




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/






Join us and illuminate our night sky! Night Run will be back for its fifth year at Attingham in 2019 on Saturday 2 March.
It starts at approximately 6.30pm with registration from 5pm. Online bookings for the Night Run series are open, advance bookings only, no entries taken on the night.
We’ve got two routes to choose from, the 2.5km Explorer route and the 6km Adventurer route. The Explorer route is perfect for families and people new to running and our Adventurer route is suited for runners looking for a challenge. Both routes begin in front of the Mansion and then follow paths through the park at night.
£14 per person for the Adventure route
£7 per person for the Explorer route
For more information visit https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/attingham-park/features/night-run-at-attingham-
When you take part in a Night Run your entry fee goes directly to helping us care for the special places your love – thank you.
Another way you can help us protect special places is by getting your hands on one of our new fundraising packs. The packs contain lots of ideas and hand tips about how you can fundraise for the National Trust. If you’re able to, why not go the extra mile on our Night Run? Once you’ve registered to take part in Night Run, email sports@nationaltrust.org.uk to request a pack and to find out more.






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.






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.






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






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






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






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






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






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






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!






Following the outstanding success of 2018….the 2019 Oswestry Colour Run is back!
Sunday 30th June 2019
– Follow us on TWITTER @OsColourRun for the latest updates!!
– Like the British Ironwork Centre Facebook page too!
Get ready for the happiest 3K you’ll ever walk, dance or run. Can you help us make this years event even more of a success. Last year we raised over £14,500 to support Macmillan’s work in Shropshire.
The colour run is designed to be a happy, enjoyable day for all ages. It celebrates healthiness, happiness, individuality, and giving back to the community while experiencing the uniqueness of the British Ironwork Centre. The Colour Run is a three-kilometre, un-timed race in which participants are doused from head to toe in different colours from various paint stations around the course.
A great opportunity to visit the British Ironwork Centre with all the family with refreshments available on the day.






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!






The Heart of England Ferret Association was created in 2009 to assist rescue centres with vet bills, food and housing, and has raised over £9,500 to date.
Support their cause and watch races take place at regular intervals throughout the day. Guess the first ferret past the post and win a keyring!
Get hands on and learn a little more about our furry friends with supervised handling between races.






We are pleased to announce that the 6th running of the Apley Estate multi-terrain event presented by Wrekin Road Runners will be on the 29th September 2019.
We will again be raising funds for Stockton Church and St. Milburga Church in Beckbury.
Due to the nature of the location and accessibility the distances may vary slightly from 5k, 10k and 21k; we will adjust the course chip timing to ensure it reflects the distances and provides you with accurate pacing splits.
Add the date to your diary and don’t forget to like our facebook page to keep you up to date with news and information about the race.
Minimum age on race day:
21k- 17 yo
10k – 17 yo
5k – 12yo
There is plenty of car parking available but please take care and have consideration for the land owner as well as other drivers.
Please note all parts of the Apley Estate are strictly private at all times other than for these races.
Race start:
21k – 10:30
10k – 10:40
5k – 10:50
Course details: Route maps to follow
The 5k loop – 1 lap
The 10k loop – 1 lap
The 21k loop – 2 laps (consists of the 10k loop followed by a 11k loop)
We advise the use of trail shoes for all distances and feel these are more appropriate than spikes.






Shrewsbury Half Marathon returns on Sunday 6th October 2019 with a new autumn date and plenty to look forward to after the success of the 2018 event. The race will welcome an increased capacity for 2019 and feature two new race distances – a Family 1.1 Mile for families and young runners, plus a Cumulative Half Marathon where participants run 12 miles in their own time and complete the final 1.1 mile on race day. Together, the races open the event up to all ages and abilities and will contribute to a superb atmosphere on the day.
Shrewsbury Half Marathon offers a perfect mix of history and scenery, the 13.1-mile route taking runners through the streets of Shrewsbury city centre before heading out into the beautiful Shropshire countryside. Once again a team of UKRunChat pacers will be helping runners to achieve their targets and there will be first-class entertainment at the race village at Shropshire Country Showground.
Entry to Shrewsbury Half Marathon includes: bespoke medal; technical t-shirt; goody bag; free pre and post-race massage and free race photos worth £19.99. Entry from £26 (affiliated) / £28 (unaffiliated).
The Family 1.1 Mile costs £8 for children aged 11 and above running unaccompanied, and also per adult. Entry costs £5 per child aged 4-10 accompanied by an adult. All finishers of the Family Mile receive a medal. The Cumulative Half Marathon costs £15.




