Things to Do in October

To 31st October Photography Competition, Cambridge University Botanic Garden 1 Brookside, Cambridge CB2 1JE

Capture the spirit and beauty of this magical garden. Explore and showcase the garden’s landscape and plant collection which includes endangered plants from all over the world. Free to enter for adults over 18. See www.botanic.cam.ac.uk. for further details.

Saturday 2nd October, 10.00am to 5.00pm Sunday 3rd October, 1.30pm to 4.30pm 21st Ashwell Book Weekend, St Mary’s Church, Ashwell SG7 5LY

Wide selection of books to browse and buy for children and adults, both fiction and non-fiction. Tea, coffee and home-made cakes available. Entrance £1, children under 16 free.

Sunday 3rd October, 2.30pm to 5.00pm Hinxton Watermill Open Day Mill Lane, Hinxton, Cambridgeshire CB10 1RD

See this ancient mill in action, plus riverside walk and “Where’s Ratty?” game for the children. For further information please visit www.cambridgeppf.org.

Tuesday 5th October, 7.00pm Bernadine Evaristo Live in Cambridge West Road Concert Hall, 11 West Road, Cambridge CB3 9DSP

As part of the Cambridge Literary Festival, the Booker Prize winning author talks about her intimate, inspirational new memoir, ‘Manifesto: On Never Giving Up’. This event will be held live for a socially distanced audience. Tickets £10 to £12. To book visit www.cambridgeliteraryfestival.com.

Wednesdays 6th, 13th, 20th, 27th October at 10.00am Royston Health Walks Heath Café, Therfield Heath, Royston, Hertfordshire SG8 9FB

A social walking group with two walks every Wednesday, the 10.00am one over Therfield Heath, 1.5 miles at leisurely pace; second walk starting at 5.00pm is a bit longer and start time will be earlier as days shorten. Email roystonhealthwalks@btinternet.com for details. All welcome.

Saturday, 9th October, 9.00am to 12.00pm (2nd Sat. each month) Guilden Morden Community Market The Three Tuns, 30 High Street, Guilden Morden SG8 0JP

Launched April 2021 with high quality foods, drinks and crafts, plus plants, flowers and children’s clothes. Great place for outdoor shopping with fresh coffee/teas, pastries and bacon butties in the garden of the community-owned pub. See https://www.gmcpltd.com/market.

Saturday 9th October, from 10.00am Ely Apple and Harvest Fayre Palace Green, Ely, Cambridgeshire CB7 4EW

Back for its 21st year and in conjunction with the Cathedral’s Harvest Festival. A celebration of the apple with longest peel competition, fresh produce from local suppliers, apple crumbles and much more. Free. See www.visitely.org.uk/whats-on for further details.

Sunday 17th October, 10.00am to 4.00pm (last entry 3.00pm) Autumn Gardens Chippenham Park, Newmarket, Cambridgeshire CB7 5PT

Open for one day only. Visit these lovely gardens for a blaze of autumn colour - borders formal and informal, woodland walks and lakes. Home made cakes, scones, coffee, tea and BBQ’d sausages from the excellent Potting Shed Café. Entry £5 per adult, children free. NB payment on the gate and in the café by cash only. www.chippenhamparkgardens.info.

Friday 22nd October, 8.00pm Foyer Folk: Brooks Williams Saffron Hall, Audley End, Saffron Walden CB11 4UH

The well-known guitarist, songwriter and singer, born in Georgia but now based in Cambridge performs at one of Saffron Hall’s regular folk evenings. Tickets from £13.50. Visit https://events.saffronhall.com/whats-on.

Saturday 23rd or Sunday 24th October, 8.00pm Ghost Stories II with In Situ Theatre Leper Chapel, Newmarket Road, Cambridge CB5 8JJ

Edge of the seat stuff in the setting of the mysterious Leper Chapel - two ghost stories by H Russell Wakefield and Edith Wharton. Tickets £15 from www.insitutheatre.co.uk or call (01223) 211451. Compiled by John Crawforth