Month: December 2024

Recently published, The English Landscape Garden book by Tim Richardson is a must read for anyone interested in the most beautiful of English landscapes.

This is the first modern book to celebrate, illustrate and elucidate what is arguably the greatest artform that Britain has. A sumptuous, beautifully photographed volume, The English Landscape Garden presents the twenty greatest surviving landscape gardens, which are now conserved and can be visited by the public.

The official book launch took place recently at The Garden Museum. The Garden Museum is in the church of St Mary’s of Lambeth, just next to Lambeth Palace, and was saved from demolition to become the Garden Museum. The Garden Museum holds artworks, designs, portraits, tools and even garden gnomes – all relating to the history of gardening. The Museum’s collection includes a painting of Painshill. It is a fascinating place to visit. Click below to see the painting and to find out more about The Garden Museum.

The English Landscape Garden by Tim Richardson is now available to purchase in Painshill’s Gift Shop.

Painshill’s The 12 Days of Christmas Trail invites visitors to search out each of the gifts mentioned in the classic song; from two turtle doves through to twelve drummers drumming and of course, a partridge in a pear tree!

Bright, colourful figures made from traditional wooden materials and individually hand-painted are dotted throughout Painshill’s landscape.

Grab your hat and scarf and have a fun day out with the whole family on this nostalgic festive adventure through Painshill’s stunning 160 acre historic garden this Christmas. Even the family dog is able to join in the fun at Painshill’s dog-friendly event!

Whilst searching for the figures, visitors can also enjoy the beautiful views of Painshill. There are also many garden structures, known as follies, to discover, from a stunning Gothic Temple to an incredible, sparkling Crystal Grotto. There really is something for everyone at Painshill with a surprise around each corner.

Why not round your walk off nicely with a treat or two in Mr Hamilton’s Tea Room, a perfect day out!

The 12 Days of Christmas Trail runs until Sunday 5 January 2025.

Book online in advance to save on entry.

The Crystal Grotto is beautifully lit for the Christmas period in a rainbow of colours and is looking truly spectacular.

The 12 Days of Christmas Trail at Painshill featuring Eight Maids a-milking by the Ruined Abbey.

The Autumn leaves have well and truly fallen and whilst there is a nip in the air and thoughts start to turn to the festive season, there is still hive of activity in the Education Forest School area as the Education team prepare for a December of Christmas Forest School activities, and the launch of our new Home Education sessions.

Pre-schoolers (and their grown-ups) have been having a wild time with our Forest School sessions, playing in the leaf piles and cooking up a storm in our new mud kitchen come rain or shine. We have been making marvellous art works from sticks, bright leaves, mud and clay and having lots of hot chocolate, marshmallows and tasty camp fire treats.

Coming up next for Painshill’s Forest School is our Christmas Special. We are busy gathering up pine cones, holly and ivy from the landscape and designing lots of fun festive games, crafts and campfire treats.

Shh… don’t tell anyone but Autumn is our favourite time of year for school visits. The leaves are crunchy to walk on, the air is crisp, we get to wear big snuggly jumpers and jump in puddles. Perfect! This Autumn has been a big old mix of story telling, natural art, poetry, Greek myths and legends and re-living Romans. Phew! Bookings are coming in fast for our 2025 school visits so, teachers, book your visit soon before we fill up!

Coming in the new year, January will see the Education team focus on exciting weekly sessions for home educated children. The afternoon sessions will aim to get your children out and about learning in an active, practical and fun way. Each week, we will focus on a different part of our amazing natural and historical landscape to explore and investigate with topics including weather, plants, natural art, wildlife and history.

We are really excited to continue to make Painshill accessible for all educational groups and inspire our next generation to thrive in the great outdoors.