Unmissable events
Exhibition Until September 17 ‘Ultramarine’, The Bleddfa Centre, Knighton, Powys. Paintings by Robert Cunning with the common theme of evoking ‘a strong sense of place’, from the rural hills of Shropshire to Cambrian coast seascapes (01547 550377; www.bleddfacentre.co.uk)
Produce show September 16–17 Cambridge Food Garden & Produce Show, Parker’s Piece, Cambridgeshire. Enter your homegrown fruit and vegetables, baking, jams, pickles and flower arrangements into classes or just enjoy the stalls and cookery demonstrations. 10am–5pm, free entry (www.oakleighfairs.co.uk)
Festival September 16–October 1 Chilterns Walking Festival, various locations. A 16-day programme of more than 70 guided countryside walks, activities and events involving boats, trains, horses, windmills, churches and nature reserves. Most walks are free, but must be prebooked (www.visitchilterns.co.uk/ walkingfest)
September 16–17 Toby’s Garden & Harvest Festival, Forde Abbey, Chard, Somerset. Celebrate the fruits of the season with gardening demonstrations, talks by Toby Buckland, Christine Walkden and Charlie Dimmock, plus food and entertainment. Tickets from £10 (www.tobygardenfest.co.uk; 07561 261615)
September 17 Dahlia Festival (right), Kelmarsh Hall and Gardens, Northampton, Northamptonshire. Garden tours, talks, flower arranging and chutney tasting, all focusing on the historic walled kitchen garden and dahlia display. 11am–5pm, adult admission £8.60 (01604 686543; www.kelmarsh.com) Cinema September 14 Carmen on the Lake (above), nationwide. George Bizet’s opera Carmen will be broadcast live from a floating stage on Lake Constance in Bregenz, Austria, to some 300 cinemas throughout the UK. On September 21, King Lear will also be broadcast from Shakespeare’s Globe. Visit the website for venues and to book (www.cinemalive.com)
Equestrian September 13–17 Blenheim Palace International Horse Trials, Woodstock, Oxfordshire. The stars of the eventing world, including Zara Tindall, will compete at the seat of the Dukes of Marlborough. Tickets from £8 (01993 813335; www.blenheimhorse.co.uk)
Book now September 26–27 Early, Early Christmas Fair, Tedworth Park, Tidworth, Wiltshire. Shop at more than 100 stalls set on the polo ground, get free valuations with Antiques Roadshow experts and enjoy a curry. Standard admission £5, Tuesday evening reception tickets available online. In aid of ABF The Soldiers’ Charity (01980 611211; www.eecfair.org.uk)
Doddington Place, near Sittingbourne, Kent ME9 0BB September 17, 11am–5pm. £7, children £2 This garden’s Victorian framework has been brought to life in recent years with elegant modern designs and imaginative planting schemes. The 10 acres encompass a fascinating variety of woodland garden, a formal sunken garden, an Edwardian rockery, a delightful Gothick folly and yew cloud hedging, with panoramic views to the surrounding countryside. For more details, visit www.ngs. org.uk