Unmissable events
Exhibition May 24–June 22 ‘Dreamed House’ (right), Long & Ryle, John Islip Street, London SW1. Kate Montgomery uses geometric principles and Victorian designs in her small and intense paintings to capture ‘private moments and domestic quiet’ (020–7834 1434; www.longandryle.com)
May 26–November 11 ‘Baldwin & Guggisberg: Under an Equal Sky’, Canterbury Cathedral, Kent. Large-scale glass installations designed to commemorate the centenary of the end of the First World War include 100 glass amphorae suspended in the shape of a ship. Normal admission prices apply (01227 762862; www. canterbury-cathedral.org)
Festival June 1–3 West Dean Arts and Craft Festival, West Dean College of Arts and Conservation, near Chichester, West Sussex. Some 200 artists, printmakers and craftspeople will offer demonstrations, performances, workshops, tours and handmade crafts for sale. Adult tickets from £10 (including entry to the awardwinning gardens, workshops charged separately), 10am–5pm (01243 811301; www.westdean.org.uk)
Art May 26–June 10 Norfolk & Norwich Open Studios, various venues. More than 450 artists across 241 locations in the county will offer the public free access to their studios, garages and barns to see art being created and to purchase pieces directly (01603 877762; www.nnopenstudios.org.uk)
Fair June 2–3 Floral Fringe Fair, Knepp Castle, Shipley, West
Lewis Cottage, Spreyton, Devon EX15 5AA. May 26–28, 11am–5pm. Admission £4.50, children free
Set deep in the mid-devon countryside, the garden of Lewis Cottage is delightfully varied. There are constant surprise discoveries throughout the four acres, including a camassia meadow, hot and cool herbaceous borders, a clipped-hornbeam rondel and an outdoor poetry reading room. Children will love exploring and there’s a plant nursery offering mementos to take home. Sussex. Eclectic gathering of specialist nurseries, contemporary crafts, local food producers and a pop-up vintage tearoom, with picnics by the lake. Dogs on leads welcome. Adult entry £7.50, with attendees encouraged to sport vintage clothing and arrive in their classic cars (07939 272443; www. floralfringefair.co.uk)
Book now June 15 Edible Flowers workshop,
Petersham Nurseries, Richmond, Surrey. Learn to grow, select and cook edible flowers with the head chef and horticultural experts, then enjoy a threecourse lunch in the cafe. 11am–4.30pm, £150pp (020–8940 5230; www. petershamnurseries.com)
July 5 Mausolea, Monuments and the Country House, The Gallery, Cowcross Street, London EC1. Talk by COUNTRY LIFE’S Architectural Editor John Goodall for The Mausolea & Monuments Trust. 6pm for 6.30pm start, tickets from £15 (07517 082846; www.mmtrust.org.uk)