Borde Hill is celebrating its 125th year since Colonel Stephenson Robert Clarke purchased the estate and created the Garden. This summer will feature an event programme offering a feast for the senses, celebrating art, creativity and imagination throughout July, August and September.
Andrewjohn Stephenson Clarke, owner and Managing Director said, “To celebrate our special anniversary and the beauty of our Garden, which has been carefully planted and tended for 125 years, we want visitors to experience something extra special this year and are offering a wide variety of arts and music events, both free and ticketed, to make it a summer to remember!”
The school summer holiday begins with ‘The Garden of Imagination’, a mystical trail with fantasy creatures and other worldly beings, including unicorns, fairies, giants and a golden phoenix. The trail will run through the Garden and Woodland from 1 to 31 August. There will also be children’s activities on selected dates, including the chance to ‘meet a mermaid’ and ‘make your own fairy garden’.
Throughout July and August, visitors can enjoy the Rose Garden at its peak, with 750 David Austin rose plants filling the air with a heavenly scent, or relax in the serenity of the Italian Garden, with its striking water feature, created by internationally renowned sculptor Angela Conner.
Photographic workshops for adults, children and teens, on 15 and 25 July, offer budding photographers a chance to improve their skills in the beautiful surroundings of Borde Hill Garden.
From 1 August to 30 September, visitors can also enjoy meandering through ‘The Artist’s Garden’; an exhibition of artwork inspired by the beauty of nature in stone, stained glass, ceramic, resin and metalwork. Kindly sponsored by 1st CENTRAL.
Borde Hill will also host an eclectic musical programme, offering something for everyone to enjoy. This kicks off with a special 125th Anniversary Operatic High Tea, sponsored by NFU Mutual, offering an elegant afternoon of operatic delights, performed by Opera Brava with a sumptuous high tea and a glass of fizz on 1 July.
Opera Brava will be back again to perform full length open air productions of La Boheme on 27 July and The Marriage of Figaro on the 28 of July, against the stunning backdrop of the Elizabethan Mansion House.
On the weekend of 7 and 8 July, Borde Hill will host ‘A Boundless Summer’, in the Parkland. The legendary UB40 will be headlining on 7 July, supported by ASWAD, whilst The Gipsy Kings, featuring Nicolas Reyes and Tonnino Baliardo, will headline on 8 July.
As an added enjoyment for all visitors to the Garden, there will be ‘Musical Picnics’ every Sunday in August between 1 and 3pm, where families are invited to bring their own picnic, kick back and relax to live music in the beauty of the Garden.
Throughout July and August the Garden will be open 10am to 6pm daily.
Find out more and book for ticketed events at www.bordehill.co.uk, 01444 450326./
Picture credit: Alex Rickard Photography.
