Green Events

Every day from 1 April - 31 October

HEREFORD GUILD OF GUIDES

Guided tours around Hereford. Also pre-booked themed walks for groups all year round. Mon-Sat 11.30am, Sun 2.30pm). Tickets from the Cathedral Shop and meet at Cathedral main entrance, Adults £6, children 6-12 years £1, 07947 924494. www.herefordguidedwalks.org.uk

Saturday 1 April LEOMINSTER REPAIR CAFE

Community Centre, 10-12.30. A broken toy is no joke! Other household items repaired as well for a donation. Email: rc.leominster@gmail.com

Sat 1 April SHROPSHIRE WAY 80K FESTIVAL

For runners and walkers. Five events: the mighty SW80K, The Mammothon, Half-Mammothon and Tusker’s 10K. Shropshire Hills Discovery Centre, Craven Arms, 01588 676060, www.shropshirehillsdiscoverycentre.co.uk

Mon 3 - Fri 7 & Mon 10 - Fri 14 April

EASTER HOLIDAY ACTIVITY - I SPY NATURE

Go on hunts in the meadow, observe a plant, or landscape, do a watercolour of it or start a nature journal. For 4-11 year olds. Shropshire Hills Discovery Centre, Craven Arms, 1-2.30pm, £4.50, booking essential, 01588 676060.

Tues 4, Thurs 6, Tues 11 & Thurs 13 April

A DISCOVERY SPRING CHILDREN’S HOLIDAY CLUB

Enjoy the meadows, explore nature, collect natural materials to use in crafts, start plant growing and help cook a lunchtime meal. For ages 4-11 years. Shropshire Hills Discovery Centre, Craven Arms, 9am-1pm, booking essential £9.50, includes a cooked lunch, 01588 676060.

Sat 8 April PLANT SALE

Clun Methodist Church Forecourt, 10am-12pm. Proceeds to Alzheimer’s Research & Clun Methodist Church.

Fri 21 April WORLD CURLEW DAY

An evening of music, art, science, talks and film to raise awareness of the endangered curlew. With music from Merlyn Driver’s ‘Simmerdime: Curlew Sounds’. Optional supper served from the cafe from 6.15pm. Great Hall, Hay Castle, Hay-on-Wye, 6.15pm, £15, 01497 820079.

Fri 21 - Sun 23 April KINGTON SPRING WALKING FESTIVAL See www.kingtonwalks.org for details

Tues 25-Thurs 27 April SPRING GREENS SCHOOL DAYS

Very special outdoor learning days will be offered, providing a variety of outdoor learning activities in mixed schools’ workshops. Court of Noke, Pembridge, www.springgreens.org.uk

Wed 26 April SPRING PLANT FAIR

Broxwood Court gardens, advice on trees, wildlife and meadows. Learn about the work of the Cart Shed. Refreshments. Broxwood Court, Pembridge, 10.30am-4pm, £6, 01544 318231, www.thecartshed.co.uk

Sun 30 April SPRING GREENS ENVIRONMENTAL FAIR

Exhibitions, stalls, displays, local food, shelter, arts and music, demonstrations, guided walks, presentations and activities. Local campaign groups and sustaintable businesses. Dog and child-friendly atmosphere. Court of Noke, Pembridge, by kind invitation of Edward & Emma Bulmer. www.springgreens.org.uk

Sat 13 May PUTLEY VILLAGE OPEN GARDENS

Five or six gardens open, maps of the route provided. Gardens and Parish Hall open from 10am-4pm, £6, under 15s free. Plant stalls and refreshments, www.putleygardens.co.uk

Sat 13 May PLANT AND SEEDLING SWAP

Teme Valley Environment Group. Knighton Community Market, 9.30am-12.30pm.

April KNIGHTON COMMUNITY WOODLANDS GROUP

Volunteer with us on our weekly task days to learn new skills. http://tveg.org.uk/wordpress/woodland-project Email woodland@tveg.org.uk 01547 520374.

Every Third Saturday in the Month PRESTEIGNE REPAIR

Presteigne Youth Centre, Hereford Street. 10am-12pm. Household items repaired for free. Info: 01544 267997.

Mondays & Wednesdays KNIGHTON MENS SHED

Sharpening service available. Teme Mill, Station Yard, Knighton, 10am-2pm. John on 01544232750 or email jtknightonmensshed@gmail.com.

Every Tuesday, monthly until end March (except 27 Dec)

ENERGY ADVICE SURGERY

Providing energy advice to local residents, especially those struggling with their energy bills. Knighton Community Centre, 10am-2.30pm, free, drop-in or book via 01547 520374 or email garydcowell@yahoo.co.uk

2nd Wednesday of the month

KINGTON LOCAL ENVIRONMENT & ENERGY NETWORK (KLEEN)

Oxford Arms, Kington, from 7pm, www.kingtonkleen.org.uk

A Quiet Place DISCOVERY CENTRE, CRAVEN ARMS

LESS mammoth, more great white elephant, the Shropshire Hills Discovery Centre started life as a tourist attraction. Many grants later it has become something of a hub for the local community, featuring meeting rooms for hire, art exhibitions, a gift shop, cafe and a Shropshire through Time themed exhibition (admission fee payable). In the latter, you can see a life size replica of the skeleton of the woolly mammoth which was discovered in a quarry at Condover near Shrewsbury. In its heyday, the Centre’s grass roof was a real talking point and cutting edge ecotech, but now, like its contents and Tusker the little furry meet and greet mammoth, is in dire need of a haircut and spruce up.

The A49 traffic snakes its way uphill, powering south towards Ludlow, or northbound plunging into Craven Arms where it effectively splits the town in half. Together with the trains, it’s a tricky task finding a Quiet Place here, However, the Discovery Centre has one big ace up its sleeve - 30 acres of water meadow, managed wild grass and woodland, intersected by various easy walking pathways. It’s a recognised dragonfly hotspot. And it’s free!! The further away you get from civilisation and traffic, the better, so tread lightly and breathe in nature. Keep left and follow the path down to the river Onny.

The whole meadow broods under the shadow of neighbouring Iron Age hillfort, Norton Camp but Kingfisher Corner is our delightfully named destination. Here the Onny snakes around a bend, backed by some undercut cliffs, while handy wooden steps lead down literally to the water’s edge. Be very still and await that flash of blue as the kingfisher darts across the river surface. The steady drone of traffic here is minimal and the river flows silently by. A beautiful Quiet Place worthy of a visit or two.

Where are your Quiet Places? Drop us a line.

Dave Fletcher