Discover a hidden world beneath the stairs with Melvin and Zara in Mousey Mornings. Melvin, a terrific chef, loves cooking tasty treats. But when his whiskers droop from exhaustion, Zara realises she could do more to help. Together, they learn the true meaning of teamwork, friendship, and helping each other. Join Melvin and Zara on this heartwarming journey of discovery to see if they can cook up the perfect recipe for lasting friendship. Author Fiona Lowry will visit AK Bell Library, read her newest story, Mousy Mornings: a Gentle Rhyming Story, and delight us with some arts and crafts so we can all turn into chefs! Fiona is a Scottish children’s author based in Perthshire, where she lives with her family. Having grown up in the idyllic, peaceful, and secluded countryside, her childhood was full of freedom and adventure. Fiona shares her power of positive thinking through children’s stories of encouragement, self-growth, and imagination. Suitable for children 3–5 years old.

The familiar war memorial stands as a symbol of remembrance, but what about the thousands of captured artillery pieces that once dotted the landscape? Mike Taylor’s talk uncovers the story of these forgotten memorials, which have seemingly disappeared from the UK and Perthshire. He poses the question: have they truly all gone? Please note doors will open at 6.25pm for this event.

Learn how to increase the biodiversity in your garden with the Perthshire Seed Library. Increasing the biodiversity in your garden can be tricky if you don’t know where to start. In this session with Perthshire Seed Library will answer all common questions about how and discuss where to start and which plants grow well with what neighbours.

A colourful day of tomato tasting and seed saving! Bring your most handsome or most unusual tomatoes for our display table, and sample tomatoes of unusual varieties for taste – which one will you vote the best for looks or flavour? Learn how to sow and grow tomatoes from seed, and how to save tomato seed and other wet-seed fruits like cucumber or squash. Bring some tomatoes to get started! Make sure you know the variety – we want a big mixture for next year’s inventory! We'll have information to browse on tomato growing in Scotland and Scottish tomato varieties, so bring along your best tomato recipes for our Recipe Exchange table. Free drop-in event organised by Perthshire Seed Library.

Learn all about common garden pests and diseases. In this popular workshop from the Perthshire Seed Library, we will explore the world of garden pests and plant diseases and what to do about them. Explore non-chemical ways of protecting your plants; learn what makes them a target and how to keep them healthy throughout the year.

Follow Seona Anderson down into the great Dunsinane wood and discover what lurks in the shadows of Macbeth’s natural world. Macbeth is a play about power and its effects on the powerful and the powerless. The play is rich in imagery from across the natural world, including trees, plants, insects, mammals, reptiles, and birds. This talk will explore the way that Shakespeare uses the natural and supernatural world in his study of tyranny: the species of witchcraft, the nature-based insults, and the imagery of health and sickness of individuals and countries. Many of the species Shakespeare draws on are still familiar in our modern world, but our connection with the natural world is becoming more distant. This talk will also discuss some of the projects that aim to reconnect us with species and their importance to our world. Seona Anderson is an archaeobotanist and ethnobotanist who has worked on many Scottish, UK, and European nature conservation and cultural heritage projects. She has been working on the natural history of Shakespeare for the past decade (www.natureshakespeare.org.uk).

Come along to meet a local vet and enjoy hearing stories about what veterinarians do for our beloved pets. You will also get a chance to ask questions about what a day in the life of a vet is like! This is an opportunity for families to learn about different services in their communities and interact with the professionals who deliver these. Please note that a ticket-holding adult must accompany a ticketed child. This event is in partnership with Fair City Vets

In this craft session, you will get an introduction to different aspects of repurposing and recycling scrap fabric. Make a reusable and sustainable beeswax sandwich wrap for World Bee Day and have it in time for the summer holidays and picnics!

As part of the Summer Reading Challenge, local artist and workshop leader Lisa Earl of “Create…Kids Craft Workshops” will lead a workshop at the AK Bell Library. Create an art journal about nature using recycled and upcycled materials. Understand the link between resources and the environment, and join the zero-waste movement by upcycling waste products into something beautiful and personal.

Book lovers and readers everywhere can find great deals, expand their book collections, and support their local library by shopping at the next Culture Perth and Kinross library booksale. A combination of pre-loved books from the library collection and books donated by library customers will be on offer at the sale. Adult material in fiction will be the principal offer at this pop-up booksale but keep your eyes peeled for other bargains in adult non-fiction and children’s. Book sales raise financial support for the library and help distribute affordable books back into the community. Ongoing small book sales happen in most community libraries, but as the library service continues to receive lots of wonderful new stock, we need to make some room on our library shelves. Please note that it is not possible to supply a listing of items being offered for sale. Expect queues at busy times. Remember to bring your own bags, and come along, grab a bargain, and support the library if you can. We hope to see you there.

For World Environment Day, learn how to make your own plastic-free bags to take home and discover all about zero-waste sewing.

Inspired by everything Shakespeare with our Macbeth exhibition at Perth Museum, we are marking another of his most famous plays, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, with a celebration of nature, folklore, and creativity. This Midsummer, join us at AK Bell Library to craft your own beautiful flower crown using locally and sustainably sourced blooms from Green Shed Studio. As you weave your crown, immerse yourself in the secrets of flowers and herbs—their hidden meanings, ancient folklore, and the role they’ve played in storytelling for centuries. From the wildflowers that shape our landscapes to the plants that appear in Shakespeare’s works, we’ll explore the deep connections between nature, literature, and legend. You’ll also learn about the importance of wildflowers for pollinators, soil health, and mental wellbeing, making this a celebration of both the past and the present. Celebrate Plastic-Free Beauty Day with a magical, hands-on experience that brings Shakespeare’s world to life. Spaces are limited, so book now! Children aged 12 and over are welcome but must be accompanied by an adult—one ticket covers both adult and child.