Hay Castle Events

Come and experience the power of biochar—an ancient practice with meaningful impact in sustainable agriculture. In this lively and down-to-earth session, Lottie from Earthly Biochar will share her passion for this fascinating material, which has roots in the Amazon basin where Indigenous communities created rich, fertile soils known as terra preta.

Now, biochar is being rediscovered as a key tool for regenerative farming, helping to restore soil health, retain water, cycle nutrients, and lock carbon away in our soils for the long term.

Through a live demonstration and practical talk, you’ll learn:

• What biochar is and how it works in the soil
• How to make your own biochar with simple, low-emission methods
• Why biochar matters—for plants, compost, climate, and community
• Stories from farms and growers already putting it to use

Whether you're a grower, gardener, composter, or curious about climate solutions, this is an engaging session that brings ancient knowledge into modern hands. Expect sparks (the good kind) and plenty of inspiration.
The kiln demonstration will take place outside so please dress appropriately for whatever weather we have!

Tickets are £16 for waged adults and £12 for unwaged adults or students.

PLEASE DO BUY A TICKET IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO COME AS WE NEED TO GET ENOUGH PEOPLE IN ORDER TO ALLOW THE EVENT TO GO AHEAD

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13 children’s dresses handmade from lifejackets the artist gathered from the Lifejacket Graveyard, Lesvos. Each dress represents 1 of the 13 million child refugees worldwide. Today as a consequence of the war in Ukraine, this number is now 15 million.

The dresses signify the absent body, evoking memory, absence and loss. Dirty, torn, patched together, a mixture of faded oranges, pinks and reds, at first glance they look like any small 3/4 year old dress a young child may wear, your child, my child, any child…

The scales, an ancient symbol of justice, signify the weighing of the body and soul, embodying the difficult question: “What is the differential value of a Western life compared to the value of the life of the refugee, arriving at the border of the Western world?”

The piles of sand at the bottom of each dress represent physical/ real, political/ fictional, and cultural/ symbolic borders and - like sands - are forever shifting and changing over time. Man-made boundaries, including linguistic, economic and social, conspire to create further division.

See the artwork on the 1st floor mezzanine between 3 and 29 September.

There is a performance of music composed by Charlotte Bray on Friday 12 Sep at St Mary's Church as part of Hay Music - Bray, inspired by Burraway’s art installation has responded to the migrant crisis with her very first string quartet. Tickets are available through Hay Music

CLICK HERE FOR TICKETS TO THE CONCERT WITH HAY MUSIC

Clyro-based artist Steph Avery-Reynolds discusses the historical research and creative process for her commemorative Masters project Vivat Matriarchia, part of which, Perihelia, is currently on display at the castle.

The work realises found artefacts from an imagined 17^th century matriarchal society, populated by real overlooked women of history. The central figure is polymath Margaret Cavendish (playwright, scientist, philosopher) but also commemorated are Maria-Clara Eimmart, the first recorded female astronomer, a century before the better-known Caroline Herschel; and Anna and Susanna Lister, illustrators of over 1000 shells and molluscs for their naturalist father’s text Historiae Conchyliorum, expert copper engravers from the ages of 13 and 15 years old.

The talk will be illustrated with their work, as well as the research and process behind the elements created for the project in ceramics, glass engraving, coins, textiles and wallpaper.

Life Drawing is back for the Autumn term - beginning at 11am and finishing at 4pm

The model for this session will be Seren.

This takes place in the Clore Learning Space every other Monday from 11am until 4pm.



Please bring your own materials

The sessions cost £18 for the full day from 11-4pm and £12 for a morning or afternoon session only.
The morning session starts at 11am so please arrive at about 10.45am
The afternoon session starts at 1:45pm so please arrive at least 10 mins beforehand

11 - 12 - Drawing
12 - 12.15 - Break
12.15 - 1.15 - Drawing
1.15 - 1.45 - Lunch
1.45 - 2.45 - Drawing
2.45 - 3pm - Break
3 - 4pm - Drawing

Join us for a relaxed morning walk that weaves through the stunning landscape surrounding Hay-on-Wye—a town steeped in history and perched right on the border between England and Wales. Starting and finishing at Hay Castle, this gentle-paced guided walk takes in riverside footpaths, parts of the famous Offa’s Dyke trail, and the tranquil Dulas Brook, which marks the national border.

We’ll visit the peaceful Cusop Church, the final resting place of Richard Booth—‘The King of Hay’—whose eccentric legacy lives on in a fascinating exhibition inside the castle. After our walk, we’ll return to the castle for tea or coffee and enjoy an exclusive 30-minute ‘Director’s Tour’ led by Castle Director Tom True.

Whether you’re local and want to rediscover the countryside on your doorstep, or a visitor keen to understand Hay’s unique history and setting, this walk is a perfect way to connect with the land, the past, and others.…

Life Drawing is back for the Autumn term - beginning at 11am and finishing at 4pm

The model for this session will be Jessika.

This takes place in the Clore Learning Space every other Monday from 11am until 4pm.



Please bring your own materials

The sessions cost £18 for the full day from 11-4pm and £12 for a morning or afternoon session only.
The morning session starts at 11am so please arrive at about 10.45am
The afternoon session starts at 1:45pm so please arrive at least 10 mins beforehand

11 - 12 - Drawing
12 - 12.15 - Break
12.15 - 1.15 - Drawing
1.15 - 1.45 - Lunch
1.45 - 2.45 - Drawing
2.45 - 3pm - Break
3 - 4pm - Drawing

Join us at Hay Castle on October 1 for a special talk by television producer and director Carwyn Jones who will be discussing Vanished Wales: Places Lost in Living Memory, the book which accompany one of ITV Cymru Wales’ most popular shows.

This explores the fascinating stories of lost landmarks: places in Wales that have disappeared from towns, cities and villages within living memory. As in the series, the book shines a spotlight on this missing heritage, featuring stories from local people who still have a deep personal connection with the remarkable sights that were once on their doorstep.

In this talk, Carwyn Jones shares his deep passion for Welsh history, exploring the stories behind lost landmarks, vanished railway lines, and the communities that have faded over time. Following his talk, he will be asked questions about the book, and there will be an opportunity for the audience to ask questions as well.

Whether you're a history enthusiast or simply curious about the past, this is a unique opportunity to hear from the producer behind the popular series.

“Beautifully crafted, Vanished Wales is a fresh take on social history that entertains and informs us about places that we thought we knew.” – Jonathan Hill


Lost communities, hives of industry, popular public buildings, cultural and sporting venues, wartime placements, Victorian superstructures and even entire villages: these are once prominent places that have been wiped off the map. Including before and after images from the show, Vanished Wales sings their epitaph.

Fungi Town is a free, family-friendly event taking place in Hay-on-Wye on the weekend of UK Fungus Day (3–5 October 2025) dedicated to the unbelievable, weird and wonderful world of mushrooms, toadstools, lichens, moulds and yeasts.

Led by a team of volunteers and enthusiasts, the event will bring together leading experts, growers, artists, and businesses for an exciting lineup of talks, workshops, films, exhibitions, feasts, art and more.

Fungi Town is the first event of its kind in the UK - a fungal takeover of an entire town! Hosted in the beautifully renovated Hay Castle, and by shops and venues across Hay, this is a community-led and playful celebration of mushrooms in all their amazingness.

Whether you're a curious newcomer or a lifelong fanatic, join us for a weekend of discovery, creativity and connection — all inspired by the magic of fungi.

Fungi Town 2025 | Explore Fungi Events Now

A short film telling the incredible story of a five-year mission to convert former Norfolk chicken sheds into a mushroom farm. Using less water, space, and minimal resources, this breakthrough method could reshape the future of food production.

This event is part of Fungi Town, a celebration of all things fungi in Hay-on-Wye.

From fungi leather to packaging, discover how scientists and designers are working with nature’s secret engineers to tackle real world problems, with Dr. Peter Wellham (Really Clever Co.) and Adam Davies (Ty Syml).

Discover how the humble fungi is revolutionizing modern design and technology at Hay Castle's Fungi Town. This talk will showcase how people are harnessing nature's secret engineers to create sustainable solutions for real-world problems. Explore the incredible potential of mycelium—the intricate root structure of fungi—to replace environmentally harmful materials like plastic foam and animal leather. Learn about the science behind these innovative biomaterials, which can be grown quickly and with minimal environmental impact, offering a compostable alternative for everything from high-end fashion to protective packaging.

This event is part of Fungi Town, a celebration of all things fungi in Hay-on-Wye.

Dive into the past, present and future of nature’s forgotten kingdom with Professor Katie Field from Sheffield University.

As a Professor of Plant-Soil Processes at the University of Sheffield, Katie Fields is an expert on the ancient and vital relationship between plants and fungi. Her research explores how these symbiotic partnerships, known as mycorrhiza, were instrumental in the colonization of land by the first plants over 450 million years ago. She studies how fungi continue to shape our ecosystems, influencing everything from nutrient cycles to global climate. Her talk would likely delve into the history of these interactions and their potential for addressing modern challenges like climate change and food security.

This event is part of Fungi Town, a celebration of all things fungi in Hay-on-Wye.

Join artist and printmaker Yuli Gates for a hands-on introduction to the art of lino printmaking — with a twist. In this workshop, you’ll learn traditional carving and printing techniques while exploring the fascinating process of creating natural printmaing inks from mushrooms, as detailed in the book and website: The Mushroom Color Atlas.

Yuli will guide you step-by-step through designing, transfering, carving, and printing your own lino block. You will learn how to print on paper or fabric.

If you wish to bring your own fabric to print on, it it encouraged: go home with a new t-shirt, tea towel, tote bag, or pillow case (This will not be provided, so if you'd like to bring your own, please do so. The reccomendation is a light colour, and a smooth fabric with minimal texture)

Along the way, you’ll also discover how to forage or source fungi for pigment, prepare them for ink-making, and use their earthy, organic tones to create truly unique prints.

Whether you’re an absolute beginner or looking to expand your creative toolkit, you’ll leave with your own hand-printed artwork, an understanding of mushroom inks, and the confidence to continue printing at home.

This event is part of Fungi Town, a celebration of all things fungi in Hay-on-Wye.

We are proud to announce the birth of a new two act Americana show featuring the undeniable talents of Home Of The Free and Chuck Micallef.

Home Of The Free is a collaboration between Dave Luke and Alex Valentine, two Londoners who relocated to Presteigne (nicknamed ‘home of the free’) in Mid-Wales. Lush harmonies and virtuoso guitar playing combine to create a unique blend of Country, Contemporary Folk and Americana. Dave Luke served his musical apprenticeship in award-winning London-based Country Rock band The Coyotes.

Since relocating to Mid-Wales in the 1990s Alex has toured Europe extensively in a variety of bands and played at legendary USA institutions such as the Grand Ole Opry, The Ryman Auditorium and Kerrville Folk Festival. Alex was born and grew up in Camden, now living off-grid in a small wooden house surrounded by an ancient oak woodland. To date he has made eight albums on the Struck Dumb Records label.

First discovered by Bob Harris on GLR he has since been featured by Johnnie Walker, Jonathan Ross and Dermot O’Leary on BBC Radio 2 and on 6 Music. Chuck Micallef paid his dues in the Coffee Houses of his native Toronto, an experience that provided him with a first-hand education in the craft of the Singer-Songwriter. In the early 1980s he recorded a clutch of 45s of his own songs, produced by Ron Dann and engineered by Bob Federer, which scored in both the Canadian and U.S.A. national charts. His 30 year tenure in the U.K. has yielded a live recording in 1996, the acclaimed 2007 album The Moon, The Stars & The Sun, and an enthusiastic involvement with the British roots music community, having organised two Community Music Festivals, Festival in the Forest Barton under Needwood 1996-2001 and One Day In May Newcastle-under-Lyme 2009-2010.

Home of the Free

Step out from the gates of Hay Castle and into the ancient landscape that surrounds it. This easy morning ramble takes you on a loop through peaceful meadows, leafy lanes, and historic border paths with views of the Black Mountains. Follow sections of Offa’s Dyke and the Dulas Brook—the natural divide between England and Wales—as we uncover the castle’s wider story in the landscape.

The walk also includes a stop at Cusop Church, where Richard Booth—Hay’s self-declared ‘King’ and father of the town’s bookish fame—is buried. Back at the castle, enjoy complimentary tea or coffee before joining Director Tom True for a special 30-minute tour, giving insider insight into this iconic building's past, present, and future.

This walk is part of a special partnership between Walk Hay and Hay Castle. It's designed to bring locals and visitors together to enjoy the benefits of fresh air, gentle exercise, shared stories, and…