News from Athelhampton House & Gardens.

As the drizzle settled over Athelhampton today, our gardening team decided that getting even wetter wouldn't hurt. Across the eight ponds and fountains in Athelhampton's formal historic gardens, there is always work to be done. The water flowing through them is sourced from the River Piddle, a natural chalk stream, and after running through Athelhampton's system it returns to the river. Keeping the water clean and alive means that all our ponds and fountains have to be care

Carefully edging the pond at the Great Court As we move towards Spring, the Great Court Garden at Athelhampton begins to feel quietly enchanted under an unbroken blue sky. The fountain catches the late afternoon sun, its water sparkling and scattering light, while the tall yew pyramids cast long, graceful shadows across the lawns. With visitors welcomed throughout the year, we have no hurried reopening as the seasons turn. Instead, as Winter turns to Spring, the rhythm of the

Beautiful Magnolia flowers beginning to open in the sunshine With the quiet return of Spring to Athelhampton, the magnolia trees are beginning to flower. Their delicate petals unfolding in soft shades of blush and cream against the cool Dorset air, these trees only flower for a few brief weeks each year. In this short time, they bring a moment of understated beauty to the gardens in advance of the fuller colours of spring. Magnolia flowers against the blue Dorset sky Wander t