Surrey Area Guide

Whether it's a day out for toddlers, a family outing, or a special date night - there's no better way to make autumn memories than pumpkin picking. Take a stroll down to the Pumpkin Patch, next to Hobbledown Heath where you can enjoy a whole range of seasonal delights, including street food and Instagram-worthy photo points. Located in an expansive meadow on the River Crane, right beside the Hounslow Heath nature reserve, this pumpkin patch is a green oasis hidden away in the heart of busy West London! Collect your wheelbarrow, browse through a wide variety of pumpkins, and find the perfect one to take home with you. Get your tickets now for the Pumpkin Patch At Hobbledown!

Building on our successful cornerHOUSE Write itthen write it better workshops in October 2021, weve formed a playwrights group to help each other improve our writing for the stage. Participants are invited to offer a draft scene/script/part script (5-15 pages) for table-reading and discussion. We meet every six weeks and will usually have time to work on 3-4 such pieces per session. If you dont have a draft ready to share, we need readers (you dont have to be an actor!) and listeners ready to discuss, suggest and provide constructive feedback. Attendance at every session isnt essential, but numbers are limited to 12, so sign up early to secure a place. Youll then be contacted with further details and in case you have any questions.

They play with perfect intonation, tremendous attack, and impeccable historical style. All the four instruments work together with such intelligence and imagination that I would happily listen to them every day. - Sir Roger Norrington The first period instrument string quartet to be selected as BBC New Generation Artists, the Consone Quartet are fast making a name for themselves with their honest and expressive interpretations of repertoire, notably from the classical and romantic eras. Formed at the Royal College of Music in London, the Consone Quartet launched their professional career in 2015, shortly after which they were awarded two prizes at the 2015 York Early Music International Young Artists Competition, including the EUBO Development Trust Prize and a place on the EEEmerging Scheme in France. They went on to win the 2016 Royal Over-Seas League Ensemble Prize, and in 2022 were awarded a prestigious Borletti-Buitoni Trust (BBT) fellowship. The quartet has been enthusiastically received at Londons major venues, as well as further afield in Poland, Switzerland, Italy, Austria, Bulgaria and Slovenia. Festival invitations include Edinburgh, Cheltenham, Dartington, Two Moors, Buxton, MA Festival in Bruges, Heidelberger Streichquartettfest, and Festspiele Mecklenburg-Vorpommern in Germany. In 2024 the quartet returned to the English Haydn Festival and the York Early Music Festival, both of which are loyal supporters and regularly host the group. Consone are Artists-in-Residence at Paxton House (2023-2025) and at Saxon Shore Early Music Kenardington (2024-2027). Following tours of South America (2018) and Canada (2023) the quartet will return to North America in 2025 to perform both alone and in collaboration with pianist Kristian Bezuidenhout. 2023 saw the Consone Quartet premiere a new work for string sextet by Gavin Bryars, commissioned by friends of the Quartet, the Borletti-Buitoni Trust and BBC Radio 3. The work, entitled The Bridges of Knigsberg, was broadcast on Radio 3 from St Martin-in-the-Fields in October 2023. They will further their exploration of contemporary music with the premiere of a new work for string quartet by Oliver Leith in summer 2025. Education work remains a core interest to the group, having worked with students at the Royal College of Music in London, Chethams School of Music in Manchester, the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama and the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, as Hans Keller fellows for 2020-2022. 2024 sees the beginning of a new partnership with the Frost Trust as Visiting Quartet at Sheffields Music in the Round. The quartets debut recording explored music by Haydn and Mendelssohn and was described by The Strad as an album that instantly leaps out of the stereo at you as something special. In Spring 2023 they released the first CD in a complete cycle of Mendelssohns string quartets with Linn Records. The album, featuring both the 1823 and Op. 44 No. 3 quartets, has been described as top-notch (Allmusic) and exquisite (Pizzicato).

This summer, RHS Garden Wisley’s Old Laboratory will host On The Hedge, a striking new photographic exhibition, curated by architectural photographer Gareth Gardner, that delves into our relationship with hedges and topiary. From their role in shaping our landscapes and homes to their environmental benefits, the exhibition offers a fresh perspective on these often-overlooked natural boundaries. More details can be found on the website. Included in normal garden admission.

Upcoming Sessions: · 25th March – Caernarvon Castle - Watercolour · 8th April – Petworth Park, Tillington Church in the Distance - Oil pastels · 29th April – Helvoetsluys: The ‘City of Utrecht 64’ Going to Sea - Soft pastels · 13th May – The Great Falls of the Reichenbach - Oil paint on canvas · 27th May – Peacock - Gouache and coloured pencils · 10th June – Isleworth (The Alcove) - Charcoal · 24th June – Peace: Burial at Sea - Oil paint on canvas · 9th July – Richmond Hill and Bridge - Soft pastels · 15th July – The Refectory at Kirkstall Abbey - Watercolour · 12th August – Study of Pigs - Watercolour and gouache on blue paper · 26th August – Venice: San Giorgio Maggiore – Early Morning - Soft pastels on blue paper · 9th September – Richmond Terrace - Oil paint on canvas · 23rd September – Study of Two Swans - White gouache and watercolour on coloured paper · 7th October – Pope’s Villa During its Dilapidation - Soft pastels · 21st October – Scarlet Sunset - Watercolour on blue paper What can we learn from the works of J.M.W. Turner, and how can his artistic journey inspire our own creativity today? As part of the Turner 250 celebrations, join art historian Catherine Parry-Wingfield and Learning Manager Rita Piglionica in the inspiring setting of Turner’s House for a unique, artist-led experience. Explore Turner’s approach to light, landscape, and storytelling, and discover how his legacy continues to shape contemporary art. Each session begins with an engaging talk, followed by hands-on experimentation with a variety of art materials. Whether you are new to painting or an experienced artist, this is a rare opportunity to connect with Turner’s work in a meaningful and creative way. Spaces are limited—advance booking is essential.

The Surrey Police Band annual proms concert, presenting a varied programme of music with a flag-waving finale. In aid of the Chief Constables charity. Door open 30 minutes prior to the performance Free Parking & licensed bar A range of soft drinks, tea coffee and homemade cakes will be available in the interval Tickets: 10.00 adults, 5.00 under 16s, free under 5s