RSPB Leighton Moss and Morecambe Bay is a popular nature reserve and home to a variety of wonderful wildlife. From birds and bugs to bats and otters, there is plenty to discover. The RSPB is the UK’s largest nature conservation charity, inspiring everyone to give nature a home. On Wednesday, August 5 (1pm-3pm), families can join the Butterflies, Bugs and Birds Bonanza to discover all that flies, flutters and flaps on Warton Crag, as part of the Butterfly Conservation Big Butterfly Count. Pond dipping events for all the family are on August 11 and August 21. To book, telephone Leighton Moss visitor centre on 01524-701601. Pic caption boys enjoying the bugs, butterflies and birds bonanza (pic credit Jen Walker).

VIOLINIST Alison Blunt and Italian soprano saxophonist extraordinaire Gianni Mimmo appear at the Full of Noises Festival, held at Barrow's St James Church, tomorrow (Friday, July 31, they perform at 7pm) and Sedbergh's St Andrews Parish Church at 1pm on Monday, August 3. The three-day Full of Noises Festival concludes with composer John Eacott's Floodtide, which forms the finale of the festival in Barrow Park on Sunday, August 2.

Led by its composer John Eacott, it's an epic 12-hour performance on the bandstand which translates real-time data from the tide around Barrow into musical notation which is read and performed by musicians.

BOLTON-le-Sands Art Society welcomes all to its 2015 annual exhibition, running from today (Thursday, July 30) until Sunday, August 2, at St Mary's Hall, on Main Road. Work by guest local artist, Ruth Tyson, will also be on show as well as artwork by children of Bolton-le-Sands CE School and a framed painting by Jeremy Ford is the raffle prize. Open 10am-6pm on Thursday-Saturday, and 10am-4pm on Sunday.

CARTMEL Show is always a firm favourite with both visitors and locals. Held next Wednesday, August 5, the show offers a profusion of family entertainment packed into the picturesque parkland setting of Cartmel Racecourse. A traditional country show with its roots firmly within the agricultural community, Cartmel Show provides the opportunity to sample the delights of rural life at its best.

GATES open at 10am today (Thursday) for Ambleside Sports, with entry on the day for track running events. The sports start at noon until 5.30pm and includes Cumberland and Westmorland Wrestling, guides and fell races, hound trails, foot and cycle races, children’s races plus trade and craft stands, licensed marquee, refreshments and barbecue.

FROM Sunday (August 2) until Thursday, August 6, 11am-4pm, Sizergh hosts the Red Rose Woodturners, who will demonstrate their craft and make beautiful items for sale. Walk around the gardens and see if you can identify the trees which have been used to make the beautiful wooden bowls. There will be two tours per day around the gardens, showing the different trees that are used for making the turned bowls and other craft pieces.