“No spring nor summer beauty hath such grace as I have seen in one autumnal face.” ― John Donne
Morning mists cloak the Somerset hills
Crisp mornings, blue-sky days and a fiery feast of colour and atmosphere. Join us in Somerset to experience the season of mists and mellow fruitfulness in all its glory.
Orchards are entering their prime, veg beds are bursting with produce and extraordinary gourds and squash entwine themselves around a giant Caterpillar tunnel by the Kitchen Garden, much to everyone’s delight.
Meteorological autumn is a time of plenty across the estate, reflected in an abundance of events and workshops, starting with our big Harvest Weekend (20 - 21 September) and culminating in our annual celebration of fire and light to wish our apple trees a restful sleep, Fire Night (7 November).
It's almost time to gather together, give thanks to the land that feeds us and tuck in!
See What’s On
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What’s on for Autumn
Long, light-filled days give way to misty mornings with the arrival of the autumn equinox towards the end of September. Visit in autumn for rosy-cheeked adventures, fungi forays and a glut of Harvest-themed workshops rejoicing in the bounty of our land.
Harvest Wreath Making
3, 4 September, 9.30am / £150
Floriculturist Maiko Ishida will lead you through decorating your front door with a celebratory flush of colour and form. Dried fruits, grasses and spectacular seed heads will be put to good use in this seasonal, floral workshop, finishing with lunch at the Garden Café.
Make a spectacular seasonal wreath with our floriculturist
Bee Skep Making
5, 12 September, 9.30am / £150
Led by our seasoned beekeeper and skep maker, Kerry Redman, you’ll learn an endangered skill, help preserve an ancient tradition and craft your own beautiful skep to enjoy at home. Includes all materials, coffee & pastries and a delicious lunch.
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Dawn Walk: Harvest Time
5, 25 September, 7am - 10am / £45
Start your day with a guided wander through the gardens before the estate awakes. Head of Programmes, Arthur Cole, will show you the September sights, including the riches of the season: glistening soft fruits to pick as you go. Culminating in breakfast at the Garden Café.
Soak in the early morning sights on a dawn walk
Hort Shorts: Seed Saving
16, 17 September, 10am – 12pm / £25
A short-format workshop leading you through harvesting seed from the gardens under guidance, storing and sowing to ensure success. You’ll learn about tips, tricks and common pitfalls with growing media, watering, temperature, time of year, seed depth and more.
Somerset Safari
19 September, 9.30am - 12.30pm / £50
Join our resident entomologist, Tom, to get closer to the wild things on our Somerset estate. Enjoy a deep dive into the natural world and gain practical advice on how to enhance your outdoor space for insects and pollinators, protecting and promoting essential biodiversity.
Harvest Weekend
20, 21 September, 9am - 6pm (Newt membership or guest day pass required)
Expect a joyful weekend celebrating our farming heritage and nature’s generosity. Join in with our new vegetable competition, book onto a free tour, watch duck herding, meet the farm team, enjoy tipples, BBQs, live music and more as we gather together and give thanks.
Gardener & Chef
24 September, 9.30am / £150
One of our favourite alfresco experiences to eke out that summer feeling, our Gardener & Chef sessions offer the chance to harvest your own produce from abundant seasonal spoils before cooking over coals with our expert team and gathering together for a feast.
Mushroom Masterclass
8, 15, 22, 28 October, 9.30am / £150
Join our fungi expert on a forage around the estate, before learning to sow mushroom spores to grow indoors and set shiitake dowels to grow outdoors at home. More than just seasonal delicacies, these extraordinary forms are a crucial part of the natural world.
Discover the magic of mushrooms with our fungi expert
Apple Day Weekend
18, 19 October, 9am - 6pm, (Newt membership or guest day pass required)
One of the most hotly anticipated events on our estate calendar, Apple Day Weekend is a two-day celebration of our Somerset heritage and all things ‘apple’. Expect appley games, orchard tractor tours, apple-themed menus, tastings, live music, BBQ and lashings of cyder.
October Half Term
25 October - 2 November
We’ll have a host of new Newtling Shorts running over October Half Term to keep little ones nurtured and inspired. Hop on a Tractor Tour through the orchards (25 – 26 October), meet Jim and his birds of prey, discover wild walks, printmaking, paper lantern crafting, fireside tales, shadow puppets and more.
Fire Night
7 November, more details coming soon
A counterpoint to Wassail in the spring, when we wake the trees from their slumber, Fire Night is a time to give thanks and celebrate our annual apple harvest with members and friends. We call on the regenerative power of fire to light up the dark night, ward off winter cold and bid our trees a restful sleep.
