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This Easter we have a host of fun for all the family at Painshill.

Come along and enjoy a day out full of eggs-iting adventures!

Find all the characters in Painshill’s big Easter Egg Statue Trail

Giant eggs will be waiting to be discovered in the Painshill landscape. Come along and see if you can find all the colourful characters.

Book to visit any day between Saturday 2 and Sunday 24 April.

BOOK TO VISIT

Climb to the top of The Gothic Tower

After two years of closure during the COVID-19 pandemic, we are delighted to reopen The Gothic Tower this Easter. Climb to the top and take a look at the view then reward yourself with tea and cake.

Book to visit any day between Saturday 2 and Tuesday 19 April.

BOOK TO VISIT

Visit the Crystal Grotto

Step inside a sparkling crystal cave and marvel at the light reflecting across the ceiling. Over the school holidays the Grotto will be open daily, including Mondays.

Book to visit any day between Saturday 2 and Sunday 24 April.

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Treat yourself to Afternoon Tea

Relax in comfort as you sip a glass of chilled sparkling wine and enjoy our homemade scones, freshly made sandwiches and indulgent cakes.

BOOK AFTERNOON TEA

Step into spring

The season when everything comes alive is a wonderful time to get outdoors and explore. Daffodils line the banks of the lake and bluebells are on their way!

Look out for baby birds, including ducklings and goslings, around the lake at this time of year.

BOOK TO VISIT

Spring is one of the prettiest times in the landscape and the season really gets going in March.

1. Enjoy the daffodils

Walk into the landscape right now and you will be greeted with a host of golden daffodils. They have to be the most triumphant spring flowers – nothing says ‘winter is over’ quite like their bright yellow blooms. The area around the visitor centre is covered in them. To see more, carry on to the bottom of the vineyard where they line the lake.  

2. Say hello to the goslings

New families have started arriving around the lake. We already have some gorgeous Egyptian goslings to look out for around Grotto Island.

Did you know that Egyptian Geese were indeed originally from Egypt, as the name suggests. They were brought over in the 17th century because English gentlemen were stuck by their beautiful colours and thought they would look very eye-catching by the lakes and ponds of their estates. Despite the colder climate the Egyptian Geese have maintained a small population since.

3. Look out for wild garlic

In March, wild garlic starts to bloom all the way along the banks of the river. You may spot white flowers or, if they haven’t bloomed yet, heaps of green leaves and buds. Step towards them and there is no mistaking the smell!

4. Celebrate Mother’s Day

This Mother’s Day treat your mum to a day around the landscape. Enjoy spotting the new mothers with their goslings around the lake or walk up to the Temple of Bacchus and take in the view.

We have Mother’s Day Afternoon Tea being served if you would like to indulge in scones, sandwiches and sweet treats. Toast to your mum with a glass of Painshill’s very own sparkling wine.

5. Stop and spot the flowers

Daffodils are not the only flower to herald the new season. There is still a scattering of snowdrops to enjoy around the lake and crocus are blooming in the woodlands around the Visitor Centre.

Fun and colourful characters are coming to Painshill this Easter holiday. Large statues of painted eggs will include a Cow, a Hen, a Pirate and a Unicorn.

We have one egg however that is blank and we need your ideas!

Draw your egg character design, or download our handy template below, and email it to marketing@painshill.co.uk to enter our competition. We will take the winning design and have it painted onto a huge egg to feature in our trail.

The winner will receive free tickets to Painshill to come and see their egg character in the landscape.

The competition is open to all ages and it closes on Friday 25 February.

Today we were delighted to welcome The Mayor of the Borough of Elmbridge, Councillor Tony Popham, and the Mayoress, Mrs Jo Wright, to plant a new Cedar of Lebanon at Painshill in celebration of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.

The Queen’s Green Canopy is a unique tree planting initiative created to mark Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee in 2022 which invites people and organisations from across the United Kingdom to “Plant a Tree for the Jubilee”.

The Painshill team chose a Cedar of Lebanon because of the rich history that species has in the landscape. The gardens at Painshill already boast many long-standing specimens including “The Great Cedar” a tree planted by Charles Hamilton in the 18^th century that has become the largest multi-stemmed Cedar in Europe. Hamilton, the creator of Painshill, was described as “painting with plants” and he used them to create atmosphere and beauty. He planted a Cedar in particular places to draw the eye of the visitor and create a dramatic moment in a view.

We very much hope that this new Cedar will have a long future ahead of it and stand in celebration of Her Majesty’s 70 years of service for generations to come.

Hello February – the most romantic month of the year. Full of new life and new hope.

With engagement season in full swing and Valentine’s Day on the 14^th this is the month where love is in the air.

Whether you are in a couple or just in love with the landscape, here’s five ways you can enjoy Painshill this month.

1. Enjoy a romantic walk

With glorious views and enchanting follies Painshill is a natural place for romance. Many people have been known to choose a walk around the grounds as the perfect first date or to pop the question in the Crystal Grotto or the Gothic Temple. The lake views were used in Netflix’s smash hit Bridgerton as the setting for the Duke and Duchess of Hastings to promenade and fall in love.

Bring your loved one along for a walk or make a day more special by booking a couples photography shoot.

2. Spot signs of spring

February is when we start to see some lovely signs of spring. Little green buds that started in January become snowdrops and the shoots of daffodils start to emerge. We also have our first families around the lake, normally led by the Egyptian Goose.

3. Join us for Valentine’s Day Afternoon Tea

For a special Valentine’s Day this year why not dine in our award-winning Crystal Grotto. This exclusive one-day event is a truly unique experience. Indulge in homemade scones and a glass of Painshill wine whilst enjoying the sparkling romance of the setting.

4. Enjoy the landscape for longer

February can often be a month of bright days. They might be cold on occasion but you can start to feel now that the sun is up for longer. From Fri 10 Feb, we change our opening times to 10am – 5pm to take advantage of the lengthening of the sunlight.

5. Bring the family this February half-term  

This February half-term enjoy a day out that is fun for all the family. Head out around our accessible route, perfect for those with buggies, and see if you can spot birds, green shoots, blossom buds and spring flowers.

This year we have a family trail full of amazing facts. Little ones can discover how plants draw up water, how boats float and how rainbows are formed. Pick up a map in the Visitor Centre to follow the trail route and explore the landscape.

Painshill Park Trust is pleased that during 2022 the landscape garden will undergo a project to build a new car park.

Many members and visitors to Painshill will be aware that in wet weather the current car park deteriorates quickly and the surface becomes very muddy and uneven.

In order to secure the future of Painshill and to enable us to deliver a fantastic visitor experience a new car park has long been needed.

Painshill Park Trust has been working hard to resolve the issue for a number of years.

We are pleased to have been granted both financial assistance from Elmbridge Borough Council’s Community Infrastructure Levy and planning permission by EBC in autumn 2020.

The new car park will be located on Goldstone Field, directly across from the entrance bridge, which EBC has leased to Painshill. The existing car park will be returned to Green Belt once the new car park is in use.

It will include 260 car spaces on a hard standing surface, 5 coach spaces and 8 accessible or Blue Badge parking bays which will be situated close to the entrance bridge. It will be supplied with appropriate drainage and electricity for future CCTV and lighting.

Timeline of the work

February 2022

Work will begin on preparing the field. Some trees will need to be felled and bushes cut back. We will do this work within the guidelines of an expert independent ecology report. It will be completed as early as possible before the nesting season to ensure the least amount of disruption to birdlife. The reptiles and amphibians in the area will be surveyed and, if needed, protected or moved to new habitats.

Before work commences, archeologists will survey the area. They will be digging around 11 trenches to record the area carefully and uncover anything of historical importance.

Approx. May 2022

Work will begin on building the new car park. Regular updates will be added to this blog, please check back to find out more.

Approx. August 2022

The new car park will open for visitors and work will begin to return the site of the old one to Green Belt. We will be replanting as grassland to ensure there is a continued habitat for wildlife and that we minimize our environmental impact.

Into the future

When funds allow, Painshill Park Trust intends to continue to improve the car park by installing CCTV, electric car charging points for a sustainable future and electric security gates. The new car park will be designed in a way to allow these improvements to be made in stages in the years to come.   

If you have a question or would like to know more please take a look at our FAQs or email us at info@painshill.co.uk 

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FAQs

Will there be times when there is no parking at Painshill?

No, there will always be parking available for visitors. Due to the fact we are moving the site of the car park we will be able to keep the old one open until the new one is ready.

Will the new car park still be free for visitors?

Yes, the car park will still be free. We will continue to enforce that it is only used by people visiting the landscape garden.

How can Painshill Park Trust, a small charity, afford a new car park?

Painshill has been granted financial aid from EBC’s Community Infrastructure Levy as well as using some of our own funds.

Will walkers still be able to access the footpath/public right of way?

Yes, a right of way will be maintained at all times. However it might move location. Please follow the signs at all times when walking through the site.  

What will happen if the archaeology work finds something of significant historical importance?

If items of historical interest are found during the archaeology work, further trenches will be dug. Painshill Park Trust will be liaising with Surrey County Archaeologist. We will not know the outcome of this work until it is completed so please keep an eye on this page or our social media for updates.

How will you ensure you reduce your environmental impact and don’t disrupt the local wildlife?

The tree felling, clearing and building work will be undertaken in strict accordance with an expert independent ecology report.  Painshill Park Trust will do its utmost to ensure that, while making space for cars, we minimize the impact on wildlife and the environment.  Once the new car park is open the old one will be replanted and returned to Green Belt.

How does this project secure Painshill’s future?

Painshill will have its own car park that will be used throughout the year. The existing car park is rented, incurring an annual cost for the charity.

With February and Valentine’s Day just around the corner we have been thoroughly enjoying looking back over some of the glorious weddings held at Painshill.

One of our favourite moments of 2021 was watching Jamie and Corinne tie the knot. They chose, not only to have their ceremony at Painshill, but to spend the whole of their special day with us. From walking down the aisle to the first dance they celebrated in style outside in our stunning landscape.

Creating an outdoorsy, boho chic vibe Jamie and Corinne really made the very most of the garden setting. The fully licensed Gothic Temple was spectacularly dressed in an abundance of colourful seasonal blooms by Cutting Garden Events.

They turned the Amphitheatre into a space with a real fairy tale forest feel. Wooden tables, barrels and swing chairs created an informal and relaxed atmosphere, while music from a string quartet infused elegance. A marquee was put up in case of showers but the weather allowed their guests to eat, drank and dance outside all day under the summer sky.

“Jamie and Corrine combined the sophistication and elegance of our 18^th century landscape with a romantic relaxed vibe in such a beautiful way. It was a pleasure to ensure their day was a very special one” Emma, Weddings Co-Ordinator

The bohemian romantic ambiance continued into the evening when a buffet style dinner was supplied by Four Gables and the guests were treated to music from City Sounds outside in the natural surroundings.   

Painshill boosts magnificent locations for photos together and Jamie and Corinne had moments to themselves while taking in the romantic views around the Gothic Temple and the vineyard.

Photography is by Murray Clarke.

If you are feeling inspired this Valentine’s Day drop Emma a line on weddings@painshill.co.uk to come and see the views for yourself.

Are you looking for an alternative to Christmas cards this year?

With fun, personalised eCards on DontSendMeACard you get to support Painshill with what you would have normally spent on cards and stamps. It’s faster and helps save the planet too. DontSendMeACard helps you every step of the way to set up an eCard with a beautiful picture of Painshill.

Your donations will help us urgently replace the Woollett Bridge at Painshill. 

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The Woollett Bridge sits on the west side of Grotto Island. It forms part of the historic route and is vital to the landscape. In December 2019 and again in February 2020 Painshill flooded. The bridge, made of softwood timber, was under water for about two weeks and has never fully recovered. Painshill Park Trust is raising money to replace the bridge, so that the historic route is maintained for visitors for many years to come.

On DontSendMeACard you can send up to 100 cards, personalise them to your friends and family and donate to help our small charity this Christmas.

A monster, a witch, a fledgling bird, and magical pixies all featured in the winning entries for a short story competition run by Painshill Park in Surrey to celebrate the 250th birthday of its dazzling crystal grotto.

Painshill invited budding writers to pen a 250-word story inspired by the unearthly beauty of the enchanting manmade feature at the award-winning 18^th century landscape garden.

Stories were judged by a panel of experts including Lorraine Piddington, author of children’s books The Aliens Who Loved Lemon Curd and Pete from Pluto and his Perfect Pies, and Painshill director Paul Griffiths.

The winning entries were written by Theodor Ridgwell in the 12 years and under category, and Virgina Vivian and Courtney Roast in the 18 and over category. Each winner received a year’s membership to Painshill.

The Rainbow Grotto, by three-year-old Theodor Ridgwell, tells the tale of a monster who has lived alone for 100 years until his world is brightened by the arrival of a friendly witch who turns his cave into a dazzling crystal grotto.

In Virginia Vivian’s The Grotto of Enchantment, a mother sees the magical grotto through the eyes of a child, and Courtney Roast’s spellbinding tale reveals the pixies who work hard each night to polish and shine the sparkling crystals.

Painshill director Paul Griffiths said: “Entrants were invited to submit a 250-word story inspired by the enduring appeal of our beautiful crystal grotto, which is 250 years old this year.

“We wanted to be enchanted and dazzled – just as the grotto has been dazzling visitors since it was created by designer Joseph Lane in the 1700s.

“The entries we received surprised and delighted us. They were all of a very high standard, and the three winners really captured our imagination with their vivid story-telling.”

There’s enchantment in the frosty air at Painshill as the usually silent woods rustle with the sound of fairy wings.

Magical fairy doors have appeared in the wild banks and woodland as tiny nature spirits take up residence for a short winter break.

As the air turns chilly, the fairies have fluttered to earth and are warming their wings behind a series of enchanting wooden doors set into the gnarled tree trunks and wild grasses.

We invite you to enjoy your very own fairy tale adventure with us as you walk around the woodlands and serpentine lake, seeing how many doors you can spot.

The tiny doors match the magical follies scattered through our grounds – see if you can spot rustic doors around the thatched Hermitage, and a mini temple by the Temple of Bacchus.

Director Paul Griffiths said: “We are delighted that our fairy friends have decided to visit us here at Painshill – it’s the perfect environment for them!

“As nature spirits, their doors have naturally been installed without any harm to the environment, and visitors on the fairy trail can also enjoy the wonderful autumn colours and crunch through fallen leaves.”

The fairy trail will be in place until November 14, and the event is included in the general admission ticket, which must be booked in advance.

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