An artistic afternoon to see, hear, to walk and talk.
Please be advised that The Stables Hospitality will be closed on Monday 12th and Tuesday 13th of January. During this time, refreshments will not be available on site. We appreciate your understanding and we look forward to welcoming you back soon.
This event has ended
This event launches a collaborative project between Hestercombe House and Gardens, the University of Gloucestershire’s School of Creative Arts and the Countryside and Community Research Institute.
TEST BED will consider ideas of systems within gardens and nature-based solutions for water capture and replanting for a more resilient future. You are invited to experience a series of experimental artworks that can be experienced in a rhizomatic way around the gardens. The event will set the scene for what might happen during the project. Being theatrical and experimental, it will be structured around ideas of how Georgian gardens were animated in the past by incorporating moonlight and sound.
The afternoon will first involve a walk and talk to experience the artwork of Zillah Bowes, Susie Olczak, Harriet P Carter, research from Alice Goodenough and Philip Reeder, sound works by Ben Hamid, Tim Land and Matthew Lovett in collaboration with Tina Hitchens and Yvonna Magda, and music from Harvey Cullis and Graham Binns. Later there will be discussions with the artists, plus Andrew Bick, Dan Keech, James Weldon, Chris Short and Hestercombe’s Head Gardener Claire Greenslade.
The first in a series of exhibitions, walks and writings at Hestercombe in 2025-26 by artist and writer Lizzie Philps.
For 2026, pay what you can in Jan (uary)
Join us for Hestercombe's Giant Book Sale. Thousands of quality second hand booksFiction • Non-fiction • Children’sVisit the book lovers paradise to discover your next best read!Free entry via the book shop.
Join us for a series of tutored workshops at the peaceful winter surroundings at Hestercombe Gardens, where we will learn how to capture beautiful botanical subjects through careful observation and sketching methods. Suitable for all levels.
Join us for a series of tutored workshops at the peaceful winter surroundings at Hestercombe Gardens, where we will learn how to capture beautiful botanical subjects through careful observation and sketching methods. Suitable for all levels.
Join us for a series of tutored workshops at the peaceful winter surroundings at Hestercombe Gardens, where we will learn how to capture beautiful botanical subjects through careful observation and sketching methods. Suitable for all levels.
We are excited to team up with Shepton Snowdrops and some of the best snowdrop gardens in Somerset to create the Great Snowdrop Gardens Trail of Somerset.
Do you want to start growing food? We start from step 1 in your food growing journey, including sowing, planting out & watering
