“August is the border between summer and autumn: it is the most beautiful month I know.”
— Tove Jansson
Golden moments on our Somerset estate
August is the month for slowing down and soaking in gold-tinged gardens as the sun slips south towards autumn. Flowers fade, seed heads swell. Hedgerows and kitchen gardens are laden with bounty. Our farmers make hay, while visitors savour picnics, family time and scoops of cooling gelato. Feed your soul in the garden.
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What’s on this August
Visit in August for cheering plans: from fresh adventures to keep your Newtlings entertained to languorous walks back in time to Roman Britain, and feel-good rural crafts.
Dawn Walk: Roman Britain
1 August, 7am - 10am / £45
Join Head of Programmes, Arthur Cole, on a stroll back in time to our Roman Villa before the estate awakes. Walk in the footsteps of our ancestors while discovering the sensory delights of our planted flower meadow, vineyards, medicinal garden and more, before breakfast at the Garden Café.
Yin Yoga & Breathwork
1, 8, 15, 22 August, 9.30am - 10.45am / £30
Enjoy a Friday meditative yoga and breathwork session connecting mind, body and breath with slow, sequenced, floor-based poses. A holistic approach to health and happiness, tailored to students of all abilities.
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Creative Printmaking: Minibeast Masks & Crowns
2 August, 9am - 3.30pm (1-hour slots) / £20 (includes 1 x child & 1 x adult)
Part of our summer Newtlings’ series, little ones and their grown-ups will create a mask or a crown and bring it to life with your own design. You’ll learn how to make foam stamps, inspired by minibeasts, including beetles, butterflies and more.
Scale new heights with family tree climbing
Summer Tree Climbing
8, 9, 10, 12, 13, 14, 19, 20, 21 August, 10am - 4pm (1-hour slots) / £20
Get up close to nature and our majestic giants on a family tree climbing adventure in the Deer Park. We’ve teamed up with the Great Big Tree Climbing Company to offer a safe and fun way to enjoy an age-old tradition and enjoy the gardens from a new perspective.
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Hort Course: Succulents
12 August, 9.30 - / £150
Create a miniature garden in a terrarium on this inspiring workshop in our plant nursery. You’ll learn all about succulents and how to grow them successfully on a nursery tour, hear a little about our Chelsea Flower Show garden and make your own cuttings ‘garden’ to take home.
Learn about succulents, the stars of our RHS Chelsea Flower Show Garden
Dry Stone Walling
13 August, 27 August, 9.30am – 4pm / £150
Try your hand at drystone walling under the expert guidance of Tom Trouton in this hugely satisfying introductory course. Learn about the history, design and practical elements and take away the knowledge to create an array of structures from fire pits to water features.
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Creative Printmaking: Midsummer Tote Bags (or bring something of your own)
16 August, 9 - 3.30pm (1-hour slots), £20 (includes 1 x child & 1 x adult)
Part of our summer Newtlings’ series, join Liz Clayton of Slow Sunday to decorate a tote bag or bring a plain fabric item from home – t-shirts to totes – to personalise. You’ll learn how to make foam stamps to create a midsummer masterpiece filled with bees, blooms and more.
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Summer Holiday Forest School
19, 20, 21, 26, 27, 28, 9am - 4pm / £50
Forest School Holiday Club for children aged 6 + is back for the holidays! Budding adventurers can connect with nature, get hands-on with arts and crafts and learn practical skills from whittling and knife safety to clay art marshmallow toasting, with each day taking a new path.
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Endangered Basketry: Crafting a Traditional Basket Frame
23 August, 9.30am - / £150
Rooted in rural tradition, you’ll learn new techniques with hazel and skeined willow to shape and weave a heritage basket in a strong yet elegant form. This deeply absorbing workshop is meditative, tactile and rewards patience with your own beautiful, handcrafted basket to use at home.
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Creative Printmaking: Back to School with Printed Pencil Cases
23 August, 9 - 3.30pm (1-hour slots), £20 (includes 1 x child & 1 x adult)
Newtlings and their grown-ups will get classroom ready, by making a hand-printed pencil case inspired by the great outdoors. Using a selection of handmade stencils and nature-themed patterns, you’ll personalise a case in bright and beautiful style to bring back to school.
Creative Printmaking: Hanging Mobiles & Garlands
30 August, 9 - 3.30pm (1-hour slots), £20 (includes 1 x child & 1 x adult)
In the last of our family printmaking sessions, Newtlings and accompanying adults will learn the art of mono printing to create garlands or hanging mobiles inspired by The Newt’s gardens. A joyful workshop filled with colour, nature and creativity with something beautiful to bring home.
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Summer Socials
On sunny evenings during August, 6.30 - 9.30pm / £35 per adult, £15 per child
Our after-hours picnic experience at the heart of the estate continues on sunny days for the summer! Running throughout August, we’re firing up the BBQs for supper and sundowners with a view and adding tours and tastings to the mix. Keep an eye on our social channels, as we’ll announce the dates a week ahead.
A Newtlings’ Summer
Until 1 September
This year, our toad-ally unmissable Summer Trail is based on the cheeky characters from our children’s book, ‘The Spitting Toads’, who can be found hiding around the estate! We’ve also added Newtlings Shorts, family-friendly workshops, drop-in Friday storytelling, and a few surprise pop-up children’s activities along the way. Make a beeline for the top lawn for bubble wands, shadow art and more.
