Mowing in The Formal Gardens

With autumn in full swing now we are certainly finding plenty to do in the gardens Apart from the seemingly never ending task of leaf blowing and raking we have been chopping back all the Mexican daisies that grow in the walls. This reveals the beautiful stone work underneath and shows off the intricate structure of the Formal Garden. We also have some new...

Enhanced by serene scenery, first-class hospitality and an abundance of comfortable accommodation, St Audries Park offers all the charm you would expect from a beautiful country manor wedding venue in Somerset. With our beautiful Orangery and extensive grounds, our country house is the first choice for many wanting a coastal wedding.Our beautiful wedding...

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...

Our client based in Taunton is looking for an experienced Gardener with skillset on maintaining gardens, including mowing lawns, strimming, hedge cutting, weeding etc. The role may also include laying turf, plantings shrubs, flowers. Horticultural knowledge is preferred.A valid UK driving licence is desired but not essential as you might be driving company...

The role of Assistant Gardener represents an opportunity to work in the stunning surroundings of a 9-acre garden, 3 miles outside Taunton. The gardens are varied and include flower beds, a vegetable garden, vineyard, orchard, meadows, ponds and an ornamental woodland walk.Job title: Assistant GardenerThe working day includes a half-hour lunch breakSalary:...

Head Gardener, Claire Reid and her team have worked tirelessly to create the new summer bedding for the Victorian Terrace. Historically, the bedding has alway been changed twice a year so keeping true to this tradition, the formal Garden Team have a new sceme on the Victorian Terrace to enjoy for the summer.:Head Gardener, Claire Reid and her team have...

Our little tea-shed down by the mill pond will be open this week From 11am - 4pm depending on demand. Perfect for a stop off after a walk in the landscape gardens and before carrying on into the formal gardens

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...

The Role:Our client is currently seeking a reliable and skilled Grounds Maintenance Operative to join our team. As a grounds maintenance operative, you will be responsible for the general maintenance and upkeep of outdoor areas, including gardens, parks, and public spaces, ensuring they are kept clean, safe, and visually appealing.Responsibilities: Mowing...

Great year for the Holly hocksTake a stroll down the East Walk in the formal gardens and be dwarfed by the massive Hollyhocks and so far no rust

Devon-based company Moshulu shoes recently used the Edwardian Garden at Hestercombe as the backdrop for their summer 2019 campaign photo shoot:Devon-based company Moshulu recently used the Edwardian Garden at Hestercombe as the backdrop for their summer 2019 campaign photo shoot. The honey coloured stone of the Edwardian Garden was the perfect pairing for...

Ben at Illumina_Illumina is AMAZINGWhat a marvellous way to view a garden. It is completely entrancing and magical. The pathway takes you through the shrubbery to the cascade and back round and through the formal gardens. The change in perspective in the dark is phenomenal and having worked in the gardens for 6 years it is really disorientating.The art work...

Over the last couple of weeks the weather has been wet and wild The gardens and car park especially have suffered from flooding and water damage meaning that all the gardeners have been busy cleaning up In the Formal Gardens we have been lifting the cannas from the Great Plat. We have two types, the Canna musifolia are the tall ones on the outside beds with...

you are doing a cracking job Just keep asking us all questions and learn as much as you can and keep baking**:I think that it is about time we introduced two of our valuable team members.... the students.Jessica Redhead (on the left) and Hannah Philips (on the right)Both started here in September 2012 and will be with us until the end of August 2013. They...

The Hon. Mrs Portman with her dog at Hestercombe_Celebrating International Women's Day at Hestercombe:From the moment Constance Portman gently suggested to her husband Teddy that she have a small amount of extra garden for herself at Hestercombe, women continued to play a significant part in the running of the Formal and Landscape gardens.Mrs Portman's...

If you are visiting Hestercombe over the next couple of weeks (and you must) then make sure you head to the rotunda in the formal garden to 'smell spring'. The walls of the rotunda are covered in a deciduous shrub called Chimonanthus praecox, also known as Wintersweet. At this time of year it produces these small waxy flowers that look rather like a 1930's...

looking relaxed after a week's holiday with his young family including three very energetic little boys... Kevin is our Welsh Wizard Head Chef and even on his hols he has been thinking about the new Autumn menu. Always seasonal, I think we can look forward to pumpkins and butternut, sweet potatoes and casseroles but he does promise to keep the hand made...

Come and visit our new Gallery Shop in Hestercombe House, as well as our Gift Shop and Plant Centre on the Marquee Lawn:An overview of the new Gallery ShopGallery Shop:Visit Hestercombe's new Gallery Shop for beautiful local handmade gifts. With a mix of high quality pieces, local artists showcase their work - a diverse selection of materials including...

Regular visitors to Hestercombe may have noticed some hazel structures popping up around the Formal Garden. These are actually our way of staking some of the herbaceous plants that are likely to flop over if not supported. Hazel staking offers an attractive alternative to metal link stakes, plus it is also a lot of fun to doThe hazel (_Corylus avellana_) was...

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...