From July 13 to 17, the Festival of Myths & Legends will celebrate powerful tales and folklore exploring their connections with Scottish contemporary, cultural and historic identity.
From July 13 to 17, the Festival of Myths & Legends will celebrate powerful tales and folklore exploring their connections with Scottish contemporary, cultural and historic identity.
Livingston’s much-loved community heritage site Almond Valley has announced a playful, interactive and inspirational season of experiences for the coming months. Livingston’s much-loved community heritage site Almond Valley has announced a playful, interactive and inspirational season of experiences for the coming months.
A series of walkabouts, storytelling sessions and encounters with giant dragons and small hatchlings will charm visitors of all ages, bringing ancient legends to life and inviting audiences to create stories of their own. Award-winning educators Teach Rex will lead the walkabouts and dragon encounters. Teach Rex are Samuel Bryan and Joseph Parsonage, experienced teachers who now specialise in interactive workshops for children with dinosaurs, dragons and animals.
Dragon Song Productions’ Rachel Huggins will be sharing enchanting storytelling sessions from Kipper the Sea Dragon, who journeys through the ocean to find out where the colours have gone, and Bertie the Moon Dragon, whose job is to wake the moon each night. In partnership with these creative and imaginative performers, Almond Valley will create a world of majestic dragons, legendary discoveries and fantastical myths for the whole family to explore.
Jenny Howard-Coombes, Director of Almond Valley Heritage Centre said: “As part of our long-term ambition to harness the power of arts, culture and heritage to inspire the next generation of innovators and imaginators, we can’t wait to welcome our stunning dragon friends to Almond Valley! And this magical experience is all included in our standard admission price. ’“Teach Rex will bring their amazing creations to life across the centre alongside Dragon Song Productions’ wondrous storytelling, songs and puppetry.
“We’re so looking forward to giving visitors the opportunity to immerse themselves in a magical adventure - even our littlest explorers will have a chance to encounter these mystical legends as they meet wee hatchlings in the baby dragon creche. ” Almond Valley is also home to a large indoor and outdoor playground, Scotland’s Shale Oil Museum, an expansive café with local seasonal produce, picnic areas, paddocks, heritage buildings and Scotland’s only accredited rare breed farm.
Daily experiences on the site include hourly rides on the farm tractor or the expertly restored narrow-gauge train, as well as animal feeding sessions. Visitors can join the cheeky Bagot and Pygmy goats as they enjoy their breakfast and have a late lunch with a gang of energetic alpacas! There’s even the chance to take an alpaca for an hour-long walk across the cropping fields and learn all about these beautiful animals.
Jenny continued: “Summer is our busiest time, and we welcome hundreds of people to Almond Valley every day so we always recommend booking in advance.
“People of all ages are invited to come along and enjoy our beautiful community space, historic buildings and joyful natural sanctuary. ” In 2025, Almond Valley welcomed 145,609 visitors to experience play, heritage and community. Annual memberships are available to access the site 361 days a year, and support this vital local charity to preserve natural, built and cultural heritage for generations to come. ENJOYED THIS STORY?
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