7 Enchanting Ideas for An Alternative Christmas Tree

**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...

**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...

**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...

**‘Choristers from Wellington School Chapel Choir entertained a packed audience to a magical evening of Carols By Candlelight in Hestercombe House on Saturday.’ The event took place in the grand Victorian hallway of the House, with the choir positioned on the impressive staircase which was festooned with festive garlands. The picture shows 4 of the...

**Hestercombe Shop Blog!! (a little message from Hannah - Shop Manager)** The shop is changing with the new wintery season........there's lots of new and exciting gifts arriving weekly, from stocking fillers to that extra special gift for someone in your life. Locally produced items available to support the area and community, all our cards are personally...

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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...

**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...

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...

**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...

This time next week (Friday 13th) sees many Christmas events taking place at Hestercombe, not least to mention the CHRISTMAS JUMPER DAY!! This year we thought we’d join in with the national money raiser for Save the Children and bring the festive spirit to Hestercombe. The idea is that all staff (we’re extending the invite to all visitors too!!) wear a...

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**Novelties in NOVEMBER AT HESTERCOMBE.** **Fungi, Fiction and Festive Fayre!** November at Hestercombe kicks off with a Historical Writer’s Association Day as part of the Taunton Literary Festival. Throughout the day a range of authors including Anthony Riches, Karen Maitland Romans, Historical Crime and Naval Fiction. Combine food for the mind with...

**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...

We have some really beautiful weddings at Hestercombe - unsurprisingly I suppose, with the landscape and formal gardens acting as a backdrop - but this one was a little bit different. Chris and Rhian were married on October 11th 2013 in the Temple. For those who don't know, the Temple is situated at the top of the landscape gardens. It has incredible views...

The Christmas Market is open even later on Saturday so you can squeeze in that extra bit of shopping! Times: Saturday 10am - 7pm Sunday 10am - 5pm With over 60 stalls selling unique, festive and imaginative goodies you're sure to find something for that perfect Christmas gift. Why not make a day out of it and visit the garden too - you get the £3 entry to...

**Philip White MBE is the Founder and Chief Executive of Hestercombe Gardens Trust**: - Philip White MBE is Founder and Chief Executive of Hestercombe Gardens TrustLooking at Hestercombe today, it is hard to believe that back in 1995, the spectacularly picturesque eighteenth century Landscape Garden at Hestercombe was a hidden valley entirely engulfed by...

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...

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