What's On and Things To Do Around Braintree

5 years running. With 100 stands and a new venue for 2018 - Chelmsford City Racecourse. There are lots of extra, exciting things happening! An uplifting, enlightening weekend brought to you once again by Life Arts.

Gnomeo and Juliet animated film followed by family disco. Seating inside the 350 yer old barn, with usher to seat service for drinks and snacks on tiered seating on super comfy beanbags / beachchairs and our massive screen After the film the screen rolls-up to reveal the DJ for the afterparty - classic dances...

Grease Film inside the 350 year old barn on tiered seating with lux bean bag option. Usher to-seat drinks and popcorn thru show. Crowd karaoke to get you warmed-up....dressing-up, loud singing and dancing encouraged - followed by Rock’roll afterparty till 01.30am!

Lovely film inside a 350 year old Essex barn on tiered seating with supercomfy bean bag option, drinks brought to your seat thru the film by ushers - followed by a firepit and open gardens under the stars - - with popular classical music DJ until midnight....

The Secret Garden Film (’93) lovely story - this being Coggeshall Open Gardens weekend. Tiered seating inside our 350 year old Essex Barn, followed by games in the gardens....

On this course you will learn to make a copper foiled Heart. Make a patchwork glass heart panel or mirror. You will learn how to cut & prepare glass, copper foiling, soldering and finishing. All the tools and materials required for the course will be supplied.

Join the fabulous Three Inch Fools as they perform one of Shakespeare’s most magical plays in the gorgeous setting of Paycocke’s Garden. Bring a picnic and a chair and let the fairies delight.

Meet our talented and informative spinners as they demonstrate the skills that built Paycocke’s House. Booking Not Needed.

This year Coggeshall’s gardeners invite you to share the magic of "Ponds, Pools and Puddles" when we open our gardens on Sunday, 3rd June from 2:00pm to 6:00pm. Come and explore woodland gardens, riverside gardens, tiny gardens and formal gardens.

Join the fabulous Three Inch Fools as they perform one of Shakespeare’s most famous and influential plays in the dramatic setting of Coggeshall Grange Barn. Bring and chair and a picnic.

17 May: Jim Charlton displays "The Souvenirs of A Lord", the Bernard Braine Collection; 31 May: Two Members Display. Organised by Witham Philatelic Society. Contact for details: Colin Fletcher (Secretary).

An award-winning, medium-sized garden described by one visitor as a ’Little Bit of Heaven. A blaze of colour with roses, clematis, pergola, rose arch, triple fountain with box hedging and deep herbaceous borders. See our ’Folly’, exuberant and cascading hanging baskets...find our Secret Door.

Enjoy an evening of comedy with 5 comedians direct from the London circuit Featuring Gordon Southern

A ’quintessential English Garden’ - Gardeners World. Our quirky 1½ acre garden has surprises round every corner and many interesting sculptures. A natural swimming pool is bordered by romantic flower beds, herb garden and Victorian folly.

Join us as we commemorate ’D’ Day (6th June) and the war years with this 1940’s Tea Dance featuring Vocalist & Band Leader Jeff Short & his Musicians. Featuring music and songs from the 1940’s. Remember Vera Lynn, Glenn Miller, Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra, Andrew Sisters, Doris Day?

Games and free picnic followed by a time of worship suitable for all the family.

ALL welcome to attend. June’s meeting will be our AGM followed by a strawberry tea/coffee and time to chat with others. Come along to the main hall at the United Reformed Church, Kelvedon and join us. Tel: Gwyn Pegram 07875 109472

Charming one-acre country garden surrounding a former farmhouse,with good views over rolling countryside. A former horse pond features a beach with landing stage. Rose garden, wide herbaceous, shrub and woodland borders, hidden walks and opportunities to sit and relax. Alpines, grasses and alliums.

at Colne Engaine village hall at 8 p.m. - doors open at 7 p.m. Tickets are all £9.00 and available from Box Office cedsboxoffice@gmail.

Rookwoods is a tranquil garden. The herbaceous borders feature columns of tumbling roses, Pleached hornbeam rooms lead to a wild flower bed, buttercup meadow and ancient oak wood. There is no need to walk far, you can come and linger over tea, under a dreamy wisteria canopy, while enjoying the garden view.

At 12 noon, the celebrated garden designer, Tom Stuart-Smith will be giving an exclusive talk. Tickets for the talk must be purchased in advance and will support Horatios Garden charity. To book please visit www.horatiosgarden.org.uk/Braxted or ring 01722 326 834.

Four stunning, inspirational and different gardens in the lovely village of Boreham. At Brookfield a rose covered wall and perennial border greets you, a raised bed vegetable garden, perennial island beds and pond with shrub bank. A buttercup meadow, bordered by a camellia and rhododendron woodland walk.

Wormingford, Annual Flower Festival at St Andrew’s Church which takes place over the Spring Bank Holiday weekend, May 26th, 27th and 28th this year. Our subject this year is ‘Up London Town’ celebrating things connected with Londion, which gives our team of flower arrangers lots of scope!

Tucked away in the gentle Essex countryside, the glorious garden at Elwy Lodge offers a welcome that is hard to beat.

Tucked away in the gentle Essex countryside, the glorious garden at Elwy Lodge offers a welcome that is hard to beat.

Romantic C18 walled garden laid out by Lady Anne Spencer, overflowing with blooms following Tom Stuart-Smiths renovation. Huge wisteria, armies of Lord Butler delphiniums (Rab lived at Spencers). Spectacular rose and herbaceous borders. Parkland with many specimen trees including Armada Oaks.

Ladies’ Day by Amanda Whittington June 5th – 9th June 2018 Directed by Christine Davidson Ladies’ Day at Royal Ascot! It conjures images the world over of glamour, culture and sporting excitement, but now four fish packers from Hull have decided they want in on the action.

Beautifully maintained and designed compact garden (250sq yds). Owner is well-known RHS gold medal-winning exhibitor (now retired). Circular lawn, long pergola and walls festooned with roses and climbers. Large selection of unusual clematis.

A surprising acre town garden which is divided into 3 areas. A formal garden with lawn, monkey puzzle tree, flowering borders, fishpond, pergola with wisteria and a large patio. Enter through the rose arbour into a shaded area with a variety of specimen fruit and ornamental trees.

Can you crack the code and solve the crime? Suitable for all ages.

Come along and pick out that perfect Fathers’ Day card and gift from our range of stallholders.

Make your own Fathers’ Day card, badge and fingerprint pictures! Suitable for all ages.

Margaret Gardens, Thaxted, Essex. CM6 2QN In aid of Thaxted Scouts. Open 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. FREE ENTRY. Crafts, plants, etc., etc.,

Margaret Gardens, Thaxted. FREE ENTRY In aid of Thaxted Scouts. Crafts, collectables, plants bric-a-brac etc., etc. 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Morris Weekend Stallholders welcome to apply

Join one of our property team for a walk through Hatfield Forest. Discover the creatures that call this place home. This spring we want everyone to enjoy Hatfield Forest and as a National Nature Reserve and a Site of Special Scientific Interest that includes the wildlife and livestock that live here.

Join one of our knowledgeable walk leaders for an hours walk through Hatfield Forest. Discover its Georgian heart and medieval beginnings. . . Join us for a 45min-1 hour walk around the forest with one of our knowledgeable guides.

Join our countryside team for a closer look at the conservation work going on at Hatfield Forest. Meeting at Elgin’s car park and focusing on the northern coppices, the team will guide you through the vital conservation work that helps keep this special place special.

Explore the forest looking for elves and fairies and make your very own woodland wand. Come and join the learning team and search for magical elves and fairies. Try and find all the secret doors and finish off by making your own woodland wand to take home. Booking Essential. Phone: 0344 2491895.

A unique opportunity to wild camp in a Medieval Royal Hunting Forest. Join an experienced bushcraft expert for a weekend of wild camping in the heart of Hatfield Forest.

A horse ride round the Forest organized by the EBA. A chance to ride in this wonderful ancient forest on wide grassy clearings and tracks between the trees. The shorter 7 mile ride is contained within the forest, the longer 10 mile ride includes some minor roads. Entries limited to 150 riders. Booking Essential.

The fifth edition of the Hoohaah 10K run at Hatfield Forest. One run in a series run by Hoohaah events in support of Addenbrookes Charitable Trust. Booking Essential. Phone: n/a. Refer to Hoohaah website.

Join us for an introduction to photography in the great outdoors. Learn the basics of camera control and composition as well as picking up some pro-tricks from an award winning photographer, Helen Hooker.

To celebrate insect week we will be exploring the fascinating world of butterflies with 2 free workshops. Each session will be a walk through the rides identifying and recording different species.

Have a go at orienteering for all the family. Essex Stragglers Orienteering Society are organising a family-friendly event which is free for the children. You will be given a map and have to find as many controls around the park as you can in 30 minutes.

As part of our celebrations marking 20 years of saving lives across Essex, Hertfordshire and the surrounding areas we would like to invite you to An Evening of Celebration at Chelmsford Cathedral.

Approx. 15 Gardens Open, large and small. Dedham Arts Group holding an arts exhibition in Aldham Church. Light refreshments in The Village Hall from 12.30 p.m. plus teas served in certain gardens, and cake and plant stalls. There will also be a Free Minibus around the Gardens.

History of the Dunmow Flitch (S. & Mrs P. Schorah). Organised by Chelmsford & District Philatelic Society. Contact for details: Allan Boyce (Secretary).

Bach to Baby is the critically acclaimed classical concert series for babies, toddlers and their carers. Tots dance, roam about and revel in the wonder of live music, while you take a moment out of your busy day to hear top notch performances by outstanding musicians, with your young babes in tow.

Display by Witham P.S. Organised by Chelmsford & District Philatelic Society. Contact for details: Allan Boyce (Secretary).

A plantswoman’s ¾ acre garden, planted to encourage wildlife. Sumptuous colour-themed borders with striking plant combinations, featuring specimen plants, fernery, clematis,and grasses. Meandering paths lead to ponds, patio, scree garden and small vegetable garden.