Country Life rounds up the best things to see, do and book this weekend: visit an art exhibition in Gloucestershire, go bird-watching in Dorset and attend a restorative pruning workshop in Cornwall.
Exhibition
February 18–May 23 ‘Mackintosh Architecture’, RIBA, 66, Portland Place, London W1. Drawings, models and films celebrating the career Charles Rennie Mackintosh and his wife, Margaret Macdonald (020–7580 5533; www.riba.org)
Until February 21 ‘William Gear RA 1915–1997: Centenary Exhibition of Works on Paper’ (1947–1996), Fosse Gallery, Stow-on-the-Wold, Gloucestershire. The third in a trilogy of exhibitions celebrating the prolific abstract artist, part-curated by his son, David, and featuring many unseen works (01451 831319; www.fossegallery.com)
Until March 7 ‘Dione Verulam: This Scepter’d Isle’, Rebecca Hossack, 2a, Conway Street, London W1. Delightful collages of country sports, travel and Scotland created from lithographs, monoprints and book-binding papers (www.rebeccahossack.com; 020–7436 4899)
Birdwatching
February 8 and 18 RSPB Bird Boat, Poole Quay, Dorset. See avocets, spoonbills, mergansers and grebes on this 21⁄2- hour cruise. Tickets £12 (children £6), booking essential. 10.30am (01929 462383; www.pooleharbourbirdboats.co.uk)
Performance
February 14–16 Stories from the Shipyards, Imperial War Museum North, The Quays, Trafford Wharf Road, Manchester. Dramatised stories of the women working in the Glasgow shipyards during the Second World War running alongside the exhibition ‘From Street to Trench: A World War that Shaped a Region’ (until May 31). Four free performances a day (0161–836 4000; www.iwm.org.uk)
Gardening
February 18 Restorative pruning workshop, south-east Cornwall. Learn about caring for fruit trees in a National Trust orchard at Polruan or Lerryn. Session free (donations welcome), but booking essential, 10am–1pm (01726 870146; www.nationaltrust.org.uk)
Point-to-point
February 15 Midlands Area Club at Thorpe Lodge, Nottinghamshire. Also Percy meeting at
Alnwick, Northumberland; Sinnington at Duncombe Park, North Yorkshire; South Pool Harriers at Buckfastleigh, Devon; and Vine & Craven at Barbury Racecourse, Wiltshire. Check Talking Point for weather updates on 09068 446061 or visit www.pointtopoint.co.uk
Racing
February 14 Bathwick Tyres Kingwell Hurdle Day, Wincanton Racecourse, Somerset. A fun outing for Valentine’s Day. Free coaches will meet racegoers coming from London Waterloo and Exeter at Templecombe station. Advance tickets start at £16, including a free drink and racecard (01963 435840; http://wincanton.thejockeyclub.co.uk)
