Country Life rounds up the best things to see, do and book this weekend: attend a Cheltenham Festival preview evening in Somerset; go on a spring flower walk in Devon and visit an art fair in London.
Racing
March 6 Grand Military Gold Cup Day, Sandown Park Racecourse, Esher, Surrey. A favourite with the Queen Mother, this is a big day for amateur jockeys with military connections. Includes bands and hound parades. Advance tickets from £16.20. The following day is the William Hill Imperial Cup Day (01372 464348; http://sandown.thejockeyclub.co.uk)
March 6 Cheltenham Festival Preview Evening, Taunton Racecourse, Somerset. With leading racehorse trainers Philip Hobbs, Paul Nicholls and David Pipe, plus Alice Plunkett as host. Tickets £10 in advance or £12 on the door. Gates open 6.30pm (01823 337172; www.tauntonracecourse.co.uk)
Point-to-point
March 7 Duke of Beaufort’s at Didmarton, Gloucestershire. First race 12.30pm. Also Brecon & Talybont at Llanfrynach, Powys. Check weather updates on the Talking Point hotline 09068 446061 or visit www.pointtopoint.co.uk for further information
Talk
March 11 London Design Week at Design Centre, Chelsea Harbour, SW10, begins on Sunday, March 8 and runs until Friday, March 13. Our Visual Arts Editor Mary Miers will be hosting a Conversation in Design with the interior designer Joanna Wood on Wednesday, March 11 from 3pm. Tickets are £7.50 if you quote COUNTRY LIFE (020– 7352 1900; www.dcch.co.uk)
Walk
March 14 Spring Flower Walk, Greenway, Galmpton, Devon. Admire camellias and spring plantings at Agatha Christie’s magical Dart estuary home, followed by soup. 11.30am. Tickets £10, booking essential. Further walks on March 19 and 28 and April 18 (www. nationaltrust.org.uk/greenway; 01803 842382)
Fair
March 12–15 Affordable Art Fair, Battersea Park, London SW11. It does what it says on the tin: contemporary art at affordable prices, from £100 to £5,000, in a relaxed atmosphere. Advance tickets from £10 (020–8246 4848; http://affordableartfair.com)
Book now
April 25 The Horn & Hound Ball, Cheltenham Racecourse, Gloucestershire. Traditional hunt ball in aid of the Hunt Staff Benefit Society with horn-blowing competition for the Dorian Williams Trophy, dancing to 29 Fingers and auction of sporting lots. Tickets £100 (01285 653001; www.hsbs.org.uk)
August 1–29 Dartington International Summer School, Totnes, Devon. Stimulating music-making and theatre from motet-singing to jig-dancing for professionals and amateurs with tutors such as Emma Kirkby and Alfred Brendel. Bursaries available (01803 847080; www. dartington.org/summer-school)
