We are CLOSED

Plant & Shop SALE - this weekend!!

The ladies are busy pricing up as we speak!! Helen is reluctant to let her plants go but she has succombed and is lovingly stickering and postering ready for the weekend. There are some really lovely things there too, as well as a couple of FREE things to pick up from the gardens! The gladioli have been replaced on the Great Plat and their bulbs are out alongside the reduced plants. There's more on offer in the shop too - perhaps a present to tuck away for someone, or some pretty cards just to remind them you care. DON'T MISS OUT! Get on down to Hestercombe this weekend!

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Autumn Brings a Whole New Diary of Surprises!

Just when we all though we could go on holiday... Illumina is over but there's no rest for the wicked and still loads going on at Hestercombe. Plans are afoot for the Hallowe'en Spooky Tours - both day and night, and there are loads of seasonal activities including the Fungal Foray http://www.hestercombe.com/events-and-activities.html#October And not to forget the new Autumn Menu. Kevin and his team have once again exceeded expectation with some scrumptious warming dishes using seasonal and local ingredients including a wholesome beef stew with dumplings and the delicious apple and cider cake made with Hestercombe's very own apples! I'm sure Kelvin, front of house will tempt you to try the special of the day... So once the gardeners had collected those crunchy fresh apples they were off out in the rain to count cars on the road at the end of the drive. Apparently some kind of survey... in this weather - poor things! Don't forget the Mill and Barn Demo Days either! http://www.hestercombe.com/events-and-activities.html#October

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Mill Demonstration Days - 20th October & 9th November

Come and see the beautifully restored 17th century watermill at Hestercombe up and running and powering a wide range of exquisitely restored, historic machinery ranging from an apple scratter, to an oat crusher, a chaff cutter, winnower and saw bench. Meet the jolly miller as he grinds corn into flour and re-live times gone past in this unique building transformed from a tumble down wreck through a ‘grand designs’ style rescue project in just one year. (A short film playing in the mill charts the progress.) Whether you are old or young, this fully operating spectacle will be captivating! Garden admission fee applies. Mill Demonstration FREE. http://www.hestercombe.com/events-and-activities.html For images and further information please contact Rebecca Pow 07900 685 303/ 01823 443816. http://www.rebeccapow.com/

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Ticket sales for Illumina going well!

Had a productive meeting this morning to ensure we are all singing off the same hymn sheet as the date of the first night of Illumina looms large.... We are having a Press Night on the Thursday which will be a great opportunity to have a dry run for the Team. Ulf is well organised with all the set up - miles of cable! The Gardeners are making sure between weddings and rain that the gardens all look fabulous, mowing, trimming and all that, throughout. We have been thrilled at the response to our Newsletter call for volunteers to help on the nights and ticket sales are going well. There is definitely an exciting buzz around the organisation of the event. It's a whole new experience for Hestercombe and we are ready and sure all six nights (7, 8, 9, 10 & 14, 15, 16 September) will be a roaring success! Better book soon! www.hestercombe.com

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Much Ado About Nothing at Hestercombe

On a balmy summer's evening - yes we have had a few of them - Folksy Theatre burst on to their makeshift stage in front of the Orangery in the heart of Hestercombe's formal gardens with their adaptation of Shakespeare's 'Much Ado About Nothing'. It's my favorite Shakespeare and I was not disappointed. The Folksy group was full of energy, colour and skill as the story unfolded. Well over a hundred guests set up their picnics on the Orangery lawn and delighted in the performance. We look forward to Folksy's return in 2013 and hope to have two performances - both a summer show and hopefully one at Christmas. Kelvin and I set up our little gazebo to provide refreshments which were well received also giving us an opportunity to chat to lots of people about the next outside event in the gardens - ILLUMINA from 7th September over those first two weekends. As the school summer holidays continue, it really has been wonderful to welcome so many families to Hestercombe. The free facilities are a big hit with the mum's and babes - a play area, picnic spot, cafe, shop and gallery - and with some sunny days, I am so pleased to see lots of children running in the gardens enjoying the freedom away from TV sets and Wii games! Let's hope we see the sun continue for some weeks to come. Events to look out for - ILLUMINA 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16 September from 8.30 in the evening to enjoy the light and sound displays in darkness - food and drink are available in the Cafe from 7p.m. The Taunton Literary Festival begins on 22nd September and comes to Hestercombe on 23rd September with big names like Rosemary Penfold, Stephen Moss, Graham Garvey, Miriam Darlington and Duff Hart. The two garden events are The Great Seed Giveaway on 12th September and the Cuttings workshop on 26th September - both with our charismatic Head Gardener, Claire Reid. The workshop needs to be booked as there are limited spaces but the Seed Giveaway is free (apart from Garden entry) and bookings are not needed. I'll start talking about Hallowe'en and Christmas events soon!

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Kevin returns...

...and looking relaxed after a week's holiday with his young family including three very energetic little boys... Kevin is our Welsh Wizard Head Chef and even on his hols he has been thinking about the new Autumn menu. Always seasonal, I think we can look forward to pumpkins and butternut, sweet potatoes and casseroles but he does promise to keep the hand made burger on the menu as it has been very popular. I thought it was going to be a sunny day today but the gloom has set in and we have had a spit and a spot of rain. Oh bother! Still - it is the summer holidays and Hestercombe has a cosy restaurant, shop and art gallery to while away some hours and actually the gardens do look splendid as we have had rain and lots of sun to ensure a lush and fragrant experience in both the landscape and formal gardens. The glossy Newsletter is being printed today and assembled by our jolly group of volunteers on Thursday. It's packed with information, news and events to take us up to the end of the year. First big summer event is of course the evening performance by Folksy Theatre - 'Much Ado About Nothing' - this is on the Orangery Lawn, in the moonlight on Sunday 19th August. I always remember my son studying this hilarious Shakespeare play for his GCSEs and watching the Kenneth Branagh, Emma Thompson film which was deliciously brilliant but having seen Folksy Theatre in action last year doing 'Midsummer Night's Dream' I know that 'Much Ado' will be sensational. Nothing like live theatre - and wow what a backdrop Hestercombe's Orangery makes. So book your tickets, bring along picnics and enjoy the wonderful production filled with vibrant colours, music and laughter www.hestercombe.com/events/august Coffee, tea, wine and snacks will be available. See you there!

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