The Forum is pleased to welcome two new members – Hartlebury Castle and Worcester Museum. These organisations have much to offer the public as places to visit and as venues with extensive programmes of events and activities. The Castle and its grounds offer a wonderful experience in rural Worcestershire. And the Museum has some of the finest collections of exhibits in the Midlands. Look out for their contributions to the GeoFest programme.
GeoFest 2024 starts on 25th May. The programme is now available on the ‘GeoFest and Events’ tab. Take a look. We hope you enjoy the summer of events. Look out for extra events to be added to the programme during June, July and August.
All of the visitor centres in the Geopark will be open with special events. Lots of these are specially for children plus there are lovely landscapes to see with plenty of walks. Have a look at the individual websites on the ‘About Us’ page for more details.
Remember the big programme of the year in the Geopark is GeoFest during June, July and August. More about this in May.
Welcome to a new year packed with lots of events and activities all of which are brought to you by our members and major additional sponsorship of two great organisations – Merlin Energy and Oracle Environment Experts. Their support will ensure that we provide another GeoFest programme this summer and that we keep the Forum of our 20 member organisations fully informed and involved.
Look out for more information over the coming weeks.
A day celebrating this milestone took place at Severn Valley Country Park on 20th June. Programmes for involving the public in the stories of geology, landscape, heritage and wildlife were major talking points. You can find out what is available this summer on the GeoFest Calendar. We hope you enjoy the events and activities which include craft days, fossil hunts, displays, dinosaur detective trails, guided walks and specimen identification session.
Left to right Peter Oliver, co-founder of the Geopark; Chris Darmon, President of the Geopark; Georgina Lockman, Merlin Energy Resources, Sponsors of the Geopark Tapestry (by Georgia Jacobs) depicting coal mining in Highley. The piece forms part of a landscape and geology inspired exhibition at Severn Valley Country Park by the Highley Crafters and Alveley Chapel Crafters. Learning about the Millstones. Geology – Carbonifeous Alverley Formation Taking a walk through the orchid field at Severn Valley Country Park
As usual we have a full programme of events for you lasting right through to 3rd September. There are exhibitions and displays, wildlife excursions, rock and fossil hunts, ask the expert sessions, and even free specimens of crystals for you to collect. There are wonderful historic buildings to visit, landscape trails to walk and lots of craft and discovery days for the family. You can find out what is on by looking at the GeoFest Calendar on the website. We hope you wonderful time exploring this summer.
2023 marks 20 years since the formation of the Abberley and Malvern Hills Geopark.Look out for special events during the year.
Come and join in the celebrations. From Bridgnorth to Gloucester and Worcester to Hereford; natural and manmade landscapes and places to visit. Talks, guided walks , exhbitions, rock and fossil hunts, dinosaur trails, pond dipping, wildlife expeditions, craft days, heritage evnts, history tours and miles of self guided trails.
We wish you all a happy new year and we hope that the events within the Geopark during the year will be of interest to you. 2023 is important as it marks 20 years since the Geopark was formed and so we wish to provide you with a full programme of activities over the next 12 months.
There are 13 visitor centres across the Geopark all with plenty for you to see and do. You can check out the list (see About Us) and see what each centre will be doing during the year. Also there are plenty of walking trails to do including the ever popular109 mile Geopark Way (see Explore Geology and Landscape – Walking Trails). And remember, GeoFest will be with you again in the summer so keep watching the GeoFest calendar for what is available for you to enjoy during this anniversary year.
We hope you enjoyed some time in the Geopark during the year. Maybe you visited one of the country parks or stately homes or museums or you tried out one or more of the many geology, wildlife, history and landscape trails. Maybe you visited the exhibitions at Worcester Cathedral or the Severn Valley Railway
GeoFest again took place in June, July and August with plenty of events and activities, all drawn from the summer programmes of the Geopark members, enabling a very comprehensive GeoFest programme to be delivered. We hope you managed to join in. As usual the stories and events delivered by the many venues across the 800 square miles of the Geopark were considerable.
Our thanks to the Lyndhurst STEM Club in New Jersey (Delaware) for their interest in our website and what we do. In particular our learning page Geology Education links has apparently been influential in getting them interested in Geology.
See their club’s page where they mention us and they (via Denise Goodwin) have written a lovely message to say how our site has influenced them and their work and fun.
You can find their site here at AVAs flowers.
We also have geology trails with free trail leaflets at Wyre Forest, National Trust at Dudmaston, Bewdley Museum and Severn Valley Railway.
There is a new geology trail booklet – the Les Morris Memorial Trail – free to download from the Geopark website. This is a driving trail across the whole of the Geopark which can be completed in small stages if desired.
Many other walking geology trails exist and the trail leaflets can be obtained from many different outlets including free downloads from the website. And don’t forget long distance walking trail.
Take care as the weather changes and if you have taken any particularly lovely pictues, please do send them in and we could find room in a gallery page
We had a good day with the Worcester summer school group on Friday (20th August 2022) with a walk around Arley village and Arboretum made special by the Geo-craft and geopark displays.
The Geopark was visited by the Down to Earth summer school for a week. On one of the days they were taken on a guided geology walk around Arley village and the Arboretum. Lots of good natural landscape to see and plenty of building stones to investigate.
Plenty of children came to Wyre Forest on 10th August for a geo-craft day. Here is the room ready for a full day of fun. The next fun day is 17th August at Severn Valley Country Park.
Here we have a special site with an interpretation panel beside the railway viaduct in Bewdley and easily viewed from the pavement. This exposure of dune bedded desert sandstone from a geological period known as the Permian gives an insight in to the environment some 290 million years ago. One of many rock outcrops in the Geopark that have public access.
In mid June Geopark forum member ’Geologists in the Geopark’ ran a two week event for fellow Forum member Severn Valley Railway at Kidderminster Railway Station. Over the days a few hundred visitors engaged with the experts and viewed the displays. The station staff (seen here in the photo) gave much help in the organisation of the event. Plenty of information sheets and rock specimens were given away especially to interested children.
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.
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.
All at the Geopark Secretariat and Forum send their best wishes at Christmas. We hope that the Covid outbreak and restrictions will soon be a thing of the past and that we can all look forward to an interesting 2022 in the Geopark. Look out for a bumper GeoFest programme for the summer with guided walks, exhibitions, craft days, specimen displays, detective trails, rock and fossil hunts and much more.
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.
President Chris Darmon visits the Geopark as part of GeoFest. On his first day he called in at Arley Arboretum which has just joined the Geopark Forum, and helped with the surveying of a new landscape trail and interpretation panel. The Arboretum sits on Upper Carboniferous Highley Sandstone and Alveley Sandstone, and also the number 3 terrace of the River Severn. On the second day he visited Geopark Member Hartlebury Castle, looking at the Triassic building stones which show a great variety of sedimentary structures. In the afternoon Chris had a special ride on the Severn Valley Railway before meeting SVR managers and talking about the programme of public participation in geology events on the railway. Some real ale in the King and Castle at Kidderminster station finished off the day very nicely.
Chris with Helena Chisholm the manager at Arley Arboretum
Cider mill in red Alveley Sandstone – part of the proposed geology trail at Arley Arboretum
With members of Geologists in the Geopark at Hartlebury Castle
Worcester Cathedral is a highlight for anyone visiting Worcester. It is one of England’s loveliest cathedrals. It stands majestically overlooking the River Severn, close to the city centre. It has been a place of prayer and worship for fourteen centuries. The Cathedral’s attractions include King John’s tomb, Prince Arthur’s Chantry, St Wulfstan’s Norman Crypt, medieval cloisters, magnificent Victorian stained glass and examples of every period of early English architecture from 11th to late 14th Century.
Whether to view the incredible architecture, take part in one of their events, see of their regular exhibitions, or come to one of the services, it is well worth a visit.
Latest updates for your visit to Worcester Cathedral
In accordance with government and Church of England advice, all worshippers and visitors are strongly encouraged to use the ‘track and trace’ system in operation at the Cathedral. This takes two forms:
Your safety
Your safety and that of our staff is of paramount importance to us.
visitors are asked to wear a face covering inside the Cathedral and use the Track and Trace facilities provided.
Social distancing signs and measures are in place to help make the Cathedral COVID secure.
There are hand sanitisers available at the entrance, exit and in key locations.
A strict cleaning regime happens daily and is ongoing through the day.
There are socially-distanced seats and standing areas within the Nave.
The Cathedral has been awarded a Visit England ‘We’re Good to Go’ award.
There are a number of events and exhibitions coming soon.
The Leaves of the Trees is an art installation which is a reflective memorial. During August 5,000 steel ‘Hope’ leaves will be a memorial to the effects of the pandemic.
We are pleased to welcome Arley Arboretum to the Geopark Forum!
Renowned for its stunning beauty, Arley Arboretum sits on the banks of the River Severn at Upper Arley.
One of the oldest and most spectacular Arboreta in Britain, it is now open to the public thanks to the Trustees of the Roger and Douglas Turner Charitable Trust.
The Arboretum is now home to over 300 species of trees and features the beautiful Laburnum arch, measuring 65 metres. Popular with nature lovers, families and walkers, Arley Arboretum is a magical place to visit throughout the year, with every season bringing a different breathtaking vista.
Their tranquil tearoom is located within the walled gardens of the Arboretum and is a great place to relax before or after an enjoyable tour of our gardens.
You are also welcome to bring a picnic of your own to enjoy at one of the picnic tables.
The Garden tea room is free for all visitors, with admission into the Arboretum and Gardens charged separately on point of entry.
Laburnum arch at Arley Arboretum
Children
Arley Arboretum is a great place for a day out with the kids. Adventure is never far away, with acres of woodland to explore, wide open natural vistas to run and play in and activities all year round, there really is something for everyone. There is an Adventure Play Trail with 9 separate apparatus suitable for 2 to 12 year olds, plus a maze to explore.
Spark your imagination on our adventure trails, battle goblins and free the little folk in our quests.
Arley Arboretum
Opening
Normal opening hours are Wednesday to Sunday 10am – 5pm, and currently all visits must be booked in advance.
Croome provides a wonderful day out. Owned by the Coventry for many years, at the heart is Croome Court, surrounded by amazing gardens and parkland to explore. These were designed by Robert Adam and Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown. They have been restored over the years by the National Trust
As a former RAF base, volunteers have created a RAF museum here. The house contains different art installations, working with artists in response to Croome’s architecture and history.
Croome is open every day and you don’t need to book your visit in advance. Please note that the house is currently closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. Unfortunately the Play area is closed due to essential maintenance.
Facilities
Croome Court – ground floor open Wed-Sun with one way system in place.
RAF Museum – open every day 11am-4pm, with a queueing and one way system in place.
Church – open every day 10am-5:30pm
Play areas – Both the RAF themed play park and natural play area are now open, with visitors responsible for monitoring a safe number of children using the park at one time.
Panorama Tower Credit Kathryn Rudd
Staying safe:
To help keep everyone safe, please follow social distancing and government guidance when you visit.
You’ll find sinks for hand washing in the available toilets. You will find hand sanitiser at the toilets and the Canteen.
If you’re showing any of the symptoms of coronavirus, or if you’ve been in contact with anyone that has the virus in the last 14 days, please don’t visit.
Planning your visit:
You no longer need to pre-book a ticket to visit Croome. At peak times, particularly at weekends, the car park may reach its full capacity. This will mean that we cannot accept any more visitors on to the site. Please consider visiting on a weekday to avoid disappointment.
Entry and parking is free for NT members, but please bring your membership card with you. Non-members will need to pay on arrival.
Parking and arrival:
On arrival, please park and head towards the visitor centre to our reception. A member of the team will greet you.
There are designated blue badge spaces available close by the Visitor Centre in the car park.
We ask our visitors to stay at Croome for the recommended 2 hours to allow for safe social distancing within the parkland.
A hidden gem in the heart of Bewdley, it is set in the heart of the beautiful riverside market town of Bewdley, rich in Georgian heritage. On the edge of the historic Wyre Forest, Bewdley offers an ideal starting point for many scenic walks and easy access to local attractions such as Severn Valley Railway and West Midlands Safari Park.
Visit it and take a look back in time, not only into the history of the Georgian town but also the surrounding Wyre Forest area.
Brockhampton Estate is a great place for a visit. At the core is Lower Brockhampton manor House, a 14th century timber framed house. This is surrounded by orchards, park and woodland, with miles of footpaths taking you on numerous walks.
Near Bromyard, in Herefordshire, Brockhampton is part of the National Trust. As a geopark Forum member they have run geology events in the past, with an event planned for this summer.
As with other venues, including National Trust properties, there are some changes at the moment.
Latest Visiting Information
Brockhampton estate is open daily for walks; your four-legged friends are welcome to join you, but please make sure they remain on a lead at all times as we have animals grazing. The second-hand bookshop is also open daily as is the Granary food kiosk which serves hot and cold drinks and snacks to take away – you’ll be required to wear a mask in both locations.
The manor house is open, five days a week; please check opening times before you visit to avoid any disappointment, you can check this by clicking here. They’re currently operating a timed ticket system for the manor house between 10:30am and 12pm; you cannot book these tickets beforehand but they will be available on a first come, first served basis from Visitor Reception on arrival. After midday a ticket will not be required but you may be asked to queue for five minutes to allow social distancing.
When you arrive at Visitor Reception please have your membership cards ready to show if you’re a National Trust member. You do not need to pre-book your visit to Brockhampton, if you wish to visit at a quieter time, please consider visiting on a weekday afternoon.
You can find out more information on the walks on the estate by clicking here, they are not currently given out maps on site, so you may wish to print one out at home but please be cautious as some walks may be closed or changed slightly since the map was printed. An up-to-date map can be found at both car parks, why not take a photo on your phone and use this for reference? Please note over the winter months we have been felling ash trees infected with the disease ash dieback so some walking routes may have temporary diversions. You’re very welcome to bring your dog with you to Brockhampton but please do keep it on a lead and under control at all times due to protect grazing livestock and deer in the woodlands.
Both blocks of WCs will remain open to visitors and are cleaned regularly throughout the day, additional locks have been added to assure we can stick to a one-in one-out policy.
A mask must be worn inside the manor, catering outlets, second-hand bookshop and WCs. A face visor or shield may be worn in addition to a face covering but not instead of one. This is because face visors or shields do not adequately cover the nose and mouth, and do not filter airborne particles.
“Every visit you make helps us get back on our feet a little more during these unprecedented times. Thank you for your support, we can’t wait to welcome you here.”
Summer Holidays
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.
Explore life over 3.5 billion years using exceptional objects, many of which originate here in the Midlands. A visit to the Lapworth Museum provides a fascinating insight into how the Earth formed and changed over time, and how life on Earth developed and evolved. The museum captures the imagination of all ages with state of the art galleries, interactive exhibits, soundscapes and animations recreating the Midlands environment from up to 425 million years ago.
Check the website for details of online events too.
New opening times
Tuesday to Friday – 10:00 till 16:30
Saturday – 12:00 till 17:00
Sunday and Monday – Closed
Museum closed for scheduled maintenance
The Museum will be closed for scheduled maintenance work from Monday 5th of July until approximately Tuesday 20th July inclusive.
Due to uncertainty around the final completion date of this maintenance work, the Museum may also be closed from Wednesday 21st July to Saturday 24th July. Further updates will be provided as the maintenance work progresses.
You will be able to book tickets to visit the Museum from Tuesday 27th of July onwards. Apologies for any inconvenience
Booking your tickets
You must book a ticket for a timed entry slot in advance of your visit. Tickets are free of charge and are released at least two weeks in advance.
Severn Valley Country park is a great place to visit. It is open, so a great place to go to get out an about in the great outdoors. There a currently a few changes due to the health guidelines.
The park and play areas are open, and the kiosk will be open Wednesday to Sunday 10am-4pm.
At Alveley, the toilets are open daily, 10am-4pm.We request that visitors wear a face mask when in the toilet block. Staff will continue to deep clean and regularly check the toilet block daily
The car park will remain open. (The main car park from 10am-4.30pm and the out-of hours car park at other times). The ticket machine is accepting card (chip and pin & contactless) and cash. Charging hours are 10am-4pm.
-the visitor centre remains closed and the toilets at Highley remain closed.
As restrictions ease there are even more reasons to get out and about the Geopark. There are some fantastic places to visit, and plenty of open spaces to explore. We look at the latest opening details from our partner venues.
Whether you’re looking to escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life, or you want something more adventurous, Wyre Forest has something for everyone.
The Wyre Forest, managed by Forestry England, is a great place to visit and explore. It is open to visit, and most of the facilities are available. Although very popular, there’s plenty of space so you can spread out. It is open every day (except Christmas Day) 9am to 9pm.
There are many geology and landscape trails throughout the Geopark and all come with an explanation leaflet. Take some time this summer to explore some wonderful countryside, towns and interesting visitor sites. Most places are freely accessible.
Many of the leaflets are free and can be downloaded from the website; others can be purchased online or from the Malvern Hills GeoCentre
During GeoFest there will be three detective trails to have a go at this summer at Geopark partner visitor centres. We’ll be sharing details of the dates shortly.
During GeoFest, as restrictions ease, who not explore the area through walking parts of the Geopark Way. The guidebook explains the route, providing shorter sections, as well as interesting information about what you see on your walk.
One of our members kindly sent through a link to the Geological Society web page article about field sketching.
“I think it would be something for visitors to the website to have a look at, especially as drawing, sketching and artwork are activities everyone could have a go at during lockdown”
Many people will appreciate the beauty of the landscape first hand and many may take photographs but there is little that brings a scenary or memory to life than a sketch or artwork.
This article “FIELD SKETCHING THROUGH ART: AN AID TO OBJECTIVITY” is a great reminder – or prompt – as to how art can enhance your memory of a location as well as bring calm and happiness.
Field Sketching Through Art – (Geological Society, Dec 2018, p15-17)
Read or download the PDF by clicking on the image below
Field Sketching Through Art – (Geological Society, Dec 2018, p15-17)
Why don’t you take advantage of time in the open and take a sketchpad, easel & paints or create some art then submit a picture to us with where it is and how you created the art?
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.
The new Geopark Way guidebook booklet – what a great Christmas present!
The Geopark Way guidebook 2nd edition
The orange 2nd edition has more features included over and above the first edition. It is a guidebook and apps for the 109-mile trail.
The Geopark Way guidebook is available from the Trust online or by phone on 01905 855184. It is also listed by Book Data and may be ordered through any high street bookseller.
ISBN: 978-0-9558390-7-8
Read more about here – it is a great opportunity to see more and learn more about the Geopark, keeping fit and enjoying the landscape. Why not combine a walk on the Geopark Way with a trip on the Severn Valley Railway?
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
More of our partner’s visitors centres are reopening, so there’s lots more opportunities to enjoy the great locations and get out and about this autumn. Not all facilities will be open, especially inside, and face masks will probably need to be worn indoors, so please check. Several venues have cafes taking part in the Eat Out To Help Out, giving an extra incentive to visit!
Take advantage of the great places we have in the Geopark but please check details before travelling, and please socially distance when you are there.
Some great walking trails in the Geopark for September and October
Severn Valley Country Park
Places to visit away from the crowds. All are publicly accessible and
free.
Walks of varying length – rocks, landscape, nature and history. Most are
circular. All are free and can be downloaded from the website unless
stated otherwise.
First of all the list of interesting geological sites that are publicly accessible can be found under ‘Explore Geology & Landscape – Geological Sites’. Here you will find the name of the site and its grid reference. Most are always open. If you click on the site name you will get a full description of what is there. When visiting these locations always take care and consider the health and safety of yourself and family. Always wear proper clothing and protect yourself against the weather.
Secondly the walking trails that you can download are to be found under ‘Explore Geology & Landscape – Walking Trails’. Chose one of Northern, Central or Southern trails. Here you will see a brief description of each trail and how you can get a copy. Many can be downloaded from the page. Please note that some of the locations that are on private estates will be closed during the current restrictions but some are open and readily accessed; so check before you set out.
Thirdly the trail guides that you can order are in the same sections.
Enjoy your summer and the great Gepark landscapes.
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).
As part of our different approach to GeoFest this year we are putting various activities up on the website on a weekly basis. We hope you can do these at home and that they will give the family plenty to interest you all over the summer. Look out for paper and cardboard models you can make and lots of fossil images that you can colour. We will have lots about fossils, minerals and rocks. And there will be rock and fossil detective trails soon. Perhaps younger viewers might like to build a scrap book over the coming weeks.
In addition to these we have highlighted a lot of walks that you can go on using rock and landscape guides. Many are located in quiet and remote areas. They are listed on the ‘News’ page of the website.
Stretching from Bridgnorth to Gloucester and Worcester to Hereford the Geopark offers plenty of isolated countryside places to visit. Places where you can enjoy the landscape, see the rocks and observe the wildlife whilst not seeing many other people. These places are listed here on the website. In addition we have plenty of self guided walks for you to try. Some of these trails can be freely downloaded from the website. They are ideal for family walks.
Though we are still required to stay at home as much as possible we can now exercise outdoors as much as we wish and we can take trips in private vehicles to do so. But keep your journey as local as you can.
Remember to check on the Government guidelines on a regular basis.
When travelling to your destination you must not have anyone in your car other than your family household. And when out walking you must stay 2 metres away from anyone you meet. If you are in a vulnerable category you should stay at home but if you are unable to go out there is still plenty to read about on this website. You can plan future trips when things improve.
We will soon be adding activities that you can do at home especially interesting to children and families. Watch out for these on the website in the next week or two.
First of all the list of interesting geological sites that are publicly accessible can be found under ‘Explore Geology & Landscape – Geological Sites’. Here you will find the name of the site and its grid reference. Most are always open. If you click on the site name you will get a full description of what is there. When visiting these locations always take care and consider the health and safety of yourself and family. Always wear proper clothing and protect yourself against the weather.
Secondly the walking trails that you can download are to be found under ‘Explore Geology & Landscape – Walking Trails’. Chose one of Northern, Central or Southern trails. Here you will see a brief description of each trail and how you can get a copy. Many can be downloaded from the page. Please note that some of the locations that are on private estates will be closed during the current restrictions but some are open and readily accessed; so check before you set out.
Thirdly the trail guides that you can order are in the same sections.
And finally some of our members have extensive estates that you may be able to use. Please check with them to see what is open. The list with contact details is under ‘About Us’. Here you will find a list and links to Geopark Forum Members. The websites of the following members will give you up to date information about access and walks – Forestry England, National Trust Croome, NT Dudmaston, NT Brockhampton, NT Kinver, and Severn Valley Country Park.
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.
