Gloucestershire in Pictures: Pelicans and dancing

Birdland Park and Gardens A pelican glides on water with her wings raised behind her. Her large beak, which has a deep bottom, is open and she has a fish about to go into her mouth.Birdland Park and Gardens
A young female pink-backed pelican has joined Birdland in Bourton-on-the-Water as part of an international breeding programme

Spring has most definitely arrived in Gloucestershire and many have been spending plenty of time outdoors enjoying all nature has to offer.

In this week's roundup of our favourite pictures from the week, we meet a gold crest captured at Westonbirt Arboretum and see some of the beautiful spring blooms on display there.

There's also a postbox in Cheltenham which has been given an Easter-themed makeover...

Weather Watchers/Tone Poet A foal can be seen in the foreground with its ears forward. It is stood in a field with another horse visible in the background. The hillside in the distance is lit up beautifully, with bright green grass mixed in with shadowed areas and a blue and orange sky.Weather Watchers/Tone Poet

This foal appeared to be ready to pose for the camera in this beautiful shot taken in Upton St Leonards.

We love the beautiful natural light that our Weather Watcher Tone Poet managed to capture so well.

Neil Smith A girl with glasses and high ponytail sits up straight on the floor with her arms stretched wide and knees bent. She is wearing a blue cropped top, black trousers and trainers. 
A girl stands behind her in matching clothes is supported by a frame with wheels at the bottom. She also has her arms stretched out. There is a purple backdrop.Neil Smith
A performance at the 2025 Dance Celebration Evening featuring students from University of Gloucestershire and National Star

The University of Gloucestershire has teamed up with National Star, a specialist college for people with physical disabilities, to provide students with opportunities to express themselves fully through dance.

Supported by inclusive teaching and learning processes, students spent 10 weeks preparing for the Dance Celebration Evening at the college's Ullenwood campus.

Alison Whaley A small bird with bright yellow feet, brown feathers around its face merging into yellow feathers on its wings, with black and white tips. It has landed on the floor of the woodland and is surrounded by twigsAlison Whaley
A gold crest captured in the spring sunshine at Westonbirt Arboretum

This gold crest was spotted enjoying the spring sunshine at Westonbirt Arboretum.

The site has a collection of more than 15,000 trees which attract and provide habitats for a diverse range of wildlife.

Bethan Evans A sunny shot of a wide, low-level tree which is blooming with white and light green blossom. Luscious green grass can be seen on the floor in the background with the skies above a light blue.Bethan Evans

Westonbirt is beautiful to visit all year round, but there is something particularly special about what's on offer at this time of year.

The site is filled with stunning blossoms of pure whites and blushing pinks and looks particularly peaceful in this image captured on a sunny Sunday afternoon.

Jon Smith Two knitted, yellow chicks sit on top of a postbox. They both have googly eyes on them and orange beaks and are surrounded by yellow, pink, purple and red knitted flowers. A blue, knitted base is securing them onto the postbox. Jon Smith

Anyone posting letters in Up Hatherley, Cheltenham will be sure to have a smile on their face this week thanks to this Easter-themed postbox topper.

Emma Brookes An orangey-red building pictured from below the bank it sits on. It is designed in the Rococo style with gothic windows. Primroses are on the ban and dappled sunlights hits the building. Emma Brookes
The red house at The Rococo Gardens in Painswick, Gloucestershire

Lots of people have been enjoying the sunshine with a visit to Rococo gardens.

The picture captured by Emma Brookes Photography shows the Red House, a Grade II listed garden pavilion.

Forestry England A man in yellow sunglasses and a bright red coat sits on a smart all-terrain four-wheel mobility scooter talking to three people sitting on a bench. They are surrounded by treesForestry England
Forestry England has built a new trail suitable for people visiting with wheelchairs, pushchairs and mobility scooters at Beechenhurst

New accessible trails have opened at Beechenhurst in the Forest of Dean.

It is part of a project by Forestry England to help people with disabilities, health conditions and access needs to enjoy the forest.

Weather Watchers/Space Walker A pond photographed from the edge, with two swans swimming in its centre. Reeds are sticking up through the surface of the clear water. Hillside and large, green trees can be seen in the background under bright blue sky.Weather Watchers/Space Walker

One of the BBC's Weather Watchers, Space Walker, captured this gorgeous shot of Little Witcombe under blue April skies.