ALVA

Association of Leading Visitor Attractions: most popular museums, galleries, cathedrals, castles, palaces, churches, houses, zoos, gardens, venues & attractions

[Bernard Donoghue @bernarddonoghue]

Heading to @bletchleypark to chair the first meeting of our newest @alva_uk forum for our member Heads of Estates and Facilities. We have 14 ‘heads of’ groups covering HR, finance, education, public engagement, commercial events, fundraising, security, marketing, sustainability, insights, membership, London and Scotland. Each meets twice a year and they are invaluable for sharing case studies, insights, learning from each other and hearing from external experts.

[Bernard Donoghue @bernarddonoghue]

Just leaving our inaugural @alva_uk member Heads of Estates and Facilities forum meeting held in the brilliant setting of @bletchleypark - we had great case studies from them, @NPGLondon, @ltmuseum and @southbankcentre on everything from decarbonisation to toilets🚽, and security to cleaning. 🧹

[BBC Kent @BBCRadioKent]

A lavender farm near Sevenoaks has started welcoming visitors from around the world as it begins its annual tourist season.

More here: https://t.co/pcvoIxrQFK

[Westminster Abbey @wabbey]

This #MisericordMonday, we explore the depictions of dragons found on the oak seats in the Lady Chapel. Depictions such as these are common in many English cathedrals and parish churches as well as in Europe.

[BBC News (UK) @BBCNews]

Another UK heatwave could be on the way https://t.co/bbjpftaiO4

[Bernard Donoghue @bernarddonoghue]

Really pleased to be invited back today to be a guest lecturer at the Executive Master in Cultural Leadership course arranged by Maastricht University and which takes place @royalacademy. It was such a pleasure to talk to the students, who are in London for a week, and who come from around the world. It’s the 5th year I’ve contributed to the course and it’s such an invigorating and inspiring experience (for me, and hopefully for the students). Thanks for the invitation.

[BBC News (UK) @BBCNews]

King and Queen attend Scottish Parliament opening ceremony https://t.co/ufnrFJefjm

[Liverpool Cathedral @LivCathedral]

Experience Liverpool Cathedral from a whole new perspective✨😍

Our Above & Beyond Tour takes you behind the scenes and into areas not usually open to visitors, revealing fascinating stories, hidden spaces and spectacular views along the way🏙️

Book now: https://t.co/tUY933t663

[Leeds Castle, Kent @leedscastleuk]

🎶 Two weeks to go.

The countdown is on to the final Leeds Castle Concert, one last chance to experience an unforgettable evening of live music, the iconic Spitfire flypast and a spectacular fireworks finale.

Saturday 11 July.

🎟️ Book now: https://t.co/N3VR2D6bgu

[Bernard Donoghue @bernarddonoghue]

My huge thanks to everyone working in visitor attractions this week in whatever capacity, staff or volunteer, front or back of house. This has been a particularly testing time to be working in attractions in such hot and oppressive conditions but you turn up and do the job. Thank you. You create the backdrop for people’s happiest memories.

[Bernard Donoghue @bernarddonoghue]

And if you are looking for a really great value Great British Summer Savings experience, visit the hundreds of free local and national museums and galleries across the UK - won’t cost you a penny to enter and you’ll be entering different, astonishing worlds every time.

[Great West Way @theGreatWestWay]

With temperatures rising, @RomanBathsBath offers a memorable way to step out of the heat and into 2,000 years of history.

In the heart of Bath city centre, visitors can explore the award-winning museum, ancient ruins and iconic Great Bath, with much of the experience taking place indoors with air conditioning or under sheltered cover.

https://t.co/V7XjWWxEEx

[Bletchley Park @bletchleypark]

Are you joining us for EAT Street MK tonight?

Enjoy an evening of delicious street food, live music and great atmosphere in the unique surroundings of Bletchley Park.

5.30pm-9.00pm | £2 entry

Tickets available on the door. See you there!

[Raby Castle, Park and Gardens @RabyCastle]

It's Armed Forces Day tomorrow and we are offering 10% off in The Vinery Café and Coach House Shop, for anyone with a Veterans Card, MOD90 Card or Blue Light Card 🛍️🍴

[ZSL @OfficialZSL]

We just planted nearly 1,000 seagrass tubes in the Thames.

Over the course of a week, our team collected seagrass cores to restore a mudflat into a thriving seagrass meadow  as part of Transforming the Thames: an ambitious project working to recover habitats across one of Europe's most important wetlands.

Seagrass meadows provide vital habitat for wildlife, support fish populations, and help protect coastlines from erosion and flooding. But across the UK, seagrass has declined significantly over the last century, making restoration more important than ever.

This planting marks the start of on-the-ground restoration work for Transforming the Thames Project, helping create a healthier, more resilient estuary for wildlife and people alike.

The Transforming the Thames partnership, representing 20 organisations working across conservation, government, research and coastal management, is working to restore an area the size of approximately 450 football pitches of habitats across the Greater Thames Estuary by 2030.

This project was made possible with the support of the Endangered Landscapes & Seascapes Programme, managed by the Cambridge Conservation Initiative in partnership with Arcadia.

Read more at: https://t.co/ITGCbCIv33

With additional support from:

@TheLinburyTrust, King Charles III Charitable Fund, Marshall Wace TOPS Wildlife Conservation Project, Rotary Club of London, @RTYC1775, @BirdAwareEssex , @EnvAgency , @Essex_CC , @NaturalEngland , @LondonPortAuth , @Natures_Voice , @Uni_of_Essex , @TheCrownEstate , @EssexWildlife , @Kent_cc , @nationaltrust , @ProjectSeagrass , @ThamesEstPart, @ZSLconservation

[Bernard Donoghue @bernarddonoghue]

Really delighted to be here @CuttySark part of @RMGreenwich for tonight’s announcement of this year’s @artfund Museum of The Year
Award. It’s always such a tough competition and this year had another stellar line-up, but the winner is the extraordinary @theboxplymouth 🥂

[Bernard Donoghue @bernarddonoghue]

Just a reminder to @alva_uk members that the deadline for applications to be a Board Director closes this evening at 6pm. Best of luck!

[Met Office @metoffice]

On the 50th anniversary of the start of the 1976 heatwave, our scientists have explored how similar events could evolve in a warmer climate.

A plausible future scenario shows UK temperatures reaching 45°C by 2056.

Read more:
https://t.co/CBaQkm9VSJ

[Arts Professional @ArtsPro]

The Southbank Centre marked the 75th anniversary of the opening of the Royal Festival Hall last night (22 June) with a special event held at Westminster, just hours after the resignation of Prime Minister Keir Starmer. https://t.co/rZiGZnCJJR

[Liverpool Cathedral @LivCathedral]

See Liverpool Cathedral from a whole new perspective🌳

Our Outside Tour takes you beyond the Cathedral doors to discover hidden details, fascinating stories and unique viewpoints around one of Liverpool's most iconic landmarks🔍

Book your place today: https://t.co/OOkBBPG4qp