CASTLE HILL BLOG
Spring and the Plant Heritage Fair from Lady Arran Written on May 9, 2013, by castlehilldevon.
Castle Hill has seen a surge in the numbers of happy gardeners and families enjoying the amazingly beautiful Spring weather. What more could one ask for than carpets of primroses and violets with bluebells sticking their shy heads into the sunlight, nestling under the many camellias still flowering in the late Spring. Rhododendrons are popping out everywhere with still lots in bud for later and all of this under towering magnolias in shades of white, creamy yellow, pink and purple. Perfection, a gardener’s dream, after a year of winter! Don’t let’s forget the luminous lime green of the beech trees which complete the glorious scene and actually this garden was only started by my mother 45 years ago.
Our Plant Heritage Fair saw many excellent nurseries selling rare and unusual plants for people to browse and buy. We were thrilled by the many positive comments from visitors regarding the gardens and H & A Catering kept hunger at bay with delicious snacks.
Written on May 9, 2013, by castlehilldevon.
SOUTH MOLTON INFANTS SCHOOL
We had the pleasure of welcoming South Molton Infants School to Castle Hill at the end of April. The youngsters, like many generations of school children before them, enjoyed exploring the grounds, hand in hand. They managed the steep climb up the hill to enjoy the views from the castle – quite a challenge for little legs!
Since then Filleigh School have also visited Castle Hill to explore the Tanglewood Tree for mini beasts. Many small insects of interest were collected and examined by Mrs Huxtable and her class before being safely returned to their respective homes.
Castle Hill Car Festival Takes Off! Written on April 23, 2013, by castlehilldevon.
Come and watch the breathtaking aerobatic display from the fantastic Abarth stunt plane piloted by Mike Jeffreys at the Castle Hill Car Festival on 3rd and 4th August!
Congratulations! Written on April 18, 2013, by castlehilldevon.
Congratulations to Daniel Payne and Emma Partridge who got engaged in the gardens at Castle Hill yesterday!
Easter Bunny Hunt Winners Written on April 16, 2013, by castlehilldevon.
Congratulations to Florence and Daisy Miller, the winners of our Easter Prize Quiz draw. The girls and their family correctly worked out the answer was ‘Cottontail’ and received a basket full of Easter goodies.
16th April Written on April 16, 2013, by castlehilldevon.
Hurray, the sun is shining, the grass has greened up and best of all the magnolias are bursting forth despite the tortuous time they have been through. The banks are literally alive with Primroses and at last the feeling that Spring is here. Our new extension to the Millenium Garden is planted and just waiting for a few new exciting plants which no doubt we shall find at the Plant Heritage Fair here on May 5th.The picture opposite shows the Plant Heritage Fair at Castle Hill in 2012. Lovely news, Raymond who has recently retired as Gardener after over 40 years on the Estate is to receive 2 Long Service Awards at the Devon County Show and the Royal Bath and West Show.
2nd April – Spring gardens Written on April 4, 2013, by castlehilldevon.
April 2nd. The most beautiful Spring day with little wind and clear blue skies were a joy here at Castle Hill, rather quiet after the excitement of the Easter Bunny Hunt but a lovely chance to really look at what is coming out. Daffodil Wood is a sea of of yellow and cream under the magnificent beech trees topped by the azure sky, banks are simply covered with carpets of primroses loving the cool weather and rhododendrons are beginning to bravely poke out some flowers. The Camelias are very late and with some warmth will explode with colour and the wise magnolias are staying in tight bud knowing their fate with the promise of more frosty nights this week. This is a wonderful moment with the garden full of excitement just hoping for a few more degrees of heat by day.
Easter Bunny Hunt Written on April 2, 2013, by castlehilldevon.
We are so pleased that out Easter Bunny Hunt was such a happy day. Despite a very cool wind, nearly 500 visitors from grandparents to tiny babies came. It was wonderful to see everyone having a great time searching for clues all around the 50 acres of gardens. Thank you all for coming and please do come again soon as you now know what a great place Castle Hill is for children to let off steam safely!
Castle Hill Wedding Fair Written on April 2, 2013, by castlehilldevon.
Sunday 17th March was the Castle Hill Wedding Fair and what huge success it was. Thank you to Blue Fizz Events for organising and to Sound Events Marquees for providing such a stunning marquee. We had over 250 visitors and over 50 suppliers including wonderful hair, make-up, wedding dresses by Frilly Frocks and Caroline Fricker, Papermoon Photography took some wonderful pics – all in all a great day and hopefully a successful one for all of our suppliers!
Busy start to new season at Castle Hill Written on April 2, 2013, by castlehilldevon.
The new season at Castle Hill has got off to a very busy start starting with our lovely prizewinning wedding from the Wedding Factor magazine – Charlotte and Chris Saunders. Check out our facebook page for pictures and I will post more on the blog shortly. It was a very happy day. The sun shone and although it was bitterly cold this did nothing to dampen the spirits of all the lovely guests. Andy Casey took lots of wonderful photos which I will post very soon. Huge thanks to all the suppliers who took part – Andy Casey Photography, Ellas Events, R&L Digital Video, The Wedding Collection, Louise Canty, Emily Rose Cakes, Condor Marquees, Fourleaf Clover Flowers, Wedding Boutique, Steve Tucker, M&R Marquees, Devon Sound ‘n’ Light, Dunstable Farm Icecream, Mr BoJangles, Toast Event Management and the Oak Room
