Gloucestershire in pictures: Bats, books and full moons

19 October 2025

Maisie LillywhiteGloucestershire

Jack Boskett The silhouettes of a couple, a man and a woman who are both wearing glasses, are illuminated by a large, illuminated sculpture of the full moon inside Tewkesbury Abbey. The pillars have been lit up blue.

We're more than half the way through October and there is definitely a spooky theme prevailing in Gloucestershire.

With the ethereal moon illuminating Tewkesbury Abbey in time for half term and bats getting a new transport route in the Cotswolds, the county certainly feels like its getting into the Halloween spirit.

Sunday also marks the closing out of Cheltenham Literature Festival, with thousands of book lovers attending events in the spa town over the past 10 days.

But literary joy has spread across the county, with a celebrity author surprising schoolchildren and a very famous steam train being celebrated.

Stroud District Council A group of five people, two men and three women, standing on the rail station platform outside the Brunel Goods Shed. All are smiling at the camera.

Keeping history alive: Stroud District Council transferred ownership of the Grade II* Listed Brunel Goods Shed to Stroud Valleys Artspace this week, with plans to turn it into a "vibrant cultural centre", the council said. It added the transfer marked a "significant step" in the regeneration of the Stroud Station Quarter.

National Highways A bird's-eye view of the bat tunnel being installed under the road. A large red crane is visible on the building site which is next to a road surrounded by fields and trees.

Bat tunnel: National Highways shared this week that a dedicated bat underpass had been installed as part of the A417 Missing Link project. Here it is, being erected.

Westonbirt School Hugh Bonneville smiles and talks as he hands a red bound hardback book back to a young girl with blonde hair, who has her back to the camera and is wearing a navy polo shirt. Bonneville is holding a black permanent marker in his other hand, and a small stack of his books lies on the wooden table in front of him.

Special appearance: Paddington star Hugh Bonneville visited Westonbirt School this week to read excerpts of his latest children's book, Rory Sparkes and the Elephant in the Room. The actor reflected on his memories of visiting the school as a child when his sister, Claire, was a pupil there.

BBC Weather Watchers/Postman Les A bright red tree stands beneath the autumn cloud at the foot of Tewkesbury Abbey. There are brown and red leaves covering the grass as people walk around outside.

Autumn scenes: Tewkesbury Abbey looks to have a fire at its feet in this cosy shot.

A group of people, mostly older people along with two children, sit in two rows with another man, dressed as The Fat Controller from Thomas the Tank Engine, led on the floor in front of them, posing for the photograph. They are stood in front of a house with a number 30 on, and balloons and a big, gold number 80 can be seen beside the red front door in celebration of the anniversary.

To celebrate 80 years since the first Thomas the Tank Engine book was released, a plaque was unveiled at 30 Rodborough Avenue in Stroud, where author Reverend Wilbert Awdry lived.

Reverend Awdry's family, along with residents, children from the nearby primary school, and even the Fat Controller, gathered to celebrate the anniversary.

BBC Weather Watchers/Space Walker Three cows, one of which is looking at the camera while the other two graze on the grass in their Cotswold field, stand among the mist. The silhouettes of trees can be seen behind them.

Misty mornings: These cows were shrouded in white on Monday morning as mist descended upon Edge.

PA Jacqueline Wilson, the children's author, smiles as she stands in front of a browning tree, clutching a mug. She has short white hair, a black top with a ruffled neck and flower detailing, lots of chunky silver rings, and pastel blue painted nails.

Cheltenham Literature Festival: Literary icon Jacqueline Wilson, famed for her realist children's books such as the Tracy Beaker series and Lily Alone, was among the famous literary faces to appear in the spa town this week.

The inside of Gloucester Cathedral, illuminated by projected red poppies with green leaves.

Remembrance: Poppy Fields, a bright and beautiful light installation, has transformed Gloucester Cathedral into an immersive display of light and sound to reflect on the sacrifices of the First and Second World Wars.

Follow BBC Gloucestershire on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630.