CUMBRIA and Lancashire branches of the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust (GWCT) are holding their annual Levens Team Challenge on Sunday, May 23 to raise funds for the trust's scientific research. The event will be held in the park at Levens Hall. Teams of four will compete in a wide variety of sporting events, from clay shooting, archery and gun dog scurries to fly-fishing, quad-bike, trailer driving and stone skimming. Young people and families are encouraged to get involved with the country sports and other fun events. It's a great day out for the family.

For information and bookings contact Nick Mason at nick.mason@davis-bowring.co.uk.

Entry per team £250.

THE award-winning Swaledale Festival starts on Saturday (May 25) and runs until June 8. There's 69 events and activities on offer which include classical music, folk, jazz, films, talks, poetry, family events, art exhibitions and walks (phew!). The strong and diverse line-up comprises stars such as cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason, flamenco legend Paco Pena and great violinist Tasmin Little plus many more. The unmissable Kathryn Tickell and supergroup The Darkening will perform at the Garden Rooms at Tennants on June 8.

For more information go to swalefest.org.

MUNCASTER Castle's Festival of Fools makes a ludicrous return over the Bank Holiday weekend (May 26-28) at Ravenglass. Visitors are encouraged to soak up the carnival atmosphere held on the castle's front lawn guaranteeing something silly and different for all the family to enjoy each day. For example on Sunday Cheeky and provocative 'Jaardu' will entertain you with his comic Eastern Indian Magic and snake charming routine, as well as one of the past Fools of Muncaster. Added to this you'll keep bumping into the extraordinary walkabout entertainers who'll amuse and astound you in equal measures. Tuesday will see The Grand Exhibition of Contraptions and Curiosities and the new Fool will be appointed, too. Don't forget there's a host of activities you can join in with, including archery, face-painting, inflatable play zone and children's crafts.

www.muncaster.co.uk

Tickets £16; children £8

IT’S crazy that singer Eddi Reader is celebrating her 40th year as a live performer, a career which started in 1978 singing on Scottish country rock tours. She then appeared on worldwide festivals and concert hall stages with Gang of Four and Fairground Attraction through the 80s and her own successful solo live career which continues to this day. Which brings us to her brand new studio album Cavalier which features 16 songs, both contemporary and traditional. Eddi performs at The Brewery, Kendal, tomorrow (Friday, 7.30pm).

Box office 01539-725133

Tickets £25

SIR Ian McKellen will take his new solo show to Lancaster’s Dukes Theatre on Tuesday (May 28, 7.30pm). The acclaimed actor of stage and screen will make his Dukes debut just three days after his 80th birthday, during a tour of 80 stages across the country with which he has personal connections. All profits will benefit specific causes at each theatre. This show is a mixture of anecdotes and acting, including Tolkien, Shakespeare and others and, of course, the audience. It starts off with Gandalf and will probably end with an invitation to act with him on the stage! It’s a great opportunity to celebrate one of Lancashire’s greatest actors while raising vital funds for the lifeblood of theatre.

Box office 01524-598500

Tickets  from £40.

IT’S that time of the year when not only flora and fauna awaken but so does the many properties, parks and lakes belonging to the National Trust following the long winter. Wray Castle, at Low Wray, Ambleside, is running activities for kids from musical trees to the bog of doom, from Saturday (May 25) to June 2 (10am-5pm). Sticklebarn at Great Langdale, Ambleside, presents Ingo’s war – family theatre with Ditto Theatre Company. It includes storytelling, puppetry and movement to tell the heart-warming tale of a dog who finds bravery, hope and courage during a scary time. This plays on Saturday (May 25) at 3pm & 6pm.

For more information on these events and the many other that the National Trust is running go to: www.nationaltrust.org.uk/