Ten of the very best farm food producers in the South West walked away with 22 of the top awards at the National Trust’s annual Fine Farm Produce Awards, presented at BBC Countryfile Live at Blenheim Palace.
Now in their thirteenth year, the awards celebrate the finest produce from the Trust’s 1,500 tenant farmers and estates, who between them look after more than 500,000 acres of farmland in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. As well as being judged for taste, products are assessed against a range of environmental standards to guarantee their quality and origin.
A group of intrepid Aussie cricketers are due to set foot in Devon ready for a second gritty Ashes series against the bustling might Broadclyst Cricket Club, who play at the Killerton Estate, just outside Exeter.
The one day, 44 over series starts on Sunday 1st July at 1pm, and concludes with the second game on Saturday 7th July. Having lost the original ‘Ashes’ series in 2013, Broadclyst are out for revenge.
The Aussies, known as the Daggy Greens, have 13 players and 9 WAKs (Wives And Kids). They will be facing a squad of local players drawn from Broadclyst, who have all...
The National Trust has developed a series of British Sign Language videos (BSL) to give the Deaf community better access to the history of Killerton House and the Acland family that once lived there. The videos take visitors on a journey around the home, explaining key Acland figures and the history behind each room. The BSL videos have been created and presented by a Deaf volunteer from Heritage Ability. Heritage Ability is a scheme helping over 20 heritage places across the South West to become more accessible to disabled people and Deaf people. It is one of many services offered by user...
Get into gear this summer admiring 400 vintage vehicles at Killerton’s Classic Car Day on the National Trust estate just outside of Exeter.
On Sunday 13 May, over 400 classic car enthusiasts will be taking a pit stop in the historic parkland to showcase their pride and joy. Visitors can enjoy the live music of vintage trio Liberty Sisters who will perform on their quirky stage, a vintage 1950’s yellow truck called buttercup; as well as The Sundogs who will put a spring in everyone’s step with their up-tempo, classic rock'n'roll with rhythm and blues.
Get into gear this summer admiring 400 vintage vehicles at Killerton’s Classic Car Day on the National Trust estate just outside of Exeter.
On Sunday 13 May, over 400 classic car enthusiasts will be taking a pit stop in the historic parkland to showcase their pride and joy. Visitors can enjoy the live music of vintage trio Liberty Sisters who will perform on their quirky stage, a vintage 1950’s yellow truck called buttercup; as well as The Sundogs who will put a spring in everyone’s step with their up-tempo, classic rock'n'roll with rhythm and blues.
Every third Monday of the month Shelly Tobin, Costume Curator at Killerton, and her assistant Charlotte Eddington, open their workshop door to the public, giving them an insight into the largest fashion collection in the National Trust. Visitors can gain exclusive access to part of the Killerton fashion store, handle some items in the study collection, take a guided tour of the current fashion exhibition Branded: fashion, femininity and the right to vote and enjoy a chat over tea and biscuits. Shelley Tobin, Costume Curator said: ‘We are really excited to be offering this opportunity to...
It has been a year since Killerton, a much-loved National Trust gem near Exeter, saw scaffolding go up for major TLC to the roof and building. After astounding public support, the successful conservation project has finished.
Over ten months, the roof scape has been transformed. The worst affected roofs have been replaced, removing an unsightly temporary roof and old ventilation units. Urgent repairs and restoration to the stonework, parapets and roof lanterns is complete. A grant from Viridor Credits enabled the reintroduction of seven historic chimneys, with wood burners...
Killerton, near Exeter, has been transformed for Christmas with Wind in the Willows and Father Christmas arriving this week to begin the festive celebrations.
The recently uncovered house will be open from Saturday 25 November and will transport visitors into Kenneth Grahame’s mystical world of Toad, Ratty, Badger and Mole as the story of Wind in the Willows is told.
The four friend’s adventure will take place throughout the house, with the rooms in the Georgian mansion transformed into scenes from this much-loved tale of camaraderie and adventure. The magic will continue...
Fi Hailstone is celebrating being named one of three finalists in the ‘Best contribution to a heritage project by a young person’ category of this year’s prestigious Historic England Angel Awards. Fi, 24, has lead on the ‘Bringing Killerton Park to life’ project for the National Trust in Devon. Under Fi’s leadership the project has seen the historic parkland at Killerton transform, with historic monuments no longer at risk and inspiring views opened up. The parkland is much more accessible and volunteers, staff and visitors at Killerton have been enthused by the stories that have...
Orchards on the Killerton estate are bursting with apples this autumn and the National Trust rangers and volunteers have been busy harvesting them in time for their annual cider and apple festival on Saturday 14 and Sunday 15 October.
The frost in May caused concern that the orchards might be bare this autumn but the summer rain has meant the orchards are full of apples, including some varieties like the Killerton Sweet, Killerton Sharp and Star of Devon which are unique to this small area.
Andy Bramwell from the National Trust explains why there were concerns, ‘A frost in...
