Hay Festival 2014

A celebration of art and poetry. The poets read work that responds to the characteristic wild wallpapers and menacing chandeliers of Rhys James’ new touring exhibition of paintings.

Agronomist Jonathon Harrington and vet Barney Sampson lead a walk to Charlie and David Blandford’s farm alongside the River Wye, producing top quality lamb and potatoes, among other foods. Our visit includes a farm walk of up to a mile followed by demonstrations of sheepdog working, sheep shearing and wool spinning. Please bring suitable footwear and clothing. Also see events 135, 182, 230, 322

Tour led by Maria Carreras of the Friends of Hay Castle.

Heart-breaking, uplifting and full of adventure, The Long Ride Home is the long-awaited sequel to the international bestseller The Horse Boy.

Rowan came back from the shamans in Mongolia a changed boy. The three most debilitating effects of his autism - his incontinence, his endless tantruming, and his inability to make friends - were gone.But a year almost to the day since Rowan's improvement he started regressing: the accidents and tantrums reappeared, terrifying his father Rupert. Something had to be done.Father and son embarked on a new quest, journeying from the bushmen of Namibia to the coastal rainforests of Queensland, Australia and finally to the Navajo reservations of the American southwest, where Rowan was transformed - they had begun the Long Ride Home.

In the early 1880s the Mahdi unleashed a spectacularly successful jihadist uprising against Egyptian colonial rule in the Sudan. Major General Charles Gordon was despatched to evacuate Khartoum and turn the Sudan over to self-rule. The mission backfired and Sir Garnet Wolseley was sent to relieve him…

The earth’s oceans and atmosphere have been intimately linked since they were formed, with one compartment helping to sustain life in the other. Now, changes in climate are perturbing the natural exchanges and threaten life in both. The oceanographer examines the scientific understanding of chemical exchanges between the sea and air that impact on the Earth’s heat balance and underpin future projections of climate change.

Polio: a nightmare that terrified 1950s America almost as much as the atom bomb. Williams tells its story, from ancient Egypt to the iron lung and the cut-throat race to develop a vaccine. Today, we are on the brink of exterminating polio – but is this a battle we can ever win?

The younger generation often gets a bad rap and yet around a third of young people volunteer regularly. What does society need to do to make use of its greatest asset – its youth – to inspire the next generation of community activists? Charlotte Hill (Step Up To Serve), Justin Davis-Smith (NCVO) and Chloe Donovan (Chair of the Canal and River Trust's youth advisory panel) discuss with Caroline Killeavy from the Canal and River Trust.

FREE BUT TICKETED

Tour led by Maria Carreras of the Friends of Hay Castle.

Personal Impact Workshop
LifeSkills created with Barclays are running a series of fun, developmental workshops to help you move effectively from school into the world of work.

Activity 1: Workplace behaviour
Helps students understand that the right way to behave at work may be different to what is appropriate at school or with their peers. Duration 30 minutes

Activity 2: Communications and body language
Helps students understand how to effectively communicate using their body language and tone of voice. Duration 30 minutes

11–19 years

FREE BUT TICKETED

Sarah Ridley and Rebecca Stevens were both inspired by real stories in their families, including letters sent home from soldiers away at war. Find out how their research inspired their books, Dear Jelly and Valentine Joe.

8+ years

The zoologist, Really Wild Show presenter and award-winning writer combines heart-stopping adventure stories with real-life conservation projects in an entertaining and informative session for all the family.
8+ years

Join The Phoenix comic artist Karen Rubins for her comic-creation sessions! As the scribbler of all things creepy and spooky, Karen will guide you through a world of comic monsters. Learn some top comic-creating tips while she helps you to draw your own ghosts, mythical beasts and of course…some pie!

7+ years

LifeSkills created with Barclays are running a series of fun, developmental workshops to help you move effectively from school into the world of work.

Activity 1: What is networking?
Helps students understand that the majority of jobs are not advertised and introduces networking as a way to find out about ‘hidden jobs’. Duration 20 minutes

Activity 2: How do I network?
Helps students practise simple face to face networking through finding out about others and ensuring they listen, speak and remember information. Duration 25 minutes

11–19 years

FREE BUT TICKETED

Join The Phoenix comic artist Karen Rubins for her comic-creation sessions! As the scribbler of all things creepy and spooky, Karen will guide you through a world of comic monsters. Learn some top comic-creating tips while she helps you to draw your own ghosts, mythical beasts and of course…some pie!

7+ years