Let’s go … green in May

It’s time to go green. Saving our planet is finally gaining traction around the world and Ludlow is ahead of the charge with a host of green events in time for the May Bank Holiday and throughout May.

1. A fun day out for the kids is the Field to Fork Festival at Harper Adams University on the 4th May. The festival has children’s entertainment, activities, live music – and not to mention over 100 stalls. Shhhh, don’t tell the kids, but it is also a fun way to learn where our local food comes from with farm visits, tractor rides and pond dipping (the latter is less educational and more good fun!).

2. Also on the 4th May is the Spring Greens Fair held at the Court of Noke near Leominster. This event is about green technology, all things organic and local conservation, and this year the theme is ‘air’. Expect items on the programme to include pollution, flying birds and more.

3. The Green Man Festival is happening on 5 May at Clun Castle, where medieval merriment will see the Green Man (a symbol of humanity’s interdependence with nature and environmental consciousness) and the May Queen banish the Ice Queen for yet another year (we hope!). It’s a tradition carried out for the last 2,000 years. Join in the fun and have a day filled with myth, Morris dancing and maypoles.

4. For the green fingered, the Ludlow Seedling Swap is taking place at Appleteme, the Old Brewery, in Ludlow, the  4th May. Bring your saved, unwanted seeds and/or plants to swap for free. 

5. On 11th and 12th May it’s beer and bangers (both the vintage cars and sausages varieties) at the wonderful Ludlow Spring Festival with 200 types of beer, live music and Pie and Pudding trails. At the ‘Grow, Cook and Learn’ tent the focus is on discovering science with a difference using ingredients from the kitchen for the kids. They can also start to learn about different habitats and understanding the importance of both growing and cooking through many of the planned fun activities and workshops.

6. What better way of appreciating our beautiful land and communing with nature than putting on your walking boots and going for a good hike? Expert walk leader, Keith Pybus, who has appeared on TV promoting some of the best walks in Shropshire, is appearing at the Shropshire Hills Discovery Centre on the 4th May. Keith will guide you to one of the best places in Shropshire to see bluebells as well as share anecdotes and his knowledge of our wonderful countryside.

7. Croft Castle’s countryside ranger is holding a guided tour around Croft’s Ancient trees (including the 1,000 year old Quarry Oak) on 11th May from 2 – 4 pm. It’s the chance to admire more gorgeous bluebells spread through the woodland.

8. This month, two local country estates open their gardens to the public: on 12th May take a walk through the 3,500 acres of the Downton Estate starting at 10.30am. A land of steep valleys and sweeping hills in Spring finery, this stunning walk through private land overlooking Ludlow is a rare treat. The estate says, “the ethos of the farm is to produce the very best quality products as sympathetically to the environment as possible.” And on 19th May Henley Hall, one of the original Shropshire gardens to open back in 1927 when the National Garden Scheme first began, is delighted to open its gardens from 12 – 4pm.

9. Finally, if all this talk of walking has worked up a thirst, head to the Blue Boar on 21st May for Green Drinks organised by Ludlow 21. A regular event on the 21st of every month, meet other supporters, network, find out the latest happenings and chat about all things green.

There you have it, Ludlow is heeding the call from the Green Movement loud and clear — now to work on the politicians and world leaders! School strike anyone?