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Museum promises “wonderful” reopening

The Museum of Gloucester’s new exhibitions showcase the Ladybird Book Artists and the explore city’s commUNITY

Gloucestershire families anticipating the reopening of indoor visitor attractions will be excited to hear that The Museum of Gloucester opens its doors in time for May half term. Children will be engaged by new fun arts and crafts activity packs, while parents will discover a thought-provoking exhibition in the Community Gallery co-curated by Gloucester-based lyricist, poet and MC Rider Shafique.

The show aims to put the ‘unity’ back in the word ‘community’ and is an opportunity to see and hear the people of Gloucester in all their diversity through photography and film. According to the museum, the exhibition aims to represent and empower the city’s communities, giving visitors the chance to think about and respond to questions like “what is community?”, “who are you?” and “what do you love?”

The following month, from Sunday 26 June, the museum also hosts ‘The Wonderful World of the Ladybird Book Artists’, an exhibition celebrating the talents behind the amazing success of Ladybird Books, a staple of primary-aged learning for at least two decades in the mid20th century, since they first appeared in their most well-known form some 80 years ago. Expect a colourful array of books, original artwork and artefacts from the series that brought the world everything from classic fairy tales and the Janet & John reading books to ‘The Story of Furniture’ and ‘Animals, Birds and Plants of the Bible’.

Rider Shafique

Find out about fostering

The need for foster carers has been acute during the Covid-19 pandemic and Gloucestershire County Council’s fostering service is keen to hear from anyone interested in caring for a foster child. Its next online event explaining how fostering works and the rewards it offers takes place online at 6.30pm , Tuesday 15 June via Zoom.

This two-hour introduction is a friendly, no-obligation opportunity to find out if fostering is for you, to hear personal anecdotes from carers and those who support them and to ask questions about all aspects of the process.

Anyone over the age of 21, whether single, co-habiting or married, who has a spare room or rooms in their home, can foster a child and this event will provide clear information about different types of fostering, applying to become a foster carer and the support and training the fostering service provides. Simply register via the fostering service’s web pages. W: www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/ fostering/

Westonbirt springs back

With spring arriving almost as Covid restrictions are relaxed, visitors to Westonbirt Arboretum can enjoy unusually late blossoms, as well as more family activities. The Gruffalo Spotters Trail has a trail pack inviting kids to see what they can find in the deep dark wood. The arboretum’s main restaurant reopens at the end of May, alongside sandwiches and pizza from the new Pantry and Smokehouse. And, why not help Westonbirt develop its Forest Design Plan by leaving feedback on the arboretum’s proposals for the next ten years? W: www.forestryengland.uk/westonbirt-the-national-arboretum Ladybird book spines and (inset) Rider Shafique

W: www.museumofgloucester. co.uk