It’s official: we made it through January! And there’s so much to look forward to, as February brings the first signs of spring to Gloucestershire, with fuzzy lambs being born and snowdrops flowering all over the county.
Plus, with new outdoor activity trails, observation wheels and giant Earth sculptures to explore, discover 10 unmissable things to pack into your February schedule with SoGlos’s latest hot list.
Go snowdrop spotting in Gloucestershire
With snowdrops springing up all over Gloucestershire, February is the best time to see stunning displays of the white winter flower, as it carpets woodland floors and gardens across the county.
Snowdrop-seekers are in for a treat, with spectacles worth braving the cold for at Painswick Rococo Garden, Batsford Arboretum and more — all covered in SoGlos’s round up of best places to see snowdrops in Gloucestershire.
See Luke Jerram's famous Gaia sculpture at Tewkesbury Abbey
There's the chance to visit Tewkesbury Abbey after dark for an awe-inspiring look at Gaia, the critically-acclaimed sculpture by Luke Jerram — an internally-lit, seven-metre replica of planet Earth.
In residence at the abbey from Friday 2 to Tuesday 20 February 2024, suspended from the medieval nave and accompanied by an immersive surround sound composition, the experience gives spectators a profound sense of what it might be like to see the Earth from space. The world-renowned sculpture has appeared in cultural venues all over the world, including Gloucester Cathedral back in October 2020.
Explore the Forest of Dean's new activity trail
Fantastic for families with young children, there's a brand-new activity trail at Beechenhurst in the Forest of Dean — a birthday party-themed adventure to celebrate the 25th anniversary of The Gruffalo.
Forest explorers can learn all about the ancient woodland and its inhabitants, while hunting for party items to throw the Gruffalo a big birthday bash. The self-led trail is packed with stimulating activities for an action-packed day out — ideal for February half term adventures! — and is also launching at a second Gloucestershire location, Westonbirt Arboretum, on Saturday 10 February 2024.
Stack them up on Pancake Day
If you don't fancy flipping your own at home on Shrove Tuesday, there are plenty of places to enjoy pancakes in Gloucestershire — from fluffy stacks of American-style buttermilk pancakes at Cheltenham's Curious Café and Bistro, to freshly-made crêpes topped with traditional lemon and sugar at Stroud's Oh Crepe!
For more inspiration for Pancake Day dining on Tuesday 13 February 2023, check out SoGlos's favourite places for flipping delicious pancakes.
Remember Hollie Gazzard at Gloucester Cathedral
This year marks 10 years since Gloucester hairdresser, 20-year-old Hollie Gazzard, was killed by her abusive ex-partner at work — and there's a special service of remembrance for the community to come together, remember her and celebrate her legacy on Tuesday 20 February 2024.
The event at Gloucester Cathedral, organised by the Hollie Gazzard Trust, is free to attend and open to all, providing a safe space for people to honour Hollie's memory and keep all victims of abuse, stalking and knife crime in their thoughts; while supporting the Hollie Gazzard Trust, which does vital work to end domestic abuse, in its milestone year
Meet baby lambs in Gloucestershire
Get ready to ‘aww’ at the cuddliest bundles of joy in the county! Cattle Country Farm Park invites families to see lambs being born in its Animal Barn during February half term, with special opportunities for visitors to bottle feed the new babies, too.
Meanwhile, a must-see for animal lovers, Cotswold Farm Park's annual lambing and kidding event is one of the biggest in the country, with over 900 lambs expected to be born to the farm's commercial and rare breed ewes this year.
Soak up the sights from Cheltenham's observation wheel
Enjoy bird's-eye views over Regency rooftops when the Cheltenham observation wheel returns to Imperial Gardens on Friday 9 February 2024.
Promising panoramic views from private pods, members of the public will have plenty of chances to ride the wheel, which will be in place outside the Quadrangle for three weeks — with extended opening hours during February half term, too.
Visit Cheltenham's brand-new vegan bakery
Veganuary may be over, but the hype for plant-based products continues into 2024 — and Gloucestershire's vegan community can satisfy their sweet cravings at the new Cotswold Vegan Bakery in Cheltenham.
Opening on London Road, the bakery offers sweet treats to go, with a catalogue of yummy cake slices and cookies to choose from, as well as bespoke, cruelty-free cakes to order. Better yet, there's buy-one-get-one-free bakes for customers that pop by for its grand launch on Thursday 1 and Friday 2 February 2024.
Get a pint at Tewkesbury Winter Ales Festival
Championing winter ales from all over the country, CAMRA will be pulling pints at Watson Hall from Thursday 1 to Saturday 3 February 2024, when the annual Tewkesbury Winter Ales Festival returns.
Beer lovers can expect ruby ales, smoky stouts and rich hoppy flavours — with a handful of local perries and ciders to try, too. It's worth noting that the event is only open to CAMRA members on the Thursday, but everyone is welcome on the Friday and Saturday.
Tap your toes at the Gloucester Folk Trail
Get your folk on and head into Gloucester for the anticipated return of the Gloucester Folk Trail — bringing the city to life with a programme of music events from Friday 16 to Sunday 18 February 2024.
Catch lively performances from folk musicians, artists and poets from across the country, as they come together to champion traditional forms of folk entertainment at various venues in Gloucester.
