10th January - 7:30 pm - The Blake Theatre, Monmouth

Join Monty Don and Kate Humble, patrons of Bees for Development, as they discuss all things gardening and farming mixed with their knowledge of sustainable practices, and share insights into the work of Bees for Development.

There will be a lively Q&A session during the evening with Monty Don and Kate Humble. If you’d like to join in, please submit your questions on the event link by December 2, 2024.

25th January to 30th January - Sheltand

An exciting, informative and culturally diverse winter holiday with Kate Humble and local naturalist Jon Dunn, exploring Shetland, its wildlife and unique Viking heritage, culminating with an unforgettable night at Shetland’s world-famous Up Helly Aa fire festival.

The Shetland Islands’ unique blend of isolation, stark beauty and exotic wildlife are justly renowned, especially in summer – but the rewards for a winter visit can be just as plentiful: evocative wildlife, friendly people and a compelling island way of life, rich cultural heritage, and the wild and beautiful winter landscape.

We’ll meet local naturalists, archaeologists, musicians, historians, crofters, and more, each sharing their knowledge, expertise, and perspectives on life and work on the islands.

We’ll also search for some of Shetland’s most iconic winter wildlife, from Mountain Hare on the moorland to Otters on the coast.

And then, to finish off, we’ll watch the world-famous Up Helly Aa fire festival, a tradition that originated in the late 1800s and celebrates our Viking heritage. Since then, the festival has evolved into the main event in Shetland’s cultural calendar and the biggest fire festival in Europe.

3rd May to 10th May - Shetland

Join Kate and the Shetland Nature team for a truly unique Shetland experience. The islands are world famous for their wildlife and their cultural heritage – a heritage borne from the unique circumstances of the islands’ position in some of the richest fishing waters in the northern hemisphere, a place where the traditional Scottish crofting life was changed irrevocably both by the turning of the seasons and the call of the sea.

Life in Shetland evolved over the centuries to become something unique, with breeds of livestock on the croft adapted to the sub-Arctic climate. Shetland’s colourful, hardy sheep shaped the landscape and the lives of those who worked the land when they weren’t at sea. That landscape became a place where wildlife thrived on the crofts and the hills, where otters and seabirds abounded on the coastal fringes and, inland, a rich biodiversity of upland waders, wildfowl and flora was to be found.

Throughout the week Kate is joined by resident Shetlander, crofter and nature writer Jon Dunn, who will co-lead the itinerary During the week they will also be joined for a day by native naturalist and company founder, Brydon Thomason to share an insight into the life of Shetland’s Otters. Adding a uniquely authentic insight you will meet the crofters who care for the land, the designers, knitters and lace-makers who make the finest garments from Shetland wool, and the wildlife that lives alongside them in the islands – and, of course, the Shetland sheep themselves!

We will sample the delicious local food from land and sea, hear stories of traditional life and folklore, and enjoy the company of the very best folk musicians the islands have to offer. This will be a tour unlike any other – a wild and woolly exploration of Shetland’s heart

31st May to 8th June - Uganda

I'm so excited to announce a one-off safari to Uganda, where we’ll observe the chimpanzees of the Kibale Forest and the Gorillas in the Bwindi Forest, and go in search of the Ishasha’s famed tree-climbing lions. I’ll be your host and guide for this unforgettable week, alongside the superb photographer and guide Paul Joynson-Hicks.

Outline itinerary

The chimpanzees of the Kibale Forest is the first stop, where we'll undertake three sorties to observe and photograph them. Primate Lodge is the perfect base for this, set deep within the Kibale National Park, home to 13 species of primates and over 375 species of birds. The chimpanzees are irrefutably the star attraction, and tracking them down on foot remains one of the most rewarding challenges in Africa.

The savannah of the wild Ishasha Sector of the Queen Elizabeth National Park - famed for its tree-climbing lions - is next. Ishasha Wilderness Camp is arguably Uganda's finest safari camp, and wildlife watching here will primarily be from two safari vehicles, from which there are excellent chances to encounter giant forest hogs, elephants, leopards and Uganda Kob, amongst a plethora of savannah mammals and birds.

Two days gorilla trekking in the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest serves as the safari's pièce de résistance. Unquestionably one of the great tourism conservation stories of the last thirty years, encountering these Great Apes at close proximity is a profound experience. Buhoma Lodge is one of only two in the National Park, it is an intimate and charming property with commanding views across the forest.

Space is limited to just six participants. For more information or to grab a spot, please email Catherine at [email protected] or call +44 (0) 1747 830 950

30th November - Podcast - Available on Spotify, Apple and other podcast apps.

Kate talks to Vick Hope, award winning TV and BBC Radio 1 presenter, about the joy of living in the moment, the glory of nature and the importance of shunning the algorithms. And reveals her five favourite books by female authors.

Every week on Bookshelfie Vick is joined by inspirational guests to discuss the work of incredible female authors. The Women’s Prize is one of the most prestigious literary awards in the world, and they continue to champion the very best books written by women.

30th December - Podcast - Also available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts

Kate constructs her fantasy garden in the award winning Talking Gardens podcast by Gardens Illustrated.

From an origami version of Yellowstone National Park to Dicken from The Secret Garden and Popham’s Arboretum in Sri Lanka, Kate talks about the landscapes, people and gardens that have influenced her. And why she loves baobab trees but will never allow a gazebo in her garden.

31st December - Podcast - Also available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts

Kate joins The Knowledge Editor-in-chief, Jon Connell on the Book Talk Podcast to talk about her latest work 'Where the Hearth is: Stories of Home' and the book that inspired her during the writing process.

Available to listen on The Knowledge and on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.