Recipes for success
Women whose lives have been successful in wildly differing ways are just some of the highlights of this year’s Festival.
Among them is Prue Leith, a surprise pop-up visitor last year after fellow cook Sophie Grigson’s Italian-flavoured presentation.
This year Prue is herself a Festival headliner, bringing some welcome advice from her latest book Life’s too Short to Stuff a Mushroom.
Prue will be in conversation with Caroline Waldegrave as the two exchange their kitchen secrets.
Another inspirational speaker is broadcaster, writer and plantswoman Carol Klein who has written her wittily-titled memoir Hortobiography. She tells joyous stories of her journey from artist to teacher to gardener, and explores why our relationship with the natural world is so important.
As well as her many gardening and TV awards, Carol was named Iconic Horticultural Hero by the RHS in 2023.
Women pioneers from the past are the subject of author Midge Gillies latest book Atlantic Furies.
She tells the thrilling tale of six early 20th century female aviators who competed to be the first to fly across the Atlantic Ocean. These trail-blazing women pushed the boundaries to show the world that it wasn’t just men who could conquer the skies.
Before her talk Midge will also be a guest at a Festival Literary Lunch.
Priority booking for Friends opens on Monday 28 July, while main booking opens on Monday 4 August. Friends enjoy a discounted ticket price of £10 (standard £12.50). Lunches cost £12.50 per person.