Mowing in The Formal Gardens

**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...

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...

**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...

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...

On Thursday myself and Claire, our Head Gardener, will be relocating for a gorgeous day at Bradon Farm. The Farm extends over several acres and is owned (and created) by Mr and Mrs Thomas Jones. It is said to be an "inspiration and demonstration on the effective use of structure". There is much to see, with topiary in abundance, a parterre, knot garden,...

Had a productive meeting this morning to ensure we are all singing off the same hymn sheet as the date of the first night of Illumina looms large.... We are having a Press Night on the Thursday which will be a great opportunity to have a dry run for the Team. Ulf is well organised with all the set up - miles of cable! The Gardeners are making sure between...

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...

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...

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...

Looking for a enthusiastic and positive person. Will need to be able to work as a team or on your own in private gardens or public area's. Doing maintenance ie border work, hedge trimming, mowing and (general garden jobs). You will have your own mowing round and portfolio of maintenance jobs for the growing season. The rest of the year more as a team on...

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...

**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...

Between 10am - 2.30pm there will be a large educational group using the gardens. The group will be using areas to the side of the formal gardens and may be noisy. Please be aware of this when visiting the gardens on these days. Gardens, gallery and visitor centre open as usual.

**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...

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 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...

**Hestercombe was something of a secret garden back in 1973**: The Formal Gardens were so run down that Somerset County Council, with the support of Somerset Fire Brigade, initiated what was to become one of the first major garden restorations in the country. **Read more**: The Restoration of the Formal Garden at Hestercombe 1973 to 1980 - a case study that...

I thought you might appreciate this photo of Hestercombe House taken in 1953, just as the Somerset Fire Brigade (est. 1948) was about to move in and make it their headquarters. Somerset County Council leased Hestercombe House for £500 per year in September and would eventually (1977) purchase the House and adjoining 11 acres of land, including the Formal...

The snow has come down all morning and the gardens look lovely. Trees are all dressed up in white and the formal garden is etched out under a snowy covering. We will stay open all weekend as long as at least one of us can get in! The cafe is serving toastie treats with hot chocolate and soup being high up on chilly walkers list of favorites. Come along to...