BOOK THIS…

Monty Lit Fest 2023 on 9th-11th June showcases top literary talent in historic Montgomery, with a poetry-themed art exhibition, music and street food vans too. www.montylitfest.com e Fureys, 19th May One of Ireland’s most acclaimed and in uential middle-of-the-road folk bands. Share with Eddie and George tunes from their amazing 45-year journey. 7.30pm. Tickets £23.

Jive Talkin’, 20th May e original and best Bee Gees tribute band delivers a powerhouse performance charged with emotion. 7.30pm. Tickets £22.50.

Natural choice

Lay the foundations of your own wildlife garden on this exciting experience day in the CAT Gardens, near Machynlleth. Gardening for 20th May will be full of advice and activities for helping wildlife thrive at home. £65 (child £30) including lunch and refreshments. www.cat.org.uk

Rewild your dad!

Spend the day in the woods with your dad learning bushcraft for Father’s Day on 18th June. You’ll be lighting res using int and tinder, building your own shelter, cooking camp re snacks, and learning about plants and their uses. From 11am at Denmark Farm Conservation Centre, Lampeter. £60 www. denmarkfarm.org.uk

WHAT’S ON IN BRIEF 14TH-29TH MAY

14th May, Montgomery Canal Walk, Abermule A guided wildlife walk organised by Montgomeryshire Wildlife Trust as part of the Canals, Communities and Wellbeing project. Discover why this waterway is such a haven for nature. 10am-1pm. Free.

•27th May, Arts & Crafts Fair, Llanfyllin’s Workhouse Wales’ leading Arts & Crafts Fair in the heart of Mid Wales o ers a varied selection of hand-made wares, together with artisan foods and drinks. 10am. Free entry. Cars £3.

•27th May, Sabrina Walk 2023, Cambrian Mountain Events, Llanidloes Heading out of Llanidloes, following Glyndwr’s Way national trail, this long-distance challenge is 40km (25 miles) and NOT for the inexperienced! 7am. Registration £50 (under18s and seniors £30). Minimum sponsorship £274.

May 27th & June 24th, Investigations, Mountain Experience, Llywernog, Aberystwyth

A ghost hunt like no other… This Victorian mine is reputedly one of the most haunted in the country! 8pm-2am. Over-15s only. £35.

•27th-29th May, Steam Gala, Fairbourne Railway, Mawddach Estuary For over 100 years this line has run from Fairbourne village to the mouth of the Mawddach Estuary, connecting with Barmouth ferry. Timetable online. Tickets from £8.25.

WHAT’S ON IN BRIEF

What’s at Wyeside

Justin Moorhouse: Stretch & ink Tour, 20th May Justin is back: still funny yet middle-aged, with a brand new show. And he’s got a new suit! 8pm. Over-14s only. Tickets £15.

•28th-29th May, Ceredigion Garden & Craft Festival, Alban Square Field, Aberaeron

Organised by Ceredigion & District Growers’ Association, there’ll be stalls selling plants, craft and food, together with children’s entertainment. 10am. Free entry

•28th-29th May, Steam Days, Internal Fire Museum of Power, Tanygroes For those who love the power of steam and the e ciency of the internal combustion engine, it’s the largest collection of working engines in Wales powered by steam generated on site. 10.30am. £10 (under12s £4, student and family rates available).

•29th May, Llanbister Annual Village Show, Trawscoed

Traditional show stalls and a host of fun attractions including classic and agricultural vehicle displays, speed shearing, a car treasure hunt, show jumping and carriage driving, arts & crafts and children’s activities.

•1st-5th June, Fire in the Mountain, nr Aberystwyth

Rooted on an ancient farm nestled between the Cambrian mountains and Cardigan Bay, this small and much-loved festival is dedicated to exploring and promoting the world’s folk music – ancient, timeless and been passed down through generations. Campsites open at noon on 1st, music starts 8pm, all other activities start the next morning. Ticket prices vary according to what you can a ord.

Taking Stock: A Century of Farming Stories, 23rd May A talk exploring how farms and farmers have been represented in the past, present and imagined future. 11.30am. Tickets £5.

Breabach, 6th June Among Scotland’s most imaginative folk acts, Breabach unite deep roots in Highlands & Islands tradition with the innovative

EARLY BIRDS…

ferment of their Glasgow base. 7.30pm. Tickets £16.

DID YOU KNOW?

The longest opera is Wagner’s Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg at 4.5 hours!

e Royal Opera House: Il Trovatore live screening, 18th June Adele omas’s energetic staging sets Verdi’s tale in a Bosch-inspired universe of medieval superstition. 2pm (running time 205 mins inc. one interval). Tickets £17. www.wyeside.co.uk

All out

Newtown Outdoor Festival on 2nd-4th June will be packed with fun activities. Cycle, paddle, run, picnic, walk with alpacas, sh, paint, garden – there’s something for everyone! Plus a ceilidh on Saturday with riproaring music by Ffonic. www. newtownoutdoorfestival.uk

RSPB Ynys-hir Reserve near Machynlleth is o ering two great experiences on 6th May. Enjoy a guided walk from woodland to reedbed as dawn breaks and visitors such as pied ycatchers, willow warblers and redstarts join the chorus with blackbirds, cha nches and blue tits. Meet at 6am, return by 8am, tickets £10.50. Too early? e 10.30am option will bring you close to the dragon y nymphs, water scorpions and great diving beetles that live in the pools and Ynys-hir. Price from £8.50. Book in advance at www.events.rspb.org.uk

Women’s Day at Talyllyn County culture

Way to go!

Fancy walking across Wales? Trek from Wales’ historic capital Machynlleth toward the border at Montgomery, following a mix of public rights of way, country lanes, the fantastic Glyndwr’s Way and the Montgomery Canal.

e Across Wales Walk on 24th June is arranged by Newtown, Machynlleth and Llanidloes Rotary Clubs to raise funds for charity, with ve distance options from six to 46 miles. Details at www. rotaryacrosswaleswalk.org e whole railway and all the services in the Lilac timetable will be operated exclusively by women on 13th May, when Talyllyn celebrates the contribution made by its women volunteers to running the railway since 1951. Tickets £25 (child £12.50, under-6s free). Private rst-class seats available. See talyllyn.co.uk e Aberystwyth and Ceredigion County Show on 10th June is one of the biggest one-day shows in Mid Wales, with over 1,700 livestock and poultry plus vintage farm machinery, speed shearing, a gundog demo and children’s area. Stay for the evening concert from Dafydd Iwan, Bryn Fôn and others. Tickets £10 (14-18s £5, under-14s free). www. sioeaberystwythshow.co.uk,