By Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust, 13 February 2017, 11:56AM
Discover more about some of our farm and domestic animals and other creatures during the Easter school holidays at a variety of themed family activities taking place across Shropshire’s Ironbridge Gorge Museums as part of their 50th anniversary celebrations.
Meet the animals in the Exotic Zoo and join workshops to make ‘sticky critters’ and build wicked wings at Enginuity
Go along to Enginuity in Coalbrookdale during between 8 and 23 April and meet the animals in the Exotic Zoo; everyday will see a variety of different creatures including snakes, spiders, iguanas and other creepy crawlies in the shows at 11am and 2pm.
You can also join daily Easter workshops between 10.30am and 3.15pm to find out more about the amazing structures and mechanisms used by animals. From 8th to 16th April you can create fun, colourful ‘sticky critters’ inspired by the suction capabilities of an octopus, then discover how long they can cling to an upright glass surface. Paper, card, plastic and other materials will be used to make the designs based on frogs, geckos and octopus, or any other creature of your own invention.
And between 17 and 23 April you can take part in a ‘wicked wings’ workshop to build a winged creature from craft materials to flap and entertain your friends and family. Create a dangerous dragon, black bat or a beautiful butterfly - the sky is the limit for your winged design.
Some of these activities carrying a small extra charge in addition to the entrance fee.
Meet working horses and learn about pigs at Blists Hill Victorian Town; see egg dancing, join in the Easter bonnet parade and enter your pooch in the dog show
At Blists Hill Victorian Town, near Ironbridge where life over 100 years ago is recreated, you can meet the resident sheep and working horses, watch horse tail plaiting (11.30am) and harnessing demonstrations (1.30pm) and take a horse and carriage ride around the Town (1.30-3pm). You can also listen to a talk about pig husbandry (3.30pm) and remember to bring along your four-legged friend for entry into the fun dog show, which will take place daily on The Green from 2pm.
The townsfolk will also be celebrating Easter in traditional Victorian style with the unusual pastime of egg dancing held opposite the town’s Print Shop at 11am every morning. Once blindfolded, the townsfolk will dance across the street without stepping
on eggs that are carefully placed along their route. Have-a-go after the demonstration and win a yummy chocolate reward for completing the course without stepping on an egg! And come wearing your best Easter Bonnet to join in the traditional parade at 1.45pm the town’s milliner will be judging the finest creations in the Pleasure Gardens.
Animal themed tile and ceramic clay workshops
Between Saturday 8th and Sunday 23rd April, excluding Sunday 9th and 16th April, join drop-in animal themed tile decorating workshops at Jackfield Tile Museum and use your imagination to decorate tiles using the traditional tube lining technique; perhaps a ginger cat, spotty dog, elephant or giraffe. Tiles cost from £5 each (plus admission) and can be fired and sent home later for a small extra charge to cover postage and packing. It takes up to 1½ hours to decorate a tile so last admission is at 3pm.
Across the river at Coalport China Museum you can take part in hands-on animal themed workshops from 8th to 23rd April to try sculpting your own creature from air-drying clay; choose from a horse, lion or rabbit, or follow your imagination and create your own four-legged beast. Throughout the Easter school holiday, you can also paint ceramic items such as a money box, fridge magnet or delicate china flower as well as paper plates. Sessions take place between 11am-1pm and 2pm-4pm and all ceramic items carry a small charge of £1-£4 in addition to the museum entrance fee. Afterwards follow a trail to discover the many animals from across the globe, which are featured in the museum’s ceramic collections.
Information for visitors
All the museums are open from 10am until 4pm (Blists Hill until 4.30pm) during the Easter school holidays. A great value Annual Passport Ticket allowing unlimited entry into all ten Ironbridge Gorge Museums costs £25 per adult, £20 for seniors, £15 for children under 18, £68 for a family of two adults and all their children and £50 for a family with one adult; under 5s free (terms and conditions apply); Passports can also be bought online in advance saving 10% and individual entry tickets are available at each museum. Activities will vary from day-to-day and some additional costs will apply.
For further information, call the Ironbridge Tourist Information Centre on 01952 433 424 or visit www.ironbridge.org.uk. The Gorge is easily reached via the M54 motorway exiting at Telford junction 4 or 6.
