Press Release 7 May 2019
Spring Into Action with VisitWiltshire's Magnificent May Timetable
VisitWiltshire has put together a myriad of May-time activities and events to celebrate spring and signal the onset of summer.
From fabulous floral displays and fantastic festivals to foraging and foodie feasts the county is full of unique experiences and fun days out for visitors of all ages to enjoy.
Last minute bluebell spotters have a host of locations to choose from, although the blooms are only at their very best for a few short weeks.
West Woods just outside Marlborough is managed by the Forestry Commission and has some amazing displays, a mile from Chippenham is Mortimores Wood, a small area of woodland dating back to the 12th century.
Nestled between the Nadder and Wylye valleys, Grovely Wood is part of the Wilton estate and is renowned for its bluebells and other spring flowers.
The gardens of Bowood also start to really come to life this month with many colours throughout their open season however look out for the bluebells, particularly when the rhododendron gardens open up for the season.
On 17-18 May the National Arboretum at Westonbirt is hosting The ARB Show. The Arboricultural Association Show 2019 promises a wonderful day out within the beautiful Cotswold setting.
Highlights include demonstrations from chief sponsor, STIHL; an impressive show site featuring more than 100 exhibitors; tree care help and advice, the chance to watch expert tree surgeons at work; and much more. Tickets include access to Westonbirt Arboretum and its 145 champion trees.
On 23 May Salisbury will once again be welcoming world-class cyclists as part of the OVO Energy Tour Series, Britain's leading televised cycle race series.
Teams will tackle an iconic 1.2-kilometre circuit, anti-clockwise through the city, making it an excellent spectator event. The start/finish line will be located on Blue Boar Row, adjacent to the city’s Market Place and Grade II listed Guildhall.
The Chippenham Folk Festival takes place from 27-30 May, now in its 43rd year it features an incredible 200+ events in just one bank holiday weekend. Four days of the best in folk song, music, dance and traditions in the heart of Wiltshire.
From 24 May to 9 June the Salisbury International Arts Festival takes place. Exploding out of the Playhouse and Arts Centre, into the streets and spaces of the city, this two-week Festival of Celebration will mark the culmination of Wiltshire Creative’s first year.
Salisbury Cathedral will be showcasing Gaia by Luke Jerram. Measuring seven metres in diameter, Gaia features 120dpi detailed NASA imagery of the earth's surface. The installation provides an opportunity to see our planet on this scale, floating above your head inside the historic cathedral. This incredible sculpture is presented with a specially made surround sound composition by BAFTA award-winning Composer Dan Jones.
Taking place in the grounds of beautiful Bowood House from 31 May to 1 June, RunFestRun is Britain's new running festival. Join a host of celebrities and athletes and run a distance to suit you, from 2.5k to a half marathon. There’s also a Sunset Shuffle and a Night Time Neon Run or you can bring yourself and the family for an epic weekend party and just enjoy the music. Olly Murs, Razorlight and The Coral are some of the acts on stage!
Fishy Fun for Mini Steins at Rick Stein Marlborough (28 May) features a series of fun and interactive hour long chef masterclasses. Meet some fishy friends, get hands-on with cooking fish and learn about the creatures of our sea. Suitable for mini Steins aged 5 – 14.
Cotswold Wildlife Park & Gardens is running Lemur Week from 25 May – 2 June. Run in aid of the Park’s Madagascan conservation initiatives it will feature Lemur themed competitions and board games as well as merchandise and Lemur talks held in the walkthrough enclosure.
On 18 May foodies can enjoy a Foraging Experience at Howard’s House Hotel on the Teffont Estate, near Salisbury. Enjoy a foraging walk with expert Shannon, the chance to learn simple but effective 'chef's secrets' in head chef Andy's masterclass, and a three-course lunch in beautiful private room Coach House. £75 per person, including foraging walk, morning workshop, welcome drink, canapés and seasonal lunch.
On the same day Roves Farm near Swindon is staging its Field to Fork Lamb Feast. See where and how the animals are born and raised, then watch one of their butchery team demonstrate how they create delicious meats from the Roves born and reared animals while talented local chef Jack Greenall from the Smoke and Thyme will be preparing a delicious three-course meal featuring a variety of the cuts.
Check out the variety of accommodation options in Wiiltshire for those wanting to staying longer. From B&B’s to farm stays, self-catering cottages to hotels. Take a look at these Special Spring Break Offers.
- Book tickets to a range of fabulous attractions and activities at www.visitwiltshire.co.uk/tickets
- For more information and to plan your Wiltshire break see www.visitwiltshire.co.uk
For further information or to arrange a press visit please contact Florence Wallace, Travel Trade & PR Manager, flowallace@visitwiltshire.co.uk Tel: 01722 341309 or 07436 588860.
Editors Notes: VisitWiltshire is the official Destination Management & Marketing Organisation for Wiltshire representing 600 partners. It is a public/private sector membership organisation. VisitWiltshire's priority is to grow the county's Visitor Economy by raising awareness of the destination and generating additional tourism visits and spend. Wiltshire's Visitor Economy currently generates an estimated £1.5billion and supports over 29,000 jobs.
Images can be downloaded from our Flickr gallery:
Spring https://www.flickr.com/photos/129320754@N03/albums/72157674336189033
Timeless Pleasures – https://www.flickr.com/gp/129320754@N03/s2X87L
Photos may be used in print and/or online for the promotion of tourism to Wiltshire and any photos used must be credited to www.visitwiltshire.co.uk, unless otherwise stated in the title of the photo. Full terms and conditions can be found here.
Other images are available on request from an extensive Flickr photo library. A full list of albums is available here.