THINGS TO DO IN MAY 5

Enjoy a Behind the Scenes tour at Iford Gardens with Head Gardener Steve Lannin. The romantic design and architecture of this Grade I listed garden combines formality with nature and magnificent rural views across an unspoilt valley. The tour includes the main garden and the private walled garden. All day garden entry and a cup of tea or coffee are included in the price. (The visit includes steep, uneven terrain and steps.) Behind the Scenes tour with Steve Lannin, 3 May, 10am–11.15am, £28.There’s another garden tour with owner William Cartwright-Hignett on 11 May at 10am. ifordmanor.co.uk

The Wells Comedy Festival brings a ‘weekend-long comedy jamboree’ (The Guardian) for the bank holiday weekend of 26–28 May. Shows include Jamali Maddix, Rosie Jones and Britain’s Got Talent finalist Nabil Abdulrashid, along with Rhys James, Mark Watson, Paul Foot, Spencer Jones, Jordan Brookes, Celya AB and Thanyia Moore. Others appearing within the line up are Lou Sanders, Phil Wang, Tim Key and John Robins. Tickets from £9. All shows on sale at wellscomfest.com

A new sculpture by British wildlife sculptor Hamish Mackie for the new Dyson Cancer Centre at the Royal United Hospital will be installed on 5 May. Entitled Swifts and representing a pair of swifts in flight, the sculpture will form part of the inpatient courtyard in the new centre. The larger than life sculpture has been cast into bronze and mounted on a limestone plinth where it will form a focal point for the open air first floor courtyard. The artwork has funded through a kind donation from a local individual and supporter of the Trust’s charity RUHX. ruh.nhs.uk

London-based Diva Opera are bringing their performance of L'elisir d'amore by Italian Composer Gaetano Donizetti to the chapel at Monkton Combe School on the evening of 1 June.

The event, organised by Professor Keighley, past governor and former Monktonian, will raise funds for The MASIC Foundation, a charity he founded to support women who have sustained severe lifechanging injuries during childbirth. Complimentary fizz and canapés on arrival and picnic Glyndebourne-style in the grounds of Monkton Combe School. £95 for adults/£50 for under 18s. Search eventbrite.co.uk with ‘L’elisir d’amore’.

The Styled by Design exhibition at David Simon Contemporary, presented by Gray MCA, is one to add to your art calendar. You’ll find rare and limited edition textiles as well as original paintings and works on paper by Modern Masters including Pablo Picasso, Alexander Calder, Henry Moore, Barbara Hepworth, Elizabeth Frink, Patrick Heron and John Piper. The exhibition runs from 19 May –30 June at David Simon Contemporary, 37 High Street, Castle Cary BA7 7AW. davidsimoncontemporary.com