Something to warm your heart... and your stomach

Some people may think that along with the cold, blustery days of January, also comes the absence of anything exciting or versatile on the shelves of the local fruit and veg monger. But that's not true! Although December saw the season ending for traditional fruits such as quinces, sloes, and pears, January is the beginning of the season for forced (indoor) rhubarb.

Here is a recipe which is just the thing to warm you on a winter's day. Some fruit mongers should have forced rhubarb available, dig in and look forward to welcoming a cold morning with open arms!

Rhubarb Cake
60g butter
1 tsp lemon rind (can also use orange)
1 1/2 c. firmly packed brown sugar
2 med freedom food eggs
1 c. each self raising flour and plain flour, sifted and set aside
1 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1 c soured cream
6c forced rhubarb, clean, trimmed, coarsely chopped

1/3 c. (about 70-75 g) packed brown sugar, mixed with 1 tsp cinnamon and 1/4 tsp nutmeg, to top the cake

Preheat the oven to 180oC, or less for a fan oven. Grease well a 10' cake pan (23 cm), line the base with baking paper. Cream the butter, sugars, rind, and eggs in a bowl until fluffy. It may look curdled but that's ok. Gently stir in the sifted flours and spices. Add the rhubarb in 2 batches, gently. Spread the cake into the pan, then top with the separate sugar/spices mixture. Bake for about 90 mins, but check with a cake tester. Turn out to a wire rack to cool and serve with oodles of whipped cream or custard. Make sure to keep it covered and away from hungry hands!

Wreath making... and spiced apple cake!

Last week the Barn Cafe was awash with holly, berries, ivy, flora, fauna, and oasis rings... the winter wreath making class had arrived!

The half day event, which was held over two days, had everyone really putting their heart and soul into it. Jane, our Plant Centre Manager, was a great host and never seemed to tire of helping people make decorative bows. Vicki from the garden also helped with her infectious personality and love for the garden. It was a definite success, and there were even some second-timers to give advice to the green wreath makers!

Christmas music was played, lunch was enjoyed, and the second best loved thing about the event (besides the wreaths, of course) seemed to be the apple and sultana cake. We had quite a few requests for it, and Sarah our Chef has graciously given the recipe for you to enjoy. Enjoy!

Apple and Sultana Sponge (makes 1 large)
This can also be made gluten free, just replace the self raising flour with rice flour.
1 springform pan, lined and lightly greased
6oz. self raising flour
6oz. sugar
6oz. margarine
3 freedom food eggs
1/2 tsp. mixed spice
1 large cooking apple, large diced
2oz sultanas

In a large bowl, beat the margarine and the sugar until creamy. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add the flour and mixed spice, then the diced apple. Pour half of the mixture into the springform pan, then top with sultanas, then add the rest of the batter. Bake at 180' for about 25-30 mins. If you're cooking in a fan oven, reduce the heat to 160'-170' depending on your oven.

Sprinkle the cake with sugar (if you wish) and serve with fresh cream. It will last three days - if you don't eat it first!

Courgette Cake

We've been getting lots of enquiries recently about our new courgette cake, so here's the recipe...

3 free range eggs
130ml sunflower oil
150g golden caster sugar
225g self raising flour
1/2 tsp bicarbonate soda
1/2 tsp baking powder
275g courgettes

For the topping you'll need;
200g cream cheese
1/2 lemon
100g icing sugar

* Preheat the oven to 200oC or gas mark 6
* Beat the eggs with the sugar and oil until nice and creamy
* Using a sieve add the flour with the bicarbonate on soda and baking powder and stir to mix
* Grate the courgettes coarsely and stir into the mixture
* Turn into a greased tins and bake for between 25-30 minutes until golden
* Cool on a rack

For the topping;
* Mix the icing sugar, juice from the lemon and cream cheese together and spread over the cake
* Swirl the icing with a fork and decorate with borage flowers

Now sit back and enjoy the fruits of your labour!

Special Visitor

A very special visitor has recently been spotted soaring high in the sky above Hidcote. A red kite, more commonly seen in Wales, central Scotland and central England has been delighting visitors with aerial fly-pasts. Those dedicated 'birders' who braved the early start at our dawn chorus walk were also rewarded with a rare glimpse of our new feathered friend.

Here's some fascinating facts for you. Red kites can live up to 20 years and have an impressive wing span of two metres! They're renowned for their distinctive forked tail and striking red chestnut coloured feathers. It is reported that they became so close to extinction that in 1977 the entire population of kites emanated from just one female bird!

We've all got our fingers crossed that our red kite likes the Cotswolds and stays a bit longer.

Supernatural Signings

We're delighted to be welcoming the renowned author Diz White on Saturday 26 June. She'll be here signing copies of her new book - aptly titled 'Haunted Cotswolds'. You'll be able to meet Diz and get an exclusive signed copy of her book anytime between 2pm and 4pm.

As the name suggests, Diz has gathered together spine-chilling tales of ghosts and the undead from every corner of the Cotswolds, revealing in heart-stopping detail our region's unexplained events that lurk beneath the rolling hills and beautiful visitas.

British-born Diz, together with her husband Randall Montgomery whose photographs illustrate the book, divides her time between a career in Hollywood as an actress and screenplay writer, and her cottage in Gloucestershire, which she uses as a base for writing books about the Cotswolds.

The Great 178!

Another Bank Holiday weekend has just come and gone and for the most part the sun shone down on us making for perfect garden weather.



The Garden Restaurant set a new record this weekend serving the most lunches we have ever served. On Sunday between 12 noon and 2.30pm we served 178 freshly made lunches. A new Hidcote catering team record and a day that will go down in the memories as the day we served 'the great 178'

Pig Power

We'll soon be using a pair of rare breed pigs to help clear the next plot in our rapidly growing Kitchen Garden. The ten week old Berkshires, reportedly our oldest breed of pig, are arriving this week - much to Glyn's growing excitement!

As part of our ongoing restoration, the pigs will be helping us to revive an age-old tradition of clearing the land ready for planting. They will be rooting out vegetation and clearing the grubs from the soil. And as Glyn says, they're also adding fresh, nutritious fertiliser as they go!

Here's a sneeky peek of our new piggy additions to the garden. Why not come and see them for yourself and you'll even be able to have a go at feeding them too.

Ready for All Weathers

A sudden down pour won't dampen your spirits anymore. We now have a healthy supply of emergency ponchos to give out to unsuspecting visitors should the heaven's open. They're free and can be picked up from the visitor reception. So don't let the Great British weather get the better of you this summer - get out and about...and stay dry!

Almost Time for Tennis

Yes, at long last our clay court will soon be ready to welcome its first tennis players of the season. The new surface has arrived and - weather permitting! - will be laid on Monday.

Hurrah for Handkerchiefs

Well it would seem that despite the freezing winter, the cold temperatures have actually had a beneficial effect on the garden. Not only have the magnolias had their best year in over a decade, but it looks like our Chinese Handkerchief Tree is about to follow suit! Give it another few days and the typical white bracts will be looking amazing and giving our courtyard a real spring lift.

Turf-tastic

I can't believe it's only been two months since the turfing contractors dug up the Red Border and Old Garden! New drains and a modified soil (which Glyn reliably informs me is used at Old Trafford) were laid. The mini diggers did cause a bit of a talking point amongst early spring visitors but the experiment to toughen up the soil to allow greater access does seem to be working. It was thought that both areas would be closed for the whole season as the soil and turf settled and established, but on Monday the Red Border was open to visitors to see how it stood up to the patter of feet. So far so good. Although upon further inspection, we feel that the ground needs a little longer before we can open it up more regularly. However, it shouldn't be closed for the whole season as we first feared. Watch this space....

It's Tulip Time

No sooner have the magnolias finished their incredible display, then it's the turn of the tulips. The lovely sunny weather recently has really made a difference. The tulips are looking great - especially in the Old Garden and Red Border. So there should be plenty for Glyn to talk about in his tulip tour this afternoon!

Pink Clouds Return to Hidcote

We all breathed a big sigh of relief this week as the magnolias finally began to flower - albeit several weeks later than usual. They are not disappointing our Spring visitors. The pink flowers look absolutely stunning in the Stream Garden and Winter Border. But be quick if you want to see them. Cold weather is forecast next week. I even heard that there was a possibility of snow!

Wedding bells are ringing at Hidcote

Saturday 27 March was a very exciting day for us here at Hidcote, it was the day of our first wedding ceremony.

Lawrence Johnston's chapel was primed and ready to go (decorated with some stunning flowers from The Bay Tree at Campden) and there was a bustle as guests awaited that arrival of the bride in the courtyard.

The sun was shining, the birds were singing and the bride was a vision in white!

All went off without a hitch and the newly married couple set off into the sunset for their honeymoon!

Daffodil planting at Ebrington school

This morning Myself, John, Gordon and Matt, went over to Ebrington school. we had a few surplus Daffodils left and got in touch with Mrs Robertson one of the teachers there and she was very happy for the garden team to plant them in the school grounds. Every child from rececption to year 6 was involved and planted at least one clump of bulbs. the weather was very sunny but cold and the ground was very claggy! the children really enjoyed the morning and dug the planting pits with gusto.

The Hidcote team also really enjoyed the morning and I was tickled by one comment made by a young boy, which was about the digging spades we were using, he said " a spade a great peice of technology!"

Every child will hopefully remember which group of Daffs they planted, and watch them flourish for many years to come. Who knows one of them may even in the future go on to become a gardener at Hidcote. A great morning work.

Glyn

Lovely Ladybirds

Today seemed quite a normal day, until lunchtime that is. For the past couple of hours we've been swamped with thousands of ladybirds! They're everywhere - crawling along window frames, nestling into our computer keyboards and flying pretty much everywhere you look.

We think they're harlequin ladybirds, but some have lots of spots, others only just a few. Some are red with black spots, others are black with red spots!

It's taken us all by surprise.

The Great Plant Giveaway

Well it's that time of year again - which is great news for all garden bargain hunters. Our plant sales centre is offering a plant-astic three for the price of two offer on all of its plants (except the ever popular hellebores and newly arrived orchids). To top it off, all packets of seeds are an amazing half price!

So there really is no excuse to get your garden ready for next Spring.

Hurry while stocks last...

Insect Inspiration

Something new is happening in the Old Orchard! The gardeners have been busy making a winter home for beneficial insects like ladybirds. But they need help as it's not quite finished yet.

We need these insects so that next Spring they can help Sarah, the Kitchen Gardener eat all of the bugs that munch through her vegetables.

So if you visit this Autumn and Winter, remember to collect things like twigs, cones, fallen leaves and feathers so that you can add them to our new insect home.

Autumn Glory

Finally, the rain has arrived today. However, the magnificent September weather has resulted in some stunning early Autumn colour. The Wilderness is leading the way with the Euonymus europaeus turning an eye-catching shade of pink. Not to be out done is the yellow Tilia cordata, growing just opposite the Euonymus.

If roses are more your thing, see the beautiful 'Gruss an Achen' while you can in the White Garden. As soon as the bad weather takes hold, they will disappear almost as quickly as they appeared.

It's a Jungle Out There

Last week two very special visitors set up home over in our Plant Sales Centre. The magnificent (almost life-size!) mother and baby giraffe, created by Zimbolic have certainly been causing a bit of a stir amongst visitors since their arrival. Hand crafted in Zimbabwe, the beautiful giraffe sculptures are made from recycled metal oil drums and provide the artists with stable employment and a safe workshop environment.

Other, more conveniently sized sculptures for sale include ducks, hedgehogs, herons and wart hogs! An ideal Christmas present for someone who has everything.