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Easter egg trails and Anglo Saxon activities planned at Christchurch Mansion this half term

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Families can enjoy a range of activities at the historic Ipswich venue during the Easter holidays alongside new art exhibitions.

Why it matters: Christchurch Mansion is opening its doors with a packed spring programme, combining cultural exhibits with family-friendly activities while introducing new seasonal opening hours.

Christchurch Mansion in Ipswich
Christchurch Mansion in IpswichOliver Rouane-WilliamsIpswich.co.uk

The details: The historic venue will be available for private functions every day from 21 April, alongside its regular public opening hours which vary seasonally.

  • Free entry to the mansion (except during special events)

  • Spring/summer hours (March-October): Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Saturdays 10am-5pm; Sundays 11am-5pm

  • Autumn/winter hours (November-February): Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Saturdays 10am-4pm; Sundays 11am-4pm

What's happening: The Easter holiday programme includes:

  • Woolly's Egg Trail running 5-20 April

  • Artistic Egg Decorating on 8 April

  • Anglo Saxon Clay Pot Making on 9 April

  • Anglo Saxon Discovery Day also on 9 April

What's next: After the current "An Eye For Life: Photography by John Ferguson" exhibition ends on 27 April, a new family-focused exhibition called "Colour Shape and Pattern" will run from 24 May 2025 until 22 February 2026 in the Wolsey Art Gallery.

Beyond art: A Wedding Fayre on 4 May will showcase the mansion as a venue for special occasions, with couples able to explore the Lower Tudor Room ceremony space and The Great Hall reception area.

What they're saying: Councillor Carole Jones, Ipswich Borough Council Portfolio Holder for Planning and Museums, said: "Christchurch Mansion is a vital asset to Ipswich, rich in history and a cherished part of our cultural heritage. With so much planned over the coming months, I would encourage everyone to visit and enjoy this beautiful building and appreciate its significance."

The bottom line: Christchurch Mansion offers both cultural enrichment through its exhibitions and practical entertainment for families during school holidays, all housed within one of Ipswich's most historically significant buildings.

You can find out more here.

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Farage more trusted than Starmer in East of England, latest poll finds

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Ipswich.co.uk Logomark in a circle

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Reform UK leader Nigel Farage is more trusted to represent the UK internationally than PM Keir Starmer among East of England voters, new polling reveals.

Why it matters: The findings highlight a significant decline in trust for the main party leaders in the region less than a year after the general election.

The poll, conducted by communications agency PLMR and Electoral Calculus, shows Farage ranked highest among named leaders at 19% in the East of England, ahead of Sir Keir Starmer (13%), Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch (6%) and Liberal Democrat Leader Sir Ed Davey (5%).

Nigel Farage
Nigel FarageAlamy

The bigger picture: One in three voters (33%) in the region responded "none of the above" when asked which political figure they would trust most, suggesting a broader decline in overall trust in UK political leaders.

By the numbers: The same poll indicates Reform UK would become the largest party in the region if an election were held tomorrow:

  • Reform: 21 seats

  • Conservatives: 10 seats

  • Labour: 4 seats

  • Liberal Democrats: 2 seats

  • Greens: 1 seat

In contrast: Nationally, Farage and Starmer are tied at 16% among those who named a preference, highlighting a more polarised national picture, with the Reform UK leader building more trust with voters in the East of England specifically.

What they're saying: "This polling highlights a significant decline in trust for the two main party leaders among East of England voters when it comes to representing the UK on the international stage," said Tim Miller , Managing Director of PLMR Genesis , the East of England branch of PLMR.

Reform and Nigel Farage have seemingly been able to capitalise on this and it's now translating into voting intentions, with the Party set to overtake Labour and the Conservatives in the region with the largest number of seats – a seismic political shift.

Between the lines: The poll suggests Reform would make strong gains across the region, potentially taking seats from both major parties:

  • Suffolk: Bury St Edmunds and Stowmarket from Labour

  • Essex: Braintree from the Conservatives and Thurrock from Labour

  • Cambridgeshire: North East from the Conservatives and North West from Labour

  • Norfolk: North West from the Conservatives and South West from Labour

Tim Miller on a backdrop of Ipswich from above and political party colour overlays
Tim Miller of PLMR GenesisOliver Rouane-WilliamsIpswich.co.uk

The national outlook: The survey of 5,180 adults showed Reform securing 25% of the vote share nationally, compared to 23% each for Labour and the Conservatives. This would translate to 227 seats for Reform, 180 for Labour and 130 for the Conservatives.

The bottom line: "If Labour wants to keep Reform at bay, hold onto the gains they made in the East of England and remain in government in four year's time, the Party needs to focus on getting their message across more clearly to voters and instil confidence in their domestic agenda," Miller concluded.

Oliver Rouane-Williams speaking with an elderly couple in the town centre

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