Liverpool Shared Reading charity The Reader has announced a joyful new season for this spring 2025.
Brand new events announced for Calderstones Park include a Jane Austen Day, St Patrick’s Day Ceilidh, Easter Family Tea Party and children’s World Book Day Ball.
Kara Orford, Associate Director of Programme Delivery at The Reader, said: “Grab your bonnets and regency dresses as Austenmania is set to take over the UK this year. Here at The Reader we are lucky enough to have the Director of Jane Austen’s House Lizzie Dunford celebrating the author’s 250th anniversary with us in style on Sunday 27 April as part of our new spring season.
“There’s plenty more to get excited about including the Barnsley-born poet and novelist Andrew McMilllan on his new book Pity, and a celebration of Judith Kerr’s 1970s classic children’s story Mog the Forgetful Cat, as well Mother’s Day and Easter events for all the family.”
2025 is the 250th anniversary of Jane Austen’s birth whose astounding popularity shows no sign of decreasing with statues, real-life balls, films, books, stage adaptations, and new TV dramas inspired by her to mark the occasion, including new exhibition Austenmania at Jane Austen’s House from 22 January 2025.
LITERARY AND WELLBEING
The Reader is hosting a Jane Austen Day at the beautiful Grade II Listed Mansion House to celebrate Britain’s best-loved author’s anniversary on Sunday 27 April, 10.30am-4.30pm.
Events will be run in collaboration with Lizzie Dunford, Director of Jane’s Austen House, Hampshire, where all six of the author’s major novels were written and published.
They include:
- A Shared Reading of Pride and Prejudice Shared Reading in smaller groups,
- A delicious Austen-themed lunch taking inspiration from the Dinner with Jane Austen recipe book by Pen Vogler
- A talk from the Jane Austen House Director, Lizzie Dunford, on The Many Walks of Lizzy Bennet and Her Sisters. In this illustrated talk, Lizzie Dunford, Director of Jane Austen House, will take guests along the footpaths of Hertfordshire, Kent and Derbyshire to explore the politics and meaning behind walking for the author’s characters, Jane Austen herself and her contemporaries. From muddy petticoats to Romantic heroines, the talk will reveal the wildness of Austen and what her connection to the natural world can teach us today.
- Time to pick up pen and parchment, we’re writing a letter ‘to Jane’. In this reflective activity the importance of letter writing to Austen will be acknowledged and a chance to celebrate this dying art form.
Other literary events include a visit by award-winning author and poet, Andrew McMillan (Physical, Pandemonium) to The Reader Bookshop on Thursday 13 March for an evening In Conversation to discuss his debut 2024 novel Pity about two middle aged brothers, male identity and sexuality in a Yorkshire pit town.
The Reader’s founder, Dr Jane Davis will be leading a Masterclass: Six Poems, on Sunday 9 March, an opportunity to delve deeper into a work of literature and connect with other book lovers. Ticket includes Soup (VE), Tea and Coffee.
Three Wellbeing Workshops will be running this season. The first will be celebrating Springtime Poetry on Saturday 29 March, 1pm-3.30pm, looking at the work of writers including Gerard Manley Hopkins, Li Young Lee, Carol Ann Duffy and many more.
The second will centre on Shakespeare’s Sonnets on Saturday 19 April, 1pm-3.30-pm. The Bard composed 154 sonnets between 1593 and 1601, bursting with beautiful imagery and timeless insights about love, life, and human nature. In this session, the group will explore a small, curated list of the sonnets, as well as some contemporary poetry inspired by Shakespeare’s works.
A third Wellbeing Workshop will be inspired by Welsh poet RS Thomas on Saturday 31 May, 1pm-3.30pm. Recognised as one of the leading poets of his country, Thomas writes about the people of his country in a style that some critics have compared to the nation’s harsh and rugged terrain.
For each workshop the afternoon will begin with a relaxed Shared Reading Session led by an experienced practitioner before taking a walk to take in the beauty of Calderstones Park at this time of year.
The group will then return to the Mansion House to enjoy a warming drink and The Reader will provide everything needed to build a personal own poetry collection to take home – the perfect gift for a loved one or a treat for yourself when a moment of inspiration and calm is needed. Tickets include unlimited tea and coffee.
FOODIE/SOCIAL
March kicks off with a ‘craic’. Following the success of The Reader’s Burns Night celebrations, traditional Liverpudlian Cèilidh band The Saltcutters will be returning to the Mansion House for a St Patrick’s Cèilidh on Monday 17 March, 7pm-11pm.
A hearty Irish stew is included with each ticket to fuel an evening of dancing, poetry and merriment, and the beautiful bar will be open throughout. For those who fancy a breather from the fast and furious fray of the Cèilidh, there will also the option to browse selections of the work of Irish poets in our cosy Reading Rooms.
Spoil your mum on Sunday 30 March with a Mother’s Day Lunch – a roast dinner with all the trimmings and dessert – set against the spring blooms in Calderstones Park and a soundtrack of live music.
A second Reader Social will be happening on Sunday 23 March, 2pm-6pm. Join the charity for a fundraising get together raising money to fund Shared Reading in the community, grazing platters, a quiz and raffle. Tickets include a welcome drink, grazing board and dessert.
Pop up a deckchair or lay out a picnic blanket in the Mansion House garden at one of The Reader’s Garden Parties for a laid-back afternoon of food, music and crafts. Browse the Library on the Lawn – a handpicked selection of books for adults and children to explore, and enjoy live entertainment and activities for all the family.
The BBQ will be sizzling, the bar serving summer favourites, and the Ice Cream trike will be rolling up. The Reader is a charity – expect free entry, donations welcome and no booking required.
CHILDREN & FAMILIES
One of the big highlights for little people this spring is The Reader’s very first World Book Day Ball on Thursday 6 March, 5pm-6.30pm.
Calling all Matilda’s, Gruffalos, Hungry Caterpillars and Harry Potters! The Storyhunters will be throwing a party for their favourite day of the year which will be it is the perfect chance for children to show off their costumes, play games, have a bookish boogie and get crafting.
The Reader Bookshop will also be staying open until 7pm and fully stocked with all the best choices for children and young adults to spend their brand-new World Book Day tokens. Perfect for four to nine -year-olds but younger siblings welcome too.
There will be some cracking events taking place over Easter including Easter at the Storybarn activity sessions from Monday 14 April to Sunday 20 April. There will be games, storytelling and adorable Easter crafts for children to take home.
Hop into the Easter Holiday with a little help from The Reader’s Storyhunter pals and some tasty treats. An Easter Family Tea Party on Friday 18 April at 11am and 2.30pm, is the perfect way to celebrate the Easter break with your little ones. After this special Springtime outdoor afternoon tea The Storybarn team will lead games, crafts and the silliest of activities outside on the lawn.
A celebration of Judith Kerr’s iconic 1970 children’s book, Mog the Forgetful Cat, in collaboration with publishers Harper Collins, will take place on various dates between Sunday 24 May – Sunday 1 June. In these 90-minute sessions for four to nine-year-olds there will be stories, games and catty crafts to take home. Younger siblings are welcome too.
The Storybarn team runs a May Half Term Holiday Club and Spring Half Term Holiday Club for five to 10-year-olds with a difference – every day Storyhunters and children head out into the gorgeous Calderstones Park, dive into the realm of storytelling in the magical Storybarn, play games and much more. Each ticket purchased helps support The Reader’s charitable work with children and young people across the UK.
GARDENING
Estuary Botanics are back to help get would-be gardeners prepped for spring and summer in three workshops starting with Pruning Plants Made Easy on Saturday 8 March, 10am-3pm. In this workshop they will demystify the art and science of pruning. Discover how, why and when plants are pruned, and when its best to leave them be. Learn how to safely and effectively shape a shrub, train a fruit tree, or promote vibrant fresh growth.
It will be followed by Planting Summer Containers on Saturday 5 April, 10am-3pm. Learn how to design and plant a vibrant, long lasting container display. The workshop will cover all the basics including container choice, composts, plant selection, design layout and maintenance methods to create successful and sustainable planters. Step by step, they will work to help budding gardeners in the group create their own stunning potted display to take home.
Plant Propagation on Saturday 3 May 2025, 10am-3pm, is set to be a hands-on plant propagation workshop. Learn techniques in seed sowing, taking cuttings, and dividing perennials to create new plants for free. Whether a beginner or seasoned gardener, this workshop will help propagate with confidence. They will take home their own propagated plants and watch them flourish.
In addition, a new six-week Wildlife course with Estuary Botanics, on Thursdays from 12 June will teach anyone interested in gardens how to transform their plot into a wildlife haven. They will cover how to attract, protect and provide for wildlife. Whether people are looking for the best spot for a bird box, creating a pond, or planting a nectar-rich flowerbed, this course will help them craft a beautiful, sustainable garden where both you and nature can thrive.
No gardening experience is necessary for these courses, all materials are provided and anyone who attends is advised to dress for all weathers.
About Estuary Botanics
Andy Lambie has more than 15 years’ experience at institutes such as the Welsh College of Horticulture and Ness Botanic Gardens. Nif Wilkinson specializes in botany, horticulture and conservation and currently serves as a botany tutor for the Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland (BSBI).
For the spring season book tickets here.
