National Trust

The dinosaur that came to stay

Authored by Mary Youlden
Posted: Fri, 04/24/2015 - 10:14am

Last month a young family from Brighton visiting A la Ronde left behind a toy dinosaur.

After receiving a phone call from the family to say that the toy’s owner was a little upset, the team at A la Ronde decided to give the dinosaur a good time while waiting for it to be collected. After all, A la Ronde is on the outskirts of Exmouth, the start of the Jurassic Coast.

The dinosaur got involved in all aspects of the daily running of a National Trust property, from answering the phone, guarding the entrance to the shell gallery, playing the piano and working in the garden with...

Killerton classic car day

Event Date: 
17/05/2015 - 10:00am to 5:00pm
Venue: 
Killerton, Broadclyst, Exeter

Admire a huge variety of classic cars on display in the historic parkland. Enjoy live music, delicious food, bouncy castles and visit lots of stalls. A fun day out for all the family.

If you'd like to exhibit your classic car, drop us a line: killerton@nationaltrust.org.uk .

Normal admission fees apply. Visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk/killerton

Killerton recruits Easter Eggsplorers

Every day from 28 March to 12 April, Killerton near Exeter are hosting their annual National Trust Cadbury Easter Egg Trail.

Little tots to big kids are invited to unleash their inner Eggsplorer at Killerton, crack the clues and earn their Cadbury chocolate Egghead prize.

Killerton’s prize Egghead, Bryony Wilde, said: “The challenge is to keep your eyes peeled for signs of the legendary dragon that lives on Killerton’s extinct volcano and find hidden gems nestled in the garden, swings, dens and climbing frames along the way.’

Bryony continued: ‘It costs £2 to take...

Plea for politicians to support nature

The National Trust, RSPB and The Wildlife Trusts are calling on people across the West Country to put nature at the heart of debate in the run up to May’s General Election and encourage candidates to support nature.

Together the three charities have produced South West Nature 2015 - a new website that details landscapes, wildlife and the issues these face, across all 55 Westminster constituencies in the South West.

Speaking for the partnership, Harry Barton (CEO of Devon Wildlife Trust) said; “Nature is the missing issue from this general election. We need greater political...

Saving Castle Drogo – Nothing is normal

What might happen if Castle Drogo was left to the elements? From 9 March, a perfect glass ‘drip’ is suspended in a trophy cabinet, a room where Dartmoor appears to have taken over. As the conservation project to save Castle Drogo enters its final two years, artists have taken inspiration from the history and stories of this striking 20th century castle overlooking the Teign Valley. Each artist has taken a very different approach – with everything from sculpture, interactive gadgets, photography and film to new interpretations of objects in the collection. Visitors can look forward to new...

Bursts of colour spring up at Killerton

Authored by Mary Youlden
Posted: Wed, 03/04/2015 - 12:22pm

The garden and parkland at Killerton estate near Exeter, is one of the top places in the Southwest to see early spring blooms; and this year they are putting on quite a show.

Visitors are flocking to Killerton to herald the end of winter and see the carpets of cyclamen and swathes of snowdrops before they fade. Flashes of pink, purple, yellow and white can be found all over the grounds, with the magnolia, crocuses and daffodils also springing into life.

On Saturday 7 and Sunday 8 March, visitors can come along for a snowdrop weekend to help the Killerton gardeners plant 12,...

Call for young volunteer countryside rangers

The National Trust in East Devon is on the lookout for new volunteers to help manage some amazing countryside and coast. Whether you love getting your boots muddy and being active rain or shine, or are more at home welcoming visitors, we are seeking people with a passion for their local area.

Find out more at one of our volunteer open days on Sunday 8 March or Saturday 11 April at Branscombe Village Hall.

The National Trust team is based at Branscombe, nestled between Sidmouth and Beer, but covers a much wider area from Honiton to Exmouth. Caring for cliffs, hill forts,...

Knightshayes to open 7 days a week

For the first time visitors to Knightshayes, near Tiverton, will have the opportunity to see the estate all year round, providing an insight into the National Trust’s ongoing work behind the scenes to care for the historic houses and landscape.

Visiting in the winter months, a time when the house and estate would usually have been closed, the public will enter via the East Wing, once a private flat and previously unseen part of the house. Once inside, they will be given access to the conservation stores and workshops used by the house team, giving them to chance to learn all about...

Snowdrop voted top spring flower in SW

The Snowdrop has been voted the top spring flower in the South West, with the gardens at Killerton being one of the most popular places to see spring blooms. This year’s milder, calmer and less wet winter compared with 2014 has been much kinder on our garden plants as gardeners have been finding out while taking part in the Trust’s annual Valentines Flower Count. Although National Trust gardeners get a touch jittery when you the mention the dreaded words, frost and snow, words that should never be uttered in front of spring blooms Spring really is ready to spring, says our gardeners but it...

The F-Word: the changing language of fashion

Event Date: 
31/10/2015 - 10:00am to 01/11/2015 - 4:00pm
Venue: 
Killerton House, Broadclyst, Exeter

From a 150-year-old crinoline to a 60s mini, garments have shaped not only their owners but also the entire face of fashion.

Killerton’s latest costume exhibition ‘The F-Word: the changing language of fashion’ explores how fashion has responded to the latest innovations and made its mark across the centuries.

Zips, buttons, elastic – items now taken for granted were revolutionary in their day. They changed what could be worn and also helped people dress faster and with ease. And the language of fashion is often bound to the technology and materials used to produce it....

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