Hestercombe

Wildflower Wander Family Trail – May Half Term School Holiday Activities Create a daisy chain of wildflowers on this springtime family trail this May half term school holiday. Wander through the gardens and discover the beautiful wildflowers in bloom this month, drawing each flower you find on your trail sheet to fill in all the gaps and complete your daisy chain. This trail is free; normal garden admission applies.  

Our chefs will be cooking up a storm on our Courtyard barbecue – enjoy sizzling hot food and an array of delicious sides. Adults: £10.95 Children: £5.95 Food served 12 – 3pm

Our estates team will be up in the woods making charcoal.  It’s smoky, dirty work but we’ve got our restored charcoal burner’s hut for a bit of shelter if needed. We’ll be at the Charcoal Burner’s Camp all day and into the evening so wander up and see what we’re doing. Have a go at drawing with charcoal and toast marshmallows on the fire. We are keeping the gardens open for a little longer today so you can enjoy Hestercombe…

Before you explore the summertime gardens, meet one of our friendly garden team for an introduction to the unique combination of Georgian, Edwardian and Victorian garden design at Hestercombe. No need to book – just meet at the top of the Daisy Steps at 11am. Normal garden admission applies, free to Hestercombe members. Every Friday in June.

In association with Dartmouth Films, Hestercombe presents a very special preview screening of a new film about designer and plantsman Piet Oudolf with introduction by Hestercombe’s Head Gardener, Claire Greenslade. This fascinating new documentary immerses viewers in the work of designer and plantsman Piet Oudolf – who challenges conventional notions of nature, public space and beauty. Journey through all four seasons in stunning gardens and locations around the world. Intimate discussions take place through all fours seasons in Piet’s own gardens…

New for this year, our plant fair will be a brilliant opportunity to meet local growers and pick up some blooms for your garden at home.  There will be 17 specialist nurseries selling herbs, perennials and roses, as well as metal and willow plant supports. See a list of all the stallholders here. Admission £3 (£2 for Hestercombe members) Visitors to the plant fair get a 20% discount on admission to the gardens and house. The plant fair will be…

Join our Head Gardener Claire Greenslade and enjoy this special evening tour of the gardens at their most colourful time of year.  Having worked at Hestercombe for over a decade, Claire will share with you her knowledge and passion for the gardens as she guides you around the Georgian Landscape Garden, the Victorian Terrace and Gertrude Jekyll and Edwin Lutyens’ Edwardian Garden.  It’s a rare opportunity to discover some little known facts about Hestercombe and ask Claire your questions about…

Enjoy a delicious summer evening supper in the Column Room Restaurant in Hestercombe House and enjoy the wonderful view of Hestercombe’s Edwardian garden. Supper menu Main Butterflied Cornish mackerel with crushed new potatoes, Wye Valley asparagus and a watercress chimichurri. Dessert Gooseberry and elderflower fool with a shortbread biscuit. Served with a small glass of white or red wine. For the vegetarian option or any other dietary requirements, email victoriahill@hestercombe.com with your booking reference. £20 per person for two courses. Food will…

Before you explore the summertime gardens, meet one of our friendly garden team for an introduction to the unique combination of Georgian, Edwardian and Victorian garden design at Hestercombe. No need to book – just meet at the top of the Daisy Steps at 11am. Normal garden admission applies, free to Hestercombe members. Every Friday in June.

Experience the magic of the gardens after hours Head up to our Charcoal Burner’s Camp, toast marshmallows and then enjoy an al fresco BBQ and salad. The gardens will be open for you to explore until 8pm. Enjoy the gardens until 8pm on the warm summer evenings with our season of special late openings. You’ll be able to explore the landscapes after hours and leave work behind for a little while. Each evening there will be some tasty food and…

Before you explore the summertime gardens, meet one of our friendly garden team for an introduction to the unique combination of Georgian, Edwardian and Victorian garden design at Hestercombe. No need to book – just meet at the top of the Daisy Steps at 11am. Normal garden admission applies, free to Hestercombe members. Every Friday in June.

Experience the magic of the gardens after hours Join us to enjoy a trip on our traditional punt and experience the gardens in a way that the Edwardians would have done, whilst taking in the tranquillity of the water and Landscape Garden. Enjoy the gardens until 8pm on the warm summer evenings with our season of special late openings. You’ll be able to explore the landscapes after hours and leave work behind for a little while. Each evening there will…

Before you explore the summertime gardens, meet one of our friendly garden team for an introduction to the unique combination of Georgian, Edwardian and Victorian garden design at Hestercombe. No need to book – just meet at the top of the Daisy Steps at 11am. Normal garden admission applies, free to Hestercombe members. Every Friday in June.

Grab a wood-fired pizza, a selection of salads and a cold drink and enjoy the gardens at your leisure. There will be live music emanating from within the trees to lend a true Georgian feel to your experience. Enjoy the gardens until 8pm on the warm summer evenings with our season of special late openings. You’ll be able to explore the landscapes after hours and leave work behind for a little while. Each evening there will be some tasty food…

Kick start summer with hot jazz, blues, ragtime and dances from the 1920s and 1930s. Bring a picnic, find a spot on the Orangery Lawn and get your toes tapping! Expect blues, hot jazz, ragtime, waltzes, songs and dances from long ago and far away! Working backwards from the 1930s, the FB Pocket Orchestra explores a repertoire that formed the embryo of what is now known as popular music. The members originally began playing together simply as an exercise in…

Grab a wood-fired pizza, a selection of salads and a cold drink and enjoy the gardens at your leisure. There will be live music emanating from within the trees to lend a true Georgian feel to your experience. Enjoy the gardens until 8pm on the warm summer evenings with our season of special late openings. You’ll be able to explore the landscapes after hours and leave work behind for a little while. Each evening there will be some tasty food…

Folksy Theatre presents Shakespeare’s classic tale of mistaken identities. After being separated from their twins in a shipwreck, Antipholus and his slave Dromio go to Ephesus to find them. The other set of twins live in Ephesus, and the new arrivals cause a case of hilarious mistaken identity. This brilliant Shakespeare comedy is filled with Folksy’s entertaining live music, audience interaction and downright silliness. Bring your friends and family to enjoy this fantastic open-air production on the Orangery Lawn. Gates…