Latest news with #Longleat
BBC News
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Wiltshire in pics: Shindig Festival and a princess visit
Summer events are well and truly under way in Wiltshire now - with a return of a much-loved presenter Steve Backshall is also staying in the county all week to delight children with his animal knowledge at highlights include actress Joanna Lumley supporting a local animal centre, and another local charity enjoyed a royal visit. Wildlife wanderings: Wiltshire's wildlife has been making more of an appearance recently - one Weather Watcher, Jo C, captured this swan family in Devizes. Festival time: Shindig has launched at Charlton Park in Wiltshire - the former home of Womad - after spending 10 years in Ilminster, Somerset. The 2025 line up is a "global celebration of rhythm and culture where afrobeat meets electronic, reggae meets soul, funk meets industrial rap", organisers said. The event started on Thursday and runs until Sunday. Animal antics: Longleat has TV presenter Steve Backshall in to do daily talks at the safari park over half term week. He will not be on his own though - a range of animals and birds will be introduced to the audience and nobody knows how they will behave. Last year, the shows raised £25,000 for conservation charity Tusk. Royal approval: Wiltshire-based charity Horatio's Garden has released pictures of their patron Her Royal Highness Princess Eugenie visiting their garden at Salisbury District Hospital. She spoke to patients, staff and volunteers and planted a grapevine for the charity, which creates the gardens at the UK's spinal injury centres to help people recover. Horsing around: Wiltshire Police has been represented at the Royal Windsor Horse Show for the first time. The force revealed pictures of its competitors: Laura Hughes from the Local Policing Tasking Team, Hollie Clark, Financial Investigator and Rachael Fairbain from Complex Fraud all took part in the Services Team Jumping competition. Daredevils: The White Horse Soapbox Race in Westbury got some big crowds. It includes a STEM fair and a lot of different teams competing to make the fastest vehicle. A team from the South Western Ambulance Service got involved too, making their own contraption. Prestige: Devizes Bowls Club has hosted a prestigious inter-county competition, part of the early stages of the Balcomb Trophy. It's the first time the club has hosted a competition this big. Immerse yourself: a shipping container is arriving in the middle of Salisbury this weekend, in Guildhall Square. It's for an immersive theatre experience run by producers Darkfield. It's part of the Salisbury International Arts Festival and those who go in for the experience, called FLIGHT, will find themselves in what looks exactly like the inside of a plane and two realities. Celebrity moment: The Cat Watch Rescue Centre based in Salisbury, which takes in strays and abandoned animals, revealed they had received a donation from Dame Joanna Lumley, who sent a handwritten note. Bumper crop: the strawberries are already doing well this year, so the pick your own farms are opening up, including this one at Lotmead in Swindon.
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Longleat to honour WWII heroes at Icons of the Sky with Spitfire and RAF team
Longleat to honour WWII heroes at Icons of the Sky with Spitfire and RAF team Longleat will pay tribute to those who died in World War II at this year's Icons of the Sky event. The Wiltshire estate announced that a Supermarine Spitfire, a key player in the Battle of Britain, will feature throughout the September event. The Spitfire's inclusion is to commemorate the 80th anniversary of VE Day, which marked the surrender of German forces on May 8, 1945. The Royal Air Force will also contribute to the air display, bringing the renowned RAF Falcons mass parachute team and a Tutor T MK1 aerobatic trainer to Longleat. Read more: Calne man sentenced after 'terrible' animal cruelty case ADVERTISEMENT Scott Ashman, head of operations at Longleat, said: "2025 is the 80th anniversary of VE Day and Battle of Britain Memorial Flight and RAF teams will be on the ground to talk about the work of the flight, from how they keep our historic aircraft in the skies, to their work with veterans and their mission to honour those that gave their lives for this country." This year marks the second time hot air balloons and planes will soar above the stately home, with tickets on sale from this month. Mr Ashman also highlighted Longleat's wartime role, saying: "Longleat played its part during the war with the Royal School for Daughters of Officers of the Army in Bath evacuating to Longleat House and an American Military Hospital was based in the park – near to where the rhinos live today. "It was designed to accommodate 750 patients and personnel." The three-day aviation extravaganza will also feature a unique aerial ballet by the Sydney Charles Display Team and the UK debut of Oggy the Friendly Dragon, a 150-foot-tall hot air balloon. ADVERTISEMENT Mr Ashman added: "As well as Oggy, also making its debut will be a huge football, Funny Bunny coming from Belgium, and Tropsy, a baby dino as well as many others. "We will also be seeing the traditional favourites flying high above Longleat House, some in the skies and some tethered; these include Michelin Man, Rupert Bear and Thomas the Tank Engine." He assured that the weekend is "jam-packed with activities" and all displays are included in the day ticket. Read more: Sainsbury's to introduce new security measures at Swindon stores However, he warned that the mass ascents of the hot air balloons are weather dependent. Even if they cannot take to the air, the display of tethered balloons across the Capability Brown landscape is "a sight to behold." Icons of the Sky will take place from September 12 to 14. Longleat members can pre-book their tickets for the Friday and Sunday for just £1, with all proceeds going to charitable causes.
