A celebration of snowdrops marked the reopening of the Museum in the Park in Stroud at the weekend (January 27-28).

Visitors met the museum's volunteer gardeners and saw its extensive collection of snowdrops, learning about the pioneering Giant Snowdrop Company of Hyde, and buying plants from Avon Bulbs including some special snowdrops and enjoying tea and cake in the Walled Garden Pavilion.

Cllr Beki Aldam, chair of Stroud District Council community services & licensing committee, said: "The snowdrop celebration is a lovely way to greet visitors back to our much-loved museum.

"Our Council Plan recognises the importance of ensuring everyone has access to good quality leisure opportunities, and to ensuring the museum remains at the heart of the wider community."

Cllr Trevor Hall, vice chair, added: "I'd like to thank the museum staff and volunteers for their hard work deep cleaning and cataloguing its extensive collection during the winter months and look forward to more exciting exhibitions over the coming year."

The museum's annual closure for deep cleaning and essential maintenance was extended this year as the Grade II listed building is part of an ambitious £5 million project to replace ageing gas boilers with brand new renewable heating systems at three Stroud District Council-owned sites - Stratford Park Leisure Centre and The Museum in the Park in Stroud and The Pulse leisure centre in Dursley.

The cutting-edge green technology will be supplemented by additional solar panels.

Coming up at The Museum in the Park:

• SCI FI! Alternative Film Posters exhibition from Stroud Illustrators Collective, Saturday 10 February to Sunday 17 March.
• Valentine's Cards family drop-in workshop, Sunday 11 February
• Half-term family activities including family drop-in art workshops and activities and family explorer trails
• Crochet & Chat Winter Warmer friendly drop-in sessions - Thursdays 22 & 29 February, 14 & 21 March, 10.30am - 12.30pm

More information can be found on the museum's website and by signing up to the free-of-charge membership programme.

The Museum in the Park, managed by Stroud District Council in collaboration with the Stroud District (Cowle) Museum Trust, is situated in a Grade II listed 17th Century former wool merchant's house.

The museum tells the extraordinary and diverse history of Stroud district and has over 4,000 objects and artefacts on display - from dinosaur bones to one of the world's first lawnmowers.