Past Events

Come and join us at the third meeting of the Asthall Manor Kitchen Garden Nature & Environment Book Club. This will be our last discussion of 2025. We will be discussing Robin Wall Kimmerer's Braiding Sweetgrass. "As a member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation, Robin embraces indigenous teachings that consider plants and animals to be our oldest teachers. Kimmerer brings these two lenses of knowledge together to take us on a journey that is every bit as mythic as it…

Join us for a workshop on the benefits of gardening with wildlife here at Asthall Manor Kitchen Garden. Complete beginners through to keen amateurs all welcome. A thriving and diverse population of insects and animals, big and small is key to the growing of healthy, nutritious (aka tasty) food. Healthy wildlife means healthy plants means healthy people. In this all-day workshop you will learn the fundamental benefits of gardening with wildlife while growing food for people. You’ll develop an understanding…

Come and join us in our beautiful Ballroom for a Christmas Bazaar. You will have the opportunity to buy a range of uniquely crafted gifts from local independent artisans and producers and vintage and antique items. Cards and cash both accepted. Meet the producers and watch practical demonstrations including sock making on a vintage knitting machine and green woodworking. We have an exciting range of products for sale, including decorative pottery, hand knitted socks and scarves, pre-loved clothing, candles and…

Gardener and Florist Melanie Penning will welcome you to our ballroom and show you how to make a beautiful centrepiece for your Christmas table using foraged abundance from the hedgerow. This workshop is about connecting with nature and each other, calmness, gentleness and the enormous reward we get from being creative and preparing for this special time of year. Please check our Plan your visit page for travel and parking details.  

Christina McMaster is a pianist, composer and founder of Lie Down & Listen – a truly creative spirit fascinated by deep listening and sound.  Christina returns to the enchanting Asthall Manor in January 2026! Session Duration: 120mins experience ​Each session includes: 120mins experience Access to Asthall Gardens Mattresses, blankets and cushions provided Refreshments post session  Friday 16th January - Inner Temple A powerful journey through darkness into the light. Sounds: Tibetan bows + Piano + Electronics + time for dwelling and gentle…

Join us for a workshop on Winter Fruit Pruning here at Asthall Manor Kitchen Garden. Complete beginners through to keen amateurs all welcome. In this all-day workshop you will learn the basics of winter fruit pruning to encourage the health, vigour and cropping of your fruit trees and bushes. You will also be challenged to think about whether pruning is required at all. This will be achieved through learning some useful theory alongside some fun, practical work to embed your…

Join us in the beautiful 12th century St Nicholas Church for a seed swap with a difference! Our resident food grower, Tim Mitchell, from Asthall Wild, will talk you through the seed swap, while local historian and free spirit Steve Tomlin will show you how to find the ancient protective symbols - apotropaics - on the walls of the Church. Steve will give an illustrated talk on apotropaics at 12 noon. And there will be soup! Bring seed to swap.…

We welcome back Kieran Stiles for another of his popular painting workshops in the ballroom. Acrylic Woodlands - The polymer resin binder in acrylic paint is very fast drying. If this drying process is slowed down by adding layers of watercolour washes, it becomes sticky and creates interesting blending effects. Learn how to experiment with this process when describing the texture of trees. All materials provided apart from a sketchbook or A4 cartridge paper for notes and sketches. Workshops are payable in…