Balloon enjoyable, toads and Jane Austen

An alien, Wednesday Addams and the Michelin Man had been among the many unlikely guests to Wiltshire this weekend.

The Icons of the Sky pageant has taken over Longleat with quite a lot of airborne sights as a consequence of take flight.

Thousands of individuals visited the property to see the night time glow, after poor climate stopped the mass ascents. Organisers are hopeful the new air balloons will probably be within the air on Sunday morning.

Visitors additionally noticed RAF Falcons – the world’s premier army parachute show crew – and a Spitfire.

Elsewhere, folks in Swindon have travelled again in time and, in Westbury, the county’s oldest White Horse has been the discuss of the city.

Old time enjoyable: Railway lovers and historical past buffs have introduced their dancing sneakers to Swindon’s STEAM Museum this weekend for a pageant filled with nostalgic enjoyable.

The museum has held its Golden Age Festival, a celebration of the model, music, and spirit of the Nineteen Thirties, 40s, and 50s.

Flag furore: At the Westbury White Horse, an unknown individual added red fabric to the landmark on Tuesday morning to show it right into a St George’s flag.

English Heritage mentioned it might assess whether or not the 175ft (53m) tall landmark had been broken by pegs used to safe the material.

The Westbury White Horse is alleged to be the oldest in Wiltshire. It was restored in 1778, however many imagine it’s a lot older than that.

Cooking up a storm: A gaggle of Wiltshire-based cooks have secured their locations within the semi-finals of the distinguished South West Chef of the Year Competition.

The occasion was established by famend chef Michael Caines MBE.

Those who will compete within the semi-finals at Exeter College on 27 September embrace James Boniface of The Castle Inn, Castle Combe; Charlie Cutting of The Manor House Hotel, Castle Combe; Gabriel Pugh of Bishopstrow Hotel, Warminster; and Vita Angelinetta of Sheldon School, Chippenham.

Anniversary apparel: It’s been precisely 20 years because the launch of Joe Wright’s Oscar-nominated Pride and Prejudice.

The 2005 adaptation of Jane Austen’s novel, starring Keira Knightley and Matthew Macfadyen, was filmed at two places at Stourhead – the Palladian Bridge and the Temple of Apollo.

Visitors to the National Trust web site have now been invited to discover the setting of the well-known first proposal scene, and to see costumes from the movie on show in Stourhead home.

Toadally superior: A younger wildlife fanatic has urged drivers to keep away from a street being crossed by younger toads to forestall them being killed.

Dexter, 14, of Warminster Toad Patrol, mentioned there had lately been about 250 baby toads found dead on Smallbrook Road and Lower Marsh Road.

He mentioned: “The number of deaths we’ve seen this past week has made me really sad. It’s especially hard when it’s the tiddlers and you know they were only just starting their journey.”

Autumn arrives: Lizzy snapped this image on a cooler day in Swindon this week.

It captures the gradual change within the color of leaves on the bushes as we proceed by means of autumn.