Free Entry to Hestercombe for National Lottery Open

**UPDATE, 7th January 2021: *Please note: in line with the national lockdown, Hestercombe House and Gallery is temporarily closed. Read our full coronavirus statement for opening information.**: To visit Hestercombe House and Gallery (when reopen), you will need to book a gardens admission ticket, which also gives you entry to _Open-Up_, a new series of...

**A regularly updated statement from Hestercombe Gardens regarding steps taken on site to help protect customers and staff from the Covid-19 pandemic.**: **Latest update: Friday 30th April 2021**: **Hestercombe Gardens is open daily for visits**: We are delighted to return to being fully open for visits from members and non-members. Bookings for the gardens...

**Help for heritage as Hestercombe receives lifeline from Government’s Culture Recovery Fund**: - Help for heritage as Hestercombe receives lifeline from Government’s Culture Recovery Fund**Heritage sites protected**: - More help for heritage in need with £14 million investment in England’s historic sites - Hestercombe among 162 organisations...

This is the last week you can see 'Leaping the Fence' featuring many world famous artists including Mark Wallinger and Tracey Emin. But fear not! On 14th October we re-open with the Tania Kovats show 'Oceans', a wonderful collection of drawing, sculpture and multi-media. Here's a great review from it's last outing in Edinburgh's Fruitmarket Gallery: The...

Hestercombe is a wonderful garden venue and regularly listed amongst the top 20 gardens in Britain. Many activities are offered in the garden, a good number of them are free with garden entry such as the butterfly walks and the charcoal burning days. Special emphasis is also given to children as it’s a great place for them to engage with nature and enjoy...

**A vision to completely restore Hestercombe is one step closer thanks to a £1.5 million grant from the National Heritage Memorial Fund.**: This remarkable donation has enabled Hestercombe to acquire land totalling 320 acres, securing the world-class, Grade 1 heritage landscape, gardens and buildings for future generations. A vision to completely restore...

**We have joined forces with Spark Somerset to invite and share our warm space with the local community this winter at Hestercombe.**: We’ll be opening our doors at Hestercombe House and offering a comfortable space for those that need it to sit, read, and stay as long as they wish. Our warm space is free to access with the opportunity to view our art...

**WELCOME TO WINTER WONDERLAND AT HESTERCOMBE!** - A sparkling winter woodland walk, skating, Father Christmas and 3 unique Carol concerts combine to make the festive season at Hestercombe exceptional._ For the first time, from November 30th until December 24th, from 4.30pm each evening (check website for exact times) an enchanting Winter Wonderland...

**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...

**On a balmy summer's evening - yes we have had a few of them - Folksy Theatre burst on to their makeshift stage in front of the Orangery in the heart of Hestercombe's formal gardens with their adaptation of Shakespeare's 'Much Ado About Nothing'. It's my favorite Shakespeare and I was not disappointed. The Folksy group was full of energy, colour and skill...

**HALLOWE’EN IS HORRIFYING AT HESTERCOMBE THIS HALF TERM! October 2012** **Non stop fun an frights throughout the holidays.** Hestercombe undergoes a phenomenal transformation at Hallowe’en - from stunning gardens by day to spine chilling chamber of horrors at night! Take a **Terror Tour** - but take care because the zombies are coming and they will be...

**First paper to pick up the skating story - The Western Daily Press. Have a look at their lovely photo here: WesternDailyPress And guess who's dressed as an elf?! "The new Face of Somerset, Megan Bessell, with Father Christmas, elves Helen Barsby and Emily McCoy, enjoy the Hestercombe Christmas Skating Rink near Taunton last night, where they were skating...

**With all the turbulence and noise going on in the world at the moment members can draw some comfort from the fact that Hestercombe is still here, tranquil and peaceful as ever.**: **The leaves on the trees will soon be starting to turn golden and the great cascade with its tumbling water will once again return to its dramatic self.**: Everything at...

Have you spotted our exciting new Dogs of Hestercombe exhibition in the Long Gallery, which celebrates Hestercombe's patrons with paws? We love to welcome visitors and their dogs for walks in the garden and a spot of canine ice cream in the Stables Cafe. Earlier this year, volunteer and photographer Daniel McCarthy captured these charming photos of visitors...

The Hestercombe archives are bursting at the seams with facts, pictures and accounts of the history of Hestercombe and those who lived and worked here. In this installment of Memories of Hestercombe we hear about the Grand Ball which took place in January 1897 - and the star studded Taunton guest list in attendance. _Written by Kim Legate, Archivist_ - On...

Hestercombe's swan on the Pear Pond, summer 2018 **It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Hestercombe's swan due to natural causes.** **Join us for a Tribute to Hestercombe's Swan on Thursday 3rd January 2019 at 11am, on the Pear Pond.** Known by many members and staff as 'Swanny', 'Swanny McSwanFace', 'Angry Bob', and 'Cyril' (amongst...

Sunday 23rd September 11.30a.m. to 7.30p.m. Half Price Entry to the Gardens with your lecture ticket... An exciting line up of authors will be appearing at Hestercombe on Sunday 23rd September for the second day of the Taunton Literary Festival. It’s the second year of the festival and the first time this attractive venue has been used and promises to be a...

**Creative Director, Tim Martin, updates on what has been happening at Hestercombe Gallery.**: - Credit: Jem Southam, Winter Walks Three Ducks.In February this year, as part of the ‘Expanding Landscapes: Painting after Land Art’ exhibition programme, we held an event entitled ‘Landscape Resonances’, where co-curator Joy Sleeman explored the ‘after...

**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...

**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...