It’s the start of 17 days of art, music, discussion, stories - and fun. Some events are already fully booked but here’s a reminder of the events under WildCookham’s Our Common Earth theme where there is still (just!) time to book tickets:

Tomorrow (Saturday), 1.30pm: Simon Mole is a poet, author and performer, with an interactive ‘bugs and beasts’ session for children.
Tuesday 5th May, 2.30pm: An interview with a member of British writing nobility, Adam Nicolson, one of the most respected English non-fiction authors of our day, bringing together history, culture and our natural environment.
Thursday 7th May, 6pm: The art of Clarence Bicknell, a noted Victorian flower artist
Friday 8th May 1.30 and 3pm: The Cookham Commons, Rob Castell’s specially commissioned cantata performed by our local schools and celebrating the 19th century fight to save Cookham’s common land.
Monday 11th May, 6pm: Learn how to listen to our gardens with Waltham Place gardener Andre Tranquilini.
Monday 11th May, 7.30pm: Keith Parry tells the real story of the fight to save trhe Cookham Commons.
Tuesday 12th May, 6pm: Hear the Cookham Chronicles, a live performance of words and music briging back the haunting world of Cookham’s Anglo-Saxon Abbey.
Wednesday 13th May, 2.30pm: The story of Maud Grieve and her use of herbs to heal wounded soldiers in the First World War, before the days of penicillin.

And (12th to 14th May) visit, for free, the art created by Pippa Shire, celebrating the nature of Widbrook Common using the earliest photographic cyanoprint techniques.

The full festival programme is here with an exceptional mix of events and plenty of opportunities to join in Cookham’s biggest community event. See you there.