Our Unique Yellow Lawn

The mowing season is upon us and it is a very exciting time of the year. Everything is starting to grow, especially the grass, so I thought that I would tell you about some of the different ways we mow in the Formal Gardens. **Rotary Mowing** The mower above is a Honda Izy, a four wheeled rotary pedestarian mower, but what does this mean? Rotary mowers...

This weekend was a busy one for events, a big wedding on Saturday and Father's Day BBQ on Sunday. Even though the weather wasn't perfect we still had some stalwarthy folk who came along to enjoy the food and games on Sunday. Here is a lovely photo of two young members who got married in 2010 here and have been members ever since! Here is: Gary and Hannah...

Hestercombe’s Wildflower meadow - showing evidence of the hot early summer (image: Ben Knight) - By Claire Greenslade_ “It has been such an extraordinary year in so many ways, even weather wise - spring was so hot that half the plants in the Wildflower Meadow germinated quickly, flowered and went to seed in a flash, and the whole site looked a bit burnt...

**No Mow May ~ can you resist your mower for one month to help insect life in the UK?! Head Gardener Claire Greenslade sets you a challenge...**: **No Mow May** is an initiative set up by Plant Life, a charity that aims to promote the conservation of plants and habitat, and to increase awareness of the value of plants. They're asking for gardeners across...

It's nearly the end of the holidays and we've only got two Fun Fridays left! Tomorrow it's Sporty Friday, with traditional races, big games on the lawn and craft activities. Don't forget our family BBQ too, there will be sausages & burgers available to keep you going!

**What a summer! I have never known such a prolonged drought in my 15 years of working at Hestercombe. I’m surprised, and pleased, that not only have the plants survived, but the team has too.**: **Very early on we took the decision not to water the lawns. Water is such a valuable commodity and as a public garden it’s important that we show a different...

We've got some egg-straordinary events going on over Easter. Easter bunny trails around the garden, egg decorating and rolling and some very special visitors on the Orangery Lawn! Meet the chickens over the Easter weekend. Moorland Poultry are bringing some of their prize hens along to meet our Easter visitors.

**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 Shop**Gallery 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...

**National Tree Week is the perfect time for celebrating trees. Did you know that our sweet chestnut on Hestercombe's Orangery Lawn is over 500 years old?!**: - The Oak tree in the East Orchard at HestercombeNaturally, we’re tree mad here at Hestercombe, and as it’s National Tree Week from 27th November - 5th December, we want to shout about some of the...

**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...

Last Friday was our 1st **FUN FRIDAY** and we had a great turn out! Children (and adults) enjoyed biscuit decorating and Malcolm's magic show... Sasha brought a little donkey to meet everyone... Some children fell in the pond when their raft fell apart!! And there was a fantastic assortment of fancy dress fairies, here's some pictures below! The next Fun...

**By Rosemary Pease née Portman** The wonderful thing about Hestercombe is that so many people love the placethe spirit of those beautiful gardens and the feeling (that I’ve often picked up when talking to visitors and to the wonderfully enthusiastic staff) that part of it belongs to them personally as well as to thousands of others. - Mrs. Portman with...

Just thought that I would let you know what we have been up to by the daisy steps. Our catering department use an electric buggy to transport things to and from the barn and orangery when we have weddings and conferences. Over our wet summer this has caused damage to the lawn by leaving muddy tyre tracks. We have placed down a plastic mesh to stabilize the...

**A 2004 project successfully replanted a unique variety of historic irises on the East Rill borders in Hestercombe's formal gardens ~ and many of them will be sold in the Plant Centre**: - Bruno- Flavescens- Honorabile- Ma mie- Madame Chereau- MonsignorIn 2004, an important project was undertaken at Hestercombe to replant irises on the East Rill, according...

Grounds Maintenance OpportunitiesWe are seeking skilled Grounds and Garden Maintenance workers to join our team at PPM Recruitment.Your duties will include:Grass and lawn cutting, edging, and strimmingHedge cutting and pruningLitter picking and weed controlUsing mowers and powered toolsThese are permanent roles available after a successful probation...

Grounds Maintenance OpportunitiesWe are seeking skilled Grounds and Garden Maintenance workers to join our team at PPM Recruitment.Your duties will include:Grass and lawn cutting, edging, and strimmingHedge cutting and pruningLitter picking and weed controlUsing mowers and powered toolsThese are permanent roles available after a successful probation...

Sorry for the lack of blogs, we had a delivery last week of over 7000 bedding plants as well as our own home grown annuals to get in the ground so it has been a busy couple of weeks! Speed planting is definitely a required skill at this time of year and all us gardeners have to quickly find our second gear - there has also been a lot of early mornings and...

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...

Grounds Maintenance Operative OpportunityWe are seeking a skilled Grounds Maintenance Operative to join our team at PPM Recruitment. As a Grounds Maintenance Operative, you will be responsible for maintaining the grounds and gardens of our clients' properties.Your duties will include:Grass and lawn cutting and edgingStrimming and hedge cutting and...

Woo hoo! Another long weekend... it will be great to see some more people at Hestercombe this side of half-term. And in true Hestercombe style, Kevin's putting on a BBQ in the courtyard on Bank Holiday Monday. Freshly cooked meat over the Hestercombe charcoal and a delicious variety of crispy salads. And as May draws to an end we're all getting busy. Herb...