An interactive list of previous exhibitions at Hestercombe Gallery.
Love, laughter, and a little bit of lunacy — enter a world where fairies meddle, lovers quarrel, and magic runs wild! This summer, join us for a breathtaking open-air performance of William Shakespeare’s beloved comedy, A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
A fast-paced open-air adventure at Hestercombe Gardens
A family-friendly open-air theatre performance at Hestercombe Gardens
We’re delighted to collaborate with Somerset Skills & Learning to offer this inspiring sketching course set in the beautiful surroundings of Hestercombe Gardens. Designed to build confidence and nurture creativity, this course invites you to explore nature through sketching while supporting your wellbeing. Join us to develop a new skill and capture the beauty of the landscape in your own unique way.
Join The Bluebirds and Reduced Opera Company in this boldly reimagined Carmen. Sung in English, the drama unfolds inside a vast cloth factory; this is the world of the life-affirming Carmen - a charismatic and seductive textile worker, looking for life beyond the drudgery of the factory floor; there's Jose, the lonely security guard drawn into her rebellious underworld; and the celebrity fashion designer Escamillo of Toro Textiles, with his youthful bravado and iconic bull-ring style. Re-told with a cast of six singers, puppetry and accompanied by piano and flamenco guitar, this re-telling of the classic tale is reworked with new dynamic relevance.
Join the troupe with Taunton Brewhouse for a hilariously high-octane outdoor production of Shakespeare’s ‘Macbeth’.
Join the troupe with Taunton Brewhouse for a hilariously high-octane outdoor production of Shakespeare’s ‘Macbeth’.
The Blue of Distance is an exhibition by Lizzie Philps that brings together cyanotype imagery, planting histories, and reflections on landscape, perception, and cultural memory.
Butterfly Trail & Creative Crafts
Indoor growing year round made simple with our crops suggestions and design ideas
This course is a one day deep dive into planning for Self-sufficiency with regard to growing fruit, veg, herbs, eggs & mushrooms. Suitable for anyone who would like to become as self-sufficient with food growing as possible. What that means to you will vary - from growing your year's worth of potatoes, to salad available year round, to not having to buy anything from the shops, how you define self-sufficiency is up to you, and we can help you get there.
A chance to learn how to manage your food crops without the use of chemicals, pesticides etc
You already have a space for growing food, and you would like help designing it!
We’re delighted to partner with Jackson’s for a special Plein Air Day on 10th April, for a creative day of outdoor art-making in the grounds of Hestercombe Gardens. Whether you're a seasoned painter or picking up a sketchbook for the first time, this relaxed plein air event is open to all artists and art-lovers of all ages and skill levels.
Join us at Hestercombe from 3 April to 19 April for a delightful Easter Bunny Trail and Crafts adventure the whole family will love.
Enjoy a walk around our woodland at Gotton Copse - which will be awash with tens of thousands of bluebells
The second in a series of exhibitions, walks and writings at Hestercombe by artist and writer Lizzie Philps.
Saturday, March 7, 2026 · 10am - 3pm This in depth workshop details the steps toward regenerative soil, reduced irrigation & increased biodiversity, whilst boosting crops
A thank you to our members this March
Easy propagation techniques for edible plants - from seed saving to budding, grafting & layering - beginners & professionals welcome
Do you want to start growing food? We start from step 1 in your food growing journey, including sowing, planting out & watering
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.
The Stolen Hearts Trail is running at Hestercombe Gardens this February half-term, 14th–22nd February. Even better… kids go FREE! A perfect family adventure awaits!
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.
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.
For 2026, pay what you can in Jan (uary)
The wonder of the festive season is here…. from the quiet beauty of the gardens this winter to our wonderful Christmas children’s trail and festive craft activities in the main house, we’ve something for the whole family this Christmas at Hestercombe. KIDS GO FREE. December 6th – January 4th
The first in a series of exhibitions, walks and writings at Hestercombe in 2025-26 by artist and writer Lizzie Philps.
Sunday 9th November, 3pm : Free with Garden entry. Join artist and writer Lizzie Philps on a tour of the gardens to coincide with the season of fading light. Expect to use all your senses on this gently participatory walk.
Sunday 9th November, 1pm : Free with Garden entry. Join artist and writer Lizzie Philps on a tour of the gardens to coincide with the season of fading light. Expect to use all your senses on this gently participatory walk.
This course is for you if you want to super charge your agroforestry system to produce more and quicker!
This course is for you if you would like to incorporate trees within your growing area, or would like to understand better the benefits of trees within your plot.
This spooky season, Hestercombe has a whole host of fantastically frightful activities to keep mini witches and wizards magically occupied - best of all this October half-term (Saturday 25th October to Sunday 2rd November), children go free!
Without the loyal support of our members, Hestercombe would simply not exist for the benefit of the community and future generations. To recognise the contribution that members make to the restoration and care of this special place, we're running a special offers exclusively for members this September. A little thank you from Hestercombe to you.
Kids will become mini explorers as they follow the Bug trail route around the Landscape garden. Extended by popular demand, now running until Sunday 5th October!
Twelfth Night
Robin Hood
Do you want to experience the wellbeing benefits of being in nature whilst developing a new skill?Brought to you by Somerset Skills & Learning this workshop offers a great opportunity to sketch the wonderful scenery at the stunning Hestercombe Gardens. Sketching is the perfect way to experience and deepen your understanding of the natural world through your own unique, creative expression.
Enjoy our walk to the Water Garden and pick your own sunflowers through the new meadow.
Curious about how nature can support your wellbeing?Discover the transformative power of flower essences in this workshop. Based in the stunning gardens of Hestercombe House, you'll learn how these natural remedies gently promote emotional and spiritual growth.
Discover more than 40 captivating sculptures set across the gardens and woodland, as a summer Sculpture Exhibition transforms Hestercombe Gardens, from 31st May to 27th July 2025. Included with garden admission.
Kids go FREE this half term holiday. Saturday 24th May to Sunday 1st June. Applicable for children aged 15 and under when accompanied by a paying adult.
We are thrilled to welcome back Windrush Willow to our Marquee Lawn on Sunday 20th April!
Kids go FREE this Easter. Monday 7th April to Monday 21st April. Come and enjoy the beautiful gardens as they spring into life this Easter. Applicable for children aged 15 and under. The Stables Restaurant will be open only on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The Gardens, House, gift shop and plant sales are open daily.
Treat mum to the day she deserves at Hestercombe
Explore the fascinating history of the Portman family and their Hestercombe estate.
Join us this February half term for our Secret Fairy Door Trail
Hestercombe is holding a Book Sale in the Column Room inside Hestercombe House.
A photographic journey through joy at Hestercombe
A unique opportunity to meet Father Christmas in a magical setting
Join us at Hestercombe on Saturday 30th November for an exclusive book signing with celebrated local author C.J. Skuse.
Hestercombe is proud to present Illuminate, with a dazzling new display.
Visit our annual Christmas Market to find a range of beautiful, locally sourced gifts, crafts and Christmas presents
Come and get all festive creating your very own lino cut in this 3 hour workshop with Gemma Lane from Green Fox workshops.
Join us for our Bampfylde Winter Lecture, with guest speaker Annabel Watts, Head Gardener at Munstead Wood.
Join us for an afternoon of conversation with artists Emma Critchley, Feral Practice with Megan Broadmeadow, Hannah Fletcher, Lydia Halcrow, Jem Southam and curator Tim Martin.
Join Michael Jordan, author and chairman of the Fungus Conservation Trust, for a fun and informative walk to discover and identify mushrooms and toadstools in the gardens
Hestercombe's Plant Centre is holding its popular end of season Plant Sale, starting on Saturday 12th October, until stocks last!
Learn the timeless craft of weaving beautiful, functional baskets.
A thank you to our members this September.
Join us for a pawfect day with your four-legged family members at our fun dog show, taking place on our beautiful Orangery Lawn.
We welcome Folksy Theatre for an evening outside performance of ‘As You Like It’ by William Shakespeare.
Join artist Lydia Halcrow for a walking, talking making workshop.
We welcome Folksy for a performance of Quentin Blake's Angelica Sprocket's Pockets
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!
Shaun the Sheep: Fun with the Flock is coming to life at Hestercombe Gardens during the Summer Holidays.
NEW exhibition exploring landscape and environment.
Enjoy Hestercombe after hours with a sunset stroll and delicious two-course supper and drink.
This National Garden Scheme (NGS) event will include a private evening tour of Hestercombe gardens with our Head Gardener, Claire Greenslade.
Can you name all of the critters in our Ugly Bug Ball Trail this May Half Term?
An artistic afternoon to see, hear, to walk and talk.
Hestercombe is welcoming Quantock Classics to the turning circle
Visit our brand new Spring Fair to explore a range of locally sourced gifts, crafts, plants, food and drink and fun activities for the whole family.
A new play by Brenda Callis
New exhibition celebrating 10 years of Hestercombe Gallery.
Join us for our free new minibeast exhibition, 'Big Views of Tiny Creatures', by David Spears in Bampfylde Hall.
Join us for our annual Bampfylde lecture: a farewell to Hestercombe's founder Philip White MBE in conversation with author Tim Richardson
Join us this February half term for our fun Family Tree Trail.
New exhibition exploring human progress, landscape and the environment.
Centred around Hestercombe’s Apple Loft, this pop-up film festival presents a series of short films and excerpts made in the West Country over the past few years.
Join us for our new, seasonal Bampfylde Series of talks, with guest speakers Charlotte Harris and Hugo Bugg of Harris Bugg Studio
As part of Somerset Open Studios, Naomi Kendall and Lisa Takahashi will bring pop-up studios and an exhibition to Hestercombe House.
Join us for an afternoon of conversation with artist Susan Derges, poets Fiona Benson and John Wedgwood Clarke, and historian of photography and poet, Mark Haworth-Booth OBE.
Meet Maggie Powell of Natty Deco, one of the local makers featured in our Gallery Shop
We welcome Folksy for an evening outside performance of ‘The Merry Wives of Windsor’ by William Shakespeare.
Join Somerset County Cricket Club and Somerset Cricket Foundation at Hestercombe for some fun inflatable cricket games.
We welcome Folksy for a performance of ‘The Ugly Duckling’.
Join us this summer for free family waggle dance experiences
New for 2023, unlimited access in the summer holidays when purchasing one visit
New exhibition featuring works from artist Susan Derges, who is internationally renowned for quite literally inventing new ways of making pictures.
Join us this summer for a hive of family activities
This event brings together artists, architects and curators to discuss their work, collections and themes in the current ‘Design for Life’ exhibition, which visually explores the historical intersection of art and architecture from the past 65 years.
Treat your Dad to the day he deserves at Hestercombe.
Join our gardeners up at the Charcoal Burner's Camp to experience the old-fashioned life of a woodsman.
Join us this May half term for a family word hunt around Hestercombe House
Join Claire Greenslade, Hestercombe's Head Gardener, for a private walk around the gardens.
Join us for a picnic on our marquee lawn to celebrate the King's Coronation.
An illustrated talk on the Somerset countryside by Dr Chris Smith
New international exhibition featuring work from Le Corbusier to the present day
Join us for our annual Bampfylde winter lecture, with guest speaker Charles Hind MA, FSA, Chief Curator at the Royal Institute of British Architects
free when paying standard garden admission or for members
Join the Hestercombe team for a free afternoon of talks and tours to find out more about our volunteer opportunities
free for members or when paying standard garden admission
Join us this February half term for a children's trail inspired by nature and art
Focusing on the content of the current exhibition (Expanding Landscapes: Painting After Land Art), curated by Rebecca Partridge and Joy Sleeman, and the transformations in the late 20th and early 21st centuries in landscape art and painting.
free with garden admission or for members
New for 2023, unlimited access in January when purchasing one visit
showcases work by fourteen artists including Jessica Warboys, Richard Long, Onya McCausland, Nancy Holt, Hannah Brown and Turner Prize 2022 nominee Ingrid Pollard
Coinciding with the exhibition opening (Expanding Landscapes: Painting After Land Art), and including conversations with curators and artists
Back by popular demand, Sciencedipity will be visiting Hestercombe again for a spellbinding masterclass of potion making.
With artists Brendan Barry, Feral Practice, John Newling, Sophy Rickett and Marjolaine Ryley, special guest Hannah Fletcher of The Sustainable Darkroom and curators Kate Best and Tim Martin
Herbal Chemigrams: foraging to make photographic developer for chemigrams and tea infusions with The Sustainable Darkroom
With Marjolaine Ryley, plus Phytocentric with Feral Practice. 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.
A comedy written by Shakespeare about misunderstandings, deception and love...
A fantasy world filled with peculiar characters, where the unexpected is to be expected...
Treat your Dad to the day he deserves at Hestercombe
Join the gardeners up at the Charcoal Burner's Camp to experience the old-fashioned life of a woodsman ~ and get free marshmallows to toast.
Five artists - Brendan Barry, Feral Practice, John Newling, Sophy Rickett and Marjolaine Ryley - present new works exploring art and sustainability in the face of the climate emergency and declining biodiversity
Join our terrarium workshop and learn step by step how to create your very own self sustaining ecosystem
For the first time ever, Hestercombe will display never-before-seen objects from its archives, showcasing an array of items spanning across five-hundred years
Visit Hestercombe Gardens on Tuesday 1st March and Tuesday 7th June 2022 to support the National Garden Scheme's Open Days
Join four of the artists showing as part of our Changing Atmospheres exhibition for a guided tour and relaxed conversation about their creative processes
Join us for our annual Bampfylde winter lecture, with guest speaker Marcus Chilton-Jones MA, Curator at RHS Bridgewater Gardens
Branch out at Hestercombe this half-term with our pop-up Forest School inspired activities!
Changing Atmospheres explores creative responses from nine unique artists on what it means to rediscover connection to natural environments and the self
Help Gertrude the bat and her flappy friends find the ingredients for their disgustingly-delicious centipede pudding!
*This event is fully booked* Join Michael Jordan, author and chairman of the Fungus Conservation Trust, for a fun and informative walk to discover and identify mushrooms and toadstools in the gardens.
Celebrated artist Mariele Neudecker will discuss her practice, career and current exhibition at Hestercombe Gallery, SEDIMENT, with Artistic Director and artist Tim Martin.
A number of beautiful hand-painted, solid wood carved toadstools are to be auctioned as part of The Mushroom Magic Trail
Join us for a unique ride on Hestercombe's beautiful Edwardian punt as we return 'Constance' to the Pear Pond
Grab a stick of charcoal and some paper as you create wonderful charcoal drawings from textures and surfaces dotted around the gardens.
Mapping, the Arctic, the Deep Sea and lockdown drawings in an exhibition of work by Mariele Neudecker
Shakespeare’s comedy The Tempest features a major act of betrayal, ill treatment, the development of magic arts and a plot of revenge...
Explore Rook Wood this summer, as it magically transforms into a fungal paradise filled with terrific toadstools!
Make this summer’s school holiday a Super Summer at Hestercombe with a heap of fantastically fun events, all aimed at children and families.
On this fun family garden trail, find the words nestled within the Landscape Garden and create your own unique story book to take home!
Spend a morning flower arranging with experienced florist and flower grower Jan from Blue Shed Flowers.
Hestercombe's gardens will be open until 8pm on Wednesday evenings throughout the summer until the end of September.
Join the gardeners up at the Charcoal Burner's Camp to experience the old-fashioned life of a woodsman ~ and get free marshmallows to toast.
Enjoy a sumptuous bottomless brunch from 10am to 11.30am every Saturday and Sunday ~ perfect for catch-ups with friends!
Cassie the Cat Burglar is out causing mischief, threatening to steal the artworks dotted around Hestercombe's gardens. Complete fun activities at each artwork, learning a bit about how it was made whilst tracking Cassie's footsteps.
This diverse show brings works by Andy Warhol, Derek Jarman, Claudette Johnson, Susan Derges, Leon Kossoff, Patrick Caulfield, Gilbert and George and Balraj Khanna to Somerset, and for the first time to Hestercombe.
Join intrepid artist Coplestone Warre Bampfylde as you traverse his landscape gardens, jumping from view to view as you create a masterpiece of your own!
The Hestercombe chefs will be firing up the pizza oven with a simple, delicious pizza menu on the evening of Sunday 2nd May.
Sir Andrew Burns KCMG is the guest speaker at Hestercombe's annual Bampfylde Lecture, which this year will be live streamed for the very first time.
The wood-fired pizza oven will be in action tonight, as we keep the menu simple and delicioso with pizza, pasta and arrancini.
Celebrate our nation’s love of pies and enjoy a selection of tasty creations from Hestercombe’s chefs – all to take away.
Treat yourself to a mid-January feast with a delicious range of homemade burgers – and take them away to enjoy at home.
To celebrate Coplestone Warre Bampfylde’s life and his importance to the history of Hestercombe and the South West, we bring together the largest survey of his original artworks and objects ever seen in one place, through the exhibition ‘A Gentleman of Taste’.
Open-Up is a series of outdoor artworks commissioned by Hestercombe Gallery in response to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Commissioned as part of Bampfylde 300, celebrated artist Richard Long’s artwork Jackdaw Line is set in Hestercombe’s magnificent Georgian Landscape Garden.
Most Admirably Improved by Art Charlotte Hodes, Rebecca Partridge, Kelly Richardson, Fiona Hingston with Coplestone Warre Bampfylde (1720-1791)
Renowned artist Ben Rivers presents Urthworks at Hestercombe Gallery, from 9 November 2019 to 9 February 2020
To mark the 150th anniversary of the birth of Sir Edwin Lutyens (1869-1944), Hestercombe Gallery presented Where Function Ends, including new work by three artists that responds to the legacy of the man whose designs transformed the Hestercombe site.
The solo exhibition ‘Elsewhen’ brought together a series of works and interventions by internationally acclaimed artist Simon Faithfull that collectively act as a kind of orientation device for both the artist and the visitor to Hestercombe Gallery.
Featured artists: Sarah Bennett, Megan Calver and Philippa Lawrence
Gertrude Jekyll: An Artist’s Eye presents original paintings and photography of her gardens.
This exhibition presented a new and recent body of work by internationally acclaimed artist Helen Sear.
Featured artists: Anna Barriball; George Shaw; John Brown; John Newling; Mariele Neudecker; Mary Griffiths; Mary McIntyre; Mikhail Karikis.
Discussion by Natasha Rosling, Alexander Stevenson, Alistair Grant, Simon Lee Dicker
New Exhibition from Hestercombe's Artist in Residence
This exhibition was the first solo exhibition of artist Tim Knowles’s work since 2014 and the most extensive presentation of his work at the time.
An exhibition of art work created through Somerset Art Works’ Projects with InspirED schools.
Buffet d’art showcased an array of work by 45 artists all of whom contributed buffet sized pieces of work to be perused on a plinth.
Diverse exhibition of historic and contemporary art
This exhibition by artist Stephen Smith was accompanied by works from the Ingram Collection of Modern British Art.
Clean Heart: A Landscape Retrospective presents work from internationally acclaimed artist Clare Woods
An exhibition that maps a series of relationships between artists and landscapes.
A selection of the Postcards Collection by Jeremy Cooper, featuring over 200 artists.
During a summer-long artist residency at Hestercombe, artist Simon Bayliss has responded to the gardens through painting en plein air and writing poetry
Double Take: Photography and the Garden brought together photographs by Gertrude Jekyll (1843-1932) with work by leading contemporary artists Sarah Jones, Helen Sear and Mark Edwards
This exhibition focused on the personal passions of art collector Chris Ingram, and showcased important works from the twentieth century to the present day
Second Site presented new contemporary work by five artists who responded to Hestercombe Gallery’s reclaimed spaces through exploration of Hestercombe’s history and recent re-unification between the house and gardens
Oceans, a solo show by Tania Kovats, is the second exhibition at Hestercombe Gallery, and presents a selection of the artist’s existing work made between 1993 and 2004
The opening exhibition at Hestercombe Gallery presents groundbreaking artists such as Tracey Emin, Mark Wallinger, Mark Quinn, Mike Nelson and Susan Philipsz among others, many of them Turner Prize winners and nominees
