Gardeners at three National Trust properties in Devon are celebrating a total of seventeen prizes across multiple categories, after a sweep of awards were won for rhododendron, magnolias, camellias and floral arrangements at the recent RHS Rosemoor Garden Show. Garden teams at Castle Drogo, Killerton and Greenway were thrilled to receive awards for their hard work nurturing the colourful flora, which visitors in Devon will be able enjoy when visiting the properties this season. Successes included ten prizes for Killerton, near Exeter, with four first prizes, three second prizes, two third...
Petrol heads can get their fill of vintage vehicles this spring at Killerton, when over 400 classic car enthusiasts take a pit stop in the historic parkland to showcase their polished pride and joys. The roaring event takes place on Sunday 14 May at the Killerton Estate, just outside of Exeter. With a backdrop arguably as beautiful as the auto motives, visitors can cruise into summer by admiring hundreds of classics while soaking up the surrounding cared-for landscape. Buttercup, a 1950’s yellow truck, will also be making a special guest appearance with the vintage vocal trio, ‘The Liberty...
Killerton House, near Exeter, has received a major £20,000 boost towards their overall fundraising target of £100,000 to plug the gaps in its leaking roof. Viridor Credits Environmental Company has awarded a grant via the Landfill Communities Fund to help to bring the historic roof scape back to life.
The £20,000 grant will fund rebuilding chimneys to their original heights and features, providing aesthetic value and symmetry to the mansion. Archive photographs of Killerton House have been carefully researched to inform the designs. Some chimneys will also be lined to allow the...
Broadclyst Community Primary School (BCPS) will welcome 60 new children to its reception class in September, and its sister school, Westclyst Community Primary School (WCPS) will gain 30 reception pupils.
The announcement of this week’s allocation of primary school places has confirmed that the very popular BCPS was once again oversubscribed. However, Cornerstone Academy Trust, which runs both schools and is currently building a permanent base for WCPS at nearby Hillside Gardens, is accepting another 30 children, across two reception classes, in extended temporary accommodation at...
Farmers at a meeting of the South West NFU tenant farmers’ forum have given a cautious welcome to the National Trust’s plans to encourage wildlife and create 65,000 acres of new habitats.
The Trust has announced that it intends make sure half the farmland it owns is ‘nature friendly’ by 2025 and the chairman of the forum, Cornish farmer Chris Cardell, said he was looking forward to hearing how the Trust was planning to communicate with farmers about this process.
“We were very interested to hear about the National Trust’s plans and are were pleased to hear at the meeting...
National Trust garden teams have conducted their annual flower count for Valentine’s Day and although this year spring seems to be on the way, just as we would normally expect, but what is noticeable is how many scented plants are out in flower at this early time of year. National Trust gardeners reported 1,737 plants blooming in this year’s 12th annual Valentine’s Flower count, 34% down on last year’s figure of 2,644. Although numbers are down on 2016, they are still higher than the previous three years.. For the second year running, Saltram had the highest number of flowers recorded with...
Your essential guide to What’s On in and around Exeter this weekend (3-5 February).
THEATRE
The Brexit Club Friday, Cygnet Theatre, Exeter An original tale of intolerance, alienation and Findus crispy pancakes! It’s the 23rd June - the day of the Euro Referendum and just another lunch time in the works canteen for cousins Len Silver and Melvyn Gould and their colleagues, but beneath their love of haute cuisine and jovial banter there’s trouble brewing. Sid Vishnu’s lentil Dahl and Don Beattie’s bangers and mash are emblems of a nation divided!Substance and Shadow Theatre...
Discover unseen parts of Knightshayes this January and February, as the house team get to grips with their annual deep cleaning of the house and collection while, outside, work is in full swing installing a new biomass boiler.
This time of year is the perfect chance to find out more about the behind-the-scenes work that goes into keeping the house and estate looking as good as it does throughout the rest of the year. Unusually, the Knightshayes team will be undertaking this crucial work in the public eye.
Traditionally, National Trust properties are closed during the winter...
Killerton House near Exeter, looked after by the National Trust, has launched a major fundraising campaign to plug the holes in its leaking roof.
£100,000 is needed to help pay for work due to start in late February which will prevent the threat of water damage to the much loved house and collection, which includes a unique Trust fashion collection. The money raised will also go towards carrying out vital work to conserve the roof over the house, exterior walls, windows, chimneys and parapets, as part the Trust’s ongoing commitment to care for Killerton. Thanks to a very generous...
Christmas is coming and, to get in the mood, I headed to Killerton House’s Christmas wonderland.
Picking the Christmas tree has been a tradition in my family since I can remember. Unlike the advent calendar (which is often started late), it is the definitive mark of our Christmas beginning.
So to roll this into a festive house, lit garden and carol singers was the perfect first note to start our Christmas.
Each year, the house is beautifully decorated to a theme. Last year, it was an enchanting Narnia and this year, it was Brother’s Grimm story. It was enchanting to...
