Willow Weaving by Windrush Willow
We are thrilled to welcome Windrush Willow to our Marquee Lawn this summer!
This event has ended
Wednesday 7th September
From the Garden: A Beginners Guide to Eco-Printing with Marjolaine Ryley, plus Phytocentric with Feral Practice.
Time - 10:30am - 3:30pm
10 places available
This workshop introduces how you can make your own botanical inks, photo emulsions and use plants for contact printing to create your own eco-prints. We will look at how you can use easy to grow or buy vegetables, plants and flowers (and often kitchen scraps). Creating sustainable materials and artworks can enhance your mood and well-being, connect you with nature and creativity and generate gorgeous colours and patterns that can be surprising and delightful.
During the day there will be an opportunity to join Feral Practice for Phytocentric, a participatory performance thinking humans towards the plants, using spoken word, touch and gesture. It draws together scientific, poetic and spiritual understandings of plants, and nurtures imaginative vegetal conversations. Vibrant material meetings and exchanges occur at every level of our bodies and worlds but often go un-regarded, or unknown. If we sensitize ourselves (as vegetal philosopher Michael Marder advises) to the fuzzy edges of our subjectivity in order to meet beings very different to ourselves, might it be in the wilds of the imagination that we can re-align with nonhuman nature?
Thursday 8th September (morning)
The Sustainable Darkroom
Time - 10am - 12:30pm
12 places available
Herbal Chemigrams: foraging to make photographic developer for chemigrams and tea infusions with The Sustainable Darkroom
In this workshop we will be foraging plants from the grounds at Hestercombe Gardens, with which we will make a plant-based developer as well as a herbal tea to enjoy during the workshop. We will be using the plant-based developer to make chemigrams; abstract, camera less photographic images. This workshop is an opportunity to splash about and create one-of-a-kind prints, while also learning how to make a plant-based developer. No prior experience needed.
During the workshop, Hannah from The Sustainable Darkroom will discuss the science behind making a plant-based developer and as well as the medical benefits of the plants we are working with.
Thursday 8th September (afternoon)
Artists Discussion
Time - 1:30pm - 5pm
50 places available
During this informal gathering, artists Brendan Barry, Feral Practice, John Newling, Sophy Rickett and Marjolaine Ryley will share insights into their practice and work they've made at Hestercombe; reflecting on the themes of the exhibition with special guest Hannah Fletcher of The Sustainable Darkroom and curators Kate Best and Tim Martin.
The afternoon will feature a series of short talks, an artists-led walk into the gardens, where among other activities John Newling will present his Hestercombe Gardens Soil Book. Refreshments will be provided, as we end the event with a group discussion.
We are thrilled to welcome Windrush Willow to our Marquee Lawn this summer!
NEW exhibition exploring landscape and environment.
Shaun the Sheep: Fun with the Flock is coming to life at Hestercombe Gardens during the Summer Holidays.
Get ready for a heart-warming experience as 2nd Chance Petting Farm brings a delightful array of rescue animals to visit us throughout the school holidays!
Join artist Lydia Halcrow for a walking, talking making workshop.
We welcome Folksy Theatre for an evening outside performance of ‘As You Like It’ by William Shakespeare.
Join us for a pawfect day with your four-legged family members at our fun dog show, taking place on our beautiful Orangery Lawn.
A thank you to our members this September.