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!