Shropshire Hills Discovery Centre
@sh-discoverycentre
The perfect place to begin your exploration, or rediscovery, of the Shropshire Hills. We'll give you ideas for places and things to do and see. Craven Arms, Shropshire, UK shropshirehillsdiscoverycentre.co.uk
Creamy lemon asparagus gnocchi - A quick one pan dish with tender and golden brown gnocchi and bright and crisp asparagus and a creamy sauce. The recipe is on our website www.shropshirehillsdiscoverycentre.co.uk/recipes
Who or What am I? Answer: birch tree They are known as ‘pioneer species‘, due to their ability to grow on uncolonized land. They came into Britain at the end of the Ice Age as the Mammoths moved away in search of their tundra grasses
Have a rainbow on your table with peas, carrots and beetroot making your potato salad amazing. The recipe is on our website www.shropshirehillsdiscoverycentre.co.uk/recipes
We continue this late cut of the meadows, the traditional way of hay making, working with local farmer, Dave Meddings who cuts and bales the hay, taking it for winter forage. We are grateful for his help.
Who or What am I? Answer: Elephant Hawk-Moth. They are called ‘hawk’ moths because of their fast manoeuvrable flight. When feeding they hover in front of the flower instead of landing on it, beating their wings at a rate of over 70 times per second.
Spicy Marmalade Chicken and Sweet Potatoes - Citrusy, sweet and sour the sauce gets caramelized by the oven’s heat, coating chicken thighs and cubed sweet potatoes with a sticky glaze. You'll find the recipe on our website www.shropshirehillsdiscoverycentre.co.uk/recipes
Who or What am I? Answer: Yellow/ Wood avens. In medieval times it would have found a place in your herb garden used as a medicine. And of course, it is a poster child for animal distribution of its seeds. While you may not have consciously noticed it, you will have brushed against it many times.
Courgette Parmesan - Not only does this taste good but it is a perfect recipe to make with children/grandchildren as they love to be part of the assembly line dipping the slices in flour, egg and breadcrumbs. Recipe is on our website shropshirehillsdiscoverycentre.co.uk/recipes
Why do we do what we do? Well, it's quite simple... We aim to provide a welcoming visitor centre, to inspire people to explore and learn about the Shropshire Hills and the wider natural world. We want to do our bit to bring the landscape and nature to as many people as possible.
Who or What am I? Answer: Scarlet Tiger Moth Their bright colours are a warning to predators that they are toxic. Because visual warning colours don't work in the dark, the scarlet tiger moth uses ultrasonic clicks and biosonar jamming systems to disrupt bats' echo-location.
No cook nacho salad - A delicious and satisfying dinner salad adding no heat to your kitchen. You can find the recipe on our website www.shropshirehillsdiscoverycentre.co.uk/recipes
Who or What am I? Answer: The ant. Aside from driving us crazy when they enter our homes for food, they supress pest populations and aerate the soil. ants may be the only group apart from mammals where interactive teaching has been observed
Lime/Linden blossom/Tilleul tea A soothing, sweet-scented infusion said to aid relaxation and digestion. Recipe is on our website shropshirehillsdiscoverycentre.co.uk/recipes
Who or What am I? Answer: the Hobby Its common name is said to come from a French word ‘to stir’ - its effect on small birds. It was the favourite bird of the designer of the table-top football game which was therefore given it scientific name Subbuteo. Photo from CornellLab Birds of the World
What do you like to do with lemon curd - have it on toast, between layers of a cake or perhaps in a pavlova (which also uses up the egg whites). Which ever it is you will find our recipe for Easy Lemon Curd on our website shropshirehillsdiscoverycentre.co.uk/recipes
Our pond dipping platform is the perfect place to spot them and is our designated British Dragonfly Society Hotspot. We also have four spaces left on our Dragonfly ID course on Saturday 11th July where Ian will be sharing his expertise with the group
Who or What am I? Answer: pollen beetles There are 36 species of beetles that can come under this name. Adults & their larvae feed on pollen, in most flowers, they act as beneficial spring pollinators though they can occasionally damage the buds of brassicas (cabbages, broccoli).
Seared Courgette and Halloumi salad - A quick salad for a hot day. Put the dressing on while the courgette is warm and it will soak up the flavours from the dressing. The recipe is on our website www.shropshirehillsdiscoverycentre.co.uk/recipes
Who or What am I? Answer: Cuckoo spit Froghopper nymphs stay inside the bubble for a couple of weeks. Once it has grown to full size, its back splits open and it emerges from this casing in adult form with wings.
Chilli Tofu - Sticky, hot, sweet and sour and vegan. A wonderful week day meal with a bit of a punch. Feel free to be more traditional and substitute paneer for the tofu. You'll find the recipe on our website shropshirehillsdiscoverycentre.co.uk/recipes
Who or What am I? Answer: Sheep Sorrel. I sometime like picking a leaf as I walk through the meadows enjoying its lemony flavour. It is a fantastic plant for wildlife, with the Biological Records Centre listing over 50 species of insect that use it as a food plant.
One of the great things about corgettes are their versitility , in this recipe they become a great pasta sauce. The recipe is on our website www.shropshirehillsdiscoverycentre.co.uk/recipes
Rarely are all our volunteers together, but we want to thank them all during Volunteer Week - and every week. We couldn't do it without you.
Who or What am I? Answer: Ash The leaves can move in the direction of sunlight, and sometimes the whole crown of the tree may lean in the direction of the sun. Yes we’ve had to cut down some because of ash die back, but others are still here.
Fight this rainy weather by bottling one of the essences of the summer, the white flowers are out (including our meadows – we are happy to share). You'll find the recipe on our website www.shropshirehillsdiscoverycentre.co.uk/recipes
Our meadows have been super busy during the recent spell of weather, but we've been so pleased to see the area has stayed so clean and tidy. Thank you to everyone who helps keep this place a safe and beautiful place for people and wildlife.
Who or What am I? Answer: False ladybird or Endomychus coccineus All that glitters is not gold and all little black and red beetles are not ladybirds. The easiest way to tell it is not a ladybird is that its antennae do not have a ‘club’ at the ends.
Asian Peanut Chicken/Paneer Wrap Just the meal in the hot weather - either to eat on the patio or just to keep from heating up your kitchen. This quick recipe is on our website www.shropshirehillsdiscoverycentre.co.uk/recipes
Who or What am I? Answer Meadow saxifrage. It is declining across the UK as the number of unimproved hay meadows decline – we have both! Because it is relatively short, it has to bloom and fruit early in the season (now) before competing grasses grow too tall and block out the sunlight.
One pan gnocchi with miso butter and asparagus. Take advantage of British asparagus while available to make a meal that brings it own sunshire, no matter the weather outside. The recipe is on our website shropshirehillsdiscoverycentre.co.uk/recipes