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Latest News: Birmingham & The Black Country, Herefordshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire and Worcestershire
 | Nature Inspired Gift Shop in Stratford to openStratford-upon-Avon Butterfly Farm is delighted to announce that it is to re-open its Nature Inspired Gift Shop on 15 June in accordance with government guidelines and social distancing measures. Since 23 March when the Butterfly Farm temporarily closed, the team have worked hard to ensure best procedure is in place so that staff and visitors are protected and safe as the Farm starts to welcome them back. Read more |
 | Live online talks - exclusive to groups.While the nine Birmingham Museums Trust sites are temporarily closed, the team have been finding innovative ways to stay in touch with visitors, including groups, who can now enjoy a live digital talk experience from the comfort of their own home. Read more |
British Motor Museum 2020 Shows UpdateThe British Motor Museum is well known for its extensive and diverse range of motoring shows, gatherings and rallies that normally take place over the summer months. Unfortunately with the continuing COVID-19 restrictions, the Museum has had to make further changes to this year’s show programme. Read more | |
 | Shropshire Hills Manager to run 120 Miles in 40 hoursFollowing the launch of their Outstanding Natural development project, the team at Shropshire Hills Discovery Centre are excited to announce that their first fundraising event will be going ahead this weekend. Since the event was postponed due to the Coronavirus pandemic, Grant will now be taking on this epic challenge this weekend, starting on the evening of Friday 5th June and finishing the afternoon of Sunday 7th June. Read more |
Enjoy Stay at Home Activities with British Motor MuseumDespite the restrictions associated with the coronavirus and having to temporarily close the Museum, the British Motor Museum has organised a range of ‘stay at home’ activities for families to enjoy in the safety of their own homes. Read more | |
 | Enjoy Stay at Home Activities with British Motor MuseumDespite the restrictions associated with the coronavirus and having to temporarily close the Museum, the British Motor Museum has organised a range of ‘stay at home’ activities for families to enjoy in the safety of their own homes. Read more |
Victorian Singing Policeman Humbled with AwardDiscover Shropshire & Telford, the tourism board for the area, are celebrating as their nominee for Visit England Tourism Superstar 2020, Ironbridge’s iconic Victorian policeman Guy Rowlands, is named runner-up. Read more | |
 | New Managing Director at British Motor MuseumThe British Motor Museum is delighted to announce that Jeff Coope has been appointed Managing Director following the retirement of Julie Tew. Julie took planned retirement in April 2020 after 19 years of dedicated and successful service. Read more |
Stratford Literary Festival invites itself to Your House!As one of the country's leading literary festivals that had to be cancelled because of the Covid-19 outbreak, the Stratford Literary Festival has been busy curating activities to keep its audiences inspired and entertained. Read more | |
 | Help Save Tropical Butterfly FarmsThe Stratford Butterfly Farm has launched a GoFundMe campaign to help raise funds for the tropical butterfly farmers that they work with. Most of the butterflies found at the Butterfly Farm, of which there are over 250 different species and around 2,000 individual butterflies, are imported from butterfly farmers in the tropics. Read more |
Easter Fun at British Motor MuseumDespite the restrictions associated with the coronavirus and having to temporarily close the Museum, the British Motor Museum has been working hard behind the scenes to create a range of Easter activities for families to do in the safety of their own homes. Read more | |
 | Easter Fun at British Motor MuseumDespite the restrictions associated with the coronavirus and having to temporarily close the Museum, the British Motor Museum has been working hard behind the scenes to create a range of Easter activities for families to do in the safety of their own homes. Read more |
2020 Shows Update from British Motor MuseumWith the British Motor Museum now closed due to COVID-19, the Museum has had to make the difficult decision to postpone or cancel some of its upcoming shows. The intention of the Museum is, where possible, to postpone rather than cancel shows, whilst consistently adhering to government advice. Shows set to take place later in June and July will be reviewed in the coming weeks. Read more | |
 | Behind the Scenes at Butterfly Farm!Whilst the country is currently in lockdown to help stop the spread of the virus, there is plenty going on behind the scenes at the Stratford Butterfly Farm. Although the Farm is temporarily closed to the public, a core team of workers have stayed behind to look after the butterflies, birds, fish plants and other animals as well as maintaining the tropical conditions in which they live in. Read more |
 | Stratford Butterfly Farm - Covid - 19 UpdateStartford Butterfly Farm is to close temporarily but will continue to look after their creatures and gardens. Read more |
 | The Great Central Railway Model EventIt is with great regret we have decided to cancel the 2020 Great Central Railway Model Event to be held from Friday 19th to Sunday 21st June. Read more |
 | Blueprint COVID 19 UpdateBlueprint Here to Help the Travel Trade – COVID-19 Update Read more |
Springing into Life at the Discovery CentreAs the weather improves and everywhere turns green again, the team at Shropshire Hills Discovery Centre are celebrating Spring in their Onny Meadows as they get ready for some Easter fun. Entrance to the Centre and Meadows is free so visitors can enjoy the walks and sights for as long as they like, any day of the week. Read more | |
New Owners at Award Winning Shropshire VineyardAfter more than 10 years of award-winning wine production, the Ferguson family have sold south Shropshire based Kerry Vale Vineyard. Read more | |
TR2 Prototype Acquired by British Motor MuseumLegend of the British motorcar industry, the Triumph TR2 prototype, secured with £250K National Heritage Memorial Fund grant. Read more | |
 | Victorian 'Policeman' in line-up for Tourism AwardA Victorian singing policeman is in the frame to be top of the cops after being named as one of 10 finalists in with a chance of winning Visit England’s annual Tourism Superstar competition, supported by The Mirror, and he needs your vote. Read more |
 | Cute Arrivals will Melt Your Heart!Hatton Adventure World will once again host its annual “Spring Spectacular” from 4 - 19 April when the family attraction welcomes an abundance of spring-born animals. Visitors can visit the Spring Arrivals Marquee and see baby chicks, ducklings, piglets, bunnies and kid goats which are settling in well on the Farm. Visitors will even get the chance to feed and handle the animals whilst some lucky visitors may be fortunate enough to witness a live birth! Read more |
 | Malvern Well Dressing Self-Drive ToursCome for a day out around Malvern town and its delightful hills. Malvern is famous for its water and here we have been dressing the Wells for over 20 years. It has become a marvellous institution where locals revel in celebrating water and beautifying the wells, springs, spouts and water features with floral and arty adornments. Read more |
 | Nation's Storyteller at Stratford Lit FestSir Michael Morpurgo, the internationally bestselling author of War Horse and Private Peaceful, will kick off Stratford Literary Festival’s packed programme of events for young people. The multi award-winning writer will be talking about his latest book, Boy Giant, on 2 May ahead of the main festival which starts on 9 May, with nine days of activities for all ages and interests. Read more |
Volunteers Clear Up Only Meadows after Storms & FloodsThe volunteer work groups at Shropshire Hills Discovery Centre have been working hard over the last few weeks on a storm and flood clear up mission after Storms Ciara and Dennis caused a great deal of mess around the site. Read more | |
 | Gold for Shakespeare DistilleryShakespeare Distillery has won a Gold award in the prestigious West Midlands Tourism Awards. The independent artisan spirit producer based in Stratford-upon-Avon picked up the award in the New Tourism Business Award category at a special ceremony held on 26 February at the University of Birmingham’s Great Hall. As a gold winner, Shakespeare Distillery will automatically be entered into the national VisitEngland Awards for Excellence, which takes place in June. Read more |
 | Hotel Indigo - Stratford upon Avon ShortlistedHotel Indigo Stratford upon Avon has been shortlisted as a finalist in the prestigious Midlands Service Excellence Awards. The boutique hotel has been shortlisted as one of six finalists in the Hotel of the Year category and will find out if it has won this highly coveted award on Thursday 19 March at a black-tie dinner at Hogarths Hotel in Dorridge, Solihull. Read more |
 | February Half Term at Shropshire Hills Discovery CentreThe team at Shropshire Hills Discovery Centre had another fun filled week of popular activities during February Half Term! Read more |
 | Easter Motor Show Returns to Weston ParkWeston Park, the stately home on the Staffordshire/ Shropshire border is welcoming back the Easter Motor Show to the park for a second year this spring on Sunday 12th and Monday 13th April 2020. Read more |
 | Commemorate Battle of Britain 802020 is the 80th anniversary of the Battle of Britain (BoB) which is recognised as the country’s finest hour. This summer the Royal Air Force Museum is inviting the country to remember this significant story of bravery, international alliances and ingenuity both at the Museum and on tour. Read more |
 | Lion Cubs Meet the Mane ManSeven African lion cubs at West Midland Safari Park have had a busy month, exploring their new home and meeting their father for the first time. Read more |
 | Have you got what it takes to be a STAAR?The Royal Air Force Museum is offering young adults aged 14-15 years the chance to become a high-flyer in STEM, as applications for the highly commended Summer Time Advanced Aerospace Residency (STAAR) programme officially open on 10 February 2020. Read more |
 | The Inimitable & The ImitatorDame Hilary Mantel, one of the world’s most acclaimed writers, and Rory Bremner, the UK’s leading impressionist, headline the stellar line up at this year’s Stratford Literary Festival which runs from 9 to 17 May. Read more |
 | In Memory of "The Few"To commemorate 80 years since the Battle of Britain, the Royal Air Force Museum has launched the Hurricane 80K Challenge, encouraging keen runners and novices alike, to run 80K in 80 days. Read more |
 | Thornbury Castle to be RestoredGWR 4073 Class number 7027 “Thornbury Castle” has been sold to a private buyer, the present owners JJP Holdings have announced today. Under the sale and purchase agreement, the Great Western locomotive is to be restored at the Great Central Railway in Leicestershire and will run there for the duration of its next 10-year ticket. Read more |
 | Kids Love Hatton Adventure Worlds BreakfastA hearty cooked full English breakfast was dished up to 22 school children at Hatton Adventure World on Tuesday 21 January. Children aged 6 – 7 from Ferncumbe Church of England School in Hatton were collected by tractor and open-top trailer and transported to the popular family attraction where they learnt about the benefits of eating a hearty breakfast. Now in its 15th year, this initiative is thoroughly enjoyed and supported by the school, National Farmers Union and Hatton Adventure World. Read more |
 | Steam Fortnight at British Motor MuseumThe British Motor Museum is pleased to announce a fortnight of STEAM based educational activities (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art & Maths) for Key Stages 2 & 3 from March 2 – 13 2020. Designed to coincide with National Science Week, the Museum will be offering a new range of interactive activities to enhance students’ learning and tackle some of the transport issues facing future generations. Read more |
 | RAF Museum Spitfire Engineering AwardThe Supermarine Spitfire Mk 1 K9942 displayed at the Royal Air Force Museum Cosford has been presented with a prestigious ‘Engineering Heritage Award’ by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE). The awards, established in 1984, celebrate the contribution of mechanical engineering past and present, recognising artefacts, sites and landmarks of significant engineering importance. Read more |
 | New Faces at British Motor MuseumThe British Motor Museum is delighted to announce that it has made three senior appointments at the start of 2020. Stephen Laing, who was previously Curator at the Museum for 25 years, has been promoted to Head of Collections. Stephen, who has also joined the Senior Management Team, is now responsible for the Car, Museum and Archive collections, as well as exhibitions and cultural programming. Read more |
 | Giant Snakes Slither into HattonGiant snakes will slither into Hatton Adventure World when the popular family attraction hosts its February Frolics activities during the half term from 15 – 23 February. For one week only visitors can get up close and personal with a mixture of Boa Constrictors, Reticulated Pythons, Burmese Pythons and a Tegu. They range in size from 5 feet to 16 feet in length! The handling sessions will take place three times a day at 10:30am, 1pm and 3pm plus visitors can enjoy an interactive talk from snake experts. Read more |
 | Roar-Some New Arrivals are Pride of ParkThe cat’s out of the bag at West Midland Safari Park as keepers announce the exciting arrival of two litters of incredibly cute African lion cubs. Read more |
 | Stratford Hotel Shortlisted for an Award!Hotel Indigo Stratford upon Avon has been shortlisted as a finalist in the prestigious West Midlands Tourism Awards 2020. The boutique hotel has been shortlisted in the New Tourism Business Award category and will find out if it has won this highly coveted award at a special ceremony on 26 February at the University of Birmingham’s Great Hall. Read more |
 | Plans for Shropshire Hills Discovery CentreThursday saw the 5th AGM for local charity, Grow Cook Learn at the Shropshire Hills Discovery Centre. And what an exciting one it was as the team of staff and trustees of the charity introduced their new development ideas for the site. Read more |
 | 18 Unique Motoring Shows for 2020The British Motor Museum has announced a schedule of 18 unique motoring shows for 2020, including the return of its Gaydon Land Rover Show and the National Metro & Mini Show which will be celebrating the 40th Anniversary of the Metro. There’s also the opportunity to see the popular and thought-provoking exhibition ‘The Car. The Future. Me’ which runs until July 2020. Read more |
 | 5 Must Do things in IronbridgeTop five ‘must do’ experiences for groups at the Ironbridge Gorge Museums in 2020 Read more |
