THIS half term one of Herefordshire’s top National Trust places will be illuminated by some enchanting contemporary works of art.

As winter turns into spring, Croft Castle and Parkland in Yarpole and Meadow Arts will be hosting holiday events to accompany the contemporary art exhibition In Another Light, starting on Saturday. Light drawing workshops will be taking place in the cellars every day throughout the school holidays from 1pm to 4pm, so children of all ages can get involved in creating some original glow in the dark artwork.

On February 21 the exhibition will be open and there will be an interactive family event running from 6pm to 8pm. The grounds of the castle will be lit up and open for visitors, who can listen to artist Mark Richards talk about his work; help Rebecca Farkas to make a new temporary artwork in the grounds; join in the shadow play with the rangers; listen to stories or have their face painted.

Meanwhile, six miles away at Berrington Hall, love is in the air for Valentine’s Day as the hall opens its new costume exhibition ‘Falling in love with Jane’.

This is the first costume display that Berrington Hall will be hosting in 2015 as part of ‘A Thousand Fancies’, which will run all year and showcase a variety of different Georgian dress from television, film and the Charles Paget Wade collection.

Visitors this half term will have the chance to fall in love with the characters and costumes of Jane Austen, as costumes from the 1995 film Sense and Sensibility starring Kate Winslet and Emma Thompson, the 2008 TV production of Sense and Sensibility, the wedding dress from TV's 2007 Mansfield Park and one of the dresses from the 2007 film 'Becoming Jane' starring Anne Hathaway, will all be on display in a sumptuous Georgian setting.

At both places there will be outdoor children’s trails throughout the holidays to keep young ones entertained, and for adults the gift shops will be open, as well as delicious, fresh food served in the tea-rooms from 10am to 5pm.

Normal admission fees apply at the event and entry is free to National Trust members and under 5s. More can be found on the website www.nationaltrust.org.uk/croftcastle and www.nationaltrust.org.uk/berrington hall or visitors can call 01568 780246 or 615721.

For more information about In Another Light and the artists involved go to www.meadowarts.org