What’s on

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Pen and Watercolour Workshop

Wednesday 25th June, 10:30am to 12:30pm

Learn different pen drawing techniques and ‘dry’ watercolour painting to create your own botanical artwork using flowers and foliage from our 17th Century gardens as inspiration.

Play in a Day

Sunday 29th June, 9:30am to 7:15pm

Calling all aspiring actors!

Play in a Day audience

Sunday 29th June, 6:30pm to 7:15pm

Join us as an audience member for Play in a Day!

Fantastic Fossils Hunt

From: Saturday 5th July, All day
See all upcoming dates

Can you find ten fossils hidden around site?

Jacobean Crafts

From: Saturday 12th July, 10:30am to 3:30pm
See all upcoming dates

The Friends' Jacobean Craft group meets every month and showcases some of the needlecrafts of the time.

Awesome Activities

Monday 14th July to Tuesday 15th July, 11am to 3pm

Live Lute Music

Sunday 20th July, 1:30pm to 4pm

Our resident Lutenist will be bringing melodic tunes to the 1620s House.

Teddy Bear’s Picnic

Tuesday 22nd July, 11am to 3pm

If you come down to our garden today you’re in for a big surprise...

Plant Hunter’s Fair – July 2025

Sunday 27th July, 10am to 4pm

One of our most popular events returns this July as we house the top plant nurseries that are sure to have something special for every garden.

The Wind in the Willows – Open Air Theatre

Friday 1st August, 6pm to 8pm

Multiple award-winning Illyria celebrates Kenneth Grahame’s timeless tale of friendship, laughter, the longing for home and the lure of adventure.

Live Lute Music

Sunday 3rd August, 1:30pm to 4pm

Our resident Lutenist will be bringing melodic tunes to the 1620s House.

Proms at the Manor

Saturday 9th August, 6pm to 9pm

Enjoy a fabulous evening of music in the 1620s Garden featuring the Desford Colliery Band.

Pirate Day!

Thursday 21st August, 10:30am to 3:30pm

Ahoy shipmates, come an' join us on the high seas of the 1620s lawn, where there'll be a great gathering of fearsome pirates!

A Midsummer Night’s Dream – Open Air Theatre

Saturday 30th August, 6:30pm to 8:30pm

Quantum Theatre presents a brand new production of Shakespeare’s most enduringly popular play of love and intrigue, magic and celebration set on that most dangerous of nights when fairies are abroad and nothing is as it seems…

Live Lute Music

Sunday 21st September, 10:30am to 1pm

Our resident Lutenist will be bringing melodic tunes to the 1620's House.