Tree's Not a Crowd: National Tree Week

Crunch through fallen leaves in the Landscape Garden, spot holly bushes and steal a kiss under the mistletoeHestercombe’s winter gardens are glimmering with the sleepy, frosty signs of the season. Paying us a visit is a wonderful way to get into the festive spirit, but in the meantime you can check out these ideas for a magical alternative Christmas...

**Mehrdad Tafreshi has created stunning sculptures for The Chelsea Flower Show, together with many public buildings and private residences.**: **We’re delighted to have secured this beautiful tree fountain for the courtyard by The Stables Restaurant.**: Made of copper, the sculpture will gain patina and character as it ages and weathers. It’s a real...

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...

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...

**Head Gardener, Claire Greenslade, explains how Hestercombe is fighting ash dieback and trying to protect the future of our woodlands**: Starting this week, and throughout February, our skilled gardening team will be carrying out crucial tree preservation work across the estate, in order to deal with the trees that have sadly succumbed to ash dieback. This...

Our client, a local school in Taunton, is looking to appoint a Headteacher's PA. This role is full time hours, 37 hours per week, 38 weeks per year (Term time). Initially on a temporary basis however potential to lead on to a permanent position. Job Details for the role of Headteacher's PA and Clerk to the Board of Trustees: To provide highly...

**Job Profile** The post holder is employed by Elm Tree House to work primarily, but not exclusively with clients living in the home. The post-holder may on occasion be required to work within the residential unit as and when requested by the home manager. Responsible to the home manager, under the supervision of the team leader, the post-holder will...

Have you ever wondered about mistletoe? I have been working in the orchard pruning the apple trees recently and noticed the abundance of mistletoe we have growing there. I was inspired to learn more about this interesting plant that I walk past every day! Mistletoe, or _Viscum album_ in Latin, is an evergreen partially parasitic plant which grows in the...

**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...

**Head Gardener Claire Greenslade explores the concept of re-using old bicycle inner tubes to help new trees grow, and reduce plastic in the garden**: - Hessian ribbon degraded too well and needed replacing every few monthsAt Hestercombe we're really keen to be as green and ecologically minded as possible, and are always looking for more ways to improve. So...

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...

'''Duties:''' - Perform landscape maintenance tasks such as mowing, edging, and trimming lawns - Plant and maintain flowers, shrubs, and trees - Operate power tools and equipment such as lawn mowers, trimmers, and blowers - Use hand tools for tasks such as pruning and weeding - Maintain cleanliness and organization of work areas '''Requirements:''' -...

**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...

**We are currently recruiting for part time Restaurant Assistants to join our wonderful Restaurant team!** **This will be working 20-25 hours per week, 3-4 Days** **The Role** This role is based in our Elm Tree Restaurant and Pondside Café and reports to the F&B Manager. As a Restaurant Assistant, you will be responsible for delivering an exceptional...

**In 2005, Hestercombe Gardens Trust took ownership of Gotton Copse, a patch of woodland roughly 9 acres in size, but it was several years later that we started to restore the area ~ and found swathes of glorious bluebells!**: - Watch above: Ben gives a tour of the Bluebell Walk at Gotton Copse_ - by Ben Knight, Gardener_ **In 2005, **Hestercombe Gardens...

**Leaping the Fence**: The opening exhibition at Hestercombe Gallery presents groundbreaking artists such as Tracey Emin, Mark Wallinger, Mark Quinn, Mike Nelson and Susan Philipsz among others, many of them Turner Prize winners and nominees **Oceans by Tania Kovats**: Oceans, a solo show by Tania Kovats, is the second exhibition at Hestercombe Gallery, and...

Job Introduction An exciting opportunity is available for a part-time Estates Specialist based at Taunton working 2.5 days per week Weds pm to Friday. You will be responsible for the negotiation of complex consents, wayleaves, easements and agreements in respect of the location of distribution assets, to settle significant damage claims and to design,...

**So it did snow in the end. And we've got some gorgeous pictures from wandering around the landscape gardens. As I'm sure you are aware, the gardens & cafe will remain open as long as at least one of us can get in! If you are worried about opening times this weekend, call the shop directly on 01823 413769, or the cafe to check yourself in for some hearty...

**Autumn Days Out With The Kids**: With the autumn term in full flow, we’re already thinking about how to occupy our little ones during the October holidays. We’ve put together our Top 5 activities to help the whole family embrace the outdoors with our autumn days out with the kids! **Make Leaf Prints**: Go on a nature hunt and collect leaves to make...

**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...