CURDRIDGE Amateur Drama Group (CADG) are gearing up for a busy autumn.

The group will be holding a barn dance at The Reading Rooms in Curdridge on September 21. This will be followed later in the season by a reading of Paul Howard Surridge’s latest play “Murder and Marriage”. This 3-act comedy has some dark overtones and involves ‘Art’ Leadbetter who has lived with his adopted mother Florence since he was 5 years old. Continuous disagreement is the order of the day, mostly over her need for order, and his total lack of it, leading to Art planning to inherit all her assets – sooner rather than later.

The read through will be free to attend, with the date for the event still to be announced. CADG has also announced it will be holding a First Aid Course in November, with the date still to be confirmed.

THE Taste of Wickham Festival is fast approaching.

The event will be held on September 15 in Wickham Village Square.

The free festival will feature family entertainment, local produce, street food, handmade crafts and gifts, food demonstrations, history talks, community stalls, craft bars, buskers, dancing and live music.

There will be more than 75 stalls, a children's zone and French zone to celebrate the twin village of Villers-sur-Mer in Normandy. Prizes will be available in the big tombola tumble. Visit the Information Tent on the day to spin the drum.

For more details about the event, visit tasteofwickham.com.

BISHOP'S Waltham Free Church is hosting a table-top sale and coffee morning.

The event, at the church in Basingwell Street, is on Saturday, September 14 from 10am to 12.30pm.

Organisers also welcome walkers/cyclists taking part in the “Ride and Stride” event.

There will be bacon baps, home-made cakes, hot and cold drinks and stalls of all kinds.

More information from Jenny Hallam 0797 352 9415

SWANMORE Amateur Dramatic Society is planning for its November show.

Humpty Dumpty and the Magic Wall, by Limelight Scripts, will be at Swanmore Village Hall on November 28, 29 and 30.

The show will be starting at 7.30pm with a 2pm matinee on Saturday, November 30.

Tickets can be bought by visiting ticketsource.co.uk/swanmoredrama or from the box office by Barnaby's Coffee Shop on Saturdays, 10am-12pm.

BISHOP'S Waltham Gardening Club will welcome Antony Powell to its September meeting to speak about “The Scented Garden”.

Antony has worked with various nurseries including Hilliers, and he is now a freelance horticultural consultant.

The event will be at The Church Hall in Free Street on September 25. As usual, doors are open at 6.45pm, for a 7pm start.

Refreshments are available and there will be a raffle. Entrance is also the same at £2 for visitors but free for club members

Then, in October, there is another highlight of the year, the annual social evening. To be held on Saturday October 26, this will include a two-course meal. This year’s format is a new innovation for the club, being a ‘Gardeners’ Question Time’ with two experts on hand to answer questions, comments or ideas about gardening.

This event will be held at The Jubilee Hall in Little Shore Lane.

Tickets and more details are available via bwgc.org.uk.