Showing posts with label Hartland Abbey. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Hartland Abbey. Show all posts

Wednesday 22 March 2017

Spring Highlights. A celebration of North Devon Coast and Countryside events

Spring has sprung on the North Devon Coast. Clovelly kicked off the season loudly with their Shrove Tuesday Lentsherd. There were a few clatters on the cobbles as children set off dragging rattling tin cans Down-a-long in a bid to chase bad spirits away and drive the devil into the sea. Sunday 12 March marked Daffodil Day at Hartland Abbey, their first open day of the season and after a gloomy February and beginning of March the sun shone briefly on those ancient Daffodils and Narcissus. The Camellias, Mimosa and Magnolia were blooming marvellous too. We love the circular walk from the Walled Garden through the woodland down to Blackpool Mill Mouth, I was so engrossed photographing some Primroses that I missed a shot of a Deer leaping across the path right beside me! I wasn't ready for that but I was ready for spotting the first of the wild flowers, Wood Anaemone,  a couple of Dog Violet, a solitary Red Campion, an early Greater Stitchwart and Spring Squill, no Wild Garlic or Bluebells as yet but signs are most promising for the other special open days in April. A meeting of music and poetry comes together for the launch of the "The Postman Poet" a book by Liz Shakespeare based on the life of Edward Capern. Folk musicians and songwriters Nick Wyke & Becki Driscoll have chosen some of his poems to set to music for their CD. As the achievements of the past are celebrated young musicans will be making their own bit of history at the WHAAM Westward Ho! and Appledore Music Showcase. This event will be a great opportunity for young people to showcase their musical talents in front of a live audience. Hopefully April won't bring more showers but it does herald a Wedding Fair and Easter Chicks down Clovelly plus Easter Egg hunts at Hartland Abbey and the Big Sheep. The Big Sheep has a full calendar of events with Toddler Take-over days and ewenique family fun including the pinnacle of the sheep racing calendar, the Grand National. Abbotsham not Aintree but just as thrilling. Odds on favourites Red Ram, Wooly Jumper and Little Pullover will be running. Hartland Abbey will be having open day events for Mothering Sunday, Easter and those famous Bluebells. By then the Swallows will have returned in time to swoop over the old Oak Trees. The Hartland Abbey Estate is also the location for the Hartland Hartbreak Run in aid of the Childrens Hospice Southwest. Scroll down for details if you are you up for the challenge. As I write this hailstones are tapping on the window. Come rain or shine get out and about the coast and countryside this Spring, enjoy what North Devon has to offer. Article Pat Adams 21/3/2017
Spring Squill at Hartland Abbey. Photo copyright Pat Adams (All rights reserved)
24th March SHOWCASE FOR YOUNG MUSICIANS. Get ready for “WHAAM JR” - Westward Ho! & Appledore Music Showcase on Friday 24th March at the Pier House, Westward Ho! The event will be representing North Devon’s youth #bands, #singers and #choirs performing in aid of the Royal National Life Institution's Appledore Lifeboat Station. This event is a great opportunity for young people to showcase their musical talents in front of a live audience, to gain experience, enhance their confidence in performing and confirm that “North Devon’s Got Talent!” . Tap here to apply/read all about it in our blog post

25th March AN EVENING OF READING AND SONGS celebrates the launch of ‘The Postman Poet’, a novel by Liz Shakespeare, Author based on the life of Edward Capern. Liz is also publishing 34 of his 600 poems in ‘The Poems of Edward Capern’. Folk musicians and songwriters Nick Wyke & Becki Driscoll have chosen some of his poems to set to music for their CD, ‘The Songs of Edward Capern’. The book and CD launch takes place with an evening of reading and songs at the Royal Hotel in Bideford on the 25th March. Read post to find out more about the event, the books and CD. Read post all about it here
#Bideford

26th March Hartland Abbey Mothering Sunday and Spring Flowers 11am-5pm Our first open day of the 2017 season coincides with Mothering Sunday. Spring should be in full swing at Hartland Abbey in time for Mothering Sunday on 26th March. It will be a lovely opportunity to walk around the gardens and grounds with the magnolias, tree rhododendrons, stunning camellias, daffodils, scillas, hellebores and spring bulbs bursting into flower. The Old Kitchens Tea Room will be producing hot soup, pasties, light lunches and their scrumptious homemade cakes and cream teas. The house will be open too between 1 - 4pm. Lovely primrose walks lead to the beach and Blackpool Mill, the location for 'The Lanyon' in 'The Night Manager' with Tom Hiddleston, Hugh Laurie and Olivia Colman, filmed in April 2015 in Hartland village and on the Hartland Abbey estate. Do come along for our first day of the 2017 season and give your mother a happy day out in this beautiful valley! Dogs will love it too! Normal admission prices apply. Hartland Abbey, Nr Bideford EX39 6DT Tel: 01237441496/441234 - Visit Website

APRIL

2nd April Clovelly Wedding Fair. Wedding Fair at Clovelly Court Great Terrace, whatever the weather.
1pm till dusk with FREE entry. No matter what the weather, Clovelly is the perfect place to create your own unique wedding. With its festival vibe, Clovelly Wedding Fair will have a band for all tastes, a bar, a children's area, outside caterers and local suppliers from all over Devon and Cornwall. Come along and be inspired to create your perfect day. From 1pm to 5pm For further details contact: clovellyweddings@gmail.comVisit http://www.clovelly.co.uk/weddings and
http://www.clovellyweddings.com

8th April to 17th April Find the Easter Chicks at Clovelly. Children receive a village map on entry on which to mark the location and number of Easter chicks perched up and down the tumbling cottages along the High Street to the Quay. Return the map to the Visitor Centre reception if you spot at least 10 chicks to win an Easter egg and a bigger prize if you spot all 15.

8th April  Big Sheep Grand National. A highlight in our sheep race calendar. While many racers are competing in the British Grand National our favourite competiters; Red Ram, Wooly Jumper and Little Pullover to name a few will be battling out for the 2017 Practical Cup. The 6 sheep and their jockeys have been in secret training for almost six months and the Sheepstakes promises to have all the pace, excitment and adrenaline rush watching the Grand National live! We hold our normal sheep races every day at 3:50pm. Visit Website

Easter Fun at Hartland Abbey. Easter Sunday April 16th & Easter Monday April 17th 11am-5pm (Easter egg hunts will continue to Thursday 20th if we have enough Easter eggs)! Come and join the fun in the beautiful grounds and gardens of Hartland Abbey over Easter. Children will have a wonderful time searching all the woodland paths and walks for clues that will lead them to a hidden treasure trove of Easter Eggs. There will be traditional activities and games like Pin the Tail on the Bunny and easter egg decorating as well (only Easter weekend) The daffodils and spring flowers should be looking wonderful, making this a special day out for adults and children alike. The house will be open from 2-5pm at an extra charge. Dogs are very welcome provided they don't eat the Easter eggs first! Grounds open 11am-5pm. Adults £8, All children over 2 £4.50 (including Easter Egg Hunt), Admission to house extra: Adults £4 Children free. Hartland Abbey, Nr Bideford EX39 6DT For further information please ring 01237 441496 /441234 - Visit Website

23rd April Bluebell Sunday at Hartland Abbey 11am-5pm. Bluebell Days at Hartland Abbey are legendary and a wonderful opportunity to visit at a reduced entry price when the valley is looking at its most beautiful. The bluebells at Hartland Abbey carpet the walks from the Walled Gardens to the sea. A restored woodland path links the Summerhouse to the Gazebo and Blackpool Mill overlooking the Atlantic. The restored Summerhouse was always a favourite spot for the family to picnic and for the children to play. If it is cold there will be a lovely log fire burning! See 'Barton Cottage' by the sea, the home of the Dashwood family in the BBC production of 'Sense and Sensibility'and the location for BBC's 'The Night Manager' by John Le Carre, . Along the way enjoy our bluebells, primroses, violets, wild anemones, wild orchids, foxgloves and much more. We love children and dogs and hope that you will bring as many as possible! There should be lots of lovely plants out in the gardens too; the early rhododendrons, camellias, tulips and later bulbs and early perennials amongst others. For the energetic, children and dogs, there will be plenty of opportunity for walking and exploring the 3½ miles of paths within the Abbey grounds. Bluebell Day entry prices: Adults £6, Children (age 5-15) £1, Under 5 free. Your entry ticket to the gardens and grounds includes the Museum, Exhibition and Gift Shop. Parking free. Entry to the house £4 extra. The house will be open from 2-5pm (last admission 4.15pm). The Old Kitchen Tea Rooms will be serving their delicious light lunches and home made cream teas. Hartland Abbey, Nr Bideford EX39 6DT For further information please ring 01237 441496/441234 - Visit Website

Sunday 30th April Hartland Hartbreak Run at Hartland Abbey, Huge thanks to the hundreds of runners who puffed, panted and sweated their way round the course through some of North Devon's most stunning scenery on the Hartland Abbey Estate to raise thousands of pounds for the wonderful Children's Hospice South West in 2016. Lets make 2017 even more successful so start training soon for this most deserving cause! Angela Stucley November 2016 Well folks…It's 13 (ish) miles of uphill, downhill, through rivers, bogs and hedges and some really stunning scenery. Mind you, you won't get to see much more than about 2 foot in front of you….. .We are starting and finishing from the fabulous Hartland Abbey and are very fortunate that Sir Hugh and Lady Stucley have allowed us to run around their wonderful estate. You'll encounter the beautiful gardens of the Abbey - with bluebells in full flight - and then the rugged and unrelenting South West Coast Path. After a quick trip around Hartland Lighthouse it's in to the deepest darkest Devonshire countryside - keep your wits about you and you'll probably make it out alive. Back through the abbey grounds once more and up to the ruined Pleasure House overlooking the Atlantic, back onto the coast path and past (through?) a waterfall before once again leaving the coast path to explore some local woods. Once out of the woods there is the opportunity to run through the estate's area of bio-diversity before heading back to the Abbey for the finish. Doesn't sound that bad does it? Did I mention that there might be some hills? Simon Haywood
Are you up for the challenge? And raise money for charity. If you have any questions about the race please do get in touch, you can either drop me an email at the address below, give me a call or even write!
Our Address: Brook Cottage, Blakeshill Road Landkey, Barnstaple, Devon EX32 0NE Tel: 01271 831498 - Mobile: 07515 875651 Website: http://www.northdevonroadrunners.com Email: simon.haywood@virgin.net

For more North Devon Events see North Devon Focus Community CalenderNorth Devon Coast & Country Chronicle FacebookThe Big Sheep - Burton Art GalleryThe Plough Arts CentreBideford Cinema Local Press: What's On North Devon Gazette - North Devon Journal  

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 North Devon Tourist Information Centres
Barnstaple Tourist Information Centre, North Devon Museum, The Square, Barnstaple, EX32 9LS Tel: 01271 375000
Bideford Tourist Information Centre, Burton Art Gallery, Kingsley Road, Bideford, EX39 2QQ Tel: 01237 477676
Braunton Tourist Information Centre The Bakehouse Centre, Caen Street, Braunton, EX33 1AA Tel: 01271 816688
Combe Martin Tourist Information Centre Cross Street, Combe Martin, EX34 ODH Tel: 01271 889031
Holsworthy Visitor Information Centre Ruby Country, Holsworthy Manor Car Park, Holsworthy EX22 6DJ Tel: 01409 254 185
Torrington Tourist Information Centre, Castle Hill, South Street, Torrington Tel: 01805 626140
lfracombe Tourist Information Centre The Landmark Theatre, The Seafront, Ilfracombe, EX34 9BX Tel: 01271 863 001
Lynton & Lynmouth Tourist Information Centre Lynton Town Hall, Lee Road, Lynton, EX35 6HT Tel: 01598 752225
Lynmouth National Park Centre, The Pavilion, The Esplanade, Lynmouth, EX35 6EQ Tel: 01598 752509
South Molton Tourist Information Centre 1 East Street, South Molton, EX36 3BU Tel: 01769 574122
Woolacombe Tourist Information Centre The Esplanade, Woolacombe, EX34 7DL Tel: 01271 870553

Tuesday 30 June 2015

It's Show Time. A celebration of North Devon Coast and Countryside events

The sun is out,  perfect for Hartland Abbey's outdoor theatre performances. Let's hope the weather holds fast for Clovelly's Maritime Festival and the Woolsery Agricultural Show a real celebration of what's great about the coast and countryside, a delightful way to experience the area's age old traditions. A host of TV characters, an Abba Tribute Night, Toddler Takeover Day and a Great British Bake Off, are just a couple of the fun events at the Big Sheep. Summer fairs and fetes and special fund raising charity events abound around local villages and towns. We have highlighted just a few of the North Devon events this month but use the local press and tourist information links below to check what's on elsewhere around the region.

Friday 3rd July ABBA Tribute Night at the Big Sheep. Are you a ‘Dancing Queen’ and fancy becoming a ‘Super Trouper’ for an evening?’ – if so, why not ‘Take a Chance,’ and come and enjoy what promises to be one of the best night’s out in North Devon this year. An ABBA REUNION will be taking place in The EWE2 arena at The BIG Sheep family attraction in Bideford on Friday 3rd July at 7.30pm. Doors and bar will open at 7pm. Click here for the Big Sheep Website


Sunday 5th July  The Great North Devon Bake Off at the Big Sheep. Help raise money for Starfish Community Charity. Can you bake the perfect cake? Would you like to be this year’s Ultimate Champion? Why not put your sensational skills to the test be entering? Professional, amateur and junior bakers are invited to enter up to 5 categories: Click here for the Big Sheep Website

10th July Charity Tandem Skydive 2pm at Honiiton Airfield Devon. Tandem Skydive for the brain tumour charity I'm memory of my husband Vince who lost his life to a brain tumour on 19/1/2015 aged 49. In aid of BRAIN TUMOUR CHARITY Contact: gwyneth62@hotmail.co.uk. Click here for The Brain Tumour Charity Just Giving Website

Friday July 10th 7pm The Rude Mechanical Theatre - The Comedy of Babi Babbett at Hartland Abbey Set in Islington in 1793 it is an out and out farce in the classic commedia dell'arte style and probably the funniest of all their plays."Rich men are very attractive. There's nothing so romantic as the creak in the moonlight of a chequebook opening." Hartland Abbey Open Air Theatre Season in conjunction with the Plough Arts Centre 

Sunday 12th July Enjoy a day out and see George Pig. Peppa Pig’s little brother, George, will be coming to the BIG Sheep family attraction in North Devon to see his fans Click here for the Big Sheep Website


Thursday 16th July Toddler Take Over at the Big Sheep. Clowning Around will be an action packed day with balloon modelling, hula hooping, bubbles and children can make their own clown hat to take home and face painted as a clown.  As well as clowning around all day, the toddlers will be able to enjoy The BIG Sheep’s resident clown Vaughan perform some clown tricks.  Toddlers who come dressed as a clown will gain FREE entry to the park. Click here for the Big Sheep Website

Sunday 19th July 7pm Illyria Theatre - Iolanthe at Hartland Abbey. Gilbert and Sullivan's most magical comic opera is set half in Fairyland, half in Westminster. Its surprisingly topical satire pokes fun at Love, Class and Politics - and on how people from different backgrounds form uneasy coalitions…. Many believe its sumptuous harmonies to be the most beautiful Sullivan wrote. It gets the complete Illyria treatment, faithfully performed by a reduced cast with live piano accompaniment. Hartland Abbey Open Air Theatre Season in conjunction with the Plough Arts Centre 

Sunday 19th July Majorettes Day.. As well as all the usual BIG Sheep fun, on Sunday 19th July, you'll be able to watch 4 troupes compete in superb choreographed dance routine they will have practiced for the past 6 months. See the skillful Baton Twirling and fun Pom Pom Displays. Click here for the Big Sheep Website

Sunday 19th July Clovelly Maritime Festival in aid of the N. Devon Hospice. 10th Anniversary. Clovelly Harbour 10 am to 5 pm. The day will be full of fun and packed with a programme of activities and entertainment for all ages. There'll be lively music, crafty creations and family activities throughout the day, including a workshop all about exploring the great outdoors, along with a Pirate Parade, maritime storytelling, Punch and Judy, and street theatre. On the quay there will be seafood kitchens and arts and crafts. Free entry for under 16s if they come dressed as a pirate or salty seadog, mermaid or fishwife.*** Hartland ATC will now be doing a Gun Run up the cobbles from the harbour to Victoria Fountain starting at about 09:30. 

Sunday 26th July See The Gruffallo at the Big Sheep. The Gruffalo will be making appearances at The BIG Sheep at intervals between 11am and 3.30pm for children and families to say “hello”. Don’t forget to bring your camera! Click here for the Big Sheep Website

Sunday 26th July Rotary Club's Bideford Water Festival with Bungee Jumping. Also Appledore and Instow Ferry attendance, Paddle boards, Skern Lodge power boat rides and the RNLI will make an appearance depending on operational demands! Quay Events, Fun Fair, Food. Visit Website for details

Monday 27th July Woolsery Agricultural Show at Clovelly Court in aid of various charities. A highly popular summer show. Classes include crafts, cattle and sheep. There will be horse and pony competitions, vintage farm machinery, trade stalls offering locally made crafts and food, fairground rides, a bouncy castle and the Young Farmers' 'It's a knockout'. A great day out for all the family!

Wednesday 29th July 2pm Family Arts Afternoon At Hartland Abbey. Most activities free - some may have a small additional charge. A chance for all the family to try a wacky range of arts related activities in the beautiful grounds of Hartland Abbey. Fun creative activities will include a character treasure hunt, 'through the portal' story-making with Celia Busby, willow sculpting, tree of hands, fancy dress races, kite making, inventions, nature frames, pottery, storytelling, drama, and many more…. See website or call box office for more details. Then stay on to see Mr Stink at 5pm! Hartland Abbey Open Air Theatre Season in conjunction with the Plough Arts Centre

Wednesday 29th July 5pm Heartbreak Theatre - Mr Stink' by David Walliams at Hartland Abbey. On a perfectly average afternoon, two restless souls unite on a bench in an average English town - one of them the lonely 12 year old Chloe and the other an incredibly smelly homeless man. Oh, and let's not forget his loyal dog, the Duchess. Acting upon her curiosity and responding to her kindness, Chloe and Mr. Stink forge an extraordinary and rewarding friendship that takes them to the heady heights of live television and Downing Street via a garden shed. An outdoor show packed with fun, humour and a heart-warming message, Heartbreak Productions' adaptation of Mr Stink from the infamous novel by David Walliams is suitable for the whole family to enjoy together. Hartland Abbey Open Air Theatre Season in conjunction with the Plough Arts Centre

Thursday 30th July 7pm Jazz at The Abbey - Digby Fairweather's Half Dozen & Special Guest Tina May at Hartland Abbey. Swing's the Thing' direct from Ronnie Scott's to Hartland Abbey! Ten-time winners of 'Top Small Group' in the prestigious British Jazz Awards (2014) this all star group - led by the legendary Digby Fairweather - promises you an unforgettable evening of swinging sounds, latin jazz, and gorgeous selections from the Great American and British Songbooks. For one night only they are joined by special guest, Tina May, one of the most expressive and inventive jazz singers of the last 20 years, renowned for her nuanced interpretive skills, freewheeling creativity and richly varied repertoire.
Quality catering & bar available
"The best new jazz show I've seen" Sir Michael Parkinson
"The greatest band I know" Paul Jones
"The best band I ever sung with…." George Melly
Hartland Abbey Open Air Theatre Season in conjunction with the Plough Arts Centre 
 For more North Devon Events see Local Press: What's On North Devon Gazette - North Devon Journal  

http://www.thenorthdevonfocus.co.uk/localevents.htm

 Woolsery Agricultural Show - Photo Copyright P. Adams (All rights reserved)
----------------------------------------------------------------------- 
North Devon Tourist Information Centres
Barnstaple Tourist Information Centre, North Devon Museum, The Square, Barnstaple, North Devon, EX32 9LS
Bideford Tourist Information Centre, Burton Art Gallery, Kingsley Road, Bideford, EX39 2QQ 

Braunton Tourist Information Centre The Bakehouse Centre, Caen Street, Braunton, North Devon, EX33 1AA
Combe Martin Tourist Information Centre Cross Street, Combe Martin, North Devon, EX34 ODH 

Holsworthy Visitor Information Centre: The Memorial Hall, Holsworthy, 
Torrington Tourist Information Centre, Castle Hill, South Street, Torrington   
lfracombe Tourist Information Centre The Landmark Theatre, The Seafront, Ilfracombe, North Devon, EX34 9BX
Lynton Tourist Information Centre Lynton Town Hall, Lee Road, Lynton, North Devon, EX35 6HT T

South Molton Tourist Information  1 East Street, South Molton, Devon, EX36 3BU 
Woolacombe Tourist Information Centre The Esplanade, Woolacombe, North Devon, EX34 7DL 
 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Click here to add an event go to North Devon Focus Coast & Country Chronicle Community Calendar 
(We advise that you check with venues to ensure events are taking place, to confirm details dates & times)