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Gloucestershire in Pictures: Swimming and new art

Duncan Cook
BBC News, Gloucestershire
BBC A photo showing a group of children in a swimming pool wearing swimming hats and goggles and they are wavingBBC

After the driest spring on record, the rain finally returned to Gloucestershire.

But the grey skies didn't stop school pupils in Stroud taking the plunge.

Community fundraising, including a skydive, helped to raise the £60,000 needed to restore the pool at Leonard Stanley C of E Primary School, which was first built in the 1970s.

And the school children celebrated the pool's reopening by making a big splash!

There was also an historic new opening in Gloucester, and plenty of art on display in Cheltenham.

An historic church is seen from the side on a sunny day with clear blue skies. In the foreground is a large bush with pink flowers. The church is

Historic: St Mary Magdalene Church in the Forest of Dean village of Hewelsfield is a Grade II-listed building dating back hundreds of years.

Mikal Ludlow A woman and three men, all smiling to camera, and holding a blue ribbon, standing in a shopping centre outside a store called 'Discovery Centre'Mikal Ludlow
Mikal Ludlow About a dozen people gathered together in a shopping centre, several holding cameras, and all watching the launch of the new hub, which is going on to the right of cameraMikal Ludlow

Discovery: Museum of Gloucester opened a new archaeology hub that "brings Gloucester's hidden history to life". The Discovery Centre, based in Eastgate Shopping Centre, will showcase artefacts from the museum's collection, many of which have never been seen by the public before.

Cheltenham Theatre Studio A youth cast on the stage in Les Mis wearing costumes from the musical Cheltenham Theatre Studio

Milestone: The Cheltenham Playhouse has announced it's reached an initial fundraising target of £50,000, offering hope for the future of the community arts venue. Bosses warned last month that there was "a high risk" the theatre would close because its finances are in a "critical state".

Birdland A photo showing a fluffy grey penguin chick led on a green blanketBirdland

Fluffy newborns: Four penguin chicks have hatched at Birdland Park & Gardens in Bourton-on-the-Water. Birdland said this breeding season has been "especially significant" as the pairs - Pablo and Sunny, Broady and Kat, and Big Mac and Cookie - are all first time parents!

Open Studios A lady in a field wearing a black hat, sunglasses and a brown leather jacket, chiselling a large trunk of wood which is propped up on blocksOpen Studios
Open Studios A man wearing a red artist's shirt, splashed with paint, with his back to the camera, painting a large mural with blue and red stripesOpen Studios

Artful: Cheltenham Open Studios has been taking place this week with 78 different exhibition venues displaying the work of local artists. Visitors have been able to meet the artists, learn about their practice and even have a go themselves.

Rodborough Fields Preservation Group A photo showing a green field with trees in the background with buildings behind and a blue sky with white cloudsRodborough Fields Preservation Group

Community purchase: A community group in Stroud had a £200,000 bid accepted to buy a meadow and woodland in the town. Rodborough Fields Preservation Group said it would set aside the land bordering the River Frome for recreational use.

A photo showing an old white and red tram with windows and the number 21 painted on the side. The tram is propped up on wooden beams with a green structure underneath

Fancy owning a tram: Offers are being invited to give Cheltenham last surviving tram a new lease of life.

Tram 21 has been in storage for more than 30 years and Cheltenham Borough Council has offered it to anyone who is interested in doing something with it for the benefit of the community.

Gloucester Cathedral A photo showing a wooden walkway next to the stone wall of a cathedral towerGloucester Cathedral

New heights: Gloucester Cathedral has reopened its iconic Tower, now complete with a brand new roof deck.

People can once again climb 269 steps up the tower to enjoy panoramic views of Gloucester, the Severn Valley and the Malvern Hills.

A photo showing a barbers shop with green frontage and a green sign with yellow painted letters. There is a window worth a white open sign and red, white and blue whirling sign on the side of the building

Sign of the times: Shops in Gloucester could soon be asked to improve their signage to reflect the city's history and heritage.

Gloucester City Council wants to make the city more attractive to residents, shoppers and tourists.

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