Britain's Finest - Events

Join Vanessa for a garden walk when she will show you the highlights of the garden in May. This will be an informal tour with the garden owner, Vanessa who will provide you with plenty of tips on the best plants to grow to give you beautiful borders throughout the year. You will also learn how the garden is managed for wildlife and Vanessa will highlight some of the many ways she has blended stunning planting with being wildlife-friendly.

The walk is included in the garden admission for the afternoon, but is on a first-come-first-served basis. There will only be 12 places, so make sure you get on the list when you arrive at the hut!

Start is at 2:00pm prompt and will last about an hour, so plenty of time afterwards for refreshments and a visit to the plant nursery.

Did you know... the Aldabra Giant Tortoise can live up to 150 years!

Join Colchester Zoo as thy share all things smooth and scaly with a range of reptile inspired activities. From the humid habitat of the Komodo Dragons to the brightly coloured Emerald Tree Monitor Lizard, find out more about these incredbile animals and how the Zoo cares for them.

An action packed weekend of family Drag Racing entertainment including Nitro Funny Cars, Jet Car Show and National Drag Racing classes headlined by 200mph Pro Mods. Plus all things powerful off -track including monster trucks, stunts, sideshows and more. Make this bank holiday one to remember and come along to the three day extravaganza that is Festival of Power! We have an action-packed line up of family drag racing entertainment with all things powerful on and off the track. Explosive track action comes in the form of nitro-burning 10,000 horsepower Funny Cars as well as the crowd thrilling side by side Jet Car shootouts! The entertainment off-track is just as spectacular with an array of stunt and exhibition demonstrations including the ever popular car-crushing Monster Trucks, dazzling family entertainment and multiple 2-wheeled mayhem!

The Gidleigh Park Estate Team takes immense pride in their Kitchen Garden, while Executive Chef, Chris Eden, champions the use of all its produce.

Your day commences at 10.00am with a welcome coffee before embarking on a guided tour of the Kitchen Garden. Following this, savour a glass of wine and indulge in a delightful vegetarian three-course lunch crafted from the garden's fresh vegetables and herbs. Finally, conclude with coffee and petits fours to round off the experience.

Another opportunity to learn how to make a wire blackbird sculpture under the expert guidance of Chris Moss. At the end of this half-day course you will have your own wire blackbird to take home.

These sculptures will be made from galvanised wire, so they will be able to be kept outside without going rusty. Materials and tools will be supplied. Please wear practical clothes (no delicate textiles).

 Visitors will be able to view and purchase contemporary craft and art whilst enjoying the beautiful spring garden with its huge plant collection. Once again, alongside the marquees displaying and selling the work of some of the UK’s finest designer makers, the event will incorporate demonstrating artists, a food village and live music! Pre-book your tickets on line at no extra cost to normal garden entry.

2024 Afternoon Tea

Back by POPULAR demand.

Bigger & Better

We proudly invite you to sample our professionally catered Afternoon Tea service - every Friday & Sunday. 2 sittings. 12:00 (without alcohol until further notice) & 15:00 (with option of prosecco or order from our extensive wine list)

PRE-BOOKING via ResDiary essential 

Phone THE VIEWMOUNT if you have questions.

Welcome to the Wisley Supper Club, a series of specially crafted evenings that speak to your senses – taste, smell and sight.

Join a member of our garden team for a walk and talk all about the theme for the evening, followed by a five course themed dinner from our talented executive chef.

Please see all details and pre-book on the website under Food and Drink, A Taste of Wisley.

We are delighted that renowned garden designer, Tracy Foster, is returning to Stillingfleet Lodge to lead this workshop where you will learn how to create a planting plan for your garden.

If you want to give your garden a makeover, this is the course for you. Learn how to make a planting plan that will turn an ordinary garden into something unique.

During the session you will find out how to:

• measure up your plot
• assess the site and soil
• draw to scale
• develop you plan.

A planting plan is a detailed document or drawing that specifies the arrangement and layout of plants in a particular area, such as a garden, landscape, or outdoor space.

Tracy will be sharing her expertise and tips on plant selection, such as choosing the right plants for your site, and the quantity of plants you will need and how densely they will need to be planted for the effect you want. There will also be consideration of where to place each plant, for instance to provide focal points, and also the seasonality of the plants to give interest throughout the year.

Once you have developed your planting plan, you will be thinking about planting it up and hope that you will be inspired by the many plants we have for sale in our plant nursery.

Tracy is a Chelsea Gold Medal Winning garden designer who has been creating beautiful gardens in the north of England and elsewhere since 2002. She is perhaps best known for ‘The Bronte Garden’ which one her an RHS Gold and the People’s Choice Award at Chelsea in 2012. She was also a awarded an RHS Silver for her ‘Welcome to Yorkshire’ Garden in 2017.

All courses include entry to the garden plus welcome coffee and biscuits. Unless stated,  materials are provided and you will leave each workshop with plenty of reference information.

Savour the season and enjoy a culinary journey celebrating asparagus and wild garlic. Indulge in a delectable four-course spring lunch crafted to honour the flavours of the Vale of Evesham's prized asparagus and the aromatic wild garlic harvested from our very own garden.

Join us for an unforgettable gastronomic experience where each course is an ode to the season's finest produce, expertly curated to delight your palate and elevate your springtime dining.

Experience the essence of summer with our exquisite afternoon tea, set against a backdrop of sunlit gardens and countryside charm. Indulge in a delightful selection of seasonal finger sandwiches, fresh fruit scones paired with clotted cream and preserves, and a medley of summer-inspired cakes. Join us for a taste of the season's finest amidst the warmth of our charming estate.

Meander through a carpet of bluebells in the ancient woodland at Gidleigh Park with our Estate Manager, Andrew Brimblecombe and Plantsman, Paul Grigg as your guides. With over 40 years of experience between them, they share their wealth of knowledge on the woodland, flora, and fauna along with a few handy gardening tips. The 107-acre estate is nestled in a valley within the natural beauty of Dartmoor and offers an abundance of different habitats.

Arrive from 10.00am for morning coffee before heading out at 10.30am for your walk. Return to a delicious three-course lunch with a glass of wine.