third fridays : events for the creative community

On the Third Friday of the month, Talking Birds hosts a programme of meetings, talks, walks, workshops and co-working devised by, and for, the creative community. (Programme listed below).

Creative Co-working happens every Third Friday afternoon – you can just drop in and use a bit of deskspace and avail yourself of the wifi, refreshments and company. We also offer a number of small workshops or discussions alongside this – in addition to our popular one-to-one funding, project and/or DYCP advice surgeries. All activities are free, but we ask you to please book in if you can, to help us manage numbers.

You’re also invited to Bring Your Own packed lunch on Third Fridays (or pop to the Sandy Lane chippy or other local takeout) – these open lunches are an opportunity to connect and chat with Talking Birds and anyone else who turns up. When the weather is nice, we get the pavement tables out. When it’s less nice, well, The Nest has heating and blankets so we make the best of it – we look forward to welcoming you to The Nest soon.

Friday 20th February 2026

F13 network gathering 11am-12.30pm

F13 peer support network open to all in the local creative community – will include regular features: Hive Mind (get help/advice/new perpsectives from those in the room when you share your creative conundrum) and Plug Fest (plug your upcoming projects, performances and events). Doors open at 10.30am for coffee and socialising.

Hatching Residency one-to-one surgeries from 1.15pm

Chats through your idea with Charlie ahead of putting in an application. You can book a timed slot here for Friday or for Wednesday 25th February.

Creative Co-working 1.30pm-4.30pm

Talking Books 2pm-3.30pm

We’ve picked short extracts from two books on the shelves of the library at The Nest (by Amitav Ghosh and Robin Wall Kimmerer – you can find both extracts here].

Please join our Co-AD Janet for an informal ‘book club’ conversation to read these extracts, explore the ideas the authors discuss, and share thoughts around how arts, storytelling and culture can affect humans interaction with the wider natural world.

Places are free, but please book in to let us know you are coming!

Friday 20th March

Growth: a creative writing workshop led by Nirmal Puwar 10.30am-12.30pm

As we edge nearer to Spring, join us for a gentle morning seeding words and creative writing. We’ll observe the weather and look at what’s beginning to emerge from the earth around The Nest (in our planters and mini wildflower meadow). We’ll take time and space together to think about daylight, unfurling, sustenance and the coming season – and – responding to Nirmal’s prompts, we’ll find ways to grow and follow our thoughts in words.

Creative Co-working 1.30pm-4.30pm

Caretaker Gardening 2pm-3pm

A short hour to do a bit of sociable, observational caretaking in the green spaces at The Nest.

Places are free, but please book in to let us know you are coming!

Friday 17th April 2026

F13 network gathering 11am-12.30pm

Creative Co-working 1.30pm-4.30pm

Friday 15th May

Nestival of Ideas Panel Discussion (subject TBA)

Creative Co-working 1.30pm-4.30pm

Friday 19th June 2026

F13 network gathering 11am-12.30pm

Creative Co-working 1.30pm-4.30pm

Friday 17th July 2026

TBA 10.30am-12.30pm

Creative Co-working 1.30pm-4.30pm

August – Summer Break [Nest is Closed]

Friday 18th September 2026

F13 network gathering 11am-12.30pm

Creative Co-working 1.30pm-4.30pm

Friday 16th October 2026

Nestival of Ideas Panel Discussion (subject TBA)

Creative Co-working 1.30pm-4.30pm

Friday 20th November 2026

F13 network gathering 11am-12.30pm

Creative Co-working 1.30pm-4.30pm

Friday 18th December

Creative Co-working 1.30pm-4.30pm

Festive Art Party 6pm-9pm

Coffee for the Curious

Everything in the programme is free (including our excellent tea & coffee), but we ask you to book in so that we know how many chairs to put out & how much coffee to brew. Morning programmes run 10.30am-12.30pm unless otherwise stated, and afternoon programmes 1.30-4.30pm (BYO lunch and eat together with us between 12.30 and 1.30pm).

If you are curious, but have never visited before, people often find that dropping in to an afternoon co-working session is a really good way to get the measure of The Nest (the space, the people and the vibe). You can ask us questions, chat to others or just park yourself quietly and get on with stuff – whatever works for you. We look forward to welcoming you to The Nest really soon.

Access

You can find full details for Getting to the Nest here.

We try hard to make The Nest as welcoming as possible to everyone who comes – there is step-free access to the building and accessible gender-neutral toilets. To give you an idea of what to expect, you can take a look at this video tour of The Nest, with BSL interpretation & captions.