Island Life Magazine Ltd April/May 2013 | Page 11

ISLAND LIFE Spring into spring at Garden Show Wight Challenge in its 10th year The Wightlink Wight Challenge, in its 10th year, is open for entries with teams invited to compete in The Isle of Wight Spring Garden Show, one of the Island's premier spring events returns to Robin Hill Adventure Park and Gardens on Saturday and Sunday April 27 and 28. The event attracts gold medal-winning mainland plant nurseries that you would normally see at Chelsea, as well as Island garden businesses, local food, art, craft, green and environmental exhibits, health, lifestyle and countryside products. And six of the country’s leading chainsaw sculptors will be displaying their handy work in the Island’s fourth Chainsaw Carving Championships, with ‘Science and the May and/or September event. It entails cycling 19 miles; canoeing two miles and running eight miles in a team of three. Teams are requested to raise money for Wessex Heartbeat, Sail 4 Cancer or The Rainbow Centre, emotive charities with local links. Since 2004, the event has raised over £160,000, and will take place this year on May 25 and September 21. Registration forms can be downloaded from the websitewww.wightchallenge.co.uk. The entry fee remains at £45 and each person is requested to raise £100 for their chosen charity. Nature’ this year’s theme. The show is open both days from 10.0am to 5.0pm. Ryde Arts group get Collective Top pianists coming to Ventnor This year’s Isle of Arts will take place in will be held in venues around Ventnor, with Ventnor from Friday, April 19 to Sunday, the main shows taking place in the Festival April 21, with music for all tastes. Marquee on Salisbury Gardens. Renowned pianists Steven Worbey and Kevin Farrell, who have performed worldwide, are among the artists lined up for the event, as well as the Massive Violins, who are sure to wow the crowds with their dynamic renditions of rock and pop classics. The three-day Festival will also include literature, music, comedy, visual arts, photography and film. A variety of events and workshops for both adults and children A group of 14 artists based in Ryde who have recently got together to from The Ryde Art Collective (TRAC). They are holding their inaugural exhibition in the Depozitory, Nelson Street, Ryde until April 14. The group represents a wide range of creative arts, from photography, printmaking, pastels and pottery to multimedia and found materials. They are also holding workshops and demonstrations so that the public can see them at work and even have a go! www.visitislandlife.com 11