The Panorama Tower at Croome will be open from 12 noon until 2.30pm on these dates 2022: Thurs 7th and Wed 27th July, Tues 16th August, Sat 3rd and Wed 21st September.
These open days include info on the geology of the hills and what people can see from the view!
Severn Valley Railway at Kidderminster Station has a geology display, with rocks and fossils. The display will be on the station from Saturday 11th June and will run until 19th June. There are free leaflets and a trail guide about geology on the train, and there is a rock and fossil quiz to test your knowledge. Entry to the display is free.
On 12 June at 5pm Bewdley Museum is putting on a production of Awful Auntie by David Walliams, adapted for the outdoor stage by Heartbreak Productions. Watch Stella’s as she evades her menacing Aunt and saves the family home. £14 per adult ticket and £9 per child ticket. On Friday 24th June the Museum is also running an event with Tapas and live evening entertainment from the String of Rose in their Garden Kitchen.
Severn Valley Country Park are running a Family wildlife event on Saturday 18th of June to celebrate 30 years of the park. Includes family day of geo-crafts, appearances from The Geology Society and Geologist in the Geopark, and a Rock and Fossil Hunt at 2:30pm.
Worcestershire Archive & Archaeology Service in The Hive are running a service about the various sources and indexes which can be used for looking for information about people. Thu 23rd June 10am-12pm, £6 per person
National Trust at Dudmaston Estate are running an event on the 25th of June around Comer Woods exploring humanity’s relationship with the wood through folk art and culture. The day after on 26th you have the opportunity to find out about the Spring blooms and blossoms in Dudmastons gardens with a Q&A with their head gardener. Admission fees apply booking required for the Q&A.
Half term is back again and there’s lots to do as this half term coincides with the Queens Platinum Jubilee! Many of our partners are running events to celebrate the 70 years since the Queen was coronated.
Bewdley Museum as usual, have half term crafts Monday through Friday. This week the crafts will be primarily Jubilee themed. £6 per person no time slot needed. Bewdley Museum will also be running a Jubilee Boogaloo on Saturday 4th as well as a Jubilee Party in the Park on Sunday 5th.
Hartlebury Castle is running Coronation Crafts giving you the opportunity to get hands-on and crafty as you construct and decorate your own mini wooden version of the Queen’s royal carriage or make your own royal sceptre! With sceptre in hand, explore the Castle, following the family friendly Jubilee Trail. Also to celebrate the decade the Queen was crowned Hartlebury castle is hosting a Fabulous Fifties event on Thursday 2nd June.
The National Trust Site at Dudmaston Estate is running Jubilee celebrations all week (excluding Saturday) Test your knowledge on the Queen with the Trivia Trail while also being able to unlock your creativity by making your very own royal flag.
Lapworth Museum is running an event on Wednesday 1st June. This is a drop in activity based on Charles Lapworth: The name behind the museum. Dive into the Archives of the Lapworth Museum and uncover the life of Charles Lapworth; teacher, artist and geologist! This Family Fun Day will include activities, crafts and colouring to suit all the family.
Severn Valley Country Park is running a Bug Hotel event on Wednesday 1st June. In this two hour ‘Build a bug hotel’ workshop you will: Create a mini-habitat for insects to take home, Find out more about the different habitats and food sources river wildlife need and learn how to attract creepy crawlies and other creatures to your own garden!
Severn Valley Railway is running Jubilee events from June 2nd – 5th. There will be a variety of things to see and do at each station, celebrating Her Majesty’s seven decades of service.
Arley Arboretum is running a Plant Hunters Fair on 5th June. Plant hunter fairs are the place to find great value, top quality, traditionally grown plants for every type of garden. The fair will be hosted on their front lawn. Entry to the fair is free.
We’re pleased to present GeoFest 2022. 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.
The Severn Valley Railway is the perfect way to travel on a steam train in the West Midlands.
Geology & Landscape Trails
Check out our website www.geopark.org.uk for details of trails. Leaflets can also be picked up from many of the partner venues. A new geology trail booklet – the Les Morris Memorial Trail – will be available at most events. This is a driving trail across the whole of the Geopark which can be completed in small stages if desired.
Collections Centre Store Tour: The Great Outdoors Join our Vardo Curator and Social History Curator to look at Worcestershire’s two intertwined transport collections – the Agricultural collection and the beautiful Gypsy Vardo collection. This event takes place across two sites, starting at Worcestershire County Museum
Rocks, Fossils and Landscapes at SVR Kidderminster
11th & 12th June and 15th to 19th June
Geologists in the Geopark will bring along a display about the Geopark and its rocks, fossils and landscapes. The display will run until 19th June. There are free leaflets and a trail guide about geology on the train. And there is a rock and fossil quiz to test your knowledge. Free entry to the display.
Heartbreak Productions presents Awful Auntie at Bewdley Museum
12 June at 5pm
Awful Auntie by David Walliams, adapted for the outdoor stage by Heartbreak Productions. Watch Stella’s as she evades her menacing Aunt and saves the family home.
£14 per adult ticket and £9 per child ticket
West Midlands Regional Group – Old Dudley Museum – Field Trip
Wednesday 15th June 2022
Field Trip to visit Building Stones and Landscapes of Dudley
Celebrating 50 years of Bewdley Museum including New Bronze age exhibition, with entertainment throughout the day.
Herefordshire Hoard Events – Leominster Community Centre
Saturday 2 July, 11am to 3pm
The Hub at St Peter’s (Peterchurch), Saturday 23 July, 11am to 3pm
Come along to one of our community events taking place throughout the county from May to July to find out more about the Herefordshire Hoard, a Viking treasure hoard found near Leominster in 2015.
Dinosaur Detective Trail and geology packs for children
The Tale of Peter Rabbit and Benjamin Bunny – Outdoor Theatre at Hartlebury Castle
Fri 15 July : 6.30 pm
The Tale of Peter Rabbit and Benjamin Bunny Peter Rabbit and his naughty cousin Benjamin know very well that they are not to go into Mr McGregor’s garden, but they cannot resist and soon they find themselves face to face Mr McGregor himself! But how will they ever escape?
Come along to meet various heritage organisations, museums and societies. There will also be talks, film screenings, demonstrations, and a sandpit excavation for children. Just drop in throughout the day. Includes geopark and geology displays.
Don your detective cap and join Heartbreak Productions for some super silliness this summer. Our original murder mystery will set five suspects under the spotlight, and we will depend on the audience to find answers.
Cinderella – Outdoor Theatre In an enchanted kingdom in a faraway land magical creatures and fairy godmothers come together to tell the best loved of all fairytales. Full of song, mirth, and joy for the summer ahead, join us on Cinderella’s journey of a lifetime to a magical ball!
21st Century ABBA You can dance, you can jive, having the time of your life! Following on from last year’s sell out shows, this is an evening of hit after hit with songs you know and love including Waterloo, Mamma Mia, Take a Chance on Me, Super Trouper and many, many more.
Exhibitions
The Geology, Landscape and Building Stones of the Severn Valley Railway – Engine House, Highley
A display of photos with geological interpretations throughout GeoFest
Date: Friday 1st April (10:00) – Wednesday 31st August (17:00)
Location: Lapworth Museum of Geology – Earth Sciences Building (R4 on campus map)
Three visual artists Pauline Bailey, Joyce Treasure and Ola Brown have been involved in a collaborative artist residency to explore the Lapworth Museum’s collection of fossils, rocks and minerals.
Travel back millions of years this with the Fossils in the Geopark exhibition. Throughout August Worcester Cathedral will be exhibiting in the South Cloister a display of fossil specimens and exhibition posters entitled “Fossils in the Geopark” created by Geologists in the Geopark. As part of the exhibition there will be a display of specimens from the Lapworth Museum and further information leaflets to accompany the exhibition. And for our younger geologists we will have detective trails to explore the geology in the Cathedral as well as other activities.
GeoFest is sponsored by
We acknowledge the assistance of Merlin Energy; The Curry Fund of the Geologists’ Association; and the Tomlinson Brown Trust. GeoFest could not run without the support of these organisations.
Out and About in GeoFest at Geopark Visitor Centres
Our partner venues are well worth visiting throughout the summer. For general enquiries please email amhg@outlook.com
Half term is here, and there are plenty of places to visit and things to do in the Geopark.
Although it’s February we can still wrap up warm and get out into the countryside. The Malvern Hills are always worth a visit, and if visiting you can pop into the Malvern Hills GeoCentre to find out more about the hills and get refreshments from the café. National Trust properties including Brockhampton, Croome and Dudmaston are open too. Severn Valley Country Park will be open all week as well.
A number of our Geopark partners have special activities for Half Term. At Worcester Cathedral they have A Monk’s Life! On Monday and Tuesday. Visit the Undercroft where there will free crafts, games and activities, and you can even dress up!
At Cob House they have their Pampered pony Rides for 2-12 years olds on Monday, for a 5 minute ride. Then on Wednesday they have a Foraging and Bush Craft adventure. The park is also open all week to visit and see the animals and stretch your legs.
Volcanoes is the focus of Lapworth Museum’s family event. Once again it is online so you can join from wherever. It takes place Wednesday, and you need to book in advance as places are limited. Find out where volcanoes can be found, why volcanoes form and some of the amazing rocks which come from them!
Bewdley Museum once again is running their popular half term crafts Monday-Friday. Places are £6 and must be booked in advance.
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.
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 heritagecan 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 GeoFestduring 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.
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.
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 31st 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.
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 25th 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!
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 2nd 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!
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.
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.
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!
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
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)
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 28th 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 28th 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.
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 30th 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.
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
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.
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 4th August 11am & 1pm
Travel back in time for a 40 min session with cresswell crags Museum
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
4th 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 6th 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!
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 11th 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 11th 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!
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 18th 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!
Wed 25th 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.
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.
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.
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
3rd June – 21st 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 – 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
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. Press and hold the mouse button on a location to drag the map around. 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.
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.
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.
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 2nd 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.
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.
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.
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
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
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
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.
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.
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
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
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!
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.
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!
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.
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
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!
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).
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.
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 15th to 23rd 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.
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:
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.
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.
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 13th December. Severn Valley Country Park have Wreath workshops on the 13th using greenery from the park and a Table Decoration workshop on 19th December. At The Hive children can make a Pomander with Worcestershire Archive & Archaeology Service
Unsurprisingly Worcester Cathedral have various carol services over Christmas. Their main carol services are 6:30pm on 22nd and 23rd December, with the usual Christmas Eve and Christmas Day services too. They also have concerts, and The Snowman and Snowdog on Saturday 21st 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 22nd December.
Former Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, will be at Hartlebury Castle on 13th 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 22nd 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.
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.
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
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)
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!
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 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. 16th July – 25thOctober
3rd instalment of the Lapworth Lates. 7-10 pm 15th 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.
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/
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.
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.
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.
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 1st & 22nd 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 13th to Thu 15th 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 15th & Mon 19th 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 21st 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.
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.
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
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.
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.
Further dates are Friday August 9th and Sunday September 8th. See here for more details.
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.
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 22nd June 11:35-1:00
Highley Station to the Miners Memorial and back.
£2 per person, no booking needed, meet at the station
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
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
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.
Jungle Explorers at Severn Valley Railway (Highley)
Mon 27th – Fri 31st May 11am-3:30pm
Free jungle-themed activities throughout the day. Little Snapper Photography Ramble at NT Kinver Edge
Mon 27th & Fri 31st 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 29th 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 29th 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
The 2019 GeoFest will be launched at Malvern Hills GeoCentre on Saturday 25th 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.
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.
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.
The 2019 GeoFest will be launched at Malvern Hills GeoCentre on Saturday 25th 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.
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, including the What’s On guide and calendar, can be found on our Geopark website www.geopark.org.uk.
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.
