10:10am Wednesday 25th April 2012
By Charlotte Shepherd
RATTY and badger look set to send audiences wild in the Cotswolds when the Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust’s outdoor adaptation of Wind in The Willows begins its tour.
The play hopes to raise the profile of the work carried out by the Trust along the Cotswold rivers to protect the habitat of the water vole (Ratty in the play).
School pupils across the district including those at Great Rissington, Sherborne and Bourton Primaries will receive their own performance of the classic play when it kicks off at Greystones Farm Nature Reserve in Bourton-on-the-Water.
The Trust is also laying on special conservation workshops for the students.
The play then moves to the idyllic setting of the banks of the river Churn at Rendcomb College, where Rendcomb students will receive their own show.
And perfomances will also be open to members of the public who can enjoy the outdoor show, stay for tea and cake, and meet the team who work to protect the Cotswold water vole.
Roland Martin, heateacher at Rendcomb College, said: “We are delighted to have the opportunity to share the lovely Rendcomb setting with a young community who are interested in nature and wildlife.”
Stephanie Masefield, from the Trust fundraising team, said: “This is a fun way of engaging with the community and getting them to think about wildlife and our rivers.”
The play is performed by the Dreamshed Theatre Production company and written by Bill Cronshaw, who plays badger. All proceeds go towards helping water voles in the Cotswolds.
* Performances are: Thursday, May 10. 6.30pm at Greystones Farm nature reserve, Bourton-on-the-Water.
Friday, May 11 – 4pm and 6pm at Rendcomb College, Rendcomb, Nr Cirencester.
Saturday, May 12 – 2pm at Winstones Ice Cream, Rodborough Common, Stroud.
*Tickets cost £7 for adults and £5 for children (or £10 for adults, £7 for children on the day) and can be booked by calling 01452 383333.
* There is an opportunity to meet Badger and buy tickets at Waterstone’s in Cirencester on Saturday, April 28 from 11.30am.
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