Bearded runners kick off Shrewsbury's Darwin celebrations
Hundreds of bearded runners helped to kick off a festival celebrating the life of one of Shrewsbury's best known sons – Charles Darwin – and his theory of evolution.
The 2016 Darwin Festival got off to an energetic start with more than 300 people running through the Quarry in Shrewsbury on Saturday morning.
Usually at that time, the Quarry is home to Shrewsbury Parkrun but this weekend organisers wanted to help kick-start the annual celebration of Charles Darwin with a bearded twist, and also raise funds for the Darwin Garden that is being restored on the Mount in Shrewsbury. Each year the Darwin Festival is co-ordinated by Shropshire Wildlife Trust, and it takes place around the time of Darwin's birthday on February 12.
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Bryony Carter, people and wildlife officer at Shropshire Wildlife Trust, said one of the biggest aims of the event is to inspire the next generation of scientists.
This year's Darwin Festival will run until February 18.
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