along with you. Here there are fifty activities to try as a family outdoors which can be used over and over again.

‘Back to the Charter’ Family Activities at Worcester Cathedral

Selected dates 10:30am – 3pm

Celebrate the 400th anniversary of the City of Worcester Charter and discover your Cathedral’s connections to Worcester’s story with craft, fun and games for families and all ages.

Activities are free, donations are very welcome to help cover the cost of materials.

Family Fun Saturdays in Comer Woods (NT Dudmaston)

Saturdays July – 4 September, 11.30am-2pm

Meet the Active Outdoors team in Heath Meadow for afternoons filled with fun activities for the whole family. Get your pulses racing! Challenge friends and family to a relay race around the meadow, get together for game of footie or try your hand at soft archery.

Storytelling with Gasper the Fox at Worcester Cathedral

Tue 27 July 10:30

Meet Gaspard, a friendly fox with a taste for adventure! Author Zeb Soanes tells the story of the real-life London fox who inspired his books, and reads excerpts accompanied by illustrations and photographs. Part of 3 Choirs Festival.

£7, under 5s FREE. Book via www.3choirs.org

Family Fun (Online): Ichthyosaur Jigsaw

Wed 28^th July 11am & 1pm

Geologist and artist Darrell Wakelam will lead an engaging online artistic workshop for families to create their own Ichthyosaur fossil from recycled objects. Hosted by the Lapworth Museum of Geology.

Book your place to get zoom link

Fabulous Fossils at Severn Valley Country Park

Wed 28^th July 11am-12pm

Cast your own fossil using clay and plaster. Mix up some dough using coffee and coffee grounds to make some fun fossils to hide in your garden! Take home a fossil colouring pack which includes a piece of quartz and plaster fossil which is ready to paint.

£3. Book in advance 01746 781192

Crafted in Time: Clay Tile Workshop at Lapworth Museum of Geology

Online

Thu 29^th July 6:30pm-7:30pm

Artist Rachel Akers will lead an engaging online workshop in which you will create a beautiful clay tile inspired by the Lapworth Museum.

Free – booking required

The FURTHER Adventures of Dr Dolittle – Outdoor Theatre at Hartlebury Castle

Fri 30^th July 7:30pm

Illyria are delving back into Hugh Lofting’s amazing stories to bring you a brand-new musical adaptation of the Doctor’s FURTHER adventures with Jip the Dog, Dab Dab the Duck, Gub Gub the Pig, Polynesia the Parrot.

Get Tickets £10.54 – £50.59

Pond Dipping at Severn Valley Country Park

Fri 30^th July 11am-12pm & Fri 27^th Aug 11am-12pm

Join us for a pond dip from our dipping platform at Elfin Pool. See if you can catch a slippery fish, a massive diving beetle or a dancing pond skater! There is so much to discover!

£3. Book in advance on 01746 781192

Archaeology Quest at The Hive

Fri 30 July 10am-1pm

Join Worcs Archive & Archaeology Service and have a go at six archaeology challenges. Family activity. You can then go out and look for clues to the history of the site around the outside of The Hive.

Places limited and need to be booked in advance. See www.explorethepast.co.uk/events

Bat walk at Hartlebury Castle

Sat 31^st July 8pm

Encounter our night-time flying friends as you enjoy a pleasant evening stroll in the beautiful grounds of Hartlebury Castle to learn about bats! Visitors will be introduced to habitats where bats can be found.

Get Tickets £5.50

Summer Fun at Hartlebury Castle

August

Each week, Tuesday to Thursday, there will be fun hands on craft activities. Week one is Gypsy caravans, followed by nature, creating dinosaurs and crafty pirates. Usual admission applies, with £2 per activity.

Family Fun (Online) – Life in the Ice Age: A Mammoth Adventure with Lapworth Museum

Wed 4^th August 11am & 1pm

Travel back in time for a 40 min session with cresswell crags Museum

Book in advance to get zoom link

Mini Beast Makes at Severn Valley Country Park

Wed 4^th Aug 11am-12pm

Using natural items found around the park make an array of mini beasts and woodland creatures. Turn a pine cone into a bumblebee! Transform a rock into a ladybird! Shape some clay and sticks into a prickly hedgehog! Colour and decorate a fox mask! Take home some colouring sheets to carry on the fun!

£3. Book in advance on 01746 781192

The Tombs Are Alive at Worcester Cathedral

4^th August onwards

“The Tombs are Alive” our new digital trail is available from 4 August, drop in and bring historical figures back to life as you explore the Cathedral with your smartphone. Journey round some of the tombs and memorials of the Cathedral and find out more about who they were as you meet the characters.

As well as this, fun paper family trails are also available each day to enrich your visit

Orienteering @ Severn Valley Country Park

Fri 6^th Aug 11am-12pm

Have a go at navigating our permanent orienteering course. Our ranger will help you with your map reading skills before you set off to find all the points marked on your map! There is so much to discover!

£3. Book in advance on 01746 781192

Rock and Fossil Roadshow at Severn Valley Country Park

Sat 7^th and 8^th August

Come and meet geologists, who’ll bring their displays, rocks and fossils

Free

Vintage Transport Extravaganza at Severn Valley Railway

Sat 7^th and Sun 8^th Aug

The Great Gatsby – Open Air Theatre at Bewdley Museum

Sun 8^th August 5:30-8:30pm

Get your glad rags on, work up your best Charleston, and get your cocktail glass at the ready.

£14 & £9 (children). Tickets are available to book online or by calling 0845 607 7819

Family Fun (online) – Crafts and Colouring with Lapworth Museum

Wed 11^th August 10am-5pm

Check out the Facebook page where they’ll be uploading fun craft ideas and colouring sheets on the day.

Animal Art at Severn Valley Country Park

Wed 11^th Aug 11am-12pm

Using paper plates, coffee filters and other household items make some exotic wildlife! Use colourful paper to make paper chain slippery snakes! Transform a coffee filter into an ocean loving jellyfish! Turn a paper plate into a wise old owl! Take home some colouring sheets to carry on the fun!

£3. Book in advance on 01746 781192

Mini Den Building at Severn Valley Country Park

Fri 13 Aug 11am-12pm

Join us for a mini den building session in the woods. Collect sticks, twigs, leaves and moss and build a shelter for our toy duck, Dave. Will your shelter keep Dave dry when our ranger pours water over it! There is so much to discover!

£3. Book in advance on 01746 781192

She Stoops to Conquer – Outdoor Theatre at Severn Valley Country Park

Fri 13 Aug

An 18th century farce for all the family!

£15, £14, & £7. For more information or to book your ticket, please visit

rainorshine.co.uk

Experience a Civil War Pike Drill at Worcester Cathedral

Mon 16 , Wed 18, Fri 20 Aug 11am and 1pm

Learn the moves of a Civil War Pike Solider with our drill. Weather dependent. Age restrictions apply. Numbers strictly limited.

Lovely Leaves at Severn Valley Country Park

Wed 18 Aug 11am-12pm

You’ll be surprised what you make out of leaves! Transform them into insects and other woodland creatures, Make a mobile to hang in the garden! Turn them into paint brushes and see if you can paint a picture of the park! Make them into a nature crown to wear in the summer holidays!

£3. Book in advance on 01746 781192

Family Fun (online) – Lapworth Family Quiz

Wed 18^th August 11am-12pm

Get a team together at home or online for the first Lapworth Museum Family Quiz! From dinosaurs to volcanoes there will be something for everyone to enjoy and have a go at answering in this week’s family event!

Insect Safari at Lapworth Museum

Wed 25^th August 11:30 onwards (performances last 45 mins)

Storytellers weave a magical spell as they take you out on safari from their amazing bug hotel leading you into a fantastical world of creatures that creep, crawl, fly, flutter and buzz. Incredible stories and facts from across the world burst into life in this stunning touring show with original music, an ingenious set and featuring a host of incredible puppets.

Performances take place on University of Birmingham campus. Book your place in advance.

Treasure Island – Outdoor Theatre at Hartlebury Castle

Sun 29^th Aug 7:30pm

Come along for swashbuckling fun in this classic exciting adventure. From the moment young Jim Hawkins stumbles upon a treasure map at the Admiral Benbow Inn he finds himself embroiled in the murky underworld of pirates.

Get Tickets £10 – £18

Swashbuckling Fun! At Hartlebury Castle

Mon 30^th August

Put on your best pirate costume and join us for swashbuckling fun sessions between 11.30am and 2.30pm. Can you win the competition for the best dressed pirate? Follow the pirate trail around the museum and take part in crafts (no extra charge)!

Join Captain Sharkbreath and his First Mate Ruby Cutlass to learn how to talk like a pirate, all about cannon drills and hear some pirate tales in our Swashbuckle Sessions.

Rock, Fossil & Geology Displays and Trails throughout GeoFest

Museum Geology Trail – Bewdley Museum

Rock and Fossil Displays – Bewdley Museum

Dinosaur Hunt – Bewdley Museum

Country Park Geology Trail download from Severn Valley Country Park website

History trail download from Severn Valley Country Park website

July and August – Rock and Fossil Hunt (booking required) – Severn Valley Country Park

Train Ride Geology Trail (purchase of train ticket required) – Severn Valley Railway

Rock and Fossil Displays – Malvern Hills GeoCentre

All about the Geopark Way – Malvern Hills GeoCentre

Geopark Geology and Landscape Trails leaflets for sale – Malvern Hills GeoCentre

Stable Yard Geology Trail – National Trust, Dudmaston (entry charge)

Dinosaur Detective Trail – Cob House Country Park

Building Stones Geology Trail – Hartlebury Castle (entry charge)

Forest Geology Trail – Forestry England at Wyre Forest

Building Stones Trail – Worcester Cathedral (purchase at Cathedral shop)

Exhibitions

Anthony Twentyman: Art Meets Nature at NT Dudmaston

Ongoing

‘Art meets nature’, features paintings and sculptures by Anthony Twentyman and highlights his role as one of Dudmaston’s closest artistic influencers. As well as Twentyman’s works from our own collection, the exhibition features some of Twentyman’s paintings, kindly loaned to us by Wolverhampton Art Gallery.

Entry to the Galleries is by timed ticket. Collect your tickets when you arrive. Please note, pre-booked tickets to the property do not automatically guarantee you entry to the Galleries.

Macdonald Sisters at Bewdley Museum, Wyre Forest Gallery

17^th May to 15^th August 11am-4pm

This exhibition explores the lives of four extraordinary women, including the mothers of author Rudyard Kipling and Prime Minister Stanley Baldwin, and the wives of artists Edward Burne-Jones and Edward Poynter. who found their place at the heart of Victorian artistic and intellectual life and will include works of art on loan from Tate and the V&A.
Entrance fee: £4 (free for under 16s and Friends of Bewdley Museum)

Round the Year from Stonewall Hill: A Journey in Time and Space at Hereford Museum

3^rd June – 21^st August

An exhibition of paintings by Mary Rennell and Richard Gilbert and photographs by Brian Griffiths, celebrating the panorama of the Marches from Stonewall Hill near Presteigne.

Alfred Watkins at Hereford Museum

19^th June – 11^th September

Alfred Watkins – Victorian antiquarian, photographer, and local business entrepreneur, known for his invention of the photographic exposure meter, interest in bee keeping, and his theory of Ley lines.

The Leaves of the Trees – Exhibition at Worcester Cathedral

5 -31 Aug 10am-4:30pm

Worcester Cathedral will host The Leaves of the Trees, an installation of 5,000 steel ‘Hope’ leaves, as a reflective memorial to the effects of the pandemic. The installation is designed to honour those who have lost their lives, but also to allow everyone to take a moment to contemplate what we have been through and to think about loved ones.

The leaves will be laid out on the Cathedral floor, creating a beautiful impression of autumn leaves fallen from the trees.

GeoFest is sponsored by

Out and About in GeoFest at Geopark Visitor centres

Our partner venues are well worth visiting throughout the summer. Latest details are below, but this may change in response to Government guidelines. For general enquiries please email amhg@outlook.com

Bewdley Museum, Load Street, Bewdley, DY12 2AE www.bewdleymuseum.co.uk

Open 10am-4:30pm

Free

Cob House Country Park, Wichenford, Worcester WR6 6YD www.cobhouse.org

Under new ownership

The Mayfly Cafe – Open 8am to 4pm everyday.

Fishing – Open EVERY day for pleasure fishing 8am to 4pm (7:30am on weekends)

The Park grounds and Animals – Open

Hartlebury Castle Preservation Trust, Hartlebury, Worcestershire, DY11 7XZ

Tue-Fri 10am-5pm, Sat-Sun & Bank Holidays 11am-5pm

Hartlebury Castle, Worcestershire County Museum and Old Moat Coppice nature trail.

Admission charges apply https://hartleburycastle.com/

Hereford Museum & Art Gallery, Broad Street, Hereford HR4 9AU www.herefordshire.gov.uk/museums

Tue-Fri 10-4 & Sat 10-12:30

Free

Land of Living Dinosaurs at West Midlands Safari Park, Bewdley, Worcs, DY12 1LF www.wmsp.co.uk

Lapworth Museum of Geology, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, B15 2TT www.birmingham.ac.uk/facilities/lapworth-museum/index.aspx

Tue-Fri 10am-4pm, Sat 12-5pm, Booking required

Malvern Hills GeoCentre, Walwyn Rd, Upper Colwall, Malvern WR13 6PL www.geocentre.co.uk

The Centre is currently open Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri 10am-4pm.

Cafe H2O: Mon, Tue, Thur & Fri 10am – 3pm

National Trust

Croome, near High Green, Worcester, Worcestershire, WR8 9DW nationaltrust.org.uk/croome
Dudmaston, Quatt, nr Bridgnorth, Shropshire, WV15 5QN nationaltrust.org.uk/Dudmaston
Brockhampton Estate, near Bromyard, Herefordshire, WR6 5TB nationaltrust.org.uk/brockhampton-estate

National Trust properties are open, although some facilities may still be closed.

Severn Valley Country Park, Alveley, Bridgnorth WV15 6NG www.shropshiresgreatoutdoors.co.uk/site/severn-valley-country-park

The park, and play areas are open but the visitor centre remains closed

The refreshment kiosk is now open 10am-4pm. The bird hides are also now open.

At Alveley, the toilets are open daily, 10am-4pm, the toilets at Highley will remain closed

Severn Valley Railway www.svr.co.uk

The Engine House is open and trains are running

Worcester Cathedral, Worcester WR1 2LA www.worcestercathedral.co.uk

Mon – Sat 10am – 5pm & Sun 1-3pm for visitors

Worcestershire Archive & Archaeology Service, The Hive, Worcester, WR1 3PD www.explorethepast.co.uk

Archives Tues-Fri 10:30am-3:30pm

HER Desk Tue & Thu 10:30-1:30

Self Service – Hive opening Hours

Wyre Forest Centre, DY14 9XQ www.forestryengland.uk/wyre-forest

Car park, toilets, walking & cycling trails, care and bike hire open.

8am-9pm

GeoFest 2021 - venues and locations

Check before you go, but here are some venues and locations you may want to visit during the GeoFest 2021

Click on the top left icon to see a list of all the venues. Click on it again to remove the list.
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Use the “+” and “–” in the lower left to zoom in and out of the map.

Before to check with the venue for parking, opening times and any social measures that may still be in place.

GEOFEST 2021

If you are looking forward to a summer free of restrictions why not look for inspiration during GeoFest 2021. This year the Geopark will run the festival from 29th May to 29th August. There will be lots of rock and landscape walking trails for you to try out. For young families, why not try the dinosaur detective trails or the rock and fossil challenges.

Look out for more information as the summer approaches.

Here are some places with interesting rocks and landscapes you can discover in the Geopark. More ideas to follow in coming weeks.

Arley Quayside

Stourport Riverside

Highley Miners’ Memorial

Severn Valley Railway

Hartlebury Castle

Plenty of wild flowers in remote places

Huntley Geology Reserve in Gloucestershire

Christmas 2020 in the Geopark

Christmas Tree festival at Worcester Cathedral

As the public health situation changes several of our partners are reopening to visitors, with some adaptations. Please always check before travelling and check public health guidance, especially if thinking of travelling from a tier-3 area.

Wrap up and explore the great outdoors! Many National Trust properties are open, although require booking in advance and indoor spaces may be closed or restricted. Severn Valley Country Park is open, although the visitor centre and some toilets are closed. Cob House Country Park is open too, with their café open for people within bubbles. There’s also plenty of countryside around to have a walk in, such as the Malvern Hills, or the Wyre Forest.

Robin at Brockhampton

Croome & Brockhampton (National Trust) are both running Peter Rabbit trails. Peter Rabbit’s friends need some help finding items to see them through the colder winter months. Young nature adventurers can lend a hand to some of Beatrix Potter’s well-loved characters, and solve the clues to earn their special trail badge and certificate. There will be nature-themed active challenges to try along the way, as well as a Peter Rabbit selfie station at the end of the trail. Once you’ve purchased your pack, you can complete the trail at any time, which helps us to maintain social distancing and avoid busy periods. To avoid disappointment, pre-booking your admission is recommended, but you don’t need to prebook the trail

Bewdley Museum is open, and has craft stalls on 19 & 20 December, along with live music. As they can’t do children’s and family activities you can buy Children’s (£5) and family (£10) Festive Activity packs in their shop.

Severn Valley Country Park have Christmas goodies for sale Saturday 12 December from their volunteers to help raise money for the projects they do! Join them between 12pm and 2pm. They will be undercover on the patio area at the visitor centre. There’s snowmen tree decorations, handmade avocets, reindeer, garden trugs, beautiful wood turned items and more! If you can’t get to them on Saturday, then the items are for sale daily. Either knock on the window at visitor centre.

Lapworth Museum of Geology has an Online Family Fun session on Saturday 19 December 11am-12pm. Join them online (booking required) as they explore some of the fossils, rocks and minerals in the museum.

They also have their online Christmas Lecture on 17 December 7-8pm – Ruiz Revisited: New Insights on Colombian Volcanoes.

Worcester Cathedral have their Christmas events, but in different ways than usual. Their Carol Service on 18 December and their Christmas services need to be booked in advance. Several services will be live streamed too. Their popular Christmas tree festival also needs booking in advance. The cathedral is open for visitors Monday to Saturday 11am-3pm and Sunday 1pm-3pm.

Worcester Cathedral

It’s full steam ahead for Severn Valley Railway as they run their revised Christmas services. They will operate a COVID-safe experience, with all appropriate social distancing guidelines and reduced numbers in place. They look forward to running their first Steam in Lights service from December 3rd, and first Santa Trains from December 5th.

Half term in the Geopark

There are exciting events over half term at Geopark partner venues.

Bewdley Museum has another great set of half term activities (prebooking required), plus a Halloween trail (£2 – no booking needed). Dippy’s outdoor extravaganza takes place on Saturday 31 October (with fancy dress and pumpkin judging) – tickets only available for the 2^nd performance at 6:15pm

Severn Valley Country Park has a self-led pumpkin trail. The refreshment kiosk is open to keep your energy levels up! There are 8 pumpkin patches – made of colourful pumpkin pictures – around the park. Maps are available from outside the visitor centre, 10.30pm-3pm. The trail does follow hard surface paths around the park, but it could be muddy in places!

In Worcester Cathedral’s new Undercroft Learning project has arts events for the family, book at artsandwonder.co.uk. They also have new family friendly, covid-safe ways to explore Worcester Cathedral. As well as their popular Safari Trail they also have a brand new torch trail and we’re trailing a new digital trail (smartphone and data connection required). Find out more: https://sites.google.com/view/dukeofhamilton/introduction

The Wyre Forest is a great place to go to get out and about. Before you go download their free autumn activity pack for kids. Teach them how to… Forage for forest fruits, Explore autumn colours, Create leaf fireworks, Hunt for seeds, Start a helicopter race, Make a bookmark, Get in touch with how autumn makes them feel. Download the pack here

Herefordshire Museum has their Ice Age exhibition on still. A great place to visit and discover about mammoths and other animals which called Herefordshire home thousands of year ago.

This Halloween have a go at the Anglo-Saxon burial mystery with Worcestershire Archive & Archaeology Service. Have a go at being an archaeologist in the comfort of your home and see what you can work out from the remains of this burial.

There are some glorious autumnal views when you travel on the Severn Valley Railway at the moment. They also have some Halloween specials this week too.

If you’re looking for other ideas Cob House is open, as are many of the National Trust properties, although booking is required.

Ice Age at Herefordshire Museums

Can you imagine mammoths roaming Herefordshire? Or a landscape on the edge of a massive ice sheet? How long did the Ice Age last and did people live here? Come and find the answers, discover the stories about King Arthur’s Cave and meet a life size mammoth model. Plenty for the family to explore including a child friendly science lab, making a cave painting, dressing up as wolf or reindeer, and helping to create a baby woolly mammoth!

Did you know at it’s height the ice sheet during the last ice age was at least twice the height of the Cathedral tower, and may have been as deep as 180m – over 3 times as high as the tower?

Ice Age Herefordshire, curated by Herefordshire Museum Service will be at Hereford Museum & Art Gallery until 28 November 2020.

The exhibition is free but we suggest a donation of £2.50.

Hereford Museum and Art Gallery is open Tuesday and Wednesday 1pm to 4pm and Thursday, Friday and Saturday 10am to 1pm. Extended half-term opening times – Tuesday 27 October and Wednesday 28 October, 10am to 4pm.

Strict social distancing measures are in place at this venue. Learn more.

An exhibition developed by Worcester Museums has been recreated here with a Herefordshire focus. It features the bones of extinct animals, animals that survived the Pleistocene Ice Age, and artefacts made by early humans. It outlines the geology and landscape of Ice Age Herefordshire and beyond, including investigating the remains of Herefordshire’s Ice Age Ponds. Artwork created by students at Hereford College of Arts brings things up to date with their exploration of the meaning and effect of modern day Climate Change.

Suggested donations of £2.50

Geopark partners National Trust events

What’s going on with our National Trust partners …

Our partners at the National Trust still have things going on as more things are opening up but there are still some restructions with some sites though there is plenty to see and do still.

Here is a list of things to do so be sure to book your ticket, take a mask and enjoy the day out.
Note: I am afraid, there is a policy of no BBQs and do please read their “Hands on or Hands off” policy

Croome Court what’s on

Croome is open to tours so ensure you book your ticket for the timed entry (21 Sept – 27 Sept)

Walks around Croome Court and gardents

Brockhampton what’s on

Please ensure you ensure you book your ticket for the timed entry (21 Sept – 27 Sept)
Estate, Grounds, Granary food kiosk, car park and toilets. A limited range of takeaway drinks and light snacks will be on sale

Kinver edge what’s on

Dogs at Kinver Edge and the Rock Houses

Walks aroundKinver Edge and the rock houses

There are walks available for all abilities and time scales, so you can choose to go on a short, gentle walk up to the Hillfort or a longer ramble to find Nanny’s Rock in the woods

Nanny’s Rock in the woods

Remember to book your tickest for the timed entry to Kinver Edge and the Rock Houses (21 Sept – 27 Sept)

Greyfriars what’s on

Sorry – it is still closed but keep an eye on their opening times web page
Have a look at their exciting involvement in the “There are no barriers at Greyfriars” project

Dudmaston what’s on

Sorry but Dudmaston is still closed to the public for safety reasons …
But keep an eye on their timed entry to Dudmaston (21 Sept – 27 Sept)
You can still take advantage of the Downloadable walks at Dudmaston

Hereford museums and Art Gallery

If you have not had a chance to get out or book tickets, the Hereford museums and Art Gallery is available as a virtual tour online so you need not miss out but you can get a preview until you get a chance to get there in person.

You can still see what they have as Museum Resource and Learning Centre in particul their “Inside Out” video which

“bring the hidden gems of its collections bursting into life”

Perhaps the “Ice Age Herefordshire” exhibition that runs until 31 October 2020 at Hereford Museum and Art Gallery.

Geopark – Mid-September catchup

As we slip through September, there are more of our partner’s visitors centres reopening and putting on some great events, so check for details before travelling and adhering to social distancing guidelines enjoy taking advantage of the great places we have in the Geopark.

Have another look at our September updates post and get to the events in this lovely weather we are having.

Geopark – September Updates

For example …

Bewdley Museum have the Worcestershire in the Ice Age exhibition ending on the 20th September so not long now.
a sketched mammoth in various tones of blue and purple with trees and mountains in the background
Or perhaps perhaps you are waiting for their guided town walks 18 and 21 October.

Wyre Forest (Forestry England) still have loads of things to do with 3 walking trails, 1 cycling trail, Horse riding, Go Ape, Nordic Walking, Play area, Picnic areas, Bike hire, Café and, of course, dogs welcome

Group dog walking

Hartlebury Castle has reopened with amended opening days/times and on 19 September – 20 September are the Heritage Open Days (free entry).

The Cob House Country Park has reopened and continuing their Boot Camp 9.30am.

The Severn Valley Country Park has lots of guided walks for example Guided Walk: Along the Valley to Northwood with
Steam Train Return (7 miles) on Monday 16th September 9.30am-4.30pm

Severn Valley Railway have reopened, along with SVRs two pubs though be sure to pre-book your ‘Freedom of the Line‘ tickets and read the guidelines.

Personally I did a short 8km walk yesterday around the Great Witley area and relished the views and the refreshements.

Panoramic view scenery from Great Witley

Panoramic view west from Great Witley (Shelsey Beauchomp)

Worcester Cathedral at Night - Saturday 12th September

Experience the Cathedral out of hours by candlelight!

Worcester Cathedral are opening up on Saturday evening 6:15 PM – 10:00 PM for a special event.

Their exciting ‘Cathedral at Night’ event takes place this coming Saturday 12th September. The cathedral will be open until 10pm and it is a wonderful opportunity to experience this inspiring, captivating, and historic space in a different way.If you are coming may we suggest arriving later than the advertised start time, because as darkness falls the cathedral will look splendid in the evening light with candles and lower light-levels inside than usual.

Explore a torch-light family trail. Find Inspiration through atmospheric music – organ scholar and choral scholars will be providing music throughout the evening. Enjoy a glass of wine (or soft drink) in the medieval Cloister.

Don’t forget to bring your torches for the torch-light trail! And you’ll need to bring your face mask.

Entry is free but they welcome donations (contactless giving points are available).

This event has proved very popular on Facebook posts so please note that to ensure they keep to our Covid-secure safety measures there might be a short wait outside the north porch at busy times. But do not worry – they are open until 10pm!

Fossil Activity Sheets for GeoFest

With GeoFest being most virtual this year, we are sharing some more activity sheets on fossils. Who isn’t fascinated by fossils? Discover more about them as you colour some in.

Click here for all the sheets Fossils

And there are dinosaur activity sheets to colour too: dinosaurs-cretaceous and Ammonite colouring page

Eat Out To Help Out in the Geopark

Several of the visitor centres in the Geopark are taking part in the Government’s Eat Out To Help Out scheme. Monday – Wednesday get half price food, up to £10 each. Another great reason to visit them!

Cob House Country Park, Wichenford

National Trust

Some venues, such as National Trust, require pre-booking.

Family Activities for GeoFest in August

With some restrictions easing a few of our partners are starting to offer family activities again. Please check before going as some need booking and there may be late changes due to guidance.

At Bewdley Museum they are running their summer craft activities, but in a slightly different way. They cost £5 and need to be pre-booked

Worcester Cathedral have online family activities. Enjoy learning about the Cathedral at home through downloadable video’s and crafting ideas. Or print off and bring them along and have fun exploring this great historic building. Activities will be added to this page during the month.

“Play Tudor Games” – Have fun learning how to play some Tudor Games with help from Lady Matilda Grey, lady-in-waiting to Jane Seymour

“Prince Arthur Family Tree” – Learn about the boy who would have been king. Henry VIII’s big brother – Prince Arthur who is buried at Worcester Cathedral

“Chantry Chapel History Hunt” – Can you find all the clues in Prince Arthurs Chantry Chapel. The Chapel tells us about the life of the boy who would have been king

“Six Wives of Henry VIII” – Investigate interesting and unusual facts about the six wives of Henry VIII – explained to you by Lady Matilda Grey, Lady-in-Waiting to Jane Seymour.

“Manuscript Writing” – Have fun learning to write like a monk, or Harry Potter! Make calligraphy, and if you have access to a goose or similar feather you could even have a go at making your own quill.

“Prayer Stones” – Design your own prayer stone using symbols from the Cathedral. It can be used to aid contemplation, prayer or mindfulness.

Check out www.worcestercathedral.co.uk/learning/family-activities for details

Hartlebury Castle has VJ Day events on Saturday 15th and Sunday 16th August. Discover more about VJ Day and nurses during World War II in fascinating displays. Enjoy seeing Classic World War II vehicles in the Carriage Circle and relax in the grounds listening to 1940s music as you sip a drink from Schoonersbar, have a picninc and test your luck on our Covid friendly tombola. Please be aware that for your safety this is a small scale event, and your arrival must be prebooked.

Then on Bank Holiday Monday they have a swahsbuckling pirate event! Dress up as you favourite pirate and enjoy Swashbuckling Fun at Hartlebury Castle! Join Captain Sharkbreath and his First Mate, Ruby Cutlass for a Swashbuckle Session as you learn how to talk like a pirate, learn about the cannon drill and listen to pirate tales. However, beware the pirate curse and keep yer distance, less you wants to catch the black spot! Swashbuckle Sessions at 11.30 am, 1.00 pm, 2.00 pm & 3.00 pm.

Lapworth Museum is continuing their family activity days on Wednesdays. Next Wednesday (19th), they’re focusing on the magnificent Meganeura, a giant dragonfly-like arthropod (above) from the Carboniferous period! Create your own Meganeura with crafts and activity resources shared throughout the day by joining the event on their Facebook page. Check out the page for their past events and resources too

If you’re planning on going to the Wyre Forest, other woodland, or just staying at home, Forestry England have Highway Rat worksheets to colour in and ideas for things to do.

Here on our Geopark website we have several activity sheets for families

Ammonites

Dinosaur colouring sheets

Volcanoes

Lapworth Museum’s Virtual Family Fun Days

Join Lapworth Museum of Geology on their facebook page to explore our weird and wonderful world every Wednesday! Each week they will be sharing a short video about a fantastic creature or our incredible planet as well as a craft activity and colouring sheet. All videos and activities will be uploaded to the event page, so stay tuned.

Join Lizzy, their Learning and Community Engagement Officer for the first session as she explores the amazing ammonite, from how they lived to where they got their name!

Please note: The Lapworth Museum of Geology remains closed to the public during the Summer holidays.

Malvern Science in the Park

Malvern Science in the Park

Sat 27th June 2020, online from 10am to 4:30pm.

Geopark Forum member the Malvern GeoCentre is helping to organise this great fun event, with Dr Adrian Burdan your host for the day.

Due to the current situation this is going virtual this year. Join them for free from your own home or garden for our fourth annual fun and exciting day exploring the wonders of science and technology. Try out some experiments for yourself guided by our live science demonstrators, ask those burning science questions, and find out what it’s like to be a scientist working in a lab.

This includes geology and fossil related events, with sessions on Malvern fossils at 11am and 2pm, which will be great. A local paleontologist will be sharing some of the fossils he’s collected from the Malvern Hills

At 3:30pm there’s a session on The Rock Cycle and the origins of the 3 main types of rocks.

Register to join the event as a webinar attendee on Zoom (numbers are limited, but for some of the talks you’ll be able ask our speakers questions).

The event will also be streamed live on Facebook.

#InnovateMalvern, #ScienceInPark

More details at

https://www.innovatemalvern.com/science-in-park

Spring 2020 Update

With the public health situation in the country all our venues are currently closed. Planned events have been cancelled or postponed. We will update the calendar and events once this is over and we can resume activities.

We hope you are keeping safe at present.

Lots of Great Activities in February Half term!

Half Term sees a wide range of activities at Geopark venues with plenty to choose from.

In Worcester it is the Love Worcester Festival. Our Worcester members Worcester Cathedral and Worcestershire Archive & Archaeology Service have a range of events. The Cathedral has Awesome Adventures for families on Monday and Tuesday where you can make a range of crafts, and on the Monday you can have a selfie with the amazing Tudor Legacy Ladies. At The Hive you can go Behind the scenes of the archives and we have hands on History in the children on Thursday where children can be archaeologists and see what they can find in the sandpit. The week ends with an urban pilgrimage from the cathedral to three of the city’s historic churches.

Archaeology fun in The Hive

If you’re looking for craft activities for families then you’re spilt for choice. Bewdley Museum has different crafts Monday – Friday 11am-3pm, £5. Cob House has visitor running different crafts events too such as sand Art and Jumping Clay.

At Wyre Forest you can get out and about and explore the forest, and download a trail linking to the new Shaun the Sheep Movie – Farmageddon.

National Trust properties are running their popular trails – Wassail Trail at Brockhampton near Bromyard and a Tree-mendous trail at Croome. Croome will also be opening their Panorama Tower on Wedneasday where you can get stunning views as well as find out about the landscape from information sheets created by Geologists in the Geopark. At Dudmaston they have their snowdrop walks at weekend.

Panorama Tower – Katherine Alker

Lapworth Museum at Geology at Birmingham University have loads going on in half term. They have all sorts of dinosaur fun on Tuesday and Thursday.

Over at Hartlebury they have a mythical creatures trail and you can also make crafts for £2 (plus admission).

Severn Valley Country Park has lots on too, in addition to being a great place to get out and about. From 15^th to 23^rd they have Brilliant Birds free craft drop in. On the Friday there is also a free Woodland Mini Beast Hunt.

You’ll be spoilt for choice!

As usual it’s best to double check details before travelling. especially if bad weather.

The Discovery Society

Bewdley School has set up a Charitable Incorporated Organisation, ‘The Discovery Society’ to advance opportunities for exploration and science research. A significant part of what we are hoping to establish during the coming year is a programme of science lectures/talks for our students.

If you have an interest and expertise in exploration and/or scientific research, or you know someone who does, and you feel that you might be able to offer an interesting and engaging lecture/talk to our society, please do get in touch with us. We are also in contact with local University Departments, but are spreading our nets as widely as possible, as we don’t want to miss any opportunities for our students to learn from local experts.

Details of talks are below

During the next month we will be pressing on with the organisation of our summer series. There are 2 speakers organised already, and if you know of other potential speakers, please do point them in our direction. All lectures will be publicised and places booked using Eventbrite, which is accessible via a QR code on our flyers. Speakers for the summer series can book a slot at:

Discovery Society Summer Lecture Series 2020

Please do ask any potential speakers to contact Dave Hadley-Pryce (Head Teacher) if they have any questions.

Croome’s Panorama Tower 2020 Open Days

Panorama Tower – photo Katherine Alker

Croome’s Panorama Tower will open monthly again this year. You can get fantastic views of the Malvern Hills and north to Abberley and Clee Hill (on a good day!). The geology information sheets produced by Geologists in the Geopark are available for visitors to use to understand the surrounding landscape better.

Panorama Tower Open Days:

Sunday 26 Jan 11 – 2pm

Wed 19 Feb 11- 2pm

Sat 14 March 11 – 2pm

Friday 24 April 11 – 3pm

Sun 17 May 11- 3pm

Mon 22 June 11 – 3pm

Tues 14 July 11 – 3pm

Sat 15 Aug 11 – 3pm

Wed 23 Sept 11 – 3pm

Sun 18 Oct 11 – 2pm

Sat 21 Nov 11 – 2pm

For further information on Croome please see www.nationaltrust.org.uk/croome

Parking for Panorama Tower open days: parking at main visitor car park at Croome, then 1.5 mile walk to the tower (Walks Map available from Croome shop). There is limited parking on the verge near the tower, then a short walk across the field to the tower itself.

View from Panorama Tower – photo Katherine Alker

Christmas across the Geopark

This December there are lots of things to do at Geopark venues. We’ve many of them on our calendar but we’ve some highlights below.

Father Christmas at Hartlebury Castle

Want to meet Santa?

He’ll be at Hartlebury Castle 7^th and 8^th December, Bewdley Museum 17th and 15th, at Cob House Country Park and Severn Valley Country Park each weekend for breakfast. He’ll also be strolling around Croome each weekend.

Want to do something crafty?

Cob House have various events on in the run up to Christmas. Bewdley Museum and Severn Valley Country Park have weekend crafts too. Hartlebury have wreath making workshops, with a few places currently left on 13^th December. Severn Valley Country Park have Wreath workshops on the 13^th using greenery from the park and a Table Decoration workshop on 19^th December. At The Hive children can make a Pomander with Worcestershire Archive & Archaeology Service

Craft Fairs are at Bewdley Museum, Dudmaston and Hartlebury on various days.

Pomander

Looking for Carols?

Unsurprisingly Worcester Cathedral have various carol services over Christmas. Their main carol services are 6:30pm on 22^nd and 23^rd December, with the usual Christmas Eve and Christmas Day services too. They also have concerts, and The Snowman and Snowdog on Saturday 21^st December has 3 performances and ideal to take children to a few days before Christmas. There is also their popular Christmas tree festival in the cloisters.

Carols will also be at Croome in the church on various dates, and at Brockhampton on Sunday 22^nd December.

Former Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, will be at Hartlebury Castle on 13^th December performing ‘A Thousand years of Christmas‘, with readings, and singing folk carols with Sally Bradshaw.

Want to get out and about?

Brockhampton have Elvish trails at weekends, and Croome have their own trail later over the Christmas holidays. Dudmaston’s 10K run is on 22^nd December, and Severn Valley Country Park’s Parkrun is on additionally on Christmas Day and New Years Day for the keen runner! And Wyre Forest is also open everyday apart from Christmas day if you want to stretch your legs including over the Christmas holidays if you want to walk off the excesses of turkey and mince pies.

Severn Valley Railway have various Christmas themed trains. Many are sold out but check out their website to see what is available.

Please check as some events have limited places and/or require booking. Venue websites, and our calendar, have more details.

Tornado Returns to Severn Valley Railway!

The world-famous locomotive will make a welcome return to the Railway on November 9th, 10th, 17th and 24th hauling two services out of Kidderminster and two services out of Bridgnorth.

Passengers can ride behind the iconic locomotive – hauling the Railway’s appropriate LNER teak set of carriages, for normal fare prices, and book in advance for special reserved seating. In addition Severn Valley Railway are printing their geology trail so you can discover more about the amazing landscape which the line passes through, and how the geology has shaped it.

Or you can print out your own trail here. A Train Ride Geology Trail – Severn Valley Railway

Check out details of the visit and how to purchase tickets here

Geology Day Schools in the Geopark

Chris Darmon is running a number of Day Schools at geopark venues this autumn. For more details please check out his website at https://www.geosupplies.co.uk/geology_learning_study_courses.php

How do we read rocks & landscape? – CANCELLED

Wednesday 6 November
This inside/outside day is aimed particularly at those for whom reading rocks
and landscape is something new, although all are welcome. There will be an
indoor session in the morning, followed by lunch in the cafe (at your own
expense) and then we’ll take a stroll to see some local rock outcrops and take
in the wider landscape.
Meeting: Severn Valley Country Park, Highley, Worcs at 10.30 Cost: £10.00

Rocks of all kinds explained!

Wednesday 27 November
How do we distinguish different rocks? What’s the difference between a
granite and basalt, or a slate and shale? This inside/outside day will combine a
classroom session with an outdoor visit around Bewdley where we’ll be able to
see natural rocks ‘in the street’. There’s an onsite cafe where you can buy
lunch. This day is aimed particularly at beginners, but all are welcome.
Meeting: Bewdley Museum at 10.30 Cost: £10.00

Rockstars, a celebration of famous rocks

Wednesday 11 December
There are some rocks that everyone has heard of, like Portland Stone or Shap
Granite. But why are they famous, what makes them so special? We’ll be
examining some famous rocks in a practical session and then learning more
about them in a lively teaching session during this day of two parts. Hot drinks
and biscuits are included.
Meeting: Lapworth Museum, Birmingham University at 10.30 Cost £20.00

To book for any Day Trip go to: www.geosupplies.co.uk and enter the online
shop. Alternatively ring 0114 245 5746

You can the Down to Earth magazine here DtoE extra October 2019

Pit at the Park – Severn Valley Country Park

Marking 50 years since mining ceased in the Severn Valley. Join us for this family friendly day to celebrate the past and present of Severn Valley Country Park!

Throughout the day there will be: Landy Train rides, pony rides, coal shovelling competitions*, FREE self-led activity trails – including one which is part of the Unlocking the Severn Project, FREE geology themed craft activities, and a drop-in memory sharing station.

The Visitor Centre will be officially open and from there you will also be able to purchase £5 return Severn Valley Railway tickets to travel between the Country Park Halt and Highley Station, including entrance to The Engine House, where a Highley Mining Company wagon is on display.

Scheduled activities include:
Talks by the Granville Miners, FREE pond dipping sessions, Rock & Fossil Hunts (booking required), Highley Colliery Band will play, the showing of a short film, the unveiling of a new sculpture dedicated to those who work at Highley and Alveley Collieries.

There will be a small charge for some activities

For more information, or to book onto the Rock & Fossil Hunts, please call 01746 781192

(The event is part of the Severn Valley Lives in the Landscape Project and organised in partnership with the Alveley Mining Heritage Group, the Unlocking the Severn Project, and the Geologists in the Geopark. The Lives in the Landscape project is supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund, Shropshire Council and The Jean Jackson Charitable Trust.)

*Coal has been very kindly provided by Mansell Fuels (01746 762265)

Geology Craft Day at Wyre Forest

Fill your boots with an explosion of crafts, fossils and rocks. Wyre Forest are having another craft day on Wednesday 21 August when you can be inspired by rocks, fossils and dinosaurs. You can also visit the quarry here too. It’s all free (just pay for parking), just come along!

Geology Craft days at Worcester Cathedral

After the success of the Geology Craft Days last year they are returning to Worcester Cathedral on Thursday 15th and Monday 19th August.

Come along to join us for this great free event/ See some real fossils, chat to the experts and ask your questions, and be inspired to create your own great crafts. There are plenty of different activities to choose from.

The event takes place in the Chapter House 10:30-12:30 and then 2;30-3:30. Just come along!

Lapworth Lates & an Exhibiton About Salt & Travels

Lapworth Museum of geology, based at Birmingham University, joined the Geopark Forum last year. It’s a great day out, especially for anyone interested in dinosaurs and geology. They have various events and exhbitions over the summer

at the Lapworth Museum of Geology, University of Birmingham . This exhibition by PhD student Jack Richardson gives a personal insight into what it is like to do research and study for a PhD. Admission free

Jack’s Adventures with Salt. Temporary Exhibition

Follow the adventures of geologists as they investigate the secrets of salt using magnets! Jack’s PhD is coming to a close in 2019 and during that time his adventures have taken him all around the world to collect samples, fly drones and study Earth’s history. This exhibition tells the story of Jack’s field work and gives you the chance to get a behind the scenes view of a researcher’s life. 16^th July – 25^thOctober

Find out more on their website

Lapworth Late event

3^rd instalment of the Lapworth Lates. 7-10 pm 15^th August.

Prepare for an ADVENTURE into inspiring arts and cutting-edge research at the third Lapworth Lates!

Meet the pioneering people exploring the unknown! From Antarctic survival to great escapes, uncover the incredible journey of plants, people and plastics.

Adventure through the Museum’s collections to spark your imagination and get creative with clay and recycled materials in our artist led workshops.

Drinks and light nibbles will be available on the night.

This event is free of charge but booking is essential. Tickets will be available from the 29th of July.

Find out more about the museum at

https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/facilities/lapworth-museum/index.aspx

Summer Holidays at Cob House Country Park

Cob House Country Park is once again a great place to visit during the summer holidays. Three miles out of Worcester, you can come and visit Reindeer, Alpacas, Pigs, Goats, Chickens and Ducks and walk round the parkland free of charge. The Mayfly Cafe provides drinks and great food.

There are also special events for the holidays too, some of which have charges. For full details visit www.cobhouse.org/events/

August

1st – Bear Club 10.30am to 12 noon (Booking essential: charlotte.rone@sky.com)

1st – Sand Art 1-3pm – just drop in

6th – Couch to 2k

8th – Bear Club 10.30 to 12 noon (Booking essential: charlotte.rone@sky.com)

8th – Sand Art 1-3pm – just drop in

9th – Pampered Ponies are here with pony rides 10.30am to 3pm

13th – Couch to 2k

14th – Junior Angling – Please pick up a leaflet in reception

16th – The Pickle Lady is back with us for delicious pickles

19th – Walking for Health – meet at 10.15 am on the patio area. Dementia Friendly, everyone welcome.

20th – Pampered Ponies are here for Pony Rides

21st – Jumping Clay 10am to 1pm in the Mayfly Cafe

22nd – Bear Club 10.30 to 12 noon (Booking essential: charlotte.rone@sky.com)

22nd – Sand Art 1-3pm – just drop in.

28th – Junior Angling – Please pick up a leaflet in reception

You can also ring Cob House on 01886 888517

Cob House, Worcester Road,
Wichenford, Worcester
WR6 6YE

Summer Holiday Events in the Geopark

Now the summer holidays are here many families are looking for things to do, especially if free or cheap! Many of our partner visitor centres have family friendly events over the coming weeks.

Bewdley Museum have craft activities each weekday. Entry to the museum is free and crafts are £4 per child. It’s different every day so check out https://www.bewdleymuseum.co.uk/whats-on/holiday-activities-at-bewdley-museum.aspx for what’s on offer.

Cob House Country Park is a great place to take the family. As well as visiting the animals there they have special events throughout the summer including angling, pony rides and craft activities. Check out their diary to see what’s on offer.

Hartlebury Castle has lots on over the summer to keep children occupied. As well as visiting the museum at the castle there are craft sessions, magic themed activities, falconry, willow weaving and guided walks. Check our more at https://hartleburycastle.com/events/

Lapworth Museum of Geology over at Birmingham University have free family fun days every Wednesday in the holidays 10am-5pm. On other days you can explore the refurbished museum for free.

There are opportunities to get close to nature at Severn Valley Country Park with pond dipping and mini-beast safaris. They’re also running regular craft activities, many of them free. Check out what’s available on their website.

Severn Valley Railway have summer themed holiday activities at their stations, and special offers on the railways. https://www.svr.co.uk/SEItem.aspx?a=155

Worcester Cathedral once again have their Discover Something Different series throughout August, including free family activity sessions.

At Brockhampton Estate they have a fruit rhyme trail all summer, as well minecraft days and a dog show.

There are many more events too. Check the calendar on our website or the GeoFest leaflet.

We are grateful to Merlin Energy for sponsoring GeoFest again

As You Like it at Severn Valley Country Park

Outdoor theatre comes to Severn Valley Country Park, Alveley, WV15 6NG

Professional theatre company Rain or Shine, hailed by ‘The Stage’ as “one of the best companies touring open air theatre” are set to delight family audiences once again this summer with their 21st Anniversary production of Shakespeare’s ‘perfect pastoral comedy’… As You Like It.

Join one of The Bard’s most famous heroines, Rosalind, as she makes her way in a world full of power, jealousy and tyranny. In fear for her life and in search of true love, she flees her heritage with her cousin Celia and fool Touchstone. Will disguising herself as a country lad lead her to a new life full of hope, laughter, and her banished father? With songs galore, hand-to-hand wrestling, idiotic shepherds and the infamous melancholic Jaques, this comedy is sure to delight family audiences from 6 to 96.

So, pack your picnic, rugs and chairs, pop open some beer or bubbly and sit back and relax in the summer sunshine, while we whisk you off to the Forest of Arden where anything can happen!

Rain or Shine aim is to bring classical theatre into the heart of local communities as they travel across the country during June July and August.

The tour includes a performance at Severn Valley Country Park, Alveley on Friday 9th August at 7.30pm. (Gates at 6.30pm). The Kiosk will be open for refreshments. Adult £14, Concession £13 and Child £7. Tickets from 01746 781192 or via rainorshine.co.uk.

Audiences are requested to bring along low-backed seating or rugs, and a picnic to maximise their enjoyment of the al fresco performances. Full details of the tour and venues can be found on the Rain or Shine website and tickets can be purchased from each venue, through Ticketweb via www.rainorshine.uk, or by ringing 0330 660 0541.

Family Geology Events in GeoFest

We have a wide range of activities in GeoFest, with partner venues running talks, tours, walks, trails and craft activities. Amongst these are are a number of event where our experts will be attending. We’ll have special crafts and activities, and you can also bring along your questions.

Rock and Fossil Hunt at Severn Valley Country Park

Thursday 8th August 1.30-3pm

(Please note the planned event on Thursday 25th is cancelled due to expected extreme heat)

Join rangers & local experts to try finding your own fossil! After an introduction we’ll set out to see what we can discover, with experts on hand, then return to examine your finds under a microscope. Please bring a small trowel & plastic tub with you to aid your fossil hunting. Booking required on 01746 781 192. Child £4, adult free, all children must be accompanied by an adult. Suitable for age 5+

Rock and Fossil Challenge in Comer Woods – NT Dudmaston

Thu 1^st & 22^nd August 11:00-3:00

Take a closer look at ancient rocks and fossils. Meet at Heath Barn in Comer Woods.

Free, just drop in

Craft Activities – Printing, Stencilling & Stamping at Severn Valley Country Park

Join us for some fun printing, stencilling and stamping, inspired by the Geology of Severn Valley Country Park and its present-day flora and fauna. Use paint, crayons and ink stamps to create your own picture to take home and keep.

Free, all materials are provided. Drop in anytime between 12pm and 3pm.

7th August (12-3pm) – Leaves and Ferns

28th August (12-3pm) – Dragonflies and Butterflies

Rock & Fossil Challenge at Hartlebury Castle

Wed 13^th to Thu 15^th August 11:00-3:30

Come and take part in this free rock & fossil challenge. Usual Castle admission applied.

Geology Craft Days at Worcester Cathedral

Thu 15^th & Mon 19^th August 10:30-12:30 & 1:30-3:30

Come along and join us for this great event. See some real fossils and be inspired to make some great crafts. Free

Craft Geology for the Family at Wyre Forest

Wed 21^st Aug 10:30-12:30 & 1:30-3:30

Fill your boots with an explosion of crafts, fossils and rocks. Delve in to the past and create your own 3D ancient environment or stencil and stamp away and let your imagination fun free. Then you can create your own masterpiece by paint you own plaster of Paris dinosaurs and fossils.

Just drop in. Free, donations appreciated.

GeoFest is very kindly sponsored by Merlin Energy

Discover Something Different at Worcester Cathedral

Worcester Cathedral are running another exciting series of events this August with their annual Discover Something Different series. Tours, talks and family activities including two rock and fossil craft events on 15th & 19th August as part of GeoFest.

Severn Valley Railway this summer

Severn Valley Railway have special events and special offers this summer to help make the holidays extra special.

Visit of Geopark President & Launch of Les Morris Memorial Trail

The President of the Geopark Chris Darmon, will be visiting the Geopark on 13th and 14th July. His itinerary includes visits to the National Trust at Croome and Dudmaston. On Sunday 14th he will launch the Les Morris Memorial Trail at 11.30 in the orchard at Dudmaston. This self guided discovery trail covers over 30 locations throughout the Geopark. In the afternoon at Dudmaston starting at 1.30 there is a guided geology walk around the state.

Les in red top, on one of his many field trips

Les Morris (pictured below) was a geographer and geologist who spent his working life as an educator. A wonderful man and founding member of the Geopark, Les had time for anyone interested in the formation and evolution of our planet and the landscapes upon it. Les had a vision to bring this story to everyone by unlocking the vast store of our natural heritage tucked away in stone built walls.

Part of Dudmaston Estate showing one of the many rock outcrops

Croome Panorama Open day

Panorama Tower Eyecatcher (John Hubble)

The next Panorama Tower open day is on Tuesday 16th July from 11am – 3pm. Free admission to the tower, but donations welcome. Normal admission applies to Croome (NT members free). Visitors can climb the spiral staircase to get to the balcony. You will be able to admire the amazing views and see the information sheets about the landscape and its geology created by Peter Oliver.

Further dates are Friday August 9^th and Sunday September 8^th. See here for more details.

Panorama Tower (Kathryn Rudd)

GeoFest is kindly sponsored by Merlin Energy

Guided Walk: Geology of Severn Valley Country Park & Highley

Severn Valley Country park

Guided Walk: Geology of Severn Valley Country Park & Highley

Saturday 6th July 2019

Join geology expert Mike Preston for this fascinating guided walk taking a closer look at geology in and around the country park. Investigate spoil heaps: follow the development of the river since the ice age; visit Highley Station and examine local buildings for signs of sandstone.

Part of GEOFEST 2019

£3 per person

Call 01746 781 192 to book your place.

Pay on day.

Meet at 11am Severn Valley Country Park, WV15 6NG, Refreshment Kiosk.

Guided Geology Walks

We a couple of great guided walks coming up where you can find out about the rocks around you as well as having a nice walk in the landscape.

Exterior view of Dudmaston, Shropshire

The first will be a free walk at Dudmaston in Shropshire, where we’ll be exploring the woodland and park, pointing out geological features as we go along and answering questions. This will be repeated on 14th July. Just turn up on the day.

Then on the 22nd we’ll be leading a walk from Highley Sation on the Severn Valley Railway. It stats at 11:35am, timed just after the arrival of one the trains for those who want to arrive via the railway. £2 just turn up.

Guided geology and landscape walk at NT Dudmaston

Sun 9 June 1:30-3:00

Join us on a guided walk around the woodland and park, discovering geological points of interest along the way. Find out more about ancient rocks and fossils here at Dudmaston. Free, just turn up.

Guided Geology Walk at Severn Valley Railway (Highley)

Sat 22^nd June 11:35-1:00

Highley Station to the Miners Memorial and back.

£2 per person, no booking needed, meet at the station

Half Term in the Geopark

There are loads of activities in the Geopark during half term at our partner venues.

Looking for a family trail? NT Brockhampton and Severn Valley Country Park are running ones at their venues.

Monday to Friday Bewdley Museum are running craft activities and Severn Valley Railway have free jungle themed activities at The Engine House in Highley. Severn Valley Country Park have nature activities on some days as well.

At Birmingham University the Lapworth Museum, one of the newer members of the Geopark Forum, are running a free family day.

Our popular rock and fossil challenge will be at Cob House Country park on Wednesday, including a new dinosaur detective trail. Experts will be on hand to talk to talk.

Looking for something a bit different? At Kinver Edge there are nature walks where you will be encouraged to take photos.

Hopefully there’s plenty to inerest you and your family!

Victorian fun and games at NT The Firs, Lower Broadheath

25^th May – 17^th July 10:30-4:30

Join us in a traditional Victorian holiday with dressing up and good old fashioned toys.

£1.50 for crafts, £2 for trail.

Tudor Cherry Chase Trail at NT Brockhampton

Sat 25^th May – Sun 2^nd June 11:00-4:00

Complete the Tudor cherry chase and win a prize.

£2.50 per trail

Woodland Creature Self-Led Trail at Severn Valley County Park (SVCP)

Sat 25^th May to Sun 2^nd June 11:00-4:00

Pick up at map at the refreshment kiosk so you can follow the trail around the park to discover lots more about these fascinating animals. Trail maps £2 each

May Half Term Activities at Bewdley Museum

Mon 27^th-Fri 31^st May 11am-3:30pm

Activities every day throughout the holidays,

£4 per person. All children must be supervised.

Jungle Explorers at Severn Valley Railway (Highley)

Mon 27^th – Fri 31^st May 11am-3:30pm

Free jungle-themed activities throughout the day.
Little Snapper Photography Ramble at NT Kinver Edge

Mon 27^th & Fri 31^st May 11:00-3:00

Join us on a nature walk with photographers on hand to offer you the tips and tricks.

Booking essential, £5 for family ticket 03442 491895

Woodland Creature Face Masks Drop-in Craft session at SVCP

Wed 29^th May 12:00-3:00

Why not have a go at making a fox, badger, rabbit or owl mask.

Free session.

Family Fun Days at Lapworth Museum of Geology, University of Birmingham

Wed 29th May 10:00-5:00

Free, no need to book.

Rock & Fossil Challenge at Cob House Country Park

Wed 29^th May 11:00-3:00

Come and have a go at our rock & fossil challenge, and our new dinosaur detective trail. Free

Mini Beast Safari at SVCP

Friday 31st May 12.30pm-3pm

Using our sweep nets see which creepy crawlies you can find! Will it be a lovely ladybird, a slimy snail, or a beautiful butterfly? Just drop in to our Bird Hide Meadow. Free

GeoFest Launch!

The 2019 GeoFest will be launched at Malvern Hills GeoCentre on Saturday 25^th May with special displays about the Abberley & Malvern Hills Geopark. Come along and find out about what make this area special, with experts on hand to talks to you about the rocks and fossils you can find here. There are plenty of specimens for you to look at. You can also find out more about the Geopark Way, a long distance walk through the beautiful local countryside which also takes in the incredible geology along the route.

There are also plenty of other events at other partner venues: Bee Day at NT Greyfriars in Worcester on Saturday, special trails at NT Brockhampton, NT The Firs and Severn Valley Country Park. From Monday Bewdley Museum will have an exciting range of half term activities.

The annual GeoFest features activities and events run by members of the Abberley & Malvern Hills Geopark Forum, who are museums, country parks and other visitor centres in the region. Numerous events are run across Worcestershire, Herefordshire, Gloucestershire and Shropshire including guided walks, craft sessions, open air theatre, trails and wildlife experiences. Many of the events are family friendly. Although GeoFest features a number of rock and fossils events there are also plenty of other events with wildlife, history and archaeology themes, and there is plenty of fun and hands on experiences.

Details of events can be found on our What’s On guide and calendar.

Peter Oliver of the Geopark Forum said, “This weekend’s launch will feature a huge video screen presentation about the Geopark and we’re looking forward to bringing along our displays and fossils for you to look at. Bring your own specimens for us to identify. There are more activities planned in over the summer across the region and there’s plenty for people to join in with.”

The event, which is free, will be 10am-4pm Saturday at the Malvern GeoCentre, near the Wyche Cutting on the Malvern Hills.

Other events this week and half term

Victorian fun and games at NT The Firs, Lower Broadheath
25th May – 17th July 10:30-4:30
Join us in a traditional Victorian holiday with dressing up and good old fashioned toys.
£1.50 for crafts, £2 for trail.

Tudor Cherry Chase Trail at NT Brockhampton
Sat 25th May – Sun 2nd June 11:00-4:00
Complete the Tudor cherry chase and win a prize.
£2.50 per trail

Bee aware day at NT Greyfriars House and Garden
Sat 25th May 11:00-4:30
Meet our volunteer Beekeeper and his busy hive and enjoy nature inspired activities for the whole family.

Severn Valley Country Park

Woodland Creature Self-Led Trail at Severn Valley County Park (SVCP)
Sat 25th May to Sun 2nd June 11:00-4:00
Pick up at map at the refreshment kiosk so you can follow the trail around the park to discover lots more about these fascinating animals. Trail maps £2 each

May Half Term Activities at Bewdley Museum
Mon 27th-Fri 31st May 11am-3:30pm
Activities every day throughout the holidays,
£4 per person. All children must be supervised.

North and End Hills, Malverns

GeoFest Launch at Malvern Hills GeoCentre

You can also find out more about the Geopark Way, a long distance walk through the beautiful local countryside which also takes in the incredible geology along the route.

Details of events, including the What’s On guide and calendar, can be found on our Geopark website www.geopark.org.uk.

The event, which is free, will be 10am-4pm Saturday at the Malvern GeoCentre, near the Wyche Cutting on the Malvern Hills.

North and End Hills, Malverns

GeoFest 2019!

GeoFest begins on Saturday 25 May, and there are loads of exciting activities and events at Geopark venues over the following few months. Check out the guide to see what’s on.

GeoFest 2019 is coming!

We’ll be sharing details of events across the Geopark in the next few weeks.

Easter events in the Geopark

Geopark visitor centres have a host of special events on offer over the Easter holidays.

If you’re looking for trails Bodenham Arboretum have an Easter trail for children to search for carrots all the way to Mr McGregor’s garden, whilst meeting spring lambs and calves. Over at Severn Valley Country Park they have a ‘What’s the weather like today?’ self-led trail.

National Trust properties have Easter Egg trails, with Dudmaston having their at the main site on 21/22 and at Comer Woods 19-22 April. Severn Valley Country Park also have an egg hunt 19-22 April. At Cob House Country Park they have an Easter breakfast where children can meet the Easter Bunny on Easter Sunday.

There are plenty of opportunities for arts and crafts. In The Hive you can have a go at Ice Age Art with Worcestershire Archive & Archaeology Service on Thu 18 April 10am-12pm, £3 per child. Cob House Country Park have various activities including Jumping Clay (15^th), Build a Bear (17^th) and Sand Art (17^th) as well as pony rides. Bewdley Museum will have different craft activities each weekday during the Easter holidays.

Worcester Cathedral have their range of Easter services over the coming week, as well as being open for visitors and look round this amazing building.

Severn Valley Railway is up and running over Easter. Services will run every day throughout the Easter Holidays from April 13^th – 28^th, stopping-off at each of their six, beautifully-restored, historic stations along the way. New to the venue this Easter is No. 7 ‘Typhoon’, a miniature locomotive (one third size), now proudly on display alongside the much larger, distinctive No. 600 Gordon and No. 7819 Hinton Manor.

At the Engine House at Highley they have some free Superhero activities. Stopping off at the Engine House at Highley, you’ll be able to take part in some amazing FREE activities, marvel at massive steam engines and maybe win yourself a totally ‘sweet’ prize too! The activities take place with ReachOut Arts from April 15th – 22nd only, from 11am – 3pm.

There’s plenty to do during the next couple of weeks in the Geopark!

New exhibition – Mysteries of the Deep: 50 years of Scientific Ocean Drilling

Lapworth Museum of Geology are hosting a fantastic new temporary exhibition until 17 June.

The oceans have an unseen influence on all our lives. But how do we know this? How do we know how the oceans behave? And how can we better understand and protect these wonderful environments? Over the past fifty years there has been an astonishing, long-lasting and deep international scientific collaboration, that has revealed many secrets of the oceans. This programme spanned the divisions of the cold-war, and now involves 23 countries in an effort to explore the oceans from the Arctic to Antarctic. Through this program, thousands of scientists, technical staff, drillers and crew have gathered critical data and samples to tell the story of our blue planet. Understanding the oceans, their role in the Earth’s climate, their diversity of life and the risks they can pose is more important than ever. This is the story of scientific ocean drilling. This is the story we’re telling. Find out more about the project at www.mysteriesofthedeep.org

Lapworth Museum of Geology is on the University of Birmingham’s campus. Details of visiting the museum can be found here.

Blast off for Bewdley Museum’s 2019 season

This weekend Bewdley Museum is blasting off the new season with a day of free entertainment for all the family.

The reopening will showcase the new ’Orbiting the Earth’ exhibition’ which celebrates 50 years since the first Moon landings, with the chance to view rock samples from the Apollo missions from the late 1960s and early 1970s. An expert will be on hand to answer any questions. The reopening will also feature work from the ‘Ruskin in Wyre project’ which is supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund.

Naomi Hart’s Hotsy Totsy band will be performing live for visitors, crafts people will be demonstrating their skills and there will be special entertainment for the children.

The museum’s Garden Kitchen café will also offer Fairtrade, local and sustainable food. Visitors have the opportunity to buy unique handcrafted gifts and merchandise from the museum shop.

All this action is taking place on Saturday 2 March, from 10am until 4.30pm – so don’t miss out!

Find out more about their forthcoming events on their website

February Half Term in the Geopark

Our member visitor centres offer some fantastic places to visit, especially over half term. There are also lots of events for families in the Geopark at the visitor centres, and we thought we’d highlight a few here. Check out member websites for more details

Bodenham Arboretum

16th – 24th February Bodenham’s Gingerbread Trail

Looking for something a little different to do in the Half Term holidays? Then come along to Bodenham’s Gingerbread Trail! Search for the hidden Gingerbread characters around the Arboretum. Each time you find a Gingerbread Man you will also be given a clue that will eventually lead you to their special Gingerbread Home!

Normal Admission Fees apply: Booking not required, simply turn up.

Cob House Country Park

There are a number of special events for children. Check out the website for prices.

17 & 19 Feb 10:30am Pony Rides with pampered Ponies

21 Feb 10:30am-12:00 Make your New BFF with Bear Club & Kids Bee Happy

21 Feb 1-3pm Sand Art with Kids Bee happy

Check out these and other events in their Newsletter

Severn Valley Country Park

16-24 February 11am-3pm Garden Bird Self Led Trail

Collect a FREE map from the refreshment kiosk from 11am-3pm

Please be aware the visitor centre and cafe will be closed for building work during half term. A refreshment kiosk will be open serving drinks and snacks to takeaway but light lunches (jacket potatoes, sandwiches, soup) will not be available.

20 February 11:30-2:30pm Woodland Mini Beast Hunt

FREE to join

There are 2 sessions of this event 11.30am-12.30pm & 1.30pm-2.30pm

The ranger will take you down into the woods to search for spiders, earwigs, worms, slugs and other bugs who live in the log piles and leaves found on the woodland floor.

The mini beast hunts are FREE to join, but please call 01746 781 192 to book your place. The rangers will be setting off at 11.30am and 1.30pm. Meeting point is outside the visitor centre.

Severn Valley Railway

The Railway’s fleet of locomotives will be back in action taking passengers for exciting journeys through the stunning Severn Valley every day from February 16th-24th.

Creative kids can join LEGO® Master Builder Bricks McGee for fun-filled workshops throughout the day at The Engine House on February 23rd and 24th. There’ll be a chance to Create Local Landmarks at 11am and 2.45pm, Beautiful Gardens at 12.15pm and 4pm and be a Town Planner and build your own metropolis at 1.30pm. Workshops last approximately an hour and are suitable for ages five and over. Places are free with a Freedom of the Line ticket and are available on a first come, first served basis.

On display at Kidderminster Station throughout half-term will be the engine that collided with a camel – 8F No. 48773. Visitors can even climb aboard the footplate with Volunteers from The Stanier 8F Locomotive Society to find out all about this fascinating engine with a very colourful history.

Lapworth Museum of Geology

20 February 10am-5pm – Jurassic Marine Monsters – Family Fun Day

We all know about the wonderful world of Dinosaurs, and the giants that lived on land. But what about the monsters that swam in the depths of the oceans?

National Trust

There are a number of National Trust properties in the Geopark, many offering trails and activities in the holidays. A few are listed below

Brockhampton

16-24 Feb 11am-4pm – Weird Fruit Trail

Learn fun facts about fruit grown here in England, collect the clues and decipher what weird fruit is grown here at Brockhampton

Dudmaston

Snowdrop Season

Greyfriars, Worcester

Greyfriars has heaps of love for the city of Worcester and they’re taking part in the Love Worcester Heritage Festival.

You can re-trace the footsteps of Greyfriars’ past residents and discover what Greyfriars means to Worcester’s heritage.

16-17 February – Living History

The Worcester Re-enactors are set to bring history to life inside the house. You’ll see Tudors, the Home Guard, and more!

Wyre Forest (Forestry Commission)

19-21 February 10am-3pm – Forest Holiday Club

£20 book at https://www.abreathoffreshair.education/store/c1/Featured_Products.html

Worcestershire Archive & Archaeology Service

21 February 10am-3pm – Hands on History

Drop into The Hive’s children’s library for this family event. Have a go at digging in the sand pit and see what real archaeological objects you can find. Have a go at writing with a quill and play a game soldiers in the Civil War would have played.
Free, just drop in.
Part of Love Worcester festival.

Worcester Cathedral

Tudor trail throughout the week, with special activities 19th & 20th February

Tudor Quest at Worcester Cathedral

Come along to Worcester Cathedral during half term. As well as the Great Tudor trail and the Prince Arthur Exhibition there are Tudor-themed craft activities on 19 & 20 February 10.30 – 12.30 & 2-4pm.

Throughout GeoFest

Look out for more information as the summer approaches.

What’s going on with our National Trust partners …

Croome Court what’s on

Brockhampton what’s on

Kinver edge what’s on

Greyfriars what’s on

Dudmaston what’s on

Experience the Cathedral out of hours by candlelight!

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