Green Ideas for The Garden

by Claire Greenslade, Hestercombe's Head Gardener_How do you manage a large garden with a furloughed team and locked down volunteers?Who knew that this would ever be a question I would have to ask myself. This virus is something that none of us had been able to prepare for.Since March 23rd 2020 Hestercombe has had to close its gates. Really big decisions had...

Head Gardener, Claire Greenslade, shares tips on how we're saving water at Hestercombe:As you can imagine in the high temperatures we've experienced recently the gardens are beginning to suffer from heat exhaustion - just like the rest of usAt Hestercombe we are very conscious of our water consumption and use. We recognise that water is such a valuable...

January is when we start much of the pruning in the Formal Gardens. This week we have started pruning the vines and the Magnolia that grow against the walls. The Magnolia is grown to provide a green leafy covering for the tall walls such as those by the South Walk and surrounding the Rotunda. The way we prune these Magnolia is to encourage this green leafy...

We were delighted to learn last month that the Somerset Gardens Trust has generously donated £1,000 towards the cost of restoring and conserving the rotunda in Hestercombe's fantastic formal garden. Designed by Sir Edward Lutyens and built between 1904 and 1908 after he and Gertrude Jekyll were commissioned to create the formal garden at Hestercombe, the...

If the idea of volunteering full time in the garden in all weathers seems a bit daunting, why not help us out with a bit of deadheading over the summer?It doesn't require as much bending and heavy lifting but will help top up your vitamin D levelsFull training and a trug provided, but if possible bring your own secateurs.Many thanksClaire Reid

In 2005, Hestercombe Gardens Trust took ownership of Gotton Copse, a patch of woodland roughly 9 acres in size, but it was several years later that we started to restore the area ~ and found swathes of glorious bluebells:Watch above: Ben gives a tour of the Bluebell Walk at Gotton Copse_- by Ben Knight, Gardener_In 2005, Hestercombe Gardens Trust took...

Welcome to the festive season We're now officially in the mood for Christmas after a very successful annual Christmas Market. Filled with beautiful stalls and friendly, local producers and craftspeople we were bursting at the seams with decorations, food and lots of lovely gift ideas. A great way to kick start the festive season.We're now in a thoroughly...

We have some really beautiful weddings at Hestercombe - unsurprisingly I suppose, with the landscape and formal gardens acting as a backdrop - but this one was a little bit different.Chris and Rhian were married on October 11th 2013 in the Temple.For those who don't know, the Temple is situated at the top of the landscape gardens. It has incredible views out...

A stunning Somerset orangery wedding, Charlotte and Jonny's ceremony had a leafy look and a boho feel. Together they planned a wedding as wild as their romance, with a vibrant vegan twist.Photography by Simon Biffen PhotographyPopping the question:Wedding planning begins with one very important question, and Jonny chose to propose surrounded by Majorca's...

**Location The Cricketers**Are you a Kitchen Team Member looking for your next challenge, or a Kitchen Porter who is ready to take the next step?Do you have- _A passion for Hospitality _- _A willingness to learn new skills everyday _- _A Keen eye for detail _- _The ability to assist the Head Chef with orders, stock taking, food hygiene, _- _The experience to...

Location: The Cricketers TauntonAre you a great team player? You don't need any experience to join as a Front of House Team Member as we will teach you the rest. We want you to be able to connect with the team and deliver a great experience to our guests.Can you- _Welcome and engage every guest_- _Prepare and serve our high-quality food and drink_- _Make...

Location: The Cricketers TauntonAre you a great team player? You don't need any experience to join as a Bar Team Member as we will teach you the rest. We want you to be able to connect with the team and deliver a great experience to our guests.Can you- _Welcome and engage every guest_- _Prepare and serve our high-quality food and drink_- _Make...

To my worldly blog followers, sorry for my absence over the last few weeks, it's been a busy time in the kitchens.A little belated I know but I wish Liz our old pastry chef good luck in her new venture. The weeks that passed after Liz left were busy ones but (would you believe I was making cakes?) but were made easier by the support of a great team in Bart...

Lift Repairs EngineerBristol and surrounding areas (Taunton)Attractive Package including overtime opportunityAt Otis, were dedicated to reinventing the way people move. As cities reach impossible heights and the digital revolution transforms daily life, our customers are looking to Otis for new ways to keep their world moving. As always, we're readywith a...

**Head Gardener Claire Greenslade explores the concept of re-using old bicycle inner tubes to help new trees grow, and reduce plastic in the garden**: - Hessian ribbon degraded too well and needed replacing every few monthsAt Hestercombe we're really keen to be as green and ecologically minded as possible, and are always looking for more ways to improve. So...

**Winter Gardening Ideas: How To Look After Your Garden**: As the chilly nights draw-in make sure you follow these top tips on how to look after your garden over the winter with winter gardening ideas from Head Gardener **Claire Greenslade**. Cannas looking totally tropical on the Great Plat this summer **1. Lift tender plants**: Many tender species need...

Readers, I am after your ideas and thoughts. As you may know we run several half day courses through the year - apple pruning/rose pruning/ seed sowing/cuttings/dry stone walling and charcoal burning etc. What I would like to know from you is, are we missing anything? Is there something horticultural that you wish we could explain to you? Would you like...

We all downed tools and went on a garden visit yesterday. Some may consider this a jolly but I think I have convinced everyone that it is a vital educational trip! And it is - we can all get a bit bogged down with whats going on in our own gardens and forget to look around us at our colleagues and competitors. So we boarded the mini bus and went to Prior...

"To me the sound of summer is the buzz of bees as they happily collect pollen from the plants. I have a real interest in pollinators and make sure that the plant centre stocks plants that encourage bees, butterflies and other insects. **Pollinators are important** Bees pollinate 3/4 of the world's most important crops. Sadly bee numbers have been...

When it's cold outside and the days are short, it can be all too tempting to hunker down, cosy up and stay indoors. But we're here to convince you to throw on a jacket, pull on your wellies and head outside. Visiting winter gardens is a great way to do this. And while there won't be quite so many blooms, the colder months bring their own unique treats. ...

So the late spring has in fact had quite an amazing affect on the garden as everything seems to have come at once. It's an awesome time in terms of colour and it's rare to admire irises, paeonies, roses, wisteria and cistus at the same time - I love it! It is like 3 months condensed into one. Gertrude Jekyll was a great colourist, it was one of her many...

Crunch through fallen leaves in the Landscape Garden, spot holly bushes and steal a kiss under the mistletoeHestercombe’s winter gardens are glimmering with the sleepy, frosty signs of the season. Paying us a visit is a wonderful way to get into the festive spirit, but in the meantime you can check out these ideas for a magical alternative Christmas...

by Claire Greenslade, Hestercombe’s Head Gardener_ **How do you manage a large garden with a furloughed team and locked down volunteers?!** Who knew that this would ever be a question I would have to ask myself. This virus is something that none of us had been able to prepare for. Since March 23rd 2020 Hestercombe has had to close its gates. Really big...

There’s little better than a butterfly fluttering past, a bee buzzing by or a dragonfly darting through when you’re pottering in the garden. You can make those chance encounters more likely by embracing wildlife gardening. Luckily, finding the balance between a wildlife garden and beautiful planting is easier than you might think. Here, we suggest five...

**The Hestercombe Gardens Trust is an independent charitable trust.**: **News & Blogs**: **Hestercombe Gardens Trust**: **Jobs**: **Green Hestercombe**: **Philip White**: **Claire Greenslade**: **Venue Hire**: **Press, Marketing & Location Hire**: **Legal**: The Hestercombe Gardens Trust is an independent charitable trust. We rely on our dedicated team of...

**Now that we’re getting stuck into February (where did the last month go?!) there are a few more events in the pipeline. Over the next month or so Claire is putting on her popular gardening workshops. From pruning to planting there’s something for all budding gardeners! But do make sure you book quickly as they fill up fast. Gardeners Workshops And if...

It is HOT, HOT, HOT. The gardens team are wilting as quickly as the plants and my gentle coaxing and reminders about the how awful it was working in the rain last year are not helping! But we wouldn't be true Brits if we weren't moaning about the weather. All weather and climates come with their own set of problems, but, come on, this is a proper summer!! A...

**January is when we start much of the pruning in the Formal Gardens. This week we have started pruning the vines and the Magnolia that grow against the walls. The Magnolia is grown to provide a green leafy covering for the tall walls such as those by the South Walk and surrounding the Rotunda. The way we prune these Magnolia is to encourage this green leafy...

**Head Gardener, Claire Greenslade, shares tips on how we’re saving water at Hestercombe**: As you can imagine in the high temperatures we’ve experienced recently the gardens are beginning to suffer from heat exhaustion - just like the rest of us! At Hestercombe we are very conscious of our water consumption and use. We recognise that water is such a...

We were delighted to learn last month that the **Somerset Gardens Trust has generously donated £1,000** towards the cost of restoring and conserving the rotunda in Hestercombe’s fantastic formal garden. Designed by Sir Edward Lutyens and built between 1904 and 1908 after he and Gertrude Jekyll were commissioned to create the formal garden at Hestercombe,...

**Out in the gardens, our gardeners have been making the most of wet days by turning the compost heaps. Head Gardener Claire Greenslade tells us more!**: “We have some bark chip to add into our compost heaps as unfortunately we were forced to fell a couple of ash trees which were suffering with ash dieback. However, this really helps add the carbon needed...

**Get outside this season, breathe in the fresh air and watch Hestercombe gardens come alive with the rich colours of autumn.**: - Autumn at HestercombeSeptember and October sees Hestercombe transformed by the rich shades of autumn; the cold-loving flowers and shrubs begin to bloom, bringing new colours and points of interest to the gardens. On your next...

The Christmas Market is open even later on Saturday so you can squeeze in that extra bit of shopping! Times: Saturday 10am - 7pm Sunday 10am - 5pm With over 60 stalls selling unique, festive and imaginative goodies you're sure to find something for that perfect Christmas gift. Why not make a day out of it and visit the garden too - you get the £3 entry to...

I have mixed emotions about September. I love the light. I love the warm weather. But I cant shake off that feeling of impending doom as the nights draw in and the temperature drops - I have absolutely no love for winter! It is just too cold, and I can't even get excited about the prospect of snow. I've tried to enjoy sledging but frankly it's cold and wet...