Country Life rounds up the best activities this weekend: red squirrel walks, a book festival in Cornwall and racing.
Exhibitions
October 22–26 Virginia Corbett, Gallery 8, 8, Duke Street, London SW1. Oils, prints and collages inspired by the changing seasons (www.virginiacorbettart.com)
October 22–November 8 Marcus Hodge, The Osborne Studio Gallery, 2, Motcomb Street, London SW1. Equestrian and landscape art, much of which is inspired by travels in Rajasthan (020–7235 9667; www.osg.uk.com)
Guided walk
October 22, 23 and 24 Red-squirrel walks, Brownsea Island, Poole, Dorset. Watch as the creatures come down from their tree canopies to store food and play in the lower branches. Twice daily: 11am–12.30pm and 2pm–3.30pm (01202 707744; www.nationaltrust.org.uk)
Festival
October 24–26 North Cornwall Book Festival, various venues, Trefelix and St Endellion, Cornwall. Speakers include John Crace, Nina Stibbe and Horatio Clare (07787 944935; www.endelienta.org.uk)
Concert
October 25 Friends of the Georgian Society of Jamaica’s 20th Anniversary Concert, St James’s Church, Sussex Gardens, London W2. Featuring Ramirez’s Misa Criolla and folk songs collected and arranged by Jamaican musicologist Dr Olive Lewin. 6.45pm for 7.30pm, tickets from £15 (http://fgsj.org.uk)
Racing
October 26 Families and Armed Forces Race Day, Wincanton Racecourse, Somerset. Racing and children’s entertainment. Supporting veterans’ charity Combat Stress. Tickets from £13 (0844 579 3014; www.wincantonracecourse.co.uk)
Day out
October 26–29 Half-term fun, Berkeley Castle, Berkeley, Gloucestershire. Pumpkin-themed activities for children, including carving, plus a special autumnal menu and end-of-year plant sale (01453 810303; www.berkeley-castle.com)
Gun valuation
October 29 Holts free valuation day, The Nare, Veryan-in-Roseland, Cornwall. Alternative dates and locations across the country available, booking an appointment is advised (01485 542822; www.holtsauctioneers.com)
What to book this weekend
November 28 or December 6, 13 or 17 Festive Entertaining, Lucknam Park Cookery School, Colerne, Wiltshire. Master mince pies, mulled wine, Christmas pudding, turkey with all the trimmings and gravy. £175 (01225 742777; www.lucknampark.co.uk)
