Hestercombe Gardens near Taunton in Somerset, is a 320-acre Grade I registered site of exceptional interest and unique character. It combines four complete period gardens spanning four centuries of garden design.
Our grant has enabled the Hestercombe Gardens Trust to acquire a further 28-acres of designed landscape that are included in the Grade I registered area. This includes the furthest extent of a medieval park; the former site of a medieval warren; part of a garden circuit walk by Bampfylde; an 18th century orchard; and a stone and tile stockyard.
The 28-acres were offered to the Trust by the Crown Estate in 2023. Our contribution of £126,750 has helped them acquire it, reuniting the registered landscape. Future Hestercombe visitors will have access to the full 18th century circuit walk. The orchard will be replanted with heritage apple trees as a community project. The whole landscape will create a new and valuable foraging area for Hestercombe’s population of rare and endangered Lesser Horseshoe bats. Plus, holistic, integrated management will preserve these important heritage assets for posterity.