Shrewsbury set for Charles Darwin festival

Preparations are under-way for a festival which will honour Shrewsbury's most famous son.

The Darwin Festival 2011 will run from February 12 to 26 in the town where the naturalist spent his childhood years.

Most of the activities will take place at Shropshire Wildlife Trust's visitor centre in Abbey Foregate Visitor Centre and various other locations throughout the town.

Helen Trotman, people and wildlife manager for the trust, said: "Shropshire Wildlife Trust is proud to be hosting the eighth year of this popular celebration of Charles Darwin.

"This year the theme is Young Darwin. To that end, we've created 14 messy, creative and sometimes explosive workshops for families, to encourage young explorers and nature fans.

"We aren't forgetting the older Darwin enthusiasts as this year there are 12 different talks, walks, art workshops and presentations to choose from." To book for any of the workshops or talks visit the trust or call (01743) 284280.

The first event is a Darwin toast and walk on February 12 at noon.

She said: "After drinking your annual toast to Darwin in the Morris Hall Courtyard, join Jon King, founder of the Darwin Festival, on a guided walk around town centre sites the naturalist knew well."

Other events include the Darwin Memorial Lecture on February 13 at 2.30pm in Theatre Severn's Walker Theatre when Friends of Shrewsbury's Museums present "Charles Darwin - A Life in Letters".

"During his lifetime Darwin wrote around 15,000 letters which have survived - they are a fascinating insight not only into the mind of one of the world's foremost thinkers, but into the lives of so many others who contributed to his work," she said.

Tickets are £10 each through the theatre box office on (01743) 281281.