Gardens February 7–March 8 Alluring Orchids The orchid festival in the Princess of Wales Conservatory is a warming explosion of colour (right). Tours take place on February 12, 19, 26 and March 5 at 1.30pm, 2pm and 2.30pm. Tickets from £10. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Surrey. (020–8332 5655; www.kew.org)
February 7–March 22 Orchid Festival: the pollinators are coming Cambridge University Botanic Gardens, Cambridge (01223 336265; www.botanic.cam.ac.uk)
Talks February 11 Chris Bonington: My Climbing Life The legendary mountaineer (below) in conversation with fellow explorers, including veteran sailor Sir Robin Knox-Johnston. Tickets £25. 7pm. Royal Geographical Society, 1, Kensington Gore, London SW7 (www.worldexpeditions.com)
February 19 Behind the Mask: The Life of Vita Sackville-West Free lunchtime lecture with biographer Matthew Dennison, 1.15pm. Ondaatje Wing Theatre, National Portrait Gallery, St Martin’s Place, London WC2 (020–7306 0055; www.npg.org.uk)
Point-to-point February 7 Cambridge University Draghounds Check Talking Point for weather updates on 09068 446061 or visit www.pointtopoint.co.uk Cottenham, Cambridgeshire Book now March 11 Roy Baker Memorial Lecture Talk by tutor Will Topley about The Prince of Wales’s revivified Royal Drawing School. Tickets £28, 2.15pm. The Orchard Room, Highgrove, Tetbury, Gloucestershire. (www.tetburyartsociety.org.uk; 01666 840993)
March 24–26 Easter Feaster cookery course Learn to produce traditional, seasonal English fare, plus vegetarian and gluten-free recipes. Day or residential. Gift vouchers for courses are available. The Avenue Cookery School, Mission Hall, Walkers Place, London SW15. (07958 171787; www. theavenuecookeryschool.co.uk)
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Three homes down by the Thames, perfect for those who love messing about on boats
'Two months to the Moon, three for rest and refreshment and two more for the return': The English stork success story
