




FRIENDS OF THE FOLLIES WEEK – February Half Term – 16th-24th Feb
A Half Term of special offers as a thank you to our friends and visitors who have supported The Follies over the years.
Offers for all visitors:
– 25% off Annual Passes
– 25% off Friends of the Follies Memberships
– 10% off in the Gift Shop
FREE admission for anyone with an SY4 postcode
Annual Pass Holder Special Offers:
– Bring up to 6 of your friends for half price admission
– 10% off in Caspian’s Tea Room
– FREE Follies History & Guidebook
Friends of The Follies Members Offers:
– Bring up to 12 of your friends for half price admission
– 10% off in Caspian’s Tea Room
– FREE Follies History & Guidebook
Open 10am-5pm daily from 16th February 2019, last admission 4pm. Special offers available onsite only from 16th-24th February inclusive. Does not include online purchases.
* Free postcode admission applies to every adult who can show they live in the SY4 area with an original Utility Bill, Bank Statement or Drivers License. Children with these adults will also be permitted free of charge.
Standard prices can be seen here: http://www.hawkstoneparkfollies.co.uk/opening-times-and-prices-2/






Entry to this Plant Hunters’ Fair at Alderford Lake (formally Dearnford Lake) is completely free and offers the opportunity to pop along and visit many specialist nurseries at no charge to get your gardening season off to a great start. The plant fair has a brilliant line up of nurseries with a great range of perennials, shrubs, trees, rare species and old heritage varieties. Simply something for every plant lover. The nursery folk will be more than happy to give you the benefit of their experience in how to plant and care for the plants you buy so you can get the best from them. You can choose to take the lakeside walks (50p charge). Full details at www.planthuntersfairs.co.uk Delicious breakfast, lunch and afternoon tea available. The Plant Fair runs from 10am-4pm on Sunday 17th March.






Shrewsbury Steampunk Spectacular will take place on Saturday 23rd March 2019.
The Marvellous Market will be at the magnificent St Mary’s Church, and various Steampunk entertainment and activities will take place here and at other locations around the town centre.
Fancy having a go at Burlesque dance? Madam Zuri Arrosa Racing a Teapot? watching the amazing Belly Fusion Dance Collective join in with Ichabod Steam.? And much more besides! It really is going to be all rather splendid!
The evening Shindig will be at the Lion Hotel and will feature Professor Elemental, Victor and the Bully Damian Senior Violet Hugh and more!






Built in 1728 Burford House and its beauiful gardens have been open to the public since 1958. At one point in the garden is the spot where the three counties of Worcestershire, Herefordshire and Shropshire meet. The countryside around theses three counties is both beautiful and rich in wild edible plants and fungi. On the outskirts of Tenbury Wells, it is within easy reach of Ludlow, Leominster, Bromyard, Kidderminster, Hereford, Worcester, Bridgnorth and Shrewbury.
We will meet outside the cafe at Burford House. The course starts there with a short introduction on what to look for and a brief of the general countryside codes, where they relate to foragers. Tea or coffee is available from the cafe.
Then we’ll set off on a roughly 2.5 hour walk around the grounds of Burford House park and along the River Teme, teaching you how to identify the different Spring shoots, plants, flowers and hopefully mushrooms that we find.
There will be a break along the way for some homemade refreshments such as our lovely hogweed and wild garlic soup.
After the walk we will end the day with a tasty wild food lunch based on what we have found. This will include some treats made from our recent finds, a wild salad that we will pick on the day and possibly even some wild garlic pesto.
After the course we will email you a list of everything we talk about on the day; to help you remember what you have learnt.
There are limited spaces available so please book your tickets online.






Enjoy a morning in the Shropshire countryside learning about a free superfood that grows on our doorstep. Take part in the Wild Garlic Walk and pick your own to use, looking out for wildlife along the way!
Head back to the Centre in time for lunch. Centre Manager, Grant Wilson will be doing a Wild Garlic Pesto making demo in the afternoon. Pesto will be available to try and buy on the day too.
FREE ENTRY.






Run as a charity fund-raising event by local charity,
Grow Cook Learn, the Shropshire Way 80K is a mass participation challenge hike taking in some of the finest parts of the Shropshire Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. New to 2019 are three more routes joining the mighty 80K, the 40K Mammathon, Tusker’s 10K and a 5K Fun Run. Booking essential, for more information, contact the Centre on 01588676060 / info@shropshirehillsdiscoverycentre.co.uk. £40 for the 80K route, £25 for the 42K route, £17 for the Tusker 10K and £5 for the 3.5K Fun Run.






A popular Food, Drink, Craft, and Plant Market organised by Wem Combine Harvesters. More than 60 stalls in the Town Hall (SY4 5ER), Baptist Church (SY4 5DG) and Senior Club (SY4 5DG) with a wide range of high quality, locally-produced goods (within an approximately 30-mile range of Wem) including apple juice, baked goods, beer, cheeses, chocolates, cider, gin, honey, meat, flowers, pot plants, preserves, vegetables, wine plus textile and wood crafts, homeware, jewellery, painting and photography.
Raffle on the day of the market.
Attempt the Wem Trail Quiz.
Come and meet Wem’s Dragon and Owain Glyndŵr
Free admission to the market.
Wem Combine Harvesters is an umbrella group made up of Incredible Edible in Wem, Wem Civic Society, and Wem & District Garden Club. All profits from organising the markets go to running activities and projects in Wem.






Join us on a walk through our woods this spring and you won’t fail to notice the fragrant smell of wild garlic as you stroll through. We will walk through an area where wild garlic carpets the slope as far as the eye can see, a truly stunning display when it flowers, before tasting some of our very own garlic pesto and taking an ‘all things garlic’ recipe sheet home with you.
Meet at the NT Presthope car park. £4 per person, booking essential. Call 03442 491895 or visit our website






9.30am – 4pm Do you want to become more confident with your chainsaw at home but don’t require a qualification? Covering maintenance of your chainsaw (including sharpening), operator safety, safety clothing and risk assessment, find out how to start and operate your saw safely and learn cross cutting techniques for pre-cut timber. For just £75 for the whole day, this course promises to send you home with confidence to use your chainsaw safely. You will need your own chainsaw and chainsaw safety clothing; helmet, gloves, trousers and chainsaw footwear – ALL ESSENTIAL






The Shropshire Group of the Hardy Plant Society, are holding their annual Plant Fair on Sunday the 14th. April 2019. The Plant Fair includes 6 local nurseries and stalls devoted to members’ plants and provides an excellent opportunity for obtaining expert advice and plants that are ’something special’. Non members welcome. Light refreshments. Free Parking. 12-3pm






Spring is in the air and its time to get out in the garden and get planning and planting for the year ahead and where better to get inspiration than at a Plant Hunters Fair. With FREE ENTRY to this plant fair the event offers the opportunity to pop along and visit many specialist nurseries to get your gardening season off to a great start. All the nurseries attending are happy to offer expert advice to help less experienced gardeners select the right plants for their gardens. “For true ‘plantaholics’ there are always those little treasures to discover that can’t be obtained elsewhere.
Access to the grounds of Whittington Castle is free. Access to the Castle Gatehouse and Cottage is free Refreshments available. The plant fair runs from 10am-4pm on Good Friday 19th April. FREE ENTRY to the plant fair (£1.00 per car to park). Full details at www.planthuntersfairs.co.uk






Plant Hunters’ Fairs: plant fairs that are different and special Come rain or shine our fairs are the place to find great value, top quality, traditionally grown plants for every type of garden. Nurseries coming on Good Friday 2019: Bridge Farm Plants from Derbyshire: interesting and unusual perennials ChickenStreet from Shropshire: grasses and herbaceous perennials for naturalistic plantings Hall Farm Nursery from Shropshire: Wide range of perennials and herbs. RHS Gold medallists including Chelsea Gold Jurassicplants Nurseries from Denbighshire






With FREE ENTRY to this Plant Hunters’ Fair the event offers the opportunity to pop along and visit many specialist nurseries from across the country to get your gardening season off to a great start. All the nurseries attending are happy to offer expert advice to help less experienced gardeners select the right plants for their gardens. “For true ‘plantaholics’ there are always those little treasures to discover that can’t be obtained elsewhere.
The visitor centre and lakeside restaurant are housed in an award winning environmentally sensitive building and serve a wide variety of home cooked meals and light refreshments including meats from the farm. Why not enjoy the spring weather and take your tea on the terrace overlooking the main pool. The plant fair runs from 10am-4pm on Easter Saturday 20th April with free entry to the plant fair and excellent Lakeside Restaurant. Entry to Beautiful 156 acre arboretum with over 3000 types of trees and shrubs is optional at normal prices. Details at www.planthuntersfairs.co.uk






Popular Plant Fair with better than HALF PRICE ENTRY to the wonderful Dorothy Clive Gardens and Plant Hunter’s Fair returns on Easter Sunday 21st April and Easter Monday 22nd April. The event is now firmly established as a “must” in gardeners’ diaries. This special fund-raising event for the Willoughbridge Garden Charitable Trust who maintain these wonderful gardens is now in its 11th year and the garden offers a great special event price on these days of just £4.00 for garden and plant fair entry (normally, standard garden entry is £8.50). So why not make it an Easter treat that won’t break the bank!
Nurseries will of course come loaded with spring flowering plants plus plenty of later flowering plants to get planted now and this Easter there are more stalls than ever booked as this event goes from strength to strength.
All your favourites will be there.
Coming all the way from Cornwall are Roseland House with their National Collections of Clematis and Lapageria as well as a great array of stunning climbers at great value prices.
The ever popular Edrom Nurseries will be travelling down from Berwickshire and we know there will be lots of really unusual and hard-to-obtain woodland plants on their stall.
New comers to the event include: Alluring Plants from with nectar rich plants for bees and butterflies. Mynd Hardy Plants with a large range of perennials specialising in Hemerocallis and Penstemon. Artisan Plant Supports from Staffordshire with beautiful hand crafted iron garden plant supports.
If this isn’t enough there are 6 RHS medal winners at the fair: Chris Cooke (woodland and species plants); Edrom Nurseries (woodland and alpine plants); Hall Farm Nursery (a wide range of plants); Packhorse Farm (Acers and other trees and shrubs); Potterton’s Nursery (award-winning alpines) and Tissington Nursery (perennials)
The smaller, family run nurseries are always popular as a source of the new, the old or the different! Conquest Plant Nurseries have a wonderfully wide range of variegated plants. Green’s Leaves specialise in Australian plants plus a sprinkling of the newest flowering plants on the market. Jurassicplants Nurseries always cause a stir with fantastic, exotic and hardy edibles. Mayfields Plants specialise in cottage garden favourites. Shadyplants.com need no explanation! SpecialPerennials are helenium and phlox specialists. Bridge Farm Plants with lots of unusual perennials The Gobbett will be bringing shrubs especially Lilacs and perennials, with a great range of iris.
Regular visitors will be pleased to learn that Studio 8 Pottery are back with their hand-thrown and home-fired terracotta garden wares made using Staffordshire clay.
The garden is intimate, informal and inspiring. Located on the borders of Staffordshire, Shropshire and Cheshire, this lovely garden has delights and surprises whatever the season.
There are many areas of spring interest within this 12-acre, hillside garden. These include a new winter garden, an edible woodland, a woodland quarry with waterfall, an alpine scree and pool, rose walk and amazing drifts of spring bulbs.
The spring plant fair is the time to see hellebores, camellias, crocus and spring flowering bulbs making a mark on the garden along with magnolias and early flowering rhododendrons.
Dogs on leads are very welcome. Tearooms open. The plant fair runs fron 10am-5pm on Sunday 21st and Monday 22nd April. Full details of nurseries attending at www.planthuntersfairs.co.uk






Built in 1728 Burford House and its beauiful gardens have been open to the public since 1958. At one point in the garden is the spot where the three counties of Worcestershire, Herefordshire and Shropshire meet. The countryside around theses three counties is both beautiful and rich in wild edible plants and fungi. On the outskirts of Tenbury Wells, it is within easy reach of Ludlow, Leominster, Bromyard, Kidderminster, Hereford, Worcester, Bridgnorth and Shrewbury.
We will meet outside the cafe at Burford House. The course starts there with a short introduction on what to look for and a brief of the general countryside codes, where they relate to foragers. Tea or coffee is available from the cafe.
Then we’ll set off on a roughly 2.5 hour walk around the grounds of Burford House park and along the River Teme, teaching you how to identify the different Spring shoots, plants, flowers and hopefully mushrooms that we find.
There will be a break along the way for some homemade refreshments such as our lovely hogweed and wild garlic soup.
After the walk we will end the day with a tasty wild food lunch based on what we have found. This will include some treats made from our recent finds, a wild salad that we will pick on the day and possibly even some wild garlic pesto.
After the course we will email you a list of everything we talk about on the day; to help you remember what you have learnt.
There are limited spaces available so please book your tickets online.






FREE ENTRY to this great plant fair. It’s a great time to get out in the garden and get planning and planting for the year ahead and where better to get inspiration than at a Plant Hunters Fair. The plants are lovingly grown by small specialist nurseries and these enthusiastic plants people are on hand to give honest, straightforward advice on choosing and growing the right plants for your garden. The plant fair offers the opportunity to pop along and visit some wonderful specialist nurseries at no charge to get the gardening season off to a great start.
At the same time visit Battlefields 1403 excellent farm shop, deli and Sparrow’s Café. Which is a celebration of low food miles, only buying British and that means no lemons or grapes in sight, fresh seasonal products with full traceability. The cafe cooks fresh daily with local ingredients, serving loyal visitors that return time and time again. The plant fair runs from 9.30am-4pm on Saturday 27th April. For full details please see www.planthuntersfairs.co.uk






Indoor carboot/ table top sale.
Wanting to clear your house of unwanted items or just make your self some extra money then book a stall at my indoor table top sale on Saturday 27th April 2019 10-12 @eastern Oswestry community centre. Tables are £8 each. I only have a limited amount of tables available so You MUST PREBOOK. tables are provided so no need to bring your own.
If your only wanting to browse or purchase please remember:
💰it’s FREE entry for everyone
🧁refreshments will be available.
🚘 car parking available
Feel free to message me for any information
📆 date: Saturday 27th April 2019
🕰 time: 10-12
🌎 venue: Eastern Oswestry community centre,cabin lane,Oswestry,sy11 2lq






Clun’s Green Man will again be attempting to win the age-old battle against winter and darkness, and bring in the summer! Sunday is the Ice Queen’s last stand, with her Fair in the Square. Monday is the main event, with lots of family-friendly fun. Dancing, street theatre, circus skills, lots of festival food, battles, bowmen and, of course, beer!
Tickets on sale on the day.
Find us on Facebook at Clun Green Man or via http://www.clungreenman.org.uk/






Looking for a great value day out this Early May Bank Holiday Sunday and Monday (5th & 6th May). Look no further than a visit to the wonderful Weston Park and its Plant Hunters’ Fair. With a really great value entrance price of just £3.00 for this special event which includes entry to the gardens and parkland and the great Plant Hunters’ Fair.
The plant fair has become a magnet for plant lovers from near and far with a great line-up of nurseries to create a plant lover’s paradise. The mix of nurseries ensures there’s something for every type of garden; little gems to tempt the most discerning plants person and lots of help and advice for the new or less experienced gardener.
Weston is an award-winning stately home set in 1000 acres of “Capability” Brown parkland much of it wooded and planted with spring bulbs, bluebells, azaleas and rhododendrons. There are miles of woodland walks, lakes and the beautiful formal gardens to explore. Children can let off steam in the Woodland Adventure Playground. Relax and unwind over a coffee in the Deli or enjoy lunch in the Granary Grill. The house will also be open from 1pm (additional charge). The miniature railway will also be running (additional charge) Full details from www.planthuntersfairs.co.uk






Head Gardener Martin Gee will lead a three and half mile guided walk through carpets of bluebells, avenues and azaleas and Capability Brown’s pleasure grounds.
At this time of year Temple Wood is a riot of colour and perfume as the rhododendrons and azaleas are in full bloom. Martin will talk about these fashionable hybrids and why the walks were created by the 4th Countess.
The Granary Grill & Deli will be open for freshly brewed coffees, light bites, homemade cakes or a Sunday Roast.
The walk will start from the admissions point at 10.30am
Admission is payable on the day.
Adults £6.00
Seniors £5.00
Free admission for Children under 14
Weston Park Annual Pass holders receive 50% off admission
Dogs on leads are welcome






On Sunday 12th May this year, a private Shropshire estate will throw open its door to the public and host a Country House Charity Car Boot Sale to raise funds for The Cavalier Centre, home of the new Perry Riding for the Disabled in Much Wenlock. Taking place at The Isle Estate, a hidden treasure just outside Shrewsbury and home to the Tate family, the event will be an exciting mixture of ‘booters’ selling family treasures and visitors (buyers) looking for that amazing bargain and possible hidden gem.
There will also be a Valuations Tent run by Christina Trevanion from Trevanion and Dean Auctioneers, well known BBC Bargain Hunt and Flog It presenter. In addition a Vintage Clothes tent will delight those wearing and collecting items from bygone eras, and a refreshments tent will offer local goodies from opening to the end.
For more information and to make a stall booking please email danny.budd13@gmail.com






Our plant fairs at The British Ironwork Centre have raised thousands of pounds for Hope House Children’s Hospices, with the £1.00 entrance fee going to this very deserving cause. Please help us raise more in 2019! There will be a brilliant line-up of top specialist nurseries who will bring a great range of perennials, shrubs, trees, rare species and old heritage varieties. Come for a great day out, find some lovely plants for your garden, get expert advice from the enthusiastic nursery folk.
The British Ironworks Centre not only boasts a working smithy and a showroom featuring the biggest choice of quality British ironware for both indoors and garden use but also the Shropshire Sculpture Park featuring a safari in ironwork that has to be seen to be believed! The venue has lots to see and explore with something for all ages, plus the bonus of a great Plant Hunters’ Fair to enjoy!
Entry to the Plant Fair and all other attractions is £1.00 in aid of Hope House Hospices. Free parking. The plant fair runs from10am-4pm on Saturday 18th May. Refreshments available.
Full details of the nurseries attending at www.planthuntersfairs.co.uk






First of two visits to this exiting, surprising and outstandingly friendly venue in Shropshire. The £1.00 entry fee is in aid of Hope House children’s hospices so dig deep and help us smash last year’s total of over £2000. Lots of great plants to buy, iron animal safari and lots, lots more for all the family. Full details http://planthuntersfairs.co.uk/Venues/britishironwork.htm?option=n1






Built in 1728 Burford House and its beauiful gardens have been open to the public since 1958. At one point in the garden is the spot where the three counties of Worcestershire, Herefordshire and Shropshire meet. The countryside around theses three counties is both beautiful and rich in wild edible plants and fungi. On the outskirts of Tenbury Wells, it is within easy reach of Ludlow, Leominster, Bromyard, Kidderminster, Hereford, Worcester, Bridgnorth and Shrewbury.
We will meet outside the cafe at Burford House. The course starts there with a short introduction on what to look for and a brief of the general countryside codes, where they relate to foragers. Tea or coffee is available from the cafe.
Then we’ll set off on a roughly 2.5 hour walk around the grounds of Burford House park and along the River Teme, teaching you how to identify the different Spring shoots, plants, flowers and hopefully mushrooms that we find.
There will be a break along the way for some homemade refreshments such as our lovely hogweed and wild garlic soup.
After the walk we will end the day with a tasty wild food lunch based on what we have found. This will include some treats made from our recent finds, a wild salad that we will pick on the day and possibly even some wild garlic pesto.
After the course we will email you a list of everything we talk about on the day; to help you remember what you have learnt.
There are limited spaces available so please book your tickets online.






Enjoy a wonderful Plant Hunters’ Fair at Hodnet Hall Gardens with a special reduced entry price of only £4.00 for the gardens and plant fair. The plant fair boasts top class nurseries from across the country including RHS Gold Medal Winners and National Collection Holders offering a tremendous variety of plants and it’s just the right time to pick up some Summer flowering plants to give your garden a boost and the nurseries will have just the right plant for your garden with nurseries specialising in plants of all sizes for a wide range of garden situations from hot sun to cool shade.
Hodnet Hall has over 60 acres of breathtaking gardens with grand vistas, intimate, secluded areas, magnificent lakes and a walled kitchen garden. What more could you want on an early summer’s day?
The plant fair runs from 10am-5pm both days. Special Low Entry Price for Gardens and Fair £4.00 (Half Standard Price Entry) Children Free. Free parking. Light refreshments available in the picturesque restaurant. Dogs welcome on a lead. Full details of nurseries attending at www.planthuntersfairs.co.uk






Oswestry Antique and Collector Fair is situated in the heart of Shropshire at Oswestry Showground which is a 36 acres site with THREE LARGE exhibition halls in a prime position on the A495. You can except to find an array of outdoor and indoor stalls selling an eclectic mix of antiques, vintage, collectables, architectural salvage, mid century or simply that decorative items.
Oswestry Antique & Collectors Fair regularly see’s 200 stalls of experienced dealers from all over the country and has been a regular on BBC’s bargain hunt in the past.
The fair is affordable, dog friendly with free parking and free entry for children. This is a great day out for all the family to be enjoyed whatever the weather!






Burford House and its beautiful gardens have been open to the public since 1958.The countryside around the three counties is rich in edible plants and fungi.
The course begins at Burford House Cafe with a short introduction on what to look for and a brief of the general countryside codes.
Then we’ll set off on a roughly 2.5 hour walk around the gardens and along the River Teme, teaching you how to identify the different plants, fruits and mushrooms that we find.
There will be a break along the way for homemade refreshments such as a lovely wild food soup or elderflower champagne.
After the walk we will end the day with a tasty wild food lunch based on what we have found. This will include some treats made from our recent finds and a wild salad that we will pick on the day.
After the course we will email you a list of everything we talk about on the day; to help you remember what you have learnt.
There are limited spaces available so please book your tickets online.






Come along to Arley Arboretum for a great plant fair with HALF PRICE ENTRY to the Gardens, Arboretum & Plant Fair of just £2.75. Discover a tranquil wonderland of rare and ancient trees, exquisite walled gardens and panoramic views. The Arboretum offers plenty to do for all ages, add to this a plant fair with top class specialist nurseries and we’ve the perfect day out for plant lovers. The nursery folk will be more than happy to give you the benefit of their experience in how to plant and care for the plants you buy so you can get the best from them. The plant fair runs from 10am-5pm. Free parking. Tearooms serving light refreshments.
Full details at www.planthuntersfairs.co.uk






Summer Ball is back for 2019 at our charity headquarters! Three course sit down meal with catering from the fabulous Get Gourmet Catering, wonderful music from live band The Beautiful Ways and John Davies Disco, bar and promise auction, in a beautiful setting near Wenlock Edge in our marquee. Ticket only event, £40 per ticket includes a welcome drink!






A friendly and welcoming Antique and Collectables Fair.
Over 40 stands, with a diverse collection of traders, Antiques, Collectables, Vintage.
Fully accesible for disabled visitors, free parking, and a fabulous award winning cafe.
Great North Shropshire Location.
Adults £2.00
Children under 12 free.






Burford House and its beautiful gardens have been open to the public since 1958.The countryside around the three counties is rich in edible plants and fungi.
The course begins at Burford House Cafe with a short introduction on what to look for and a brief of the general countryside codes.
Then we’ll set off on a roughly 2.5 hour walk around the gardens and along the River Teme, teaching you how to identify the different plants, fruits and mushrooms that we find.
There will be a break along the way for homemade refreshments such as a lovely wild food soup or elderflower champagne.
After the walk we will end the day with a tasty wild food lunch based on what we have found. This will include some treats made from our recent finds and a wild salad that we will pick on the day.
After the course we will email you a list of everything we talk about on the day; to help you remember what you have learnt.
There are limited spaces available so please book your tickets online.






The one day of the year our wildlife rescue centre opens its doors to the public, come along and see all the birds and animals in our care. There is a fun dog show with lots of classes to enter, BBQ, craft and charity stalls, fire engine, bouncy castle, activities and more! £2 per person, under 16s enter for free. Always a popular event!




