Water is our planet’s most precious resource.

The architect and designer Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown, born in 1716, is credited with formulating the iconic English landscape garden. Even today, his rolling lawns, scattered with tree clumps and ornamented with glittering lakes, continue to define our perception of rural Britain. As a result, his hundreds of landscapes have eclipsed the study of eighteenth-century garden history almost entirely.

In this morning session you will be guided through some classic poems from Andrew Marvell and John Clare to more contemporary poets of flowers and gardens. You will be encouraged to share your own thoughts through writing a poem or two – even if you have never tried it before.  There will be both written and reading exercises. By the end of the session, you will have encountered some of the key forms of poetry and been inspired to begin or develop your own poems.

In this two-part course you will begin to develop your own technique working with watercolour paint. Structured around a restricted palette of five colours we will explore the opportunity of watercolour in depicting the landscape of the Cambridge University Botanic Garden. Led by professional artist and award winning painter John Wiltshire, you will extend your knowledge and experience of the technique with creative and exploratory practical exercises and learn how to apply these approaches in creating your own paintings.

The first online session introduces learners to soil formation and how to cultivate soil to promote its health. Learners will gain an understanding of the science of soils and the variety of life within it. Most importantly you will learn that soil is the foundation of all successful growing and that how we assess, cultivate and care for our soil ensures a healthy and productive garden.

This online course introduces learners to soil formation and how to cultivate soil to promote its health. Learners will gain an understanding of the science of soils and the variety of life within it. Most importantly you will learn that soil is the foundation of all successful growing and that how we assess, cultivate and care for our soil ensures a healthy and productive garden.

Come along to this exciting 2-day workshop with a pile of plain fabrics or T-shirts etc and leave with colourful prints inspired by autumn in the Botanic Garden.  Our starting point will be to look at the wonderful leaf shapes, seed pods, berries and late-season flowers.  Emphasis will be on the experimental, developing your own designs, using paper screen masks, and mixing colour to create your own unique fabrics.  This is a great introductory session for anyone new to screen printing as well as for students who would like to develop existing printing skills.

Drawing from our rich holdings of paintings, drawings, prints, ceramics and sculpture, ‘Women: makers and muses’ is the first display in an on-going series highlighting work by women throughout the history of art and from across the globe.

A series of films made in response to the display in which curators offer further thoughts on featured artworks will be followed by a Q&A with Jane Munro and Rebecca Birrell.

Join Rebecca Roberts, Curator of Gold of the Great Steppe, for a spotlight talk in the exhibition, introducing key themes and highlight objects.

Join Fitzwilliam Museum Curator, Helen Ritchie, for a brief introduction (approx. 30 minutes) to Magdalene Odundo in Cambridge. Curated by ceramic artist Magdalene Odundo DBE, this display marks 50 years since Odundo moved from Kenya to Cambridge to study at Cambridge School of Art and brings together a selection of global collections from Cambridge collections with examples of her own unmistakeable work.

Please note these spotlight talks will take place at the Museum. Booking is free but necessary.