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FOYER, COFFEE SHOP AND GALLERY EVENTS
Museum Gallery Talks
Wednesday 17th March 2010 2pm - 3pm
Space Weather – a new natural hazard for the 21st century
Speaker: Dr Mike Hapgood, Space Science & Technology Department , Rutherford Appleton Laboratory
Free but space limited. Advance reservation strongly recommended. Telephone the museum reception desk: 01235 771447
As human society becomes more dependent on high technology, we face a new threat from Mother Nature. Many modern technologies are vulnerable to the effects of what scientists now term “space weather” – the ever-varying levels of radiation and magnetic fields in space. Like ordinary weather, space weather exhibits long periods of calm conditions which pose few problems, but occasionally there are large storms that can disrupt human activities and damage the infrastructures on which society depends - both those in space and many on the surface of the Earth. This talk will discuss the nature and history of space weather and how it has become a hazard to human society, especially over the past forty years. It will show that extreme space weather events are very rare, but also potentially very damaging. They must now be considered a major threat alongside other extremes of nature such as floods, tsunamis, hurricanes and other dangerous events.
Wednesday 24th March 2010 2pm - 3pm
The History of the Folding Bicycle : 1870 - Today
Speaker: Tony Hadland
Wednesday 31st March 2010 2pm - 3pm
Ice Spectacle & Wildlife of Patagonia and Antarctica
Speaker: Amanda King, photographer
Evening Talks organised by the Friends of the Vale & Downland Museum
Tuesday 27th April 7pm for 7.30pm
Tickets: £4 including tea/ coffee and biscuits
'Anglo Saxon Herbs in Cookery & Medicine - Then and Now'
An illustrated talk
Speaker: Herb Historian and Medical Herbalist, Christina Stapley B.Sc. (Phyt). MCPP
Christina Stapley has grown, studied and used herbs for almost forty years. She takes historical herb workshops at several museums, including the Weald and Downland Open Air Museum in West Sussex and the Chiltern Museum, Bucks. These cover the uses of herbs over the past 2000 years. Christina lectures extensively to groups and societies as well as museums, including the London Museum of Pharmacy.
She has written 3 books on cultivating and using herbs and edited a book of 17th century household recipes. She appeared on Autumnwatch last year talking briefly about Downland herbs and making a historical recipe from nettle seeds. Christina has a herbal Practice in Wiltshire and grows some 200 herbs in her garden there.
Advanced booking recommended. Tickets available at the museum reception desk.
Museum Coffee Shop Book Group
Friday March 12th 1.45pm - 3.15pm
This month's book for discussion: ' Sky Burial' by Xinran
Are you free on a Friday afternoon? Do you enjoy reading and chatting about what you’ve read? Do you like meeting new people? If so, then why not try out our new monthly Friday afternoon book group? It meets on the 2nd Friday of the month. For more information or to reserve your place, ask for details at the reception desk. You don’t have to attend every month. Just come along when you can and tell us that you intend to be there. There’s no charge for taking part but we hope that you will buy a tea/ coffee etc from the coffee shop – and read the book before the meeting!
Knit, Knot & Natter!
Friday March 19th 1.45pm - 3.30pm
Are you free on a Friday afternoon? Do you enjoy knitting or crochet? Do you like meeting new people? If so, then why not try out our new monthly drop-in knitting and crochet session? For more information or to reserve your place, ask for details at the reception desk. There’s no charge for taking part but we hope that you will buy a tea/ coffee etc from the coffee shop – and remember to bring your yarn!
Mid-Week Wednesday Roast noon - 2pm Museum Coffee shop
Drop into the museum coffee shop for lunch on Wednesdays and enjoy a 2 course special (roast dinner and a dessert) for £6.95. Ring and reserve your table. Tel: 01235 771447
Wantage Health Walks
Thursdays 10am
For effective but gentle exercise in good company, join the Wantage Health Walks Group that leaves the Museum at 10am every Thursday to explore the lanes of Wantage, returning for coffee at about 11am. No need to book. Just turn up.
Country Market
Fridays 9.30am - 10.45am
Drop into this friendly Friday morning market to shop for home-produced bread and cakes, chutneys, jams, plants, cards and more.
Wantage and Grove District Arts Guild
2nd Saturdays in the Month 10.30am – 12.30pm
A friendly drop-in session for anyone who wants to find out more about the local arts’ scene or share ideas and information about fund-raising, venues etc.
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