March Moments: Emerge
February 24th, 2024“It was one of those March days when the sun shines hot and the wind blows cold: when it is summer in the light, and winter in the shade.” – Charles Dickens, Great Expectations
Soil stirs and early bulbs emerge as tender green tips and soft buds, emboldened by the increasing power of the sun’s rays. Narcissus poeticus trumpets joy and evocative scent through the Victorian beds, awakening frozen senses as frosts thaw. March sees the welcome arrival of the Equinox, British Summer Time and a flurry of celebrations with Mother’s Day and Easter.
As the sap rises, thoughts turn to our apple trees and rousing their energy after the long winter. We kickstart this month’s programme with our explosive Wassail festival of fire, light and cyder-fuelled merriment. Spring is on the way!
Hatching Plans for the month ahead?
We’re full of the joys of spring as whispers of new life unfurl and bloom across the estate. Visit in March for a Hort Course on propagating your own plants, dawn walks with our experts to take in the first green shoots in the gardens and a day dedicated to the ancient rural tradition of Wassail.
With Easter arriving early this year, we’ve been haring around to bring you a prodigious programme for inspiring and entertaining the family over the spring holidays. From weekend BBQs to Tractor Tours, garden trails to win chocolate prizes, demos on the farm and at the Roman Villa, there’s something to ensure a cracking time for all.
What’s on in March
Hort Course: Propagation
6, 13 March, 9.30am – 3pm / £150
Learn the tips and tricks to fill your garden with plants from our Nursery Manager, Dominic McCartney and team. You’ll gain invaluable knowledge and practise propagation techniques from division to cuttings and seed sowing before taking many of your propagated plants home.
Dawn Walk: Fresh Shoots
7, 21 March, 6.45am – 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 emerging life across the estate and admiring the first bold shoots of spring.
Wassail Prune!
8 March, 11am – 9pm / £195
Join the fruit team for a one-off Wassail-themed day, combining the formative pruning of our apple trees with private cyder tasting, an indulgent lunch at Farmyard Kitchen and estate Wassail event to bless the apple trees and toast good health with lashings of cyder and merriment.
Farm to Knife Butchery: Lamb
9 March, 9.30am – 3pm / £275
Step over the threshold of our new Butchery to learn the basics of this traditional craft from our experts. You’ll identify the different cuts of an animal, sharpen your knife skills and break a carcass down for cuts to take home before a well-earned lunch at Farmyard Kitchen.
Printmaking
20, 21, 27, 28 March, 10am – 3pm / £150
Adorn the home with beautiful prints made by your own fair hand by joining a creative workshop with illustrator and printmaker Liz Clayton. The day starts by walking the gardens to take in plant collections for inspiration, before choosing materials to create unique artworks to take home.
Coming up for the Easter Holidays…
Easter Trail (with a treat at the end!)
29 March – 14 April
BBQs
Easter Bank Holiday weekend
Orchard Tractor Tours
29 – 31 March & 6 – 7 April, 13 – 14 April
Children’s Woodland Tour
1 – 5 April & 8 -12 April, 11 am
Lamb & Sheepdog Demonstrations
Throughout the spring holiday
Family Printmaking Workshop
2 & 9 April, starting at 10am / £15
Cake & Cruffin Pop-Up
Easter Bank Holiday weekend
Roman Villa Activities: Pottery demonstrations, children’s crafts and wine tasting.
Throughout the spring holiday
Eggsellent Easter Treats
Delight in menu specials across estate eateries and eggs-tra special treats in our shops and online. Stock up on traditional simnel cake to pillowy hot cross buns rich with warming spice and chocolate eggs galore to make your Easter celebrations that little bit sweeter.
