Unmissable events
Arts festival October 12–16 Sherborne Literary Festival, Sherborne, Dorset. A literary highlight of the year, featuring talks from Mavis Cheek, Ferdinand Mount, Artemis Cooper and Terry Waite (www.sher borneliterarysociety.com)
October 13–16 The Isle of Wight Literary Festival, Northwood House, Cowes, Isle of Wight. Highlights will include COUNTRY LIFE’S theatre critic Michael Billington, literary agent Caroline Sheldon, novelist D.J. Taylor and fungi expert John Wright http://isleofwightliterary festival.com)
October 19–23 Bloomsbury Festival, various venues, London WC1. This year’s theme is ‘language’ and the festival includes breakfast talks, classical concerts, dance and sound and visual-art installations (www.bloomsburyfestival. org.uk)
Charity raceday October 23 Combat Stress Families and Armed Forces Raceday, Wincanton Racecourse, Somerset. Guests are encouraged to come dressed as their favourite superhero or princess and enjoy a day’s racing in support of Combat Stress. Admission from £16 (01936 435840; http://wincanton.the jockeyclub.co.uk
Art fair October 22–30 PURE Autumn Art Fair, The Powder Mills Hotel, Battle, East Sussex. Showcasing both upcoming and established talent, featuring the work of 60 artists working across all fine art, including painting, drawing, printmaking, photography, sculpture, ceramics and glass (www.pureartsgroup. co.uk)
Literary performance October 27 War Horse: The Story in Concert (above), Royal Albert Hall, South Kensington, London SW7. Michael Morpurgo reads his popular novel accompanied by the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra (020–7589 8212; www.royalalbert hall.com)
Lecture October 17 ‘Shakespeare Goes To Venice’ (left), Society of Antiquaries, Burlington House, Piccadilly, London W1. Venice in Peril’s Caer Beris Manor Hotel, Builth Wells, Powys LD2 3NP
October 16, 11am–4pm. £4, children free, plants for sale, dogs welcome, homemade teas This weekend, you can combine staying in country-house comfort at Caer Beris, set in wonderful mid-wales countryside, with enjoying its garden open day in aid of the NGS. Paths lead through the 27 acres that are bounded on one side by the River Irfon and, throughout, you will discover rare treasures planted in the early 20th century by the Vivien family, who were plant hunters. Caer Beris has a distinguished NGS pedigree, being one of the elite group of gardens that opened in the schemes first year, 1927, and is still open today. Visit www.ngs.org.uk