The Wonder Garden: Wander through the world's wildest habitats and discover more than 80 amazing animals

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Somerset House invites visitors to step inside the magical world of This Bright Land, a new cultural celebration in the heart of the capital, championing the spirit and strength of community. Sentry - when her neighbor’s child is left unattended for a prolonged time, Helen Tanner invites her in, to hang out a while, then a while longer, then… Created by Somerset House Studios artists Gareth Pugh and Carson McColl, in collaboration with Somerset House, This Bright Land will transform Somerset House’s magnificent open-air courtyard into a welcoming wonderland, open to all, with joyful day-and-night programming featuring performances, music, dance, talks, workshops and more, platforming both established creatives and grassroots communities. Alongside the daily programme, This Bright Land will feature bold and unexpected installations and interactive experiences to enjoy. From a sensory journey through the Wonder Garden created in partnership with Jo Malone London, complete with curated spaces dedicated to wellness and self-care, to complimentary make-up services in the futuristic custom-built Clubhouse in partnership with M·A·C Cosmetics, and a ride on a 35m Observation Wheel offering breath-taking views of London’s skyline, featuring a new soundscape installation telling stories from Londoners from all walks of life – there is something new to excite each day at This Bright Land. It reads like a novel. All these houses and their peeps in the same community whose stories sometimes connect and overlap. This book acts like a nanny-cam bringing to life Thoreau’s quote “The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation.” Not to mention some of them are just plain twisted. I started this thinking I would read these stories now and then between my other really good books, and because it was one of the very few on my OverDrive wish list available now and I was desperate. If people only knew. There should be a l-o-n-g queue for this one. Seriously, readers are missing out. I could not put it aside. When we became parents after a long wait and deep diving into parenting books and brain development I wanted an approach to education that facilitated and supported our child’s development. This is where finding wonder garden was magical! Danielle uses pedagogical approaches from multiple ideologies that allow for whole child focus to be at the forefront! Children are learning and being exactly who they are as they engage in play and learn to connect with the world around them.

Spooky and fabulous... A cleareyed lens into the strange, human wants of upper-class suburbia."-- Kirkus (starred review) Are you a parent or caregiver who believes in child-led learning but struggles with providing structure and guidance? Do you want to prioritize your child's social and emotional needs, while still giving them a strong academic foundation? Look no further. Masterful and nearly flawless, both in each story and as a whole! Acampora's prose is so confident and sure that it's nearly impossible to fathom that this is her first book - and I say this even having recently read many other excellent debut works. Acampora writes like she came into this earth doing it already.

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These machines are the pumping heart of the house; everything else is frivolous and disposable in comparison. Figs in Wigs, aficionados of deadpan dancing and pointless party games, join the line-up on 21 August. Bringing their own mix of theatre, live art, interactive dance, comedy, DJ sets and games (complete prizes and tiebreakers), this day-to-night party for the whole family will include weird and wonderful activities, including line dancing masterclasses, pea eating world record attempts, and a showstopper finale fashion show of Figs in Wigs’ wildest costumes throughout the years. ​ Aether" - moving coming of age and loss of innocence story - about the fruitless search for authenticity in a culture of consumption.

But I don't think Acampora is really after our empathy. She writes, like Margaret Atwood, with delicious, irresistible irony, flirting with the surreal just enough to make us wonder, yet rooting us in a garden we recognize. We nod and snort and generally feel superior to those whose wealth and privilege have always made us slightly ashamed.Change-makers and community collectives share critical thoughts on representation, connection and disrupting the status quo at This Bright Land. On Wednesday 3 August, visitors are invited to join a live recording of Oh Annie Oh’s hit podcast Don’t Call Me “Exotic”. Host Annie will be joined by Jason Kwan and Lilly Snatchdragon from the UK's only Pan-Asian Cabaret collective The Bitten Peach, discussing how and why they formed, and the importance of community. Somerset House is London’s working arts centre and home to the UK’s largest creative community. Built on historic foundations, we are situated in the very heart of the capital. Set in the fictional New England town of Old Cranbury, Acampora's narrative on these great collection has been described by critics as the one of an urban anthropologist, fascinated with the customs and rituals of its residents and determined to unearthed the secret lives of its suburbanites. Our all-in-one curriculum offers a holistic approach to learning, with a focus on connection and minimal stress. Say goodbye to cluttered materials and wasteful activities - our program is designed for easy implementation with minimal waste.