11/03/2011 - Permalink

Springtime celebration of stories in south Shropshire

Related topics: Leisure, culture and heritage

Young people and families across south Shropshire are in for a literary treat this week as Shropshire Council’s library service hosts its annual Marches Feast of Words family literature festival.

The exciting range of events for children and young people will take place from Saturday 12 March 2011 to Saturday 19 March 2011 at towns and villages throughout south Shropshire, including:

  • Saturday 12 March 2011 – Library at Shropshire Hills Discovery Centre, Craven Arms  – Gruffalo Tales – 1pm to 2.30pm
  • Tuesday 15 March 2011 – Worthen Village Hall – Red Rockets and Rainbow Jelly – 10.30am to 11.15am
  • Saturday 19 March  2011 – Clun Memorial Hall – Wolf Tales – 6pm to 7pm

Other events will be held in Farlow, Stottesdon, Bishop’s Castle, Ludlow and Cleobury Mortimer.

There’s an exciting line-up for the festival including top authors and illustrators Nick Sharratt, Meg Rosoff, Kaye Umansky, Tom Palmer, Justin Somper and Barbara Mitchelhill, who will be joining us to celebrate books and stories , together with The Gruffalo and the Bookstart Bear.  The event promises to be a lot of fun.

Councillor Steve Charmley, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for culture and leisure, said:

“I’m hoping that lots of young people come along and join in; as well as being able to meet favourite authors and take in all sorts of performances, they’ll be able to see everything else their local libraries have to offer.   Young people will also be able to enjoy a family theatre event in Clun through Arts Alive, who are enthusiastic supporters of library activities.”

Councillor Aggie Caesar-Homden, Cabinet member for children and young people’s services, added:

“We encourage young people and families across the whole of Shropshire to come and join this fantastic festival.  Our library literary festivals, such as The Marches Feast of Words, The Oswestry Festival of the Word and the annual Summer Reading Challenge, provide a fantastic opportunity to educate, entertain and inspire our young people in a fun way.”

A week of author events in schools across south west Shropshire will be complemented by a special Bookstart rhymetime for under 4s.

The full programme is available in all south Shropshire libraries and Visitor Information Centres.  For further details about activities in your area, please contact Pam Parish on 01743 255031 or email childrens.library@shropshire.gov.uk