Exhibitions Until May 16 ‘Giacomo Brunelli: Animals', High House Gallery, Main Street, Clanfield, Oxfordshire. Mesmerising images of the natural world (01367 810126; www.highhousegallery.com)
Until June 7 ‘John Piper: A Quintessentially British Artist', Bohun Gallery, 15, Reading Road, Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire. Paintings, prints, fabric designs and ceramics (01491 576228; www.bohungallery.co.uk)
Talks May 14 'Edward Bawden's Kew Gardens', Hatchard's, 187, Piccadilly, London W1. Peyton Skipwith and Brian Webb discuss their new book on the artist. 6.30pm, tickets £5 (020-7439 9921; www.hatchards.co.uk)
May 18 ‘Gordon Welchman, Bletchley Park's Architect of Ultra Intelligence', Bletchley Park, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire. Dr Joel Greenberg on the codebreaker's extraordinary life. 2pm-4pm, tickets £20 (01908 640404; www.bletchleypark.org.uk)
Festival May 17 Festival of Plants, Cambridge University Botanic Garden, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire. A day of family-friendly activities, including question-and-answer sessions and plant-science demonstrations (01223 336265; www.botanic.cam.ac.uk)
Day out May 18 Bluebell and rhododendron walk, Weston Park, near Shifnal, Shropshire. Join head gardener Martin Gee for a guided walk. 10.30am or 2pm start, £5.50. Dogs on leads welcome (01952 852100; www.weston-park.com)
Horse trials May 16-18 Dodson & Horrell Chatsworth International Horse Trials, Bakewell, Derbyshire. A weekend of cross-country action plus tradestands and family entertainment. Entrance from £12 (01423 330095; www.chatsworth.org)
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Merlins: Britain's smallest bird of prey is a 'swerving, zigzagging, 240mph weighted missile' that's gutsy enough to chase off a golden eagleSize doesn’t matter when it comes to the fighting spirit of the tiny merlin, a fierce parent and favoured hunting accessory of Mary, Queen of Scots.
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The greatest moment in the life of Jessie Owens: Country Life Quiz of the Day, June 13, 2025Breathtaking athleticism and Shakespeare's birthday are among the questions in the final quiz of the week.
