See how gardens have inspired authors and how authors have shaped notions of the garden since Medieval times in this new exhibition at the British Library, 96 Euston Road, London NW1. Themes include the garden as a place for romance and as a space to experiment with ideas of art and beauty.

Gardens examined include John Keats’s suburban plot in Hampstead and Philip Larkin’s carefully-tended northern lawn. Highlights include: Illuminated manuscripts of Roman de la Rose, John Milton’s Paradise Lost, Alexander Pope’s garden sketches, John Evelyn’s Elysium Brittanicum and Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s manuscript of Kubla Khan.

Tel: 020 7412 7332; 020 7412 7222 www.bl.uk

Wavemakers Awards

New charity Wavemakers is inviting nominations from schools by January 31 for this award scheme, which rewards those who have taken the initiative to help themselves and others in the areas of social care, education and health. The categories are: under 12s; ages 13-19; and organisation and service-led initiatives, which have benefited children and young people.

Tel: 01494 687620 www.wavemakers.org.uk

Royal Opera House: schools’ matinees From December 2

Legal General is sponsoring schools’ matinees for the next three years, allowing pupils from more than 900 UK schools to attend performances at Covent Garden for pound;6 a ticket. Every school attending receives a pack containing the scenario, musical extracts, historical background and suggestions for cross-curricular work. Coming up are: Cinderella (Royal Ballet), December 2; La Traviata (Royal Opera), January 26; Manon (RB), February 2; Turandot (RO), February 10; The Magic Flute (RO).

Tel: 020 7304 4000; www.roh.org.uk

FutureChef 2005 competition

This culinary competition for students aged 12-16 is organised by the Springboard Charitable Trust and judged by celebrity chefs. Local heats are taking place, which involve cooking a main course and hot or cold dessert for two people with a pound;5 budget within 11Z2 hours. At the regional finals in January, 11 students will be selected to compete in the final on March 11.

Tel: 020 7395 9496 Email: jamesd@springboarduk.uk www.springboarduk.org.ukfuturechef