The Confident Gardener Apple Pruning Workshop

**Step by step advice from Hestercombe's Head Gardener Claire Greenslade on the do's and don't's of pruning apples and pears**: - Follow Claire's step by step guide to apple pruning and you could end up with a big punnet of juicy apples like we do at Hestercombe!The first rule of apple pruning is... don’t worry, it’s not that hard and it’s unlikely...

There are a few last minute spaces on the Apple Pruning workshop with our Head Gardener Claire Reid next Wednesday. The course is a busy morning full of hints and tips from Claire plus hands-on practice in the gardens.

Pruning has been the predominant task for the Formal Gardens team over the last couple of weeks, and its no surprise when you count the number of plants that need pruning during winter. We have seven wall trained figs, five big _Wisteria, _an orchard full of apple trees, not to mention hundreds of roses! Although all these different plants have their own...

Apple pruning confuses a lot of people and it doesn't matter how many times you look at that diagram in the book, your tree just looks nothing like it! Here is my simple version of how to prune your apple tree. First you need to be aware of the reasons for pruning. - To maintain the health of the plant/tree - To control the shape or size - To encourage...

**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...

**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...

Our autumn / winter events are all now online. This week is the **Confident Gardener** workshop - learn about how to prepare semi ripe cuttings with our Head Gardener Claire Reid.

Rate of pay dependant on experience and skill. Desired skills for this role are as follows; - to be thorough and pay attention to detail - patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations - the ability to work well with others - physical skills like lifting, bending and carrying - ambition and a desire to succeed - customer service skills -...

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...

Garden VolunteerCorporate groups can volunteer for a day to make a difference at a local animal charity by helping with gardening, groundwork, or maintenance tasks.As a volunteer, your key responsibilities include:Weeding and clearing vegetation from designated areasStaining fences and animal cabins to maintain their appearance and durabilityPruning plants...

**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...

**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...

**Are you a young, enthusiastic individual who has a strong interest in Garden Landscaping and is keen to strengthen their skills and learn skills along the way? If so, this vacancy might be for you....** - We are SOS Gardening & Landscaping - with 20 years experience in the Landscaping & Horticultural industry, we pride ourselves on working to a high...

There has definitely been a change in the weather recently and we are looking forward to our Autumn Events programme. Planting & gardening workshops a-plenty, with Bicton College setting up new courses and our own too with Head Gardener Claire Reid: Confident Gardener Class We will shortly be moving towards our Christmas activities, from skating to Father...

Just when we all though we could go on holiday... And not to forget the new Autumn Menu. Kevin and his team have once again exceeded expectation with some scrumptious warming dishes using seasonal and local ingredients including a wholesome beef stew with dumplings and the delicious apple and cider cake made with Hestercombe's very own apples! I'm sure...

**The weather has been against us for the last couple of weeks and it can sometimes be difficult to find suitable jobs to do in the garden. When it is frosty, we avoid walking on the grass. This is because the frozen cells in each blade of grass get crushed by the weight of a person, leaving ugly black footprints on the lawn when the ground thaws. Last week...

Conservation VolunteerJoin us as a conservation volunteer at Spark-A-Change Foundation's RSPCA West Hatch Animal and Wildlife Centre.In this role, you will assist our team with various conservation tasks, including:Helping with gardening and grounds maintenance to create a safe and comfortable environment for animalsParticipating in leaf clearing and pruning...

About the RoleWe are seeking a skilled and enthusiastic Charity Grounds Team Member to join our team at the Spark-A-Change Foundation. In this role, you will be responsible for maintaining the grounds and outdoor areas of our animal and wildlife centre.Your key duties will include gardening, groundwork, and maintenance tasks, such as weeding, pruning, and...

We have a family-run farm with a team of three farm staff who manage all the work on the farm and orchards. We have 90 acres of orchards and 70 acres of grazing and a small pedigree suckler herd of Longhorn cattle. This vacancy has been created by a long-term post-holder. There are two other farm staff; one part-time and one full-time. The vacancy could be...