Event details on Near Here are aggregated from third-party sources and may change. Always verify times, location, availability, and any price directly with the organiser before travelling. See Terms.

While you're in the area...

Talks & Lectures

Talk: The Private Lives of Butterflies by Peter Smith

Are there Camberwell Beauty in Camberwell? And why is the Red Admiral so named? Did you know that some butterflies can be carnivorous — even cannibalistic? That some wage chemical warfare? Join us as we explore the secret lives of the UK’s 59 resident butterfly species, along with our regular migratory visitors. Discover the surprising behaviours, remarkable survival strategies and fascinating histories behind these familiar yet mysterious insects — and learn why almost half of Britain’s butterflies are now under threat. Peter Smith is a beekeeper and amateur entomologist with many years’ experience studying and observing the insects and pollinators of the UK. Through his work he has developed a deep interest in the remarkable behaviours, histories and challenges facing our native species. Peter’s fully illustrated talks are designed to entertain as well as inform and are aimed at everyone with an interest in the natural world. Location: The Abercorn Room at Painshill Painshill reserves the right to amend or change event details. Organised in aid of Painshill Park Trust Limited, registered charity in England and Wales (284944). We rely on fundraising to preserve and maintain Painshill for future generations so your support is very important to us.

Fri 26 Jun11:30The Grotto Inn

via The Grotto Inn

Arts & CultureWorkshops & Classes

Poetry Writing Workshop: Nature Poetry - Summer

Join our Poet in Residence Nia Broomhall to use the beautiful surroundings of Painshill as inspiration for your own poems that explore your relationship with the natural world and the seasons. No previous writing experience necessary. Bring writing materials if you wish, but some will be provided. The workshop includes a walk outside in the landscape, please wear suitable clothing and footwear. Participants must be over 16 years. About Nia Nia Broomhall is originally from Somerset but now lives in Farnham and has just completed a Masters degree in Creative Writing with Lancaster University. A teacher for 22 years, she is currently Co-Head of English at a comprehensive school in Surrey. She was Highly Commended in the Winchester Poetry Prize in 2022 and 2023 and has been published in several poetry magazines and anthologies. She has been coming to Painshill since her teenagers were babies; it is very much her happy place. She is delighted to be working with Painshill as Poet in Residence for 2024. Painshill reserves the right to amend or change event details. Organised in aid of Painshill Park Trust Limited, registered charity in England and Wales (284944). We rely on fundraising to preserve and maintain Painshill for future generations so your support is very important to us.

Tue 30 Jun11:30The Grotto Inn

via The Grotto Inn

Talks & Lectures

Talk: The Line of Beauty by Grace Evans

The Line of Beauty: Fashions of the 18th Century with Grace Evans, Keeper of Costume, Chertsey Museum. The nationally significant Olive Matthews Collection at Chertsey Museum comprises over 6,000 items of British fashionable dress and accessories. It is particularly renowned for its outstanding 18th century holdings, which rival those of much larger institutions. These beautifully preserved examples of men’s, women’s and children’s dress provide a remarkable insight into the elegance and craftsmanship of the period. Using high-quality images from the Matthews Collection, Grace Evans will explore the refined silhouettes, intricate detailing and eye-catching styles that defined fashion in the 1700s. Grace Evans is a Curator, Lecturer and Author, and currently holds the post of Keeper of Costume at Chertsey Museum. Having curated the Olive Matthews Collection of dress and textiles since 2001, she has developed a broad and detailed understanding of this nationally significant group of items. She interprets the collection through exhibitions, talks and publications, both online and in print form. Her publications include the paper ‘Marriage a la mode, An 18th Century Wedding Ensemble from the Olive Matthews Collection, Chertsey Museum’ for the Costume Society journal. She has also published the following books: Fashion in Focus, Treasures from the Olive Matthews Collection and Titanic Style, Dress and Fashion on the Voyage.

Fri 10 Jul11:30The Grotto Inn

via The Grotto Inn

Talks & Lectures

Talk: Reviving the Medlar by Jane Steward

What do you know about the medlar? This engaging talk begins by exploring the audience’s awareness of this once-fashionable fruit before delving into its fascinating story. Discover the medlar’s original homeland, how it may have arrived in Britain, and the evidence of its early cultivation here. Once prized and widely grown, the medlar later fell out of favour — but why? The session examines its rich horticultural history, ornamental merits and the growing movement to restore it to its rightful place in our gardens and orchards. At Painshill, medlar trees can be found growing outside of the Kitchen Garden, offering visitors the chance to see these characterful trees within the wider landscape setting — a reminder of their historical presence in British gardens. Learn how to grow medlars successfully, including their form, seasonality and surprising resilience to pests and diseases. The intriguing process of harvesting and “bletting” will be explained, along with ideas for making the most of medlars in the kitchen. There will be fruit to taste, along with medlar jelly and chutney. Jane Steward is the founder of Eastgate Larder, a specialist business dedicated to reviving the overlooked medlar fruit, Mespilus germanica. Based in north Norfolk, she cares for a large medlar orchard that holds the UK’s Plant Heritage National Collection of medlar trees and hand-makes medlar preserves, including jelly and chutney, which are sold around the UK.

Fri 2 Oct11:30The Grotto Inn

via The Grotto Inn

Arts & CultureWorkshops & Classes

Poetry Writing Workshop: Nature Poetry - Autumn

Tue 13 Oct11:30The Grotto Inn

via The Grotto Inn

Talks & Lectures

Talk: Magical Mushrooms & Fabulous Fungi by Peter Smith

Whether you’re a mycophobe (mushroom hater) or a mycophile (mushroom lover), step into the “Wood Wide Web” — carefully avoiding the fairy rings — to glimpse the extraordinary world beneath our feet. Discover some of the mushrooms you can find around Painshill, learn the crucial difference between Agaricus campestris and Amanita phalloides (it’s important!), and explore why we wouldn’t be here at all without fungi — and how these remarkable organisms might even help us save the planet. Peter Smith is a beekeeper, all-round insect enthusiast and writer who gives fully illustrated talks on a range of subjects, all sharing a common focus on the pollinators and plants of the UK. His talks are designed to entertain as well as inform and are aimed at everyone with an interest in the natural world. Location: The Abercorn Room at Painshill Painshill reserves the right to amend or change event details. Organised in aid of Painshill Park Trust Limited, registered charity in England and Wales (284944). We rely on fundraising to preserve and maintain Painshill for future generations so your support is very important to us.

Fri 23 Oct11:30The Grotto Inn

via The Grotto Inn

Event details on Near Here are aggregated from third-party sources and may change. Always verify times, location, availability, and any price directly with the organiser before travelling. See Terms.