Alpines are sometimes thought of as fussy plants that are difficult to grow well, but the truth is these ‘brave’ plants cope brilliantly with extreme conditions; you just need to understand the growing conditions they are used to.  Join Simon Wallis, senior horticulturist here at the Garden, for a myth busting introduction to growing alpine plants. With Simon as your guide there will also be the chance to see the beautiful and diverse collection of alpine plants we cultivate and care for here at the Garden.

Essential oils extracted from plants are a rich source of medicinal compounds which are harnessed in aromatherapy.  This course will introduce aromatherapy and essential oils, look at some of the commonly used oils and explore the plants they come from. We’ll see how the oils are extracted and what they contain and consider their different modes of use – internally, on the skin and by inhalation.  How to stay safe when using essential oils and how you can ensure that you’re getting the oil you expect will be explained.

During this one day class Jemma will guide you through getting started on the embroidery, by first tracing the pattern and securing the hoop. She will then take you through threading a needle, securing your thread and show you how to create the embroidery stitches. Depending on your experience and speed of stitching, you will be able to complete two or three of the allotment blocks. You will then have the knowledge to continue to follow the instructions and finish the embroidery project in your own time.

Learn how to tackle weeds in your garden in the most time efficient and productive way. Attendees will be introduced to some common garden weeds, their life cycle, method of spreading, and the best approach to dealing with them. The workshop will cover different tools and techniques, as well as many useful tips including how to pick the best day for weeding.

Join us for a live online talk and Q&A with Prof Rebecca Kilner FRS, Director of the Museum of Zoology, Cambridge. Hear about her fascinating research into animal behaviour, and how recent work on the parental behaviour of burying beetles is changing our understanding of evolution. Ask your questions and find out more about the Museum, its collections, and how they are being harnessed for research and engagement.

Libraries and museums across the world are filled with the remnants of the Greek and Roman past: objects, manuscripts, literary works, papyri, inscriptions… not to mention copious amounts of ink spilt on understanding them. But access to this classical past has not always been equal – and, in fact, a classical education was historically the preserve of the rich. So who owns the past?

Few figures have exercised as much fascination in Western history as Julian the ‘Apostate’, the last Roman emperor to believe in the Greek gods. Hated in the Middle Ages, loved by the Enlightenment, he continues to feature in contemporary fiction from Erik Ibsen and Gore Vidal to Julian Barnes’ Elizabeth Finch (2022). But who was Julian? What drove his resistance against the final and perhaps most radical of the transformations of Roman power, its Christianisation?

The Cambridge Festival is open for booking, with a mixture of online, on-demand and in-person events covering all aspects of the world-leading research happening at Cambridge.

For 2023 the Festival includes a special fifth theme - Power.

From panel discussions, film premieres, and self-guided walking tours, to interactive activities for the whole family, discover a breadth events on the Festival website. 

Find events under the theme of power

Ever wondered how women supported polar expeditions before they were allowed to travel to the poles themselves? Join the Polar Museum and a team of student costume designers who have recreated one of the most eccentric and beloved items in the museum's collection: Dorothy Irving Bell's polar-themed party costume. Learn about a woman whose self-proclaimed mission in life was to imbue the young with a love of polar exploration and try on the replica costume for yourself!

Part of the Cambridge Festival Student Creatives project.