Shropshire Hills Discovery Centre facts for kids
The Shropshire Hills Discovery Centre is a cool museum located in southern Shropshire, near a town called Craven Arms. It's a great place to learn about the amazing nature and history of the area!
Discovering the Shropshire Hills
This museum has awesome exhibits that teach you all about the Shropshire Hills. This area is so special, it's even called an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. This means it's a place with beautiful landscapes that are protected because they are so important. The museum helps people understand the history, geography, and living things of this area.
Inside the museum, you can see a life-sized model of a mammoth! There's also an Iron Age roundhouse, which shows how people lived long ago. You can also watch a film about the area, which includes cool drone footage.
The centre also has other fun things to do. There's a gallery showing local art, a gift shop where you can find souvenirs, a crafts room for creative activities, and a café for snacks. Since it first opened in 2001, more than a million people have visited this centre!
A local charity called Grow Cook Learn runs the building. This charity was started as a special project around the year 2000 to help bring more visitors to the area.
Exploring Onny Meadows
Right next to the Shropshire Hills Discovery Centre are the Onny Meadows. These meadows have been made into a fun place for visitors and for learning. They help show off the beauty of the Shropshire Hills and the countryside. The meadows are named after the River Onny, which flows along the edge of this 11-acre site.
The meadows are filled with beautiful wildflowers, hedgerows, and trees. A group of volunteers helps to take care of this special place.
Fun Activities and Wildlife
Many different events happen at the visitor centre and in the meadows. These include guided walks where you can learn about the area, and talks about nature. There are also walking paths that are easy to use, even for wheelchairs. You can take short walks around the site or go on longer circular routes that start from the centre.
The team at the Centre is always working to make Onny Meadows even better for wildlife. In 2024, they opened a new wetland area. This area helps to attract and support many different kinds of animals and plants. It's open to everyone, and there's even a special hide and screen where you can quietly watch the wildlife without disturbing them.
