April Antics: Spring Reveal
April 1st, 2024“It is the sun shining on the rain and the rain falling on the sunshine…“
The Secret Garden, Frances Hodgson Burnett
Bands of showers and bright sunshine sweep over the Somerset landscape as spring reveals itself in joyful technicolour. Shimmering bluebells carpet ancient woodland, leviathan trees sprout fresh green leaves and swathes of spring bulbs from hyacinths to late daffodils burst along the footpaths to the Beezantium.
Bees buzz with the return of blossoming new life. Resident newts make themselves known in the Kitchen Garden ponds: switching on the charm to attract a mate. Gardeners harvest vibrant spring greens and sweet glasshouse tomatoes, while chefs follow their noses to forage fleeting wild garlic and nettle tips. Creativity flows during wreath making workshops and green-fingered secrets are shared on a Hort Course on houseplants.
In need of some life-giving plans for the month ahead? Visit in April to see spring lambs, seek elusive hares and gain new season inspiration for sowing and growing; from keeping houseplants happy to wild walks with our experts. Revel in new season energy at The Newt!
What’s on in April
Hort Course: House Plants
3, 17 April, 9.30am – 3pm / £150
Learn the tips and tricks to ensure your houseplants thrive with our indoor gardening experts. You’ll gain invaluable knowledge from perfect positioning to propagation and plant up a selection of species of your choosing to take home.
Dawn Walk: Revelations
4 April, 7am – 10am / £45
Be inspired by our Head of Programmes on a guided walk before the gardens open, followed by breakfast at the Garden Café. This month we’re taking in the joys of spring across the estate and leaning into the flora and fauna revealing themselves at this moment.
Farm-to-Knife Butchery: Lamb
9 March, 9.30am – 3pm / £275
A must for anyone looking to sharpen their knife skills and understand more about the provenance of what’s on their plate. Step over the threshold of our new Butchery to learn the basics of this traditional craft, with cuts to take home for the spring table.
Family Printmaking Workshop
2, 9 April, 10am – 4pm (45-minute slots) / £15
A chance for little ones to get creative with celebrated printmaker Liz Clayton. You’ll learn about the lifecycle of our resident frogs, toads and newts and get hands on with stencils and rollers to make spectacularly colourful spring cards or artworks to take home.
Spring Wreath Making
10, 11, 24, 25 April, 9.30am – 3pm / £150
With brightly coloured flowers popping up all through the beds, our floriculturist Maiko Ishida will lead you through how to read the flowers and arrange a beautiful wreath to adorn the home. An uplifting workshop sure to put a spring in your step.
Dawn Walk: Four Seasons Special – Spring
18 April, 7am – 10am / £45
With the opening of the Four Seasons Garden, join Arthur Cole and Head Gardener, Stephen Herrington, for a seasonal walk to explore the concept and design behind our newest garden. Culminating with breakfast in the Garden Café.
Join us over the Easter Holidays
‘Hare Hunt’ Easter Trail
Until 14 April
Children’s Woodland Tour
1 – 5 April & 8 – 12 April
Lambs & Meet the Shepherdess
1 – 5 April & 8 – 12 April
Forest School Holiday Club
2 – 5 April & 8 – 12 April
Tractor Tours
6 – 7 April & 13 – 14 April
Pottery at the Roman Villa
6 & 13 April
Wine Tasting at the Roman Villa
9 – 12 April
Bounty Hunter
After the long winter, now’s the time to reawaken tastebuds with a riot of fresh spring flavours. From sausages infused with nettle tips and wild garlic to seasonal cakes and mouthwatering marinated meats, there’s a bumper drop of deliciousness launching in our Farm Shop and online this week.
