Sidney Nolan Trust

24/06/2026

Looking for a place to keep cool during the heatwave? 🌳

At The Rodd, situated between Kington and Presteigne, our extensive grounds offer plenty of shady spots to relax and escape the bright sun.

Bring a picnic, enjoy an ice cream or chilled apple and pear juice from our pop-up café, or take a gentle stroll down to the river. Dogs are welcome too 🐾

Free drinking water is available throughout your visit, just ask a member of staff at the front desk. We want everyone to stay cool, hydrated and make the most of these beautiful summer days.

Whether you’re seeking a peaceful afternoon in the shade or somewhere for the whole family to escape the heat, we’d love to welcome you.

23/06/2026

⏳ Final week | Another Step Towards Troy

This week marks your final opportunity to experience Daniel MacCarthy’s powerful new cycle of paintings shown alongside works by Sir Sidney Nolan from his time on the Greek island of Hydra, where he immersed himself in myths and legends.

Through repeated encounters with Nolan’s sketches, MacCarthy has created his own contemporary readings of ancient stories, from Leda and the Swan to Narcissus and Paris, inviting us to reconsider their enduring relevance.

Don’t miss this rare chance to see these works sit alongside each other.

Visit us this week, Wednesday–Sunday, 11am–4pm, before the exhibition closes on 28 June.

We look forward to welcoming you.

🎨
📷 Ali Curzon

23/06/2026

19/06/2026

Are you looking for somewhere to slow down and spend some quality time together this weekend?

At The Rodd, you can wander through our beautiful grounds, enjoy nature and take time to catch up with the father figure in your life, or simply enjoy a peaceful day out with family and friends.

Treat yourselves to tea, coffee and cake at our pop-up cafe and make the most of a relaxing afternoon in the Herefordshire countryside.

Whether you are celebrating Father’s Day or simply making the time for people that matter most, we would love to welcome you this weekend.

We have on-site free parking.

Concessions are available and there is free admission for carers.

Please get in touch if you have any questions about accessibility.

18/06/2026

The view out to the Hindwell Valley from The Rodd, looking out across the wildflower meadow and beyond.

A view to truly behold.

Rooted in deep history.

The tales it could tell if a landscape could talk.

Captured beautifully in our previous post with words by Vivian Barraclough.

A view that Sidney Nolan himself would admire on a daily basis.

What does this view mean to you?

Do you have a special connection to the Valley or tales you would like to tell? We would love to hear them and welcome you to share in the comments.

For photographers, Plein air painters, artists, poets, creatives, this view is yours and we invite you to capture it as you wish.
It can be accessed from our free car parking area.

Come and see it for yourself.



📷 with thanks to Ali Curzon Ali Curzon

17/06/2026

This poem was “seeded” at the Translating Landscapes Writing Workshop led by the inspirational Simone Gilliatt, held at The Rodd, part of the Sydney Nolan Trust on 6th June 2026.

My walk took me through a flattened hay meadow that leads to a neolithic site beyond,The Hindwell Enclosure.

Here, some 5,000 years ago neolithic peoples would arrive, with their cattle, to meet with possibly hundreds of others within a huge wooden palisade enclosing some 86 acres. One of the largest known in the UK.

Within my poem I aim to create a sense of
the place, the space, and times both present and past.

Vivian Barraclough

June 2026

15/06/2026

⏳ We are entering the final weeks to visit Another Step Towards Troy.

Drawing inspiration from Sidney Nolan’s Hydra sketches and the enduring stories of Greek mythology, Daniel MacCarthy’s powerful new body of work is on display alongside works from the Nolan collection.

The exhibition closes on 28th June.

Make sure you catch it before it’s gone.

Wednesday to Sunday 11am-4pm at The Rodd, Nr. Presteigne.

Have you been yet? Let us know your highlight in the comments ✍🏻





📷 Ali Curzon

11/06/2026

We recently held a translating landscapes writing workshop at The Rodd, led by artist Simone Gilliatt.

Together the group discovered new ways of bringing landscape to life through language with the help of guided exercises and thoughtful prompts.

We are delighted to share with you one participants creative writing as a result of the workshop inspired by the landscape at the Rodd:

‘Light rain falls, I make my way to my usual spot, the one where I look out toward the valley and feel a sense of belonging. Today the valley is muted, low lying rain cloud lingers with a dark presence, it’s as if the valley wants to hide and doesn’t really want to be seen, not today anyway. So I make my way to a place for shelter, the coppice. Just yesterday the sound of children playing, exploring and having fun echoed amongst the trees. I would usually avoid this area for my fear of longing and sorrow that arises when I think about the children I will never have. Today, however, the coppice surrounds me like an embrace. Its calmness soothes my frantic mind and stops the rushing thoughts in their tracks. I can stop, finally. The stones carefully placed in front of me contain the remnants of a fire that remind me I am never truly alone, reinforced by the beautiful birdsong that I will never tire of hearing. I look up and the trees offer their branches as a protective cover. I am OK I say to myself, I will be OK I say aloud. The calm breeze that blows amongst the branches and leaves intensifies as if to say back of course you will be OK. I breathe deeply and feel nourished. Empowered by nature. A reminder that I am a part of something much greater. I make my way back to my viewpoint of the valley and I feel a sense of disconnect from a sight that has often brought me ease. I stop to wonder why the valley doesn’t feel welcoming today. And as if to answer my question, I look out once again and I am reassured knowing that the valley was guiding me into the coppice on purpose. As a friend would when they can see in you what you really need even if you cannot see it yourself. I am thankful to the valley and now feel an even deeper connection.’

10/06/2026

Mud painting and marshmallows? 🤷‍♀️

It can only mean one thing…

Forest School! 🌲🪵🍂

Thank you for your visit Dosbarth Llywelyn Presteigne Primary School

10/06/2026

🐝 Caring for the landscape starts with understanding the species that call it home.

Last week, staff and volunteers at The Rodd took part in a Bumblebee Identification & Survey Training Workshop led by Richard from the Bumblebee Conservation Trust.

After learning about bee ecology, species identification and monitoring techniques, we headed out on a BeeWalk across the estate to put our skills into practice. We were genuinely surprised by the number and variety of bumblebees we found, demonstrating the importance of The Rodd as a haven for pollinators.

By recording and monitoring bumblebees, we’re helping to contribute valuable conservation data while deepening our understanding of the biodiversity that makes this landscape so special.

Protecting and enhancing habitats is a key part of our commitment to caring for the environment, ensuring The Rodd remains a thriving place for nature.

🐝 Get involved with BeeWalk: www.beewalk.org.uk
🌼 Learn more about the Bumblebee Conservation Trust: www.bumblebeeconservation.org

Pollinators