The Battle of Naseby Film  & The Civil War and the Harborough area Talk by Dr Len Holden

This session will have two parts, firstly a showing of the The Battle of Naseby film followed by a talk on the Civil War and the Harborough area.

Film - The 'Battle of Naseby' film is 55 minutes long and tells the story of the famous battle tracing its origins and describing the battle itself. It briefly touches on the aftermath, which I will expand upon in my talk, showing how the battle and the civil war affected the local population.

Talk -The area of north Northamptonshire is famous for the decisive battle of The English Civil i.e. The Battle of Naseby 1645. The talk briefly examines the battle but also looks at the effects that the civil war had on the surrounding area ranging from Leicester, Market Harborough, Wistow, Hallaton and other towns and villages.

Both of these combined will last around 90 mins.

Date: Wednesday 3rd June

Time: 7-8.30pm

Price: £8 (+booking fee)

The Woodland Trust and The National Forest Talk with Ian Retson

"The Woodland Trust and the National Forest” with Ian Retson, explores the Woodland Trust’s aims and objectives, its role in standing up for trees, and the major challenges facing woods and forests both globally and here in the UK.

The talk will look at why our trees and woodlands need support now more than ever, and the vital benefits they provide for both people and nature. These themes are brought to life through several of the Woodland Trust’s largest projects across the UK, including the long-term impact being achieved through the creation of the National Forest, the first new National Forest planted in the last century.

Ian will conclude by exploring the work being done to protect ancient and veteran trees, including the remarkable Cotesbach Ash as an example.

Date: Thursday 2nd July

Time: 7-8.30pm

Fee: £8 (+booking fee)

Sourdough Breadmaking with Paul Raddan

Ever dreamed of making your own sourdough loaves at home? In this 3-hour session, we will go through all the techniques & knowledge you will need. You will also come away with your own pot of starter, so you can begin baking sourdough straight away. Your tutor for the afternoon is Paul from Rugby Real Bread, who's been teaching & enthusing about bread for over 10 years!

Date: Saturday 22nd August

Time: 1-4pm

Price: £65 (+booking fee)

The Rise and Decline of the Country House with Dr Len Holden

Dr Len Holden will explain the origins and development of the country house from castles, monasteries, abbeys, fortresses and family buildings in their own right. He will also examine the lives of their occupants both masters and servants. He will touch on local examples of great country houses and their estates in Leicestershire and Northamptonshire.

Date: Wednesday 2nd September

Time: 7-8.15pm

Price: £8 (+booking fee)

Bulrush Workshop: Making Mats and Small Containers with Maggie Cooper

On this course, participants will have the rare opportunity to work with English bulrushes harvested from local rivers. Weaving with bulrushes is deeply satisfying. The material is soft and silky, carrying the scent of fresh meadows, with beautiful hues of green and gold.

You will learn a range of simple weaving techniques, including over-and-under weave, check weave, strong twining weaves, plaits, and rope-making. The day will be one of experimentation and exploration of form. You may choose to create one larger piece or several smaller samples to take home.

The workshop will be delivered by Maggie Cooper, who has been making baskets and studying the ancient art of basketmaking for nearly four decades and is one of the foremost artists in this craft working in Britain today.

Date: Saturday 24th October

Time: 10am-4pm

Price: £65