At your library
Libraries are so much more than books, long gone are the days where you were expected to talk in a whisper. Shropshire’s libraries are warm, welcoming, community spaces. You’ll find loads of free activities on offer for all the family including things like:
- Rhyme and story time sessions for 0-5 year olds
- Stay and play sessions for pre-schoolers
- Baby Sensory sessions
- Lego and Duplo clubs
- Board game clubs
- Creative writing, art and crafts
- Jigsaw libraries
- Free school holiday activities
You can find out what is going on at your local library on the library events page Library events | Shropshire Council Some libraries also have social media pages where they advertise events and activities.
Watch plays at the library
Did you know you can watch recordings of National Theatre productions at the library, completely free of charge?
Use the library PCs or connect to their wi-fi, and there’s a collection of 20 to choose from – including Shakespeare; Wuthering Heights; and the 2022 adaptation of Philip Pullman’s ‘The Book of Dust’. Each comes with a learning pack, so it’s great for theatre-lovers, teachers, and students alike! Find out more here.
Play Ground Buddy app
This is a fantastic free app which helps you discover new playgrounds. It will show you where they are on a map and what facilities they offer. You can also keep track of the playgrounds you have visited, give them reviews and improve listings by adding photos and info. There must be hundreds of playgrounds across the county, why not challenge your family to visit every playground in your area this month? You can find out more and download the app here Playground Buddy – Helping Families Find Playgrounds
Free film making workshops for 11-18 year olds, Oswestry
Love Oswestry is partnering with the newly opened Maona Cinema, Oswestry to run a series of film workshops led by young people that will culminate in a public screening at Maona Cinema.
These workshops will take place in January 2026 and run until early February. The final film piece will be screened during the Love Oswestry Festival (16-21st February/half term week) at Maona Cinema.
The brief for the project calls for young people to create their story of Oswestry, to capture through their own eyes what they love, where they like to go, what they enjoy doing, and what they think is great about Oswestry.
Led by Tatenda Jamera, filmmaker and curator of Maona Art and director of Maona Cinema, the project will host a series of free workshops engaging a group of enthusiastic young people from a range of backgrounds who would like to explore storytelling and filmmaking.
For more info please email: loveoswestry2026@gmail.com
RSPB’s Big Garden Birdwatch
Big Garden Birdwatch is the world’s largest garden wildlife survey. Every year, hundreds of thousands of nature lovers take part, helping to build a picture of how garden birds are faring. Click here to find out how to take part in this free event Big Garden Birdwatch.
To celebrate the RSPB’s Big Garden Birdwatch Shropshire Hills Discovery Centre are holding a Wild about Wings event.
Wild about wings – Shropshire Hills Discovery Centre, Craven Arms SY7 9RS
Bring the whole family along to celebrate all things birds.
With guided bird walks, bird song quiz, children’s activities where you can make bird feeders and much more.
Guided bird walk – FREE at 11am – 12pm and 2pm – 3pm
Join the Centre Manager for a guided tour of the meadows looking at winter birds and exploring a range of different habitats. No need to book, just turn up on the day.
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