SATURDAY sees the launch of the 2019 GeoFest, a three-month summer programme of events and activities all about the Abberley and Malvern Hills Geopark.

The Geopark takes in parts of the five counties of Gloucestershire, Herefordshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire and Worcestershire, and contains geology that spans 700 million years of the Earth’s history.

The launch will be at the Malvern Hills GeoCentre, which is at Walwyn Road, Upper Colwall, only a short distance from the Wyche Cutting.

Peter Oliver of the Geopark Forum said, “This weekend’s launch will feature a huge video screen presentation about the Geopark and we’re looking forward to bringing along our displays and fossils for you to look at.

"Bring your own specimens for us to identify. There are more activities planned in over the summer across the region and there’s plenty for people to join in with.”

The event, which is free, will run from 10am to 4pm.

There will be experts on hand to talks about the rocks and fossils that can be found in the Geopark, with plenty of specimens to examine.

There will also be the chance to find out more about the Geopark Way, a long-distance walk which takes in the geology along the route.

The GeoFest features activities and events run by members of the Geopark Forum, including museums, country parks and other visitor centres in the region.

Numerous events are run across Worcestershire, Herefordshire, Gloucestershire and Shropshire including guided walks, craft sessions, open-air theatre, trails and wildlife experiences, many of them family-friendly.

Although GeoFest features a number of rock and fossil events, there are also plenty of other events with wildlife, history and archaeology themes, and organisers promise plenty of fun and hands-on experiences.

Details of events, including the what's-on guide and calendar, can be found at geopark.org.uk.