Country Life rounds up the best things to see, do and book this weekend: admire orchids in Surrey, attend a lunchtime lecture in London and visit a point-to-point in Cambridgeshire.
This is the definitive guide of what to do this weekend.
Gardens
February 7–March 8 Alluring Orchids
The orchid festival in the Princess of Wales Conservatory is a warming explosion of colour (right). Tours take place on February 12, 19, 26 and March 5 at 1.30pm, 2pm and 2.30pm. Tickets from £10. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Surrey. (020–8332 5655; www.kew.org)
February 7–March 22 Orchid Festival: the pollinators are coming
Cambridge University Botanic Gardens, Cambridge (01223 336265; www.botanic.cam.ac.uk)
Talks
February 11 Chris Bonington: My Climbing Life
The legendary mountaineer (below) in conversation with fellow explorers, including veteran sailor Sir Robin Knox-Johnston. Tickets £25. 7pm.
Royal Geographical Society, 1, Kensington Gore, London SW7 (www.worldexpeditions.com)
February 19 Behind the Mask: The Life of Vita Sackville-West
Free lunchtime lecture with biographer Matthew Dennison, 1.15pm.
Ondaatje Wing Theatre, National Portrait Gallery, St Martin’s Place, London WC2 (020–7306 0055; www.npg.org.uk)
Point-to-point
February 7 Cambridge University Draghounds
Check Talking Point for weather updates on 09068 446061 or visit www.pointtopoint.co.uk
Cottenham, Cambridgeshire
Book now
March 11 Roy Baker Memorial Lecture
Talk by tutor Will Topley about The Prince of Wales’s revivified Royal Drawing School. Tickets £28, 2.15pm.
The Orchard Room, Highgrove, Tetbury, Gloucestershire.
(www.tetburyartsociety.org.uk; 01666 840993)
March 24–26 Easter Feaster cookery course
Learn to produce traditional, seasonal English fare, plus vegetarian and gluten-free recipes. Day or residential. Gift vouchers for courses are available.
The Avenue Cookery School, Mission Hall, Walkers Place, London SW15.
(07958 171787; www. theavenuecookeryschool.co.uk)
