What’s On
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July
Sense and Sensibility
Friday 04th July 7.00pm
Join us in the beautiful gardens of Clare Cottage for an evening of open-air theatre, as the critically acclaimed Pantaloons return to Helpston with their hilarious and fast-paced take on Jane Austen’s Sense & Sensibility.
Expect live music, audience interaction, romance, heartbreak, and plenty of laughs in this joyful adaptation that’s suitable for all ages.
Enjoy a summer evening of Austen under the open sky. Bring a picnic and something to sit on.
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July
An evening of Music and Song
Friday 11th July 7.00pm
Join us for a relaxed evening of traditional folk music at Clare Cottage! Hosted by itinerant folk musicians Mark, Mike and friends, it’s an evening to enjoy together - whether you want to join in, sing along, or simply tap your feet. Free entry, open bar, all warmly welcome.
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July
John Clare Festival
Friday 11th July - Saturday 12th July
Various venuesA weekend of talks, events and activities celebrating John Clare. A once yearly event on the weekend closest to Clare’s birthday. Organised by our close partner the John Clare Society.
John Clare Cottage will operate extended opening hours on Friday 11th and Saturday 12th July, opening both days from 10.30 - 4.30 to accommodate increased visitor numbers over the festival weekend.
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July
Walk and Talk
Saturday 12th July 2025 9.30am
Join qualified counsellor, Jenna Louise on a 5km Talk & Walk around Maxey Lakes, followed by tea and cake at the John Clare Cafe. Encompassing the benefits of nature, human connection and walking, it’s a chance to meet like-minded people, as well as a safe space to talk and listen.
Spaces are limited – see website to book:
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July
Beauvale Ensemble
Saturday 12th July 12.00 - 2.00 pm
Join us in the gardens of John Clare Cottage to hear the Beauvale Ensemble, a talented group of recorder players performing music inspired by the natural world. Blending historic and contemporary folk melodies with original compositions, their performance echoes the birdsong, breezes and quiet wonder found in Clare's poetry.
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July
With Nature in Mind
Sunday 27th July - 10.30-4.00 pm
A relaxed day to reconnect with ourselves, others and the natural world with Claire Thompson, Author of Mindfulness and the Natural World. Explore how mindful attention to nature can restore a deeper sense of presence and connection in our lives.
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August
Wilding Your Health – Tea Making / Herbal Plant Collection
Sunday 3rd August, 10.00am – 1.00pm
Join medical herbalist Hannah Sylvester for a calming and sensory half-day workshop exploring the healing power of wild plants. The session begins with a herb walk around the Clare Cottage garden and surrounding countryside, identifying local medicinal plants. We’ll harvest what we find, enjoy a herbal tea break using foraged ingredients, and finish with a meditative, sensory tasting. No prior experience needed—just curiosity and a willingness to slow down.
£40 per person plus booking fee | Limited to 16 places
Please email info@thedistrictherbalist.co.uk to book your place.
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August
Writing for Wellbeing
Sunday 10th August 2025 - 10.00am - 5.00pm
Indulge yourself in a one-day creative writing retreat exploring the question:
If I were to connect with my innate wisdom so that I could live my life at its most well and happy, what would I write and why?
Led by Karen Packwood, founder of Spirit Spa Writing Sanctuary, this retreat offers a space for reflection, creativity, and connection.
Whether your passion is poetry, prose, journalling – or you have no writing experience at all – allow yourself to indulge in a series of gently guided self-empowerment writing meditations that will help you to connect with your heartfelt desires so that you can identify your next natural steps towards living - and writing - a joyful and flourishing life.
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August
Hamlet
Sun 24 August - 5:00 PM - 7:30 PM
Join the acclaimed Pantaloons Theatre Company for a lively, family-friendly performance of Shakespeare’s Hamlet, set in the beautiful gardens of Clare Cottage.
In this fast-paced and anarchic retelling of the classic tragedy, Hamlet must grapple with the shocking truth: his uncle has murdered his father, taken the throne of Denmark, and married his mother.Expect live music, audience interaction, and Shakespeare as you’ve never seen him before — abridged, energetic, and full of fun for the whole family.
Bring a picnic, something to sit on, and enjoy an unforgettable evening of outdoor theatre at John Clare Cottage.