Details of forthcoming events for the 2012 Spring and Summer season are given below.

Each of our events aims to educate, inspire or merely delight. Whatever your age or interest, we hope you will find something for your enjoyment.

Further events and activities will be added to this programme during the course of our Golden Jubilee year. Full details will be posted on our website, and advertised at Visitor Reception. Gardening Courses and Watercolour Painting Class leaflets are available at visitor reception.
Children’s Events – Why not become Family
Members of Friends of The Garden House and
enjoy free admission throughout the season and to
children’s activities? Just £54.00 for 12 months
- two adults and all children under 18.

The staff and volunteers at The Garden House look forward to welcoming you.

How to book

Telephone office 01822 854769 to check availability.

Confirm booking by sending payment (cheques payable to ‘Fortescue Garden Trust’ to the address below.

The Garden House
Buckland Monachorum
Yelverton PL20 7LQ

Tel: 01822 854769
Email: office@thegardenhouse.org.uk
Web: www.thegardenhouse.org.uk

 

 

 

 

 

• 3May

  Guided Garden Tours

  3 May @ 2:00pm - 27 Sep @ 3:00pm

  Every Thursday afternoon May – September
  Learn more about the plants that flourish at The Garden House. Just meet on the front lawn at 2.00 pm. (Minimum of 6 attending). Tour time – approximately 1 hour.
  Normal admission. No additional tour charge.

• 16May

  GARDENING COURSES

  16 May @ 2:15pm - 24 Oct @ 3:45pm

  DAVID MILES

  
  

  David is a Horticultural Trustee at The Garden House, and has developed a wealth of knowledge and experience in a career spanning more than 50 years as a professional gardener. He is running 9 gardening sessions covering a wide range of gardening techniques. You can ‘pick and mix’ as to which to attend.

  
  

  THE ART OF PRUNING
  
  Are you terrified of getting it wrong? These sessions are aimed at those wishing to lose the fear factor! Each session will start in the Conference Room, where David will explain the basics before going into the garden for a demonstration of pruning techniques.

  
  

  Wednesday 25 July
  
  Summer pruning of soft fruit, shrubs and wisterias.
  
  Wednesday 24 October
  
  Autumn/Winter pruning of fruit trees, shrubs and wisterias.

  
  

  GROW YOUR OWN VEG
  
  Grow your own – and taste the difference! Sessions in the garden demonstrating how to grown your own fresh vegetables. Pick up all the tips and tricks for getting the best out of your vegetable plot.

  
  

  Wednesday 16 May
  
  Successional sowing and thinning seedlings.
  
  

  Wednesday 11 July
  
  Transplanting for winter crops, intercropping, pests and diseases.

  
  

  PROPAGATION WORKSHOPS
  
  Come and get your hands dirty! Learn the rights and wrongs of propagation, and how best to grow your own plants from seeds and cuttings.

  
  

  Wednesday 4 July
  
  Taking softwood and semi-ripe cuttings.
  
  

  Wednesday 10 October
  
  Taking hardwood cuttings and layering.

  
  

  All gardening sessions will start at 2.15 pm and will be of approximately 1.5 hours duration. You will be spending time outdoors, so please wear suitable clothing and footwear.

  
  

  Each gardening session: £15.00. Booking essential.

  
  

• 24May

  Master-class: ‘Twin-Scaling’ – Matt Bishop

  24 May @ 2:00pm - 24 May @ 4:00pm

  Thursday 24 May 2.00 pm
  Matt will deliver a demonstration on how to dramatically increase your bulb stock through the propagation skill of twin-scaling and chipping. Conference Room.
  Normal admission . No additional charge.

• 24May

  An Evening Visit to Two Local Gardens for Friends of The Garden House

  24 May @ 6:30pm - 24 May @ 8:30pm

  Thursday 24 May 6.30 pm
  Friends of The Garden House are invited to ‘Lark Rise’ in Crapstone to view the beautiful garden of David and Jenny Miles. We will then move across the road to ‘The White House’ to enjoy Doris Potter’s lovely garden and, most importantly, help her celebrate a very SPECIAL BIRTHDAY! No charge, but for catering purposes please ring the office if you would like to join us.

• 29May

  Watercolour Painting Classes

  29 May @ 10:30am - 23 Oct @ 4:00pm

  Richard Mabey

  
  

  Richard’s classes are always highly popular. Whether you are a beginner or have some experience, the 2012 programme offers choice and flexibility.

  
  

  Pen and Wash Day
  
  Tuesday 29 May
  
  The basics are simple to learn. This day will equip you with essential skills and the confidence to enjoy more watercolour classes.
  
  Garden House Views
  
  Tuesday 26 June
  
  Flower beds and structures within the garden interpreted in loose and impressionistic washes.
  
  Flowers
  
  Tuesday 24 July
  
  Fresh and freely interpreted approach, not botanical studies.
  
  Dartmoor
  
  Tuesday 28 August
  
  Autumn views with rich colour, dramatic skies, rocks, tors and moors.
  
  Beginners
  
  Tuesday 25 September
  
  Another opportunity to learn the simple basics. This day will equip you with essential skills and the confidence to enjoy more watercolour.
  
  Snowy Scenes for Christmas
  
  Tuesday 23 October
  
  Watercolour plus pen and ink for Christmas card production.

  
  

  The classes start at 10.30 am and finish at 4.00 pm. The fee for each class is £30.00 and includes tea/coffee in both morning and afternoon sessions. Participants are able to use the Tearooms for lunch, or bring a picnic. Booking essential.

  
  

• 2Jun

  QUEEN’S DIAMOND JUBILEE

  2 Jun @ 10:30am - 5 Jun @ 5:00pm

  AT THE GARDEN HOUSE,
  
  2 – 5 June
  Over the extended Bank Holiday we will be recalling the 1950s, and celebrating a very special Royal anniversary ………… come and join the party!
  
  Music, exhibitions, celebratory Jubilee teas and special 1950s dishes in the Tearoom. We invite children to come along dressed as Kings and Queens (and make their own gold Coronation Crown), and we’d love the grown-ups to adopt 1952 fashion for their visit - all our staff will be appropriately attired!
  
  Please check website for full details of the Bank Holiday celebrations nearer the time.

• 4Jun

  Art Exhibition - ‘Glimpses Two’.

  4 Jun @ 10:30am - 1 Jul @ 5:00pm

  Monday 4 June, for four weeks.
  Mixed media artwork by Tessa Clarke.
  Following her successful ‘Glimpses’ exhibition, Tamar Valley artist, Tessa Clarke, is paying a second visit to The Garden House. Tessa works with mixed media and textiles and her pictures capture the beauty and light in the nature she so loves. Her stunning abstract pictures blend harmoniously to reflect the wonderful colours of the garden. Normal admission.

• 7Jun

  The Great Garden House Bug Hunt (Children)

  7 Jun @ 2:00pm - 7 Jun @ 4:00pm

  Thursday 7 June 2.00 pm
  Join us to see which mini-beasts you can find lurking at The Garden House - earthworms or spiders, woodlice or millipedes and not forgetting the beautiful butterflies! Helen and Elaine will lead you to the best spots.
  Normal admission.

• 18Jun

  CRAFT COURSES

  18 Jun @ 10:30am - 29 Oct @ 4:00pm

  MARY NICHOLS
  
  There is a crafting renaissance in the UK. We have, therefore, decided to expand the repertoire of educational courses at The Garden House to include this area in 2012. Many people will know Dr Mary Nichols as a local GP at Yelverton, but she has a ‘crafty side!’ Over 38 years Mary has developed her passion for needlecraft – including embroidery, tapestry design, felt work and the magical world of ornate Victorian fabric Christmas baubles.
  
  Mary is leading 3 more x 1-day workshops, each introducing a different skill. The workshops run from 10.30 am – 4.00 pm. Bring a picnic, or enjoy lunch in the Tearoom. Morning and afternoon coffee/tea is included in the price.
  
  Needlepoint Variations
  Monday 18 June
  This course uses variegated thread to add a different dimension to needlepoint design. The course, which is aimed at those with intermediate sewing ability, allows you try out a variety of needlepoint stitches – and these will be used to make the top design of a small box. All materials supplied including box, but please bring a pair of embroidery scissors. £45.00 pp. Booking essential.
  
  Embellishments in Stitch and Felt
  Monday 17 September
  Using both felt work and embroidery, you will spend the day making felt decorations to add to bags or to make ornate brooches (ideal presents!). The course is aimed at the enthusiastic beginner who wants to take it to the next stage. All materials included, but bring scissors for embroidery and cutting material. £37.50pp. Booking essential.
  
  All Things Christmas!
  Monday 29 October
  A chance to start those Christmas preparations with handcrafted fabric baubles. You will have the opportunity to make your own bauble with fabric and gold pins (not a sewing needle in sight!) to produce a fabulous ornament or two. Once you know how to make them, you will never want to buy one from a shop again! All materials supplied unless you wish to bring some special fabric of you own to make an heirloom bauble. £37.50pp. Booking essential.

• 20Jun

  A Ferny Foray – Talk & Walk with Matt Bishop

  20 Jun @ 2:15pm - 20 Jun @ 3:30pm

  Wednesday 20 June 2.15 pm
  Matt will focus on the fascinating history of Fern culture in Britain, starting with the Victorian Fern craze. Amongst a large collection of Ferns held at The Garden House, the Polypodiums have recently been awarded National Collection status by Plant Heritage.
  £10 pp. Booking essential.

• 8Aug

  The Fortescue Years – a talk by David Miles

  8 Aug @ 2:15pm - 8 Aug @ 3:30pm

  Wednesday 8 August 2.15 pm
  David is a Horticultural Trustee at The Garden House, but first arrived as a small boy with his family when his father, Bill, was Head Gardener to Lionel Fortescue. David recalls life at The Garden House in the late 1940s and 1950s.
  £10 pp. Booking essential.

• 14Aug

  Beastly Bugs! Find them! Make them! (Children)

  14 Aug @ 2:00pm - 15 Aug @ 4:00pm

  Tuesday 14 and Wednesday 15 August 2.00 pm
  No need to book. Just meet up on the front lawn and join us looking for creepie-crawlies in the garden, after which we will move into the House where Heather Searle will show you how to make your very own pet bug to take home.
  Children free. Accompanying adult – normal admission.

• 14Sep

  Masterclass : a Demonstration of Wisteria Pruning by Matt Bishop

  14 Sep @ 2:15pm - 14 Sep @ 3:15pm

  Friday 14 September 2.15 pm.
  An opportunity to learn more about pruning Wisteria, as Matt
  demonstrates his technique on the many Wisterias that adorn features at The
  Garden House.
  Normal admission. No additional charge

• 27Sep

  AN EXHIBITION OF QUILTS

  27 Sep @ 10:30am - 7 Oct @ 5:00pm

  EDGE OF DARTMOOR QUILTERS
  
  27 September – 7 October
  The walls of all Tearoom reception rooms will be transformed with an exhibition of beautiful quilts made by local quilters, ‘Edge of Dartmoor.’ The quilts will portray the theme ‘Garden and Flowers’. Not to be missed! Normal admission.

• 4Oct

  Dartmoor: A Statement of its Time – an illustrated talk by Professor Ian Mercer CBE

  4 Oct @ 2:15pm - 4 Oct @ 3:30pm

  Thursday 4 October 2.15 pm
  Ian Mercer, who worked on Dartmoor for 20 years, most of them as CEO of the National Park Authority, is author of No. 111 in the New Naturalist Library series. An outstanding speaker, Ian will talk about the Moor, its life and work. He is currently Chairman of the Dartmoor Commoners’ Council. £12.50. Booking essential.

• 30Oct

  Autumn Half-Term – Drop-in Workshops for Children

  30 Oct @ 2:00pm - 30 Oct @ 4:00pm

  Tuesday 30 & Wednesday 31 October 2.00 pm-4.00pm
  Heather Searle will be with us once again to show children just what can be created from nature’s bounty at this time of the year – leaf art, an autumn collage and fantastic 3D sculptures from conkers, seeds, leaves and acorn cups. Let your imagination rule!
  Children free. Accompanying adult – normal admission.

• 2Nov

  The Garden House through the Year – Illustrated talk by David Miles

  2 Nov @ 2:15pm - 2 Nov @ 3:30pm

  Friday 2 November 2.15pm
  A virtual tour of the garden, capturing the highlights through the seasons. £10 pp. Booking essential.