This spring, visitors can look forward to family-friendly and adult learning opportunities at Kirkby Library.

In January Inspire Libraries launched the Places to Connect programme at Retford and Kirkby libraries, made possible by a £6,000 grant from Natural England and Libraries Connected as part of
their Culture Nature England project.

Visitors can pick up a copy of the Places to Connect programme inside libraries and join any of our the free and low-cost events, including mindful movement sessions like Qigong and yoga, creative workshops, storytelling, singing for wellbeing, nature walks and family-friendly seasonal celebrations.

Pause to Connect: Creative and Sensory Time Out invites people to reflect mindfully on resilience. They will work with evergreen foliage, considering its strength through winter, and create artistic clay
impressions as a quiet, creative response. The session includes guided contemplation to foster focus and connection. It is at Kirkby Library on Thursdays, 27th February and 27th March, from 1.30pm to 3pm/

Qigong-based Movement and Breathwork is a series of four outdoor sessions with Oxygen Advantage coach Dan Hussey. It is free and runs at Kirkby on Wednesdays, from 26th February to 19th March, from 9.30am to 11am.

Singing for Wellbeing is at Kirkby on Saturdays from 1st March to 5th April.

Celebration of the Season: Springtime and Equinox – a family festival of spring surprises, including crafts, storytelling and nature-inspired activities, free on Saturday, 15th March, from 10am to 12noon in
Kirkby Library.

Peter Gaw, INSPIRE chief executive said: “We’re delighted to be a part of this exciting project with Natural England and Libraries Connected. Libraries are vital access points for education and wellbeing, offering everyone the opportunity to connect with ideas, resources, and their community. Through our Places to Connect programme, we’re giving library customers the chance to engage with nature in a
meaningful way, whether that’s by exploring their local nature landscapes or simply enjoying a peaceful moment in our community gardens.”