Expand Your Horizons At The Treasure Houses Of England

Holkham Hall

Try something new and experiment with your imagination at the inspired array of special events and workshops hosted by the magnificent Treasure Houses of England.

Dabble in art, walks, botany and even animal husbandry at the country’s most beautiful and breathtaking castles, palaces and estates for a distinctively different and utterly awe-inspiring day out.
 
Blenheim Palace is offering an amazing opportunity to join their photography courses available on selected dates throughout the year. Exclusive Photography Courses at Blenheim Palace are designed to offer an introduction to photography, and camera training for anyone who wants to get to grips with their Digital SLR, and understand how to make better use of their camera to achieve improved photographs, all within the stunning setting of Blenheim Palace.

Chatsworth hosts its Historic Textiles Tour (26 March & 21 September 9.30am) -
a guided tour of the textiles on display with special behind-the-scenes visits to the textile archives and conservation room. Discover how historic cloth is cared for and gain exclusive access to the house’s vast archive not on public display.

Chatsworth also presents a brilliant hands-on experience with fascinating animal husbandry guide, Keeping Chickens (23 April, 11 June & 10 September, 1-4pm, suitable for 16 years and over); as well as a fabulous Florabundance series comprising ‘Age of Elegance’ floral demonstrations (15 & 16 June) and floral workshops (17 & 18 June) with renowned floral designer Jonathan Moseley.

A series of exclusive private views, talks and tours exploring the hidden treasures of Castle Howard with curator Dr Christopher Ridgway are planned for 2013.  Starting the season with the Mausoleum Tour on Saturday 27 April with a visit to the mysterious and imposing building where generations of the Howard family are buried in the vaults beneath the spectacular chapel. The tour involves walking across uneven terrain and lasts between 2 and 2.5 hours, so sensible footwear is required. Numbers are limited and tickets cost £35.00 per person and must be pre-booked.

Harewood’s wonderful workshops include Collections in Focus: Drawing (April – November) comprise of sessions looking at iconic landscape-inspired pieces from the Harewood Collection that follow a different theme and examine various different artists each month.  Learn more about Harewood’s wildlife by joining a Walk and Talk session on the majestic Red Kites (15th June, 17th July, 31st Aug, 30th Oct) or Bats (8th June, 14th Sept) or if you are a budding apiarist, how about a course on Beekeeping (22nd&23rd July, 10th&11th August).  Or explore Harewood’s enchanting medieval past with a spectacularly scenic walk and talk from All Saints’ Church to Harewood Castle (14th April, 12th May, 9th June, 14th July, 15th Sept, 13th Oct).

Presenting their much-anticipated and extraordinary exhibition, Glamour and Gowns: Couture by Belinda Bellville and David Sassoon - Holkham Hall will be hosting a talk by David Sassoon himself (19 April, 7pm) to complement this exciting event that catalogues the couture creations and career of one of fashion’s most fascinating figures.

Woburn Abbey’s Come and Grow events are a must for the green-fingered as they tackle everything from Pruning Evergreen Shrubs (2 & 3 February) to Pruning Cornus (Dogwood) (2 & 3 March), Seed Sowing (6 & 7 April), Pruning Forsythia/Philedelphus (4 & 5 May) and Planting Seasonal Bedding (1 & 2 June) - so get growing and monitor their progress through the changing seasons to literally watch the flowers grow!