Kale

This week I planted out 40 Kale plants in the Batty Langley vegetable garden that have been quietly growing along in the greenhouse since September. We are trying three varieties, ‘Red Russian’, ‘Cavolo Nero’ and ‘Borecole – Green Curled Dwarf’. Kale does well over the colder months, so will hopefully add some interest in the…

Free lantern making workshops

Help make our enchanted mushroom lantern village for christmas in the Gardens. We’re working with artist Sophie Handy to make 100 little mushroom houses from willow and tissue paper. A great family, club or class event. These workshops are free. Your creations will go into the Gardens to help make a magical, illuminated woodland walk ready for…

New plants from old

At this time of year a lot of plants are starting to go to seed, so it is a good time to go around and collect some of them so we can grow new plants for next year. Some can be sown straight away (as we are doing so in the greenhouses), others can be…

Harvest…

The Gardens are blessed with 2 apple and pear orchards and espaliered fruit fences all planted with over 60 heritage varieties dating back to the 1500s. Like many fruit growers we’ve had a mixed year. Normally we are able to produce a goodly number of single variety fruit juices for sale to our visitors. A…

Cyclamen hederifolium

If you take a walk along the top of the Upper Wilderness to the far end and gaze underneath the large Yew tree, you will see the tiny but perfectly formed Cyclamen hederifolium coming into flower. A mixture of pink and white, the tiny flowers appear before the foliage, which as its name suggests is…

Traditional family fun day

Nearly time again for our amazingly popular low-tech family fun day. Skittles, sack races, hopscotch and egg and spoon races  bring three – or more – generations together this Thursday (11-3.30pm). We run this event every year in conjunction with the local branch of the U3A (University of the 3rd Age) as a fundraiser for…

Unplug and Play – all summer

Five weeks of good value summer fun at the Gardens Every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 12- 3.30… it’s Unplug and Play Crafts, gardening and outdoor exploration. Children and families can enjoy outdoor play and/or craft activities under gentle supervision. The mud kitchen, maze, dipping pond and some gardening activities available for families to explore…

Dogs Don’t do Ballet

To kick off the summer holidays with a fun and warming outdoor show , get the kids up and moving with Bif… Biff is not like other dogs. He doesn’t do dog stuff like weeing on lampposts, or scratching his fleas, or drinking out of the toilet. No, Biff likes moonlight and music and walking…

Year 6 Summer Leavers Special (New)

Transition to ‘Big School’ can be a nervy time for many pupils. The Gardens’ education department is offering a fun day out for Year 6 with a purpose. A Taste of KS3 History gets the kids out of the classroom into the open in 10 acres of open space. Our historic garden gives us the…