TIGER IN THE PARK!

Tatton Park never fails to come up with an amazing selection of events for all the family.

Mother's Day Afternoon Tea, 19th March Treat Mum at the Gardener’s Cottage tea room. 12.30pm or 2.30pm. £29.95. Call 01625 374469 to book.

Enchanting Easter Chocolate Trails, 7th-10th April e Tiger Who Came to Tea is in the Mansion and Gardens over Easter weekend! Join

In the Welsh version, Y Teigr a Ddaeth i De, Sophie is called Catrin in with some magical adventures, meet farmyard chicks and newborn lambs, complete fun trails for a chocolate reward, and have your photo taken with that thirsty Tiger! www.tattonpark.org.uk

Pop-up Easter Market, 7th-10th April Discover artisan food producers, local artwork and beautiful homeware at the Stableyard. Children can enjoy a ride on the Victorian carousel. 10am-5pm.

Awash With Colour

Historic narrowboats and barges from across the country will be travelling to the National Waterways Museum in Ellesmere Port for the annual Easter Boat Gathering. From 7th-10th April the museum comes alive with music and fun family activities. Entrance is free with an annual pass or £9.75 (under-16s £6, under-5s free). canalrivertrust.org.uk

A Need For Speed

Tactile Treasures

•23rd April, Spark Sessions, The Black Cat Co ee House, Sandbach The Spark is a monthly session where anyone can come along and vent/ discuss that frustrating creative blockage. The aim is to inspire each other, untangle our creativity and network with like-minded individuals. 1pm. Free, donations welcome.

•29th April, Opening White Party, Cheshire Polo Club, Tarporley Celebrate the start of the polo season in style, dressed in your finest white attire. 7pm. £65.

is year’s Intelligent Money British GT Championship blasts into life at Oulton Park from 7th-10th April, with incredible cars from Lamborghini, Mercedes-AMG, Porsche, McLaren, Bentley and Aston Martin competing in two one-hour sprint-style races. Young F1 hopefuls in the GB3 Championship will also begin their season, and more single-seater action will come from the GB4 Championship. O track, there are special Easter activities, plus supercar display areas. Weekend tickets £35 / £21 (under-13s free). www.oultonpark.co.uk

Cheshire-based art group Textiles in the Park presents a collection of contemporary ne art textiles work at Nantwich Museum from 15th March. ‘Collected’ showcases a variety of techniques and fabrics and runs until 13th May. Open Tues-Sat 10.30am4.30pm, entry is free. nantwichmuseum.org.uk

Meet the Master

Flower arrangers have a rare opportunity to watch world-famous oral designer Gregor Lersch at work at Reaseheath College, Nantwich on 3rd April. Gregor is a Master of Master Florists and one of the most inspirational oral artists in the world. His ideas will leave you buzzing! 7pm, tickets £25. reaseheath.ac.uk/gregorlersch-demonstration

WHAT’S ON IN BRIEF

2ND-29TH APRIL

•2nd April, Spring Plant Hunters’ Fair, Ness Botanic Gardens A wonderful line-up of top nurseries o ering a tremendous variety of plants –little gems to tempt the most discerning plantsperson, and lots of help and advice for the new or less experienced gardener. 10am-4pm. £1.

IT’S ALL HAPPENING AT HESWALL!

Red Hot Chili Peppers UK, 10th March ese four funksters are passionate about recreating the live experience of their heroes in a way that puts the music rst. 8pm. Tickets £22.

e Comedy Club, 17th March Grab a drink from Blind Pig, fabulous street food from Boysenberry and enjoy a hilarious night out. 8pm. Tickets £15.

e Police Force & Changing Man, 31st March A brilliant double-bill of ’80s tributes to Sting and Paul Weller. 8pm. Tickets £20.

•5th April, Network She

Netwalking, Eastham Country Park Combine networking, outdoor exercise and laughter in one event! Walking while talking benefits mental wellbeing, focus and ideas generation – and it’s good all round to get to know new people. 10am. Free.

•6th April, St Saviour’s Parish Church, Oxton All are welcome for Eucharist with choral music, followed by Vigil of Prayer until midnight Compline. 7.30pm. Free.

Gin ’n’ giggles

Tappers Distillery plays host to some of the North’s nest stand-up in the Gallery Bar on 17th March. A menu of small plates is available throughout the evening, alongside drinks from Tappers award-winning range of spirits, draught beers, wines and cocktails. Starts 8pm (doors 7pm), tickets £25 at www.tappersgin.com

The beer’s here!

•21st April, Open Mic Night, The Irby Club With Nikhil plus Blackbeard & Co. You can play or just listen to others. 7pm. Free.

•29th April, Yawnfest, Future Yard, Birkenhead

Wirral legend

Bill RyderJones presents an all-day celebration of the wonderful sonic world of Yawn Studios in West Kirby, curated and headlined by the man himself. From 3pm. £25.

Take your pick from over 200 beers including 80 real ales and 80 craft beers at Wirral Easter Beer Festival, returning to Hulme Hall, Port Sunlight on 6th-9th April. ere’s continental lagers, ciders and a gin bar too, plus entertainment throughout (except for Friday afternoon, which is kept as a quiet session). Food is available from local stallholders and the venue. Tickets from £4, via eventbrite.co.uk

Did

YOU KNOW?

Wuthering Heights is still Kate Bush’s most popular song

Celestial Events, 15th April A local crafts fair organised by Greasby-based Jo McCawley and Wai San Lett. 10am. Free entry.

Moments of Pleasure, 22nd April is ve-piece Kate Bush tribute band features the amazing vocals of Lisa-Marie Walters, considered by many as the next best thing to Kate herself. 8pm. Tickets £20. www.heswallhall.co.uk

The face of 2023

is spring the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam opens its doors on the largest Vermeer exhibition in history – and you can see it too, at the Light Cinema in New Brighton! Showing here from 18th-24th April, the major retrospective includes masterpieces such as Girl with a Pearl Earring, e Geographer, e Milkmaid, e Little Street and Woman Holding a Balance. Tickets are £13.95 (child £11.45). www.newbrighton.thelight.co.uk

Captured in thread

An exciting new commission by Michael Brennand-Wood will be unveiled at the Williamson Art Gallery and Museum as part of an exhibition by the internationally renowned textile artist. ‘ e Encirclement of Space’, at the Birkenhead venue until 18th March, charts the in uence of lace on the artist’s work, much of which is of a very large scale and in a range of media: paper, fabric, metal, mosaic, wood, slate, wax and resin. Entry is free. www.williamsonartgallery.org

Pavilion Of Dreams

Made in Italy, 11th March Join Strictly Come Dancing champion Giovanni Pernice on a journey to his homeland. With stunning choreography and beautiful costumes. 7.30pm. Tickets from £38.

An Evening with Aggers and Tu ers, 22nd March An entertaining, no-holds-barred show, where you can tweet your cricket heroes your own questions! 7.30pm. £30.

Showaddywaddy, 7th April Celebrating the band’s 50th anniversary, this dynamic show features all

There’s magic in the air

It’s exactly 100 years since Cicely Mary Barker’s Flower Fairies of the Spring rst charmed readers with its joyful illustrations and nature poems. At Lady Lever Art Gallery from 15th April, you can see around 45 of Barker’s original illustrations, plus digital projections and costumes inspired by the fairies, designed by Vin Burnham. Free, donations encouraged. liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/lady-lever-art-gallery

Alice’s adventures

Panto’s de nitely not just for Christmas! Join Alice as she wanders Wonderland and meets a host of wacky characters straight out of the classic storybook. With pop songs, puppets and magic illusions, you’ll laugh out loud as she meets the Mad Hatter in the wildest tea party ever. Can you help rescue the White Rabbit from the Queen of Hearts? Running from 14th-16th April, tickets are £14 from www. gladstonetheatre.org.uk

DID YOU KNOW?

Tim’s a huge Elvis fan, he has a photo of The King in every room at home their greatest hits, so come and join the dancin’ party… You got what it takes! 7.30pm. £28. e Little Mermaid: An Underwater Musical Adventure! 14th April Join Ariel, her father and Ursula the sea witch in this brand-new singing and dancing adaptation. 2pm. Tickets £16.50.

Tim Vine: BREEEEP! 22nd April is brand-new stand-up show o ers a mountain of nonsense, daft one-liners, joyful songs and wobbly props. 7.30pm. Tickets £29. www. oralpavilion.com

Relative values

Don’t miss Carlton Little eatre’s production of e Memory of Water, at the Birkenhead venue from 14th-18th March. In Shelagh Stephenson’s black comedy, three sisters meet on the eve of their mother’s funeral – and the strains of family relationships are revealed. Tickets £10. www.carlton littletheatre.co.uk

Tea and tales

WHAT’S ON IN BRIEF 1ST-25TH MARCH

•1st & 15th March, 5th & 19th April, Trad Jazz at The Irby Club, 15 Thingwall Road, Irby Live Dixieland/Chicago-style jazz from The Original Panama Jazz Band plus occasional guest musicians, every 1st and 3rd Wednesday. Suitable for teens upwards, licensed lounge. 8pm. Free, non-members welcome.

•3rd March, Gourmet Tasting Evening, Inglewood Manor, Ledsham

Enjoy a sixcourse taster menu expertly put together by executive head chef Alex Innes, carefully paired with five Joseph Perrier Champagnes. 7pm. £89.95.

Various dates, Prenton Park, Birkenhead Tranmere Rovers has launched a new esports venue in the Recreation Centre, kitted with state-of-the-art gaming PCs and ergonomic chairs. Book a session, or book a desk and bring your own device. Mon-Fri 4-9pm, Sat 1-9pm. Prices vary.

•19th March, Antiques Fair, Hulme Hall

Browse, buy, collect! Many stalls, eclectic choice. 9.30am. Entry free.

Built in 1891, the stunning Grade II listed Hillbark Hotel & Spa in Royden Park has the most interesting background, and is linked to two of the region’s most in uential families, who helped put Wirral on the map. Discover its history ‘At Home’ on 17th April, and enjoy morning tea or co ee with homemade pastries, a guided tour and award-winning afternoon tea. Tickets £49. www.hillbarkhotel.co.uk

•25th March & 22nd April, Hoylake Artisan Market, The Ship Inn, Hoylake Showcasing carefully crafted handmade gifts, original art and the tastiest of food, this pop-up market is dog and family friendly. Discover homeware, handmade fashion, freshly baked bread, sweet and savoury treats, children’s wear, contemporary knits, fused glass, woodcrafts and much more at this quirky coastal destination. 11am-4pm. Free.

•25th March & 22nd April, Wellness Afternoon, Monks Cottage Sanctuary, Birkenhead Relax with EFT (tapping), somatic therapy and hypnotherapy in this gorgeous Wirral venue. 11am-3pm. £77.

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WHAT’S ON IN BRIEF

•1st-5th March, Oswestry Youth Music Festival

This year’s festival is the biggest yet, held over five days in three venues: Chapel Street at Christ Church, Hermon Arts Centre and the Methodist Church. It’s a true celebration of youth music. Programme to be announced.

Fun fun fun!

•2nd March, Cheese & Wine Night, Ludlow Kitchen Enjoy hand-picked wines and cheeses, selected by the talented wine merchant and dairy team at Ludlow Farmshop. Tickets for this informal event are £25, or £80 for four. Booking essential.

A massive foam party, dinosaur invasion, stunt team, circus, theatre and animal man are just a few of the excitements on offer at Camp Severn Kids Festival, returning to the West Mids Showground on 28th April – 1st May. This mega-fun family event offers a festival experience aimed at children, with all activities included in the ticket price, and optional camping. Full festival pass £73 (£78 child, under-4s free), day tickets £15 (child £19.50, family discounts). www.kids-events.co.uk

•4th March, Shropshire Wildlife Trust Spring Fair, The Cut Visitor Centre, Shrewsbury

This spring fair o ers a chance to find unique gifts and is also a specialist binocular sales event. Bird spotting and gardening advice is also on o er. 10.30am3.30pm. Free entry.

•6th March, An Evening with Katherine May, Bookabookshop, Oswestry Enjoy an evening with the international bestselling author of Wintering, as she talks about her new book Enchantment. 7.30pm. Tickets £17 including a signed copy, £7 without.

Sing your heart out on 3rd March when Shaun Williamson – aka Barry from EastEnders – brings Barrioke to the Buttermarket in Shrewsbury. Shaun hosts with his trademark warmth and banter, joining in on stage for those ultimate Insta moments. The resident DJs will warm up the crowd before Barrioke begins at 8pm. Over-18s only. Tickets from £14. www.thebuttermarket.co.uk

DID YOU KNOW?

It’s Festi Fun Sunday at Camp Severn on 30th. Full programme online!

Sailing with soul

Celebrate the sound of a generation on 10th March with a Motown Magic themed evening cruise along the River Severn aboard the Sabrina. Get your ’60s glad rags on and dance the night away on this three-hour trip. e tunes continue after mooring, and guests are welcome to keep the party going until midnight. Over-18s only. Tickets £19. www.sabrinaboat.co.uk

Nobel Prize comes to Shropshire

•10th March, Jay Adkins –Mind Magician, Hermon Arts Centre, Oswestry Mentalist and illusionist Jay uses psychology, showmanship, hypnosis, suggestion and comedy to get even the most sceptical to question themselves. 7.30pm. £10 online, £12 on the door.

In celebration of British Science Week, Blists Hill Victorian Town plays host to the 1904 Nobel Prize of Sir William Ramsay, on display outside London for the very first time. On 10th & 11th March, practical science demonstrations will focus on Ramsay’s world-changing discoveries, which shaped the world we live in and marked a major moment in the history of science. Standard entry applies. See www.ironbridge.org.uk