Exhibitions
Until February 8 ‘The Farrier', Vale & Downland Museum, Wantage, Oxfordshire. A photographic documentary of the work of a local farrier by Matthew P. Wright (above) (01235 771447; http://wantage-museum.com)
Until February 28 ‘Diarmuid Kelley: All Cats Are Grey', Offer Waterman & Co, 11, Langton Street, London SW10. New portraits and still-lifes (020-7351 0068; www.waterman.co.uk)
Festival February 1-9 BITE: The Cotswolds Food Festival, various venues, north Cotswolds. Pop-up restaurants, talks, tastings, masterclasses, book signings and farmer's markets (01905 670955; www.thebite.co)
Point-to-point February 2 Mid Devon at Black Forest Lodge, near Exeter, Devon. Also Burton at North Carlton, Lincolnshire and South Dorset at Milborne St Andrew, Dorset. Check for weather conditions on Talking Point 09068 446061 or at www.pointtopoint.co.uk
Day out January 31 Identifying trees in winter, Cambridge University Botanic Garden, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire. Deepen your knowledge of outlines, bark structure and twig characteristics. 10am- 4pm £50 (01223 331875; www.botanic.cam.ac.uk)
What to book this weekend March 15 BASC Wildfowling Conference 2014, the Ramada hotel, Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham. Presentations on recreational disturbance and marine management, plus a consents update from Natural England (01244 573024; http://basc.org.uk)
March 29 Venison cookery day, Vale House Kitchen, Timsbury, Bath. Covering basic butchery, curing, smoking, boning and slow cooking. Including lunch and a three-course meal afterwards. 10am-5pm, £180 per person (01761 470401; http://valehousekitchen.co.uk)
May 7-11 Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials, Badminton, Gloucestershire. The box office has opened for this famous equestrian event, with dressage on Thursday and Friday, cross-country on Saturday and showjumping on Sunday, plus more than 200 trade stands. Admission from £11, plus £10 parking (01454 218375; www.badminton-horse.co.uk)
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The life that thrives among the dead: How wildlife finds a home in the graveyards and churchyards of BritainHome to a veritable ‘Noah’s Ark of species’, thanks to never being ploughed, sprayed or fertilised, our churchyards offer a sacred haven for flora and fauna, says Laura Parker.
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‘What a shame when a dinosaur disappears into the mansion of an oligarch rather than being displayed for all to enjoy’: The ethics of the dinosaur auctionFancy a stegosaurus in your living room? You can buy one at auction. But the latest luxury good is a paleontologist's worst nightmare.
