Today's Lucky Dip into What's On Richmond has netted a newt!

Oops, we misread that. It's netted a NEW Thing to do with your family: take them to the wonderful Foxglove Covert outside Richmond. They can learn about the plants and animals in this Local Nature Reserve, go sweep netting, do woodland crafts and try their luck at pond dipping (which doesn't absolutely have to be mucky - but isn't that half the fun of it?)

Foxglove Covert's Family Discovery Day runs 10:00 - 15:00 on Wednesday 9 August. Learn more and book your places at foxglovecovert.org.uk. 

Who knows - you may find a newt...

If you're a cricket-lover visiting Richmond on Sunday 30 July, or someone who just likes sitting outdoors with a cool pint, drowsing to the sound of leather on willow, then you're in for a treat.

The visiting team is St Annes CC, from Lancashire; so a sort of War of the Roses is on the cards. Richmond CC will aim to thrash St Annes for a place in the semifinals of the ECB National Club Cup - and the juicy prospect of a final at Lords...

Richmond is fortunate to have a beautiful cricket ground right in the centre of town. A large crowd is expected. The match begins at 13:00.

Yorkshire Day! The day when England's largest and most modest county celebrates the fact that it has the bluest skies, the greenest pastures, the whitest yows, the peculiarest Old Peculier, the silliest silly-mid-ons, the tastiest pudding, the flattest caps, the most rascally Fat Rascals and the canniest whippets. The day when they break out the bunting in Wetwang and Booze, in Crackpot and Potto, in Giggleswick and Bedlam and Ugglebarnby - and also in Richmond!

We're here to remind you that there's a Yorkshire Day Artisan Market on Yorkshire Day, in Richmond Market Place, from 10:00 to 15:00. The market will focus on goods made in Yorkshire: hand-crafted arts and arty crafts; cakes and ale and street foods and much, much more.

As well as the market, there will be special Yorkshire Day activities for all the family, and of course all Richmond's usual attractions: the Castle, the Georgian Theatre Royal, the museums, The Station, the independent shops and the many walks in and around the town. Yorkshire Day in Richmond - you can't get much more Yorkshire than that.

By the way, did we mention that Yorkshire would have finished 7th at the London Olympics if it had been a country? And did you know - [Redacted]

Welcome back to Handlebards theatre company. On Saturday 5 August, they'll be giving a hilarious performance of Shakespeare's ever-fresh comedy in the gardens of Kiplin Hall. Could there be a better way to spend a summer evening?

​Four young lovers, lost in a magical forest, collide with a group of amateur actors rehearsing a play. Humans and fairies mingle in a glorious farce. 

Bring a chair. Bring a blanket. Bring a picnic, and go the full Glyndbourne! Tickets from £0 (U10) to £12.50 (U18) to £19.50, and worth every penny.

Details and tickets here. 

Don't miss the colourful Artisan Market on Sunday 16 July. It takes place in the town's old cobbled Market Place from 10:00 to 15:00, with dozens of colourful stalls displaying and selling the very best in Yorkshire's crafts and food. 

It's a great chance to buy a gift or treat yourself: a piece of art to brighten your room, maybe? or some local produce for your kitchen cupboards? There's something for everyone! And if you're peckish, try out the street food vendors, with hot and cold snacks for a late breakfast, or lunch on the go.

You can easily spend an hour browsing, sniffing and tasting. Afterwards, drop in at Richmond Information Centre in the town's Victorian Market Hall, to hoover up some leaflets, or maps, or advice. Then enjoy a ramble round Richmond's historic town centre and Castle Walk, or pootle down to The Station for coffee and cake, and a stroll round the famous Easby Loop. There's so much to do!

Cool!

An elegant jazz lounge will pop up at the Station Cafe-Bar. Enjoy a laid-back evening of summer jazz and cocktails, at 19:30 on Friday 21 July.

​The Good Vibes Trio and vocalist will perform smooth jazz music from the Great American Songbook. Tickets are £25 pp for a delicious two-course meal. Drinks are extra.

Call 01748 825967 or email [email protected] to reserve your places.

This week's Lucky Dip comes from What's On Richmond, your source for everything hip (or hep) in Richmond.

Tickets for the 2023 Richmond Walking and Book Festival ('Books and Boots') are on sale.

This year the popular Festival runs 15-24 September. That is generally (don't sue us!) a wonderful 'Indian Summer' time of year - warm but not too hot, and with plenty of dry, sunny days in which to enjoy the Yorkshire Dales.

27 guided walks are on offer, from modest strolls around Richmond's medieval lanes to high-level, day-long yomps around Swaledale, Wensleydale, Teesdale and further afield. Related events include a visit to Britain's only maker of walking boots, and an introduction to navigation for anyone who hasn't come to grips with those fancy new-fangled paper map thingies...

The walks are complemented by 21 talks and presentations on new fiction, travel, exploration and the environment. Related events include a book-binding workshop, an open-mic poetry evening, and a How to get Published session.

Many visitors come for a few days or a week, to enjoy both aspects of the Festival. Take a look at the programme here - booksandboots.org/Programme/Whole-Programme -  and come on in. The hills are lovely!

You can find real-life ripping yarns at the Green Howards Museum, all the way through to Christmas!

This week's dip into What's On Richmond has pulled out a special exhibition just a few yards from our front door. Great Escapes explores a rich history of daring feats, escape and evasion, the kindness of strangers, personal sacrifice, split-second decision making, fighting retreats and real-life survival by the skin of the teeth.

Entry to Great Escapes is included with the standard admission charges for the Green Howards Museum. Escape from the humdrum! Discover a world of amazing adventure! Monday - Saturday, 10:00 - 16:00.