News and events for summer 2019 Herefordshire | Shropshire | Staffordshire Warwickshire | West Midlands | Worcestershire ©National Trust Images/John Millar Images/John ©National Trust Summer’s here at last de Images/Arnhel Summer is the season of warmth, longer days and an abundance of wildlife Serra you just want to be outside. There are many summer adventures to be had at a National Trust place near you. hy not set your children at Berrington Hall in Herefordshire and with the addition of summer bedding free with our ‘50 things duck racing (every Tuesday in the and the bowling green will be open for to do before you’re 11’ summer holidays) at Coughton Court in games. Take a stroll through the Wactivities? At Croft Warwickshire? ‘Capability’ Brown parkland at Croome Castle and Parkland in Herefordshire If you like things a little more serene, in Worcestershire which reveals statues, Meal times in the summer are al fresco and dragonflies and the Big Pool is you can watch birds in the hide located head to the gardens at our places to see temples and follies around every corner and having a picnic is the quintessential home to over 10 species. While at the in the picturesque Fishpool Valley, flowers in full bloom and borders at and follow the spiral path at Packwood British way to eat outside. At Greyfriars Clent Hills in Worcestershire listen out while Wenlock Edge in Shropshire is their best. In the Walled Garden at in Warwickshire to the magnificent yews. House and Garden in Worcester you can for birdsong from thrush, nuthatch, perfect for hunting for fossils. Tick off Attingham Park in Shropshire see find your own little picnic oasis in the redstart and warblers and see if you can lots of challenges at Baddesley Clinton cottage garden favourites, foxgloves, Walled Garden and escape the bustle of spot the brown trout in the river at The in Warwickshire with their Summer of lavender and hollyhocks and don’t miss the busy streets, while at Shugborough Weir Garden in Herefordshire. Wildlife (check website for details) with the veg patch with lettuces, French Follow us... in Staffordshire enjoy your picnic in the The highlights for this season are discover what’s in a pond, make friends beans and melons growing in the or your local shade of one of the historic monuments hazy days, borders in bloom and with a bug, den building and the refurbished Melon House. At Hanbury National Trust place dotted around the parkland and at wondrous wildlife, sure signs that chance to make your own bug hotel. Hall in Worcestershire the Parterre on social media. Sunnycroft in Shropshire, the croquet summer is here. You help us protect For more summer fun why not try becomes a riot of colour and texture Share your days out lawn is the perfect spot for a picnic and these signs of summer. nature and craft activities (Wednesdays with us and get the why not have a game? in the summer holidays) at Wightwick latest updates on Nature flourishes in the Manor and Gardens in Wolverhampton, summer events summer, there’s so much to see. Events for summer 2019 Herefordshire | Shropshire | Staffordshire boating on the lake and playing cricket and activities Dudmaston in Shropshire is a Warwickshire | West Midlands | Worcestershire great place to see damselflies #NTMidlands © National Trust Images/Arnhel de Serra de Images/Arnhel Trust National © Herefordshire Summertime Gardens Berrington Hall - Evening Opening Brockhampton Estate Sat 3 Aug - Sat 31 Aug (Sats only), 5.30pm-8.30pm Kite Festival Father’s Day BBQ, For details of all there is to see and do, visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk/midlands or take a look at the ‘What’s on’ section Sat 13 Jul & Sun 14 Jul, 10am-4pm Every Saturday evening in August, Berrington’s gardens will be open for Beer and Ceilidh Band Kite flying has been popular for many Sun 16 Jun, 12noon-3pm centuries and this year we’ll host visitors to explore. We will be holding special events on some of these Feast on delicious burgers and another year of the Hereford and sausages with vegetarian and vegan Leominster Kite Festival. Bring your evenings, including ‘Gardener’s Question Time’ on Saturday 10 August. options, join in with the dancing and own kite, fly with experts and see give Dad a treat on his special day. Berrington’s sky lit up with colour. Second World War Home Party in the Pleasure Grounds Front Cooking Sat 3 Aug, Sat 24 Aug & Sun 25 Aug, Orchard Walk Forties Music Weekend Red Riding Hood Trail Sun 30 Jun, 2pm-4pm Sat 6 Jul & Sun 7 Jul, 10am-4pm Sat 20 Jul – Sun 1 Sep, 10am-4pm 10am-4pm Step back in time to the Second World Sat 21 Sep & Sun 22 Sep, 11am-3pm Join us in the walled garden and The walk will be through orchards Step back in time and enjoy live forties Grab your red cloak and step back in over undulating terrain, covering War and taste authentic Home Front time to follow the footsteps of the pleasure grounds as we celebrate our recipes cooked on a traditional Soyer music in the Saloon. While you’re here, Berrington Garden Project. Show your approximately three miles and will be discover more about Henry Page Croft’s big bad wolf. See if you can take up mildly strenuous. Participants will be Stove outside the castle. the challenge and defeat this scary support and help us raise funds for role as Undersecretary of State for War our vital conservation work with live able to discover how they can join in and Edward Croft Murray’s vital beast as he hides in the gardens. with the Reimagining Orchards Swallows and Amazons Trail £2.50 per trail, includes a prize music, games and much more. Sat 20 Jul – Sun 1 Sep, 10am-4pm contribution to the Second World War as Adult £2, child £1 project. Visit website for details. one of the Monuments Men. All £5 Imagine you’re sailing away from Berri Fest dastardly pirates, learn some much- The Weir Garden Sun 28 Jul, 11am-4pm Boating on the Lake needed outdoor survival skills and Mon 5 Aug – Fri 30 Aug Fruit Rhymes Trail To raise funds for our Berrington Fri 19 Jul, 11am-4.30pm reconnect with nature and the Garden Project, we have decided to get (Mon –Fri only), 12noon-4pm outdoors on our summer holiday trail. ‘50 things to do The best way to see the 14-acre lake is Fun for all ages, how many of the before youre everyone out into the gardens for a day nursery rhymes do you know? Which All £2.50 of music. Enjoy performances from a by boat. Hire a boat for a trip around Wed 31 Jul – Wed 28 Aug parts of the lake and fruits can you identify and how many (Weds only), 11am-4pm series of different bands and musicians. of the fruits featured have you tried? Immersion Theatre present Adult £5, child £2.50 see some of the hidden ‘Alice in Wonderland’ Come along every Wednesday for spaces in the Complete the trail and win a prize. self-led activities to complete your ‘50 £2.50 per trail Mon 5 Aug, 2pm-4pm ‘Capability’ Brown Pack up your picnic and something things’ list. Build a den, toast a Key to symbols designed water habitat. to sit on and relax on the front lawn marshmallow and even fly a kite. Boat hire is for half an Minecraft Building Day Booking advisable. Tue 13 Aug & Sat 31 Aug, 11am-4pm as Immersion Theatre bring you hour per session. their wonderful performance of River Folklore Trail Call individual property Adult £6, child £3 How many trees can you plant and Fri 19 Jul – Sun 1 Sep (excl. Weds), how many can you harvest? Build an ‘Alice in Wonderland’. All £1 10.30am-4pm Booking essential. Berrington 10K awesome orchard from Minecraft Discover the ancient legends of Water Call individual property blocks and see where our new Sun 22 Sep, 10am-4pm Bushcraft Survival Weekend Dragons, Nymphs and other magical Get your running shoes on and take part orchards will grow. Discover how we creatures who have lived here alongside Booking essential. Call Central will be helping nature and growing Sat 31 Aug & Sun 1 Sep, 10am-4pm in our first ever 10K around ‘Capability’ Reconnect with nature and the the river for hundreds of years. Box Office on 03442 491895 Brown’s final landscape masterpiece. delicious fruit for the future. All £2.50 (5% booking fee applies) All £2 outdoors with our bushcraft survival You’ll also be directly contributing to weekend. Learn all about bushcraft and our ambitious conservation project to 1920s at The Weir Garden Booking essential online only Croft Castle and Parkland outdoor survival skills, including den revive Brown’s iconic walled garden and building, foraging and wild animal tracks. Fri 19 Jul – Sun 1 Sep, 10.30am-4pm at www.nationaltrust.org.uk/ pleasure grounds. Practice those throwing skills as we dudmaston Croft during the Second World War All: There will be a run entry fee and Reviving Croft’s Fishpool Valley take you back to traditional fair games minimum sponsorship for the Sat 8 Jun & Sun 9 Jun, 10am-4pm of tin can alley and our coconut shy. Event repeated on other dates, Discover more about Croft during the Sat 7 Sep & Sun 8 Sep, 10am-4pm Berrington Garden Project. Try our new walks through the valley, Who can score the most points? check website for details Price TBC war, including how the castle was used as a school for evacuated children and the see the dam repairs in action and meet School holiday event family’s link to Churchill, with authentic the team.