!!! NO LONGER CURRENT !!!

December 2009
Guided Walk and High Tea
December 11th, 2pm. Cost: £15
Join our Waterperry expert for a leisurely stroll, highlighting areas of seasonal interest in our stunning ornamental gardens or around the Waterperry estate. Ticket price includes a high tea in the Pear Tree Teashop.  Places are limited and tickets must be booked and paid for in advance by calling 01844 339254.

2010

January
Waterperry Open Weekend
Saturday and Sunday, 23rd & 24th January. 10am to 4pm.
Enjoy a bracing winter day out with our Open Weekend.  There will be free tours of the ornamental gardens, nurseries, orchards and saxifrage garden.  (See website for tour times)  Our Open Weekend gives visitors access to areas that are normally out of bounds and the chance to quiz Waterperry experts on all aspects of our work.  Bacon butty breakfasts available in the teashop from 9.30am and hot food, including mulled apple juice tastings is available between 12 and 3pm.  You can also find out more about wildlife charities who’ll be with us for the weekend.
February
Snowdrop Weekends
Saturday and Sunday 6th & 7th February.  10am to 5pm. Saturday and Sunday 13th & 14th February.  10am to 5pm.
Our riverside walk and old orchard look amazing carpeted with these beautiful heralds of spring.   There’ll be guided tours of the gardens at 11am and 2pm each day and advice on establishing native snowdrop species in your own garden.  (Guided tours are free but garden entrance fee applies)On Thursday 20th May the Gallery, Plant Centre, Gardens, Teashop and Museum will be open until 8pm.  (The Teashop will be serving light refreshments only in the evening)

NGS Day
Sunday 7th February. 10am to 5pm.
Our gardens are open in aid of the National Gardens Scheme which means all entrance money will be donated to nursing, caring and gardening charities chosen by the NGS charity. and sponsorship forms, please contact Jenny Braithwaite on 01844 208073.

March
Mothering Sunday and Hellebore Day

Sunday 14th March. 10am – 5pm.
Entry to our ornamental gardens is free for all Mums on their special day!  It’s a fantastic opportunity to see our beautiful Hellebores which should be in full bloom and there’s also a fabulous Mothering Sunday menu in the Teashop.  Please note no bookings will be taken for lunch - it’s first come, first served.must be accompanied by an adult.  Meet in the main car park and bring binoculars and appropriate clothing!  Ticket prices: adults £17.50, concessions, students and children aged 16 and under, £12.50.

Saxifrage Weekend
Saturday and Sunday, 27th & 28th March. 10am to 5.30pm
Waterperry holds the National Collection of Kabschia and Silver Saxifrages and this special weekend gives visitors the chance to see a wonderful array of these versatile plants in our newly extended courtyard garden.  Resident expert Adrian Young will give talks about Saxifrages in their natural habitat and how to cultivate them at 2pm, on both days.

April
Maggie’s Easter Egg Hunt
Sunday 4th April. (Easter Day)  10am to 5.30pm.   (Last egg hunt at 4pm)
Help support our Charity of the Year by visiting the gardens on Easter Day or taking part in our Maggie’s Easter Egg Hunt.  All entrance money for the gardens will be donated to the Maggie’s Cancer Caring Charity appeal to build a £3 million cancer caring centre in Oxford.  Proceeds from the Easter Egg Hunt will also go to Maggie’s.  It costs £2 per child, payable on the door.

May
Artweeks at Waterperry
Thursday 20th May – late opening until 8pm
Enjoy a showcase of work by local artists in the Gallery throughout May as part of Artweeks – Oxfordshire’s visual arts festival.  There’ll be opportunities to talk to artists and see them at work on selected days throughout the month (please check the website closer to the time for details).  On Thursday 20th May the Gallery, Plant Centre, Gardens, Teashop and Museum will be open until 8pm.  (The Teashop will be serving light refreshments only in the evening)

Cancer Research Walk
Sunday 16th May. Anytime between 10am & 3pm
Help raise valuable funds for Cancer Research UK by taking a walk around the Waterperry estate and gardens.  For more information and sponsorship forms, please contact Jenny Braithwaite on 01844
208073.

Dawn Chorus Wild Walk and Breakfast
Thursday 27th May. 4.30am
Witness the dawn chorus in our ornamental gardens accompanied by wildlife expert Ernie Bingham.  This special event will be followed by a hearty breakfast in the Pear Tree Teashop and a slide show of some of our more elusive wildlife residents!  Numbers are limited and children must be accompanied by an adult.  Meet in the main car park and bring binoculars and appropriate clothing!  Ticket prices: adults £17.50, concessions, students and children aged 16 and under, £12.50.

June
Shakespeare in the Gardens
Wednesday 16th June. 1.30pm (School’s Matinee) & 7.30pm
‘The Tempest’ performed by the all male company, The Lord Chamberlain’s Men. One of Shakespeare’s greatest comedies with themes of love, friendship, repentance and forgiveness.  The Tempest features some of the Bard’s most magical characters; the magician Prospero and his daughter Miranda, Ariel the sprite and the half human Caliban. We welcome bookings from the general public for the matinee performance but please note the audience will be predominantly made up of children from local schools.  Gates open an hour before the performance for picnics.  No seating is provided so please bring your own picnic chairs or blankets.  Tickets are NON-refundable and the performance will go ahead except in severe weather conditions.  All matinee tickets £10.  Group rates available – see website for details.  Evening tickets: adults £15, concessions, students and children aged 16 and under, £12.

Midsummer Garden Tour and Supper
Wednesday 23rd June. 6pm – 9.30pm
Join Horticultural Manager Rob Jacobs on an exclusive evening tour of the ornamental gardens in all their midsummer glory.  This magical event includes a buffet supper, including wine, in the Teashop where you can quiz Rob further about the gardens, gardening and the Waterperry estate.  Numbers limited to 30.  Ticket prices:  Adults £27.50, concessions, students and children aged 16 and under, £25.

July
Art In Action
July 15th – 18th, 10am – 5.30pm each day
Come to the biggest arts festival of its kind in Europe, when more than 200 artists take over the Waterperry estate.  Art in Action gives visitors a unique chance to watch artists demonstrating their skills and even have a go themselves in our hugely popular practical classes.  For more information about the event, ticket prices and booking details, visit www.artinaction.org.uk or call 0207 381 3192. Please note Waterperry Gardens and plant centre will be closed to all but Art in Action visitors during this event.

Summer Concert
Saturday 31st July. 6pm – 9pm
Join us for a relaxing concert of classical music in our outdoor amphitheatre.  There is a 75 minute interval to allow you to have a picnic in the ornamental garden and experience the magic of Waterperry on a summer’s evening. Gates open from 5.30pm and cushions will be available.  Tickets are non-refundable and the concert will go ahead except in extreme weather conditions.   Tickets: Adults £15, concessions, students and children aged 16 and under, £12.

August
Children’s Theatre in the Gardens
Thursday 5th August. 6pm
Join us for another family classic as Heartbreak Productions return with The Secret Garden – a magical story about a young orphan girl who finds a whole new world hidden in the grounds of her new home.  No seating is provided so please bring your own picnic chairs or blankets.  Gates open one hour before the performance for picnics.  Tickets are NON-refundable and the performance will go ahead except in severe weather conditions. Tickets: Adults £12, concessions, students and children aged 16 and under, £7.50.

September
Michaelmas Daisy Weekend
Saturday and Sunday 18th & 19th September
10.30am to 4pm.  (Gardens and plant centre open until 5.30pm) Come and see our famous herbaceous border in all its late summer glory as it springs to life again with beautiful Michaelmas Daisies (Asters).  Our nursery experts will be on hand to offer help and advice about growing Asters. Plenty of Waterperry-grown Aster varieties will be on sale too.  Enjoy our country food and crafts fair in the plant centre (free admission) and the Friends of Waterperry plant sale (Saturday only).  Entrance fee applies for visits to the ornamental gardens. Bacon butty breakfasts available in the Teashop from 9.30am and hot food is available between 12 and 3pm.

NGS day
Sunday 19th September. 10am to 5.30pm
Our gardens are open in aid of the National Gardens Scheme which means all entrance money will be donated to nursing, caring and gardening charities chosen by the NGS charity.

Autumn Wild Walk and Breakfast
Thursday 23rd September. 7.30am
Join our wildlife expert Ernie Bingham on a walk around the ornamental gardens spotting autumn visitors.  This will be followed by a hearty breakfast in the Pear Tree Teashop and slide show of the more elusive Waterperry wildlife residents.  Numbers are limited and children must be accompanied by an adult.  Meet in the main car park and bring binoculars and appropriate clothing!  Ticket prices Adults £17.50, concessions, students and children aged 16 and under, £12.50.

October
Apple Weekend
Friday, Saturday and Sunday 8th, 9th & 10th October
10.30am to 4pm.  (Gardens and plant centre open until 5.30pm) We’re famous for our apples and Apple Weekend is a great celebration of our native fruit.  You can taste and try numerous different apple and juice varieties, get your mystery apple crop identified, take tours of our orchards and get information and advice about growing fruit in your garden.  Enjoy our country food and crafts fair in the plant centre and apple bobbing.  Bacon Butty Breakfasts available in the Teashop from 9.30am and a special apple-themed menu is available between 12 and 3pm. A great family day out!

The Great Pumpkin Hunt!
Saturday 23rd to Sunday 31st October.   10am to 5pm
Give the kids an exciting challenge by taking part in the Great Pumpkin Hunt.  Throughout half term week join the race to find 10 pumpkins hidden in our beautiful gardens – and at other locations around the estate – to win a special, seasonal, edible prize!  Children must be accompanied by a paying adult but there’s no need to book – just turn up and enjoy.

November
Christmas Starts Here
Saturday and Sunday 27th & 28th November
10.30am to 4pm.  (Gardens and plant centre open until 5pm) Get your Christmas shopping underway with our beautiful and unique gift ideas provided by local artists and craftspeople.  We’ll celebrate the festive season with wreath and decoration-making demonstrations, festive food and free visits to Santa Claus for the under-10s.  Browse our beautiful decorations and present ideas in the Gift Barn and pick up your Waterperry-grown Christmas tree.  The Gallery also has a wide range of gifts to suit every taste and budget and the Teashop offers seasonal fare as well as the chance to buy festive produce as gifts.  Bacon Butty Breakfasts available in from 9.30am and a special festive menu is available in the Teashop between 12 and 3pm. Enjoy a more traditional Christmas with Waterperry.

December
We will close on Christmas Eve for the holidays and re-open for business as usual on Tuesday 4th January 2011.  We look forward to welcoming you back.

All details are believed correct at time of publication but Waterperry’s events programme may
be subject to change.  Please visit the official website on www.waterperrygardens.co.uk for the latest information.