Gloucestershire in Pictures: RIAT and 2000trees

Red Arrows flying in formation, with red and white smoke trailing behind

The RIAT event at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire has been going for more than 50 years and is attended by about 170,000 people

Maddie Simpson
BBC News, Gloucestershire

People have been looking to the skies over Gloucestershire as the Royal International Air Tattoo returned to the county.

And while the crowds were arriving at Fairford, the clean-up was finishing at Cheltenham after the 2000trees festival.

There was also the opening of a new shopping centre in Tewkesbury and new adventures for some penguins in the county.

Fans are seen at the barrier in front of the main stage at the 2000trees festival in Cheltenham. It is a sunny day with clear blue skies and some of the fans have their hands in the air as they sing along with the performerGetty Images

Heat haze: It was a hot weekend for all the music fans who headed to Upcote Farm in Cheltenham for the 2000trees festival.

An orange sun rising up over darkened trees with an orange tint in the sky. Two different ridges are visible between the foreground and the setting sun, and they are hazyStormin

To the horizon: Weather watcher 'Stormin' took this photograph, which has a mystical feel, on an early morning trip out in Colesbourne.

A row of red arrows and a grey sky behind.

To the skies: The Royal International Air Tattoo is taking place this weekend at RAF Fairford.

The event is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year - and the Red Arrows will be flying each day this weekend.

Crowds of people with sunhats on.Getty

Festival time: Gloucestershire took on Sussex Sharks at the College Ground in Cheltenham on Thursday as the county cricket side made its annual pilgrimage to the area, whose name it bears.

A man holds a fluffy young penguin in his hands. The man is wearing a dark blue sweatshirt and the penguin is mostly dark grey in colourBirdland

Welcome aboard: Four new Humboldt penguin chicks at Birdland have entered an exciting new phase, as they have begun exploring their surroundings and meeting the rest of the colony at the park in Bourton-on-the-Water.

A view over Cheltenham at the top of a hill with a blue, clear sky.

Look at that view: A walk up Crickley Hill at Birdlip was rewarded with views for miles on a clear, sunny day.

A large group of people wearing purple uniforms at Cotswold Design Outlet. They have their arms raised and appear to be celebrating. Encore PR

Shop till you drop: A brand new outlet centre has opened in Tewkesbury this week just off Junction 9 of the M5. They started building the Cotswold Design Outlet in 2023 - and it has now opened to the public.

A bright purple flower with a bumble bee in it. Spacewalker

All things bright and beautiful: This was too good to miss off the list of highlights this week. The colourful image of a bee enjoying a visit to a bloom was taken in Framilode by weather watcher 'Spacewalker'.

Two benches on a field overlooking rolling fields. Andy B

Crisp views: Weather watcher 'Andy B' took this image of a sunny morning with great views in Cam.

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