Hestercombe Gardens

13/07/2026

Looking for a magical family day out this summer?

Join Alice at Hestercombe for a whimsical garden trail full of surprises.

Follow the White Rabbit...
Discover hidden characters...
Enjoy themed arts & crafts...
Take home a special Alice souvenir...

For just £1, your adventure begins with a trail sheet—then it’s up to you to explore, imagine, and discover.

Perfect for curious minds and little explorers.

Plan your visit: https://www.hestercombe.com/whats-on

Will you follow the White Rabbit?

12/07/2026

Curiouser and curiouser…

This summer, a classic story comes to life in the gardens at Hestercombe.

Step into Wonderland and follow Alice on a whimsical trail through our historic landscape, where imagination and nature meet.

Along the way, families can discover themed arts and crafts inspired by the much-loved story, set against the backdrop of the gardens in full summer colour.

Alice’s Adventures in Hestercombe
23 July – 31 August

Perfect for curious minds of all ages.

https://www.hestercombe.com/whats-on

Something magical is on its way…

11/07/2026

A different way to experience Hestercombe’s gardens.

Join us for a free guided tour and tasting through our edible landscape, and discover how we grow food in harmony with nature.

Led by Rachel from EDGE, this relaxed walk offers a chance to explore our productive growing spaces, learn about regenerative gardening, and taste a variety of unusual crops along the way.

From herbs and edible flowers to seasonal preserves, this is a hands-on experience for anyone curious about how food can be grown more sustainably.

Thursday 30 July
Free event (booking essential)

Book your place: https://www.hestercombe.com/whats-on

A gentle introduction to a very different kind of gardening.

11/07/2026

🌱 What is No-Dig Gardening?

Have you heard the term "no-dig" but aren't quite sure what it means?

At our market gardens, it's one of the key ways we grow healthy, productive crops while looking after the soil for the future.

Instead of digging or turning the soil each year, we leave it undisturbed and add layers of compost and organic matter to the surface. This feeds the soil naturally, allowing earthworms, fungi and beneficial microbes to do the hard work for us.

Why do we use this method?

🌿 It improves soil health and structure
🪱 It protects the incredible life beneath our feet
💧 It helps the soil hold water during dry spells
🌱 It reduces weeds over time
🥬 It produces healthy, productive crops while working with nature

Healthy soil is the foundation of every successful garden, and by avoiding unnecessary disturbance, we're helping to create a resilient growing system that improves year after year.

Whether you're growing on an allotment, in your back garden or on a larger scale, no-dig is a fantastic approach that's suitable for growers of all experience levels.

💬 Have you tried no-dig gardening, or are you curious to give it a go? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!

10/07/2026

A full day of outdoor theatre at Hestercombe.

On Friday 17 July, Alfresco Actors bring two open-air productions to the gardens—offering something for both families and evening audiences.

Kaspar: Prince of Cats (4.30pm)
A gentle, heartwarming adaptation of Michael Morpurgo’s story, perfect for families and younger audiences.

Around the World in 80 Days (7.00pm)
A fast-paced, energetic adventure following Phileas Fogg on his race across the globe—full of humour, invention and live storytelling.

Bring a picnic, settle into the gardens, and make a full day of theatre in the open air.

Tickets & details:
https://www.hestercombe.com/whats-on/kaspar-prince-of-cats
https://www.tickettailor.com/events/alfrescoactors/2195838

A summer double-bill not to be missed.

09/07/2026

Step into Wonderland this summer…

Fall down the rabbit hole at Hestercombe and follow Alice on a magical garden adventure.

• curious characters
• uncover hidden surprises
• enjoy themed arts & crafts along the way

For just £1, pick up your trail sheet and set off on a whimsical journey through the gardens—plus take home your very own Alice souvenir.

But hurry… the White Rabbit won’t wait forever.

Will you follow him?
The adventure starts here: https://www.hestercombe.com/whats-on

08/07/2026

If you're looking to build your gardening skills while learning practical regenerative growing techniques, these courses at Hestercombe Gardens are well worth a look. From climate-resilient gardening to soil health, propagation and even unusual edible plants, there's something for every grower. 🌿🌱 Highly recommended!

edge

08/07/2026

A surprise visitor in the garden.

One of our gardeners came across a slow worm while working in the Landscape Garden — a quiet reminder of the rich wildlife that shares this space with us.

Often mistaken for a snake, slow worms are actually legless lizards and an important part of a healthy garden ecosystem. Seeing them here is a positive sign of biodiversity thriving within the landscape.

Moments like this are a reminder that Hestercombe is not only a designed landscape, but a living one — full of small, often hidden encounters with nature.

07/07/2026

Discover More at Hestercombe
There’s always more to explore.

Our exhibitions—running throughout the year and included with admission—bring together art, history and the stories behind the gardens.

From landscape design and hidden histories
To contemporary art and colour
To the people who shaped Hestercombe

Step inside, look closer, and see the gardens in a whole new way.

Perfect for a slower, more thoughtful day out.

Plan your visit: https://www.hestercombe.com/whats-on