COFFEE MORNINGS

THE Lancaster Canal Trust invites you to a coffee morning at Natland Village Hall, Natland, tomorrow (Saturday). There will be a variety of stalls and displays and a raffle. The admission price of £1 includes coffee and biscuits.

EXHIBITIONS

EXPERIENCE some fine natural photography at an exhibition entitled Ancient Woodland and Venerable Trees at the Lake District Visitor Centre, Brockhole, tomorrow (Saturday). The much-praised exhibition has been produced by the Hexham Photography Group, supported by Northern Arts and the Woodland Trust, and will run until November 2. For more information call 015394-46601.

SCALE the heights of the world’s highest mountains at a series of lectures and films entitled In Wild Places, which begins at Rheged, Penrith, tomorrow (Saturday). The programme will feature talks from outdoor adventurers and wilderness photographers to name but a few and one of the highlights will be a personal account of the first Trans-Antarctic expedition from team members Hal Lister and George Lowe, tomorrow (Saturday). For more details call 01768-860005.

THE National Coal Mining Museum for England at Wakefield will host Thomas Hair’s Watercolours of the Great Northern Coalfield, a touring exhibition from the University of Newcastle’s Hatton Gallery from tomorrow (Saturday). Hair is famous for his depictions of the social and industrial history of the North-East of England in the 19th century and the exhibition also has an educational element as it covers certain elements of the National Curriculum. For more information call 01924-844588.

Striking simplicity abounds at the Green Door Studio Artists exhibition at Grasmere Village Hall until October 18. The exhibition is open from 10am to 5pm daily and admission costs £1. For further information, contact 01539-721147.

SPORT

LONGTON, near Stoke, is the next port of call for Kendal Rugby Union Club in National League North 3 tomorrow (Saturday) at 3pm. Closer to home, Windermere entertain North Lancs/Cumbria League leaders Upper Eden, while Kirkby Lonsdale welcome Workington (3pm kick-offs).

Kendal Town FC have two away fixtures this week at Hyde (tomorrow) and Witton Albion (Monday). n The Great Cumbrian Run, a half-marathon, will bring floods of runners to Carlisle on Sunday (11.30am).

The Lakes Two-Day Motor Cycle Trial - a national off-road test of man and two-wheeled machine - goes ahead this weekend and starts from the Auction Mart at Broughton-in-Furness (9.30am tomorrow).

THEATRE

EXPERIENCE The Nutcracker, a magical and enchanting fairy tale brought to life by European Ballet, one of the most popular and highly praised touring ballet companies. Under the direction of Stanislav Tchassov, former Principal dancer of The Bolshoi Ballet, this exciting and dynamic company of international dancers, has endeared itself to audiences and critics all over Europe. Set to Tchaikovsky’s glorious score, enhanced by more than 45 hand-crafted costumes, the ballet is ideal for audiences of all ages. The Nutcracker will be appearing at the Coronation Hall tomorrow (Saturday) at 3pm and 7.30pm. For tickets call 01229-587140.

HERON Theatre will be performing Pass the Port, an affectionate and humorous portrait of the golden age of sea travel from the inimitable Noel Coward. The show promises a witty and nostalgic musical journey from Shanghai to Southampton in the 1930s in the company of a cast of eccentric passengers and crew. Pass the Port plays for two nights, tomorrow (Saturday) and Sunday. For tickets, call 015395-64283.

WALKS

EXPLORE the beautiful RSPB Nature Reserve at Leighton Moss on a Winter Warmer walk on Wednesday. An expert warden will be on hand to help you find the elusive bittern and then it’s back to the tearoom for a hearty bowl of soup. Meet at the reserve at 10.30am. For more details call 01524-701601

TAKE a journey into Lancaster’s dark and sinister past on a torchlit Old Calendar Michaelmas Walk today (Friday). Your guides will be Mr Pilling Dick and Dr Socrates Gripenerve, dressed in authentic Georgian costume, who will be touring the murky corners of the city in search of witchcraft and the dark arts. The walk will finish with a fun quiz at the Three Mariners Inn. Meet at the John O’Gaunt Gateway, Lancaster Castle, at 7pm. For more information call 01524-382849.

WALK your way to a healthier lifestyle on a short 1.5 mile walk along the River Kent on Thursday. The walk is part of the Walking Your Way to Health initiative, a scheme that aims to improve the fitness of people who find it hard to exercise through a programme of short walks led by trained leaders. Meet at the Market Place at 2pm. For more information call 01539-790109.