Sidney Nolan Trust

Sidney Nolan Trust Charitable Arts Trust, founded by Sir Sidney Nolan CBE (1917-1992). Sir Sidney Nolan was a leading artist of the 20th century.

Caring for arts, heritage and environment at The Rodd and Bleddfa Centre

The Rodd Opening Times:
Wed - Sun, 11am - 4pm
Season: 28 March - 4 October 2026 His Ned Kelly paintings became iconic, and today the Sidney Nolan Trust, which he founded in 1985, celebrates his life-long experimentation and passion for creativity, as well as his love for the environment. Located at The Rodd, the Trust cares

for his former home, studio, and 250-acre estate, together with a large collection of Nolan’s artworks, his library and personal archive. Our exhibitions and events present artwork from our collection, as well as exhibitions by contemporary artists. Our learning and residency programmes support children, young people, adults, and artists to learn, exchange ideas and create.

03/06/2026

From demonstration to discovery.

At a recent workshop led by Daniel MacCarthy, participants spent two days exploring speed, chance and experimentation through monoprinting, painting and drawing.

Beginning with a demonstration on the press and moving into individual making, the studio quickly filled with unexpected marks, discoveries and conversations.

The resulting works were as varied as the people who made them, each one shaped by curiosity, intuition and a willingness to embrace the unknown.

A reminder that some of the most rewarding moments in the studio arrive when we leave room for surprise ✨

What if making a difference started with simply giving your time? It’s National Volunteers’ Week and as a charity, we si...
01/06/2026

What if making a difference started with simply giving your time?

It’s National Volunteers’ Week and as a charity, we simply couldn’t do what we do without our fabulous team of volunteers who do just that.

Our volunteers bring Rodd Court and the legacy of Sidney and Mary Nolan to life and they do an incredible job.

Whether they are front of house welcoming visitors, giving guided tours, tending to the grounds and gardens, or working in the archive, every single volunteer makes a huge contribution.

They are an integral part of our team.

This week is all about celebrating you, our volunteers and saying a heartfelt thank you for everything you do. Thank you for your time, passion, care and dedication.

01/06/2026

Online Flipbook created with Publuu Flipbook Maker.

Translate landscape into language 🌿✍🏻Join writer and performance artist Simone Gilliatt for a creative writing workshop ...
31/05/2026

Translate landscape into language 🌿✍🏻

Join writer and performance artist Simone Gilliatt for a creative writing workshop at The Rodd, Nr. Presteigne, exploring how memory, emotion, and observation shape the way we experience the landscape around us and how we can put that into words.

Guided exercises and thoughtful prompts will help you to translate what you see and feel into vivid and expressive writing, giving you the opportunity to share, should you wish, in a supportive and welcoming environment.

No experience necessary.

Saturday 6th June, 11am–4pm

£35 plus booking fee, which includes a light soup lunch, plus tea and cake.

Limited spaces available, link to book 👇🏻

https://www.tickettailor.com/events/sidneynolantrust/2156899

Over the holidays it has been a joy to welcome so many young creatives to our workshops led by artist Kitty. We are incr...
30/05/2026

Over the holidays it has been a joy to welcome so many young creatives to our workshops led by artist Kitty.

We are incredibly proud of the imagination, curiosity and confidence shown by every participant, and we want to celebrate the wonderful work they created.

At the Sidney Nolan Trust, we believe art is for everyone, at every age.

Creativity grows when young people are given the space to explore, experiment and discover, whether through new materials, different processes, or simply spending time being inspired by nature.

We want The Rodd to be a place where young people feel encouraged, supported and at ease. A place to build creative confidence, ask questions, try something new and connect with the landscape around them.

If your young person would like to continue their creative journey with us, we also run the following:

✨MAKE
- our weekly arts and creative club for ages 7–11 at Presteigne Youth Centre

✨ CULTIVATE
- our free monthly arts programme for ages 11–18

To find out more, comment “learning” below or email: [email protected]

Are you interested in the chance to have a complimentary day out at The Rodd? Yes, you read that correctly, a free day o...
28/05/2026

Are you interested in the chance to have a complimentary day out at The Rodd?

Yes, you read that correctly, a free day out.

On Friday 5th June, we are looking for people of all ages, families, couples, groups, individuals and dogs to spend time exploring The Rodd free of charge in return for taking part in a relaxed, natural photoshoot between 11am and 4pm.

Set amongst the grounds, historic house and art exhibitions of The Rodd, this is an invitation for you to spend time exploring while photographer Ali captures natural, observational moments as they unfold.

Whether wandering through Rodd Wood, discovering the river meadow walk, being alone in nature, writing, sketching, spending time with friends or enjoying our new den building area and mud kitchen for younger visitors, we’re hoping to capture genuine experiences of people connecting with art, heritage and the beautiful landscape that we are so lucky to have on our doorstep.

We also warmly welcome interest from budding content creators to attend in exchange for sharing and mentioning both The Rodd and The Sidney Nolan Trust.

A light lunch and refreshments will be provided, and you’re welcome to stay for the whole day or simply join us for an hour or two.

Please note that participants will be asked to sign a consent form on the day agreeing to photography and the use of selected images by the Sidney Nolan Trust and the photographer across print, digital, social media, promotional and marketing materials.

No experience is necessary, we simply want you to come along, relax and enjoy the day and Ali will do the rest 📷

Spaces are limited and will be allocated on a first come, first served basis, so we encourage early registration to avoid disappointment. If you are successful your attendance will be confirmed by email.

To register your interest, please send us an email to [email protected] with:

— Your name
— Your contact number
— Number of attendees
— Number of children (if applicable)
— Are you a content creator?
— Any dietary requirements

Come and experience everything The Rodd has to offer.

22/05/2026

What are your plans this weekend? Visiting Hay Festival? Exploring the England-Wales border while you are here?

The Rodd is an approximately 30 minute drive away and sits between the two market towns of Kington and Presteigne.

A rural arts centre, with extensive grounds, a Jacobean Manor House which currently hosts a digital art installation, short walks to both the river and Rodd Wood, free parking and a pop-up cafe.

Also, not to be missed is our tithe barn art gallery featuring works by Sir Sidney Nolan and contemporary painter Daniel MacCarthy.

We are open today through to Sunday, 11am-4pm.

There is even den building and a mud kitchen for our younger visitors to get creative, plus ice cream is available to buy 😊

We do hope you will join us ☀️

The Rodd is closed on Monday, however keep an eye out in our stories for recommendations of where to go locally.

Beyond the gallery and house, there is another side to The Rodd waiting to be explored ✨Just a short walk from the car p...
19/05/2026

Beyond the gallery and house, there is another side to The Rodd waiting to be explored ✨

Just a short walk from the car park, Rodd Wood is quietly transforming. Through careful woodland management, thinning and the creation of glades and light sinks, we are witnessing the most beautiful response from the landscape. Native bluebells and orchids are thriving, woodland health is improving, and biodiversity across the site continues to grow.

Kiefer, our Groundsperson and Estate Gardener, has been working behind the scenes alongside the wonderful Knighton Community Woodland Group to care for and manage this special place and the results are beginning to show in all their splendour.

Recent botanical surveys recorded over 90 species, almost all exclusively native, while bird surveys revealed a rich variety of species making the woodland home. Still to come are moth and moss surveys as we continue learning more about the ecology of the site over time.

At The Rodd, caring for the land is part of what we do so that future generations can enjoy the site too.

We warmly invite you to come and experience the woodland for yourselves this spring while the bluebells are at their best.

📜 A small historical note for fellow nature lovers, native bluebells were once used by the Victorians for their starch, helping to stiffen collars and formal wear.

There is so much to be discovered, slide 2 features Herb Paris (Paris quadrifolia), a fascinating native woodland plant most commonly recognised by its distinctive four leaves. Remarkably, Kiefer came across an extremely rare six-leaf specimen which is said to be as uncommon as finding a four-leaf clover 🍀 we hope this brings him the luck he deserves for all his hard work.

If you are interested in ecology, conservation or surveying work and would like to volunteer with us, we would love to hear from you, drop us a message or email Kiefer directly:

[email protected]

If you are unsure where to go to find the woodland area, just ask one of our Visitor Experience Assistants at the front desk who will be more than happy to point you in the right direction. And don’t forget, dogs are welcome too 🐾

A huge thank you to our wonderful volunteer guide Alisdair, who generously gives his time and knowledge to bring the sto...
17/05/2026

A huge thank you to our wonderful volunteer guide Alisdair, who generously gives his time and knowledge to bring the stories of Rodd Court and the wider estate to life for our visitors.

As part of Herefordshire Histories Festival, Alisdair led an engaging guided tour this weekend, sharing the rich history, people and landscape that have shaped The Rodd over centuries.

Thank you to everyone who joined us on Saturday, we hope you enjoyed exploring the history of this special place with us. If you came along, we’d love to hear your thoughts and favourite moments in the comments.

If you missed out, there’s still time to join one of our guided tours this Thursday 21st May at either 11am or 2pm.

Each tour lasts approximately one hour.
Price: £10 per person + booking fee.

We can also arrange guided group tours for community groups, art or history enthusiasts, or anyone keen to learn more about The Rodd and its heritage. For more information please email us at [email protected] or call 01544 260149.

We look forward to welcoming you to discover more of the stories, heritage and hidden histories of The Rodd.



Address

The Rodd
Presteigne
LD82LL

Opening Hours

Wednesday 11am - 4pm
Thursday 11am - 4pm
Friday 11am - 4pm
Saturday 11am - 4pm
Sunday 11am - 4pm

Telephone

01544 260149

Website

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