Britain's Finest - Events

Join Colchester Zoo as they celebrate their charity, Colchester Zoological Society and the vital conservation work that they undertake in the UK and worldwide.

From meeting members of the Animal Care Team, to learning how to be a ranger on UmPhafa Private Nature Reserve, there will be lots of chances to find out about their work.

They will also be hosting their very own Conservation Festival on 29th May where you'll be able to find out more about conservation efforts around the world and in the UK.

Join us as we celebrate Father's Day, a time to honour and appreciate all dads. Indulge in a scrumptious four-course meal, each dish crafted to delight the taste buds.

As a token of our gratitude, every father will take home a special gift, marking this day as a cherished memory.

Join us for a blooming afternoon of creativity, delectable treats, and sparkling conversations amidst nature's finest offerings. Enjoy a glass of sparkling wine on arrival and discover the art of crafting a beautiful floral arrangement using the freshest spring blooms with local florist the Flower Shop. Following the workshop, indulge in a delightful afternoon tea.

Join us for a delightful Family Afternoon Tea with kickstart the summer with a burst of excitement.

Join us for a thrilling Circus Workshop hosted by the talented local performer, Rob Horsman, and don't miss the entertaining sheepdog and duck herding demonstration by David Seamark. Participate in the excitement every hour between 12.00pm and 4.00pm. It's a unique blend of circus charm and adorable duck herding that promises a day filled with fun and unforgettable memories.

After the activities, make your way to your reserved table and enjoy a sumptuous afternoon tea with your family.

SUNDAY 21ST APRIL 2024 | 10AM - 3PM

Join us on Sunday 21st April from 10am until 3pm to view the beautiful Garden Pavilion, surrounding gardens and accommodation. You will also be able to speak with our partnered external caterers to discuss your special day in more detail!

Meet our partnered caterers who will be there on the day:

• Sai Mandaps
• Preeti Catering
• Greenleaf
• Blackstone
• Ankit Govind Photography
• Shimla Foods

In honour of UN World Ocean Day and in partnership with Relais & Châteaux, Buckland Manor invites you to experience a thoughtfully curated four-course tasting menu that showcases sustainability.

The initiative aims to shine a spotlight on the invaluable gifts our oceans provide and the critical need for sustainable practices in utilising marine resources. Join us for a memorable lunch experience and delight your palate while discovering the significance of responsible fishing techniques and their impact on ocean conservation.

Discover our Father's Day Menu and download for a delicious celebration!

Plan your feast with our mouthwatering offerings.

Join us for a delightful Family Afternoon Tea with kickstart the summer with a burst of excitement. Join us for a thrilling Circus Workshop hosted by the talented local performer, Rob Horsman, and don't miss the entertaining sheepdog and duck herding demonstration by David Seamark. Participate in the excitement every hour between 12.00pm and 4.00pm. It's a unique blend of circus charm and adorable duck herding that promises a day filled with fun and unforgettable memories. After the activities, make your way to your reserved table and enjoy a sumptuous afternoon tea with your family.

We will be opening up our doors to give you the chance to explore our beautiful manor house wedding venue.  Join us for a glass of prosecco and meet our experienced wedding coordinators, Françoise Gysemans and her team of wedding experts.

Their hand-picked selection of wedding suppliers will be available to answer all your questions and bring those Pinterest boards to life!

No appointment required.

We are delighted to welcome artist Jerry Scott to our exhibition space in our tearoom, here at Stillingfleet Lodge Gardens in May 2024. His paintings, collages and prints  aspire to be a feast for the eye: a distillation of all the fulsome sensations and emotions which I experience in response to the colours and textures of the world about me.

Admission to the tearoom and exhibition is free during regular opening hours 1pm to 5pm on selected dates. The art displayed will be available to purchase.

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.

Our civil ceremony & wedding breakfast rooms will be dressed and will be available to view as well as the luxury Garden Pavilion, outdoor Woodland Pavilion and our beautiful bedrooms & suites!