Gastronomic treats in store
this autumn at RHS Gardens
As crisp and clear days herald the
arrival of autumn, foodie fans are in for
a smorgasbord of gourmet treats at the
four Royal Horticultural Society (RHS)
gardens. From real ale and cider festivals
to apple tasting days, the gardens’ packed
schedule offers a vibrant chance to enjoy
the colours, tastes and scents of autumn at
events to suit all tastes.
Visitors will have the chance to browse
and buy fresh autumn produce at RHS
Garden Wisley in Surrey, RHS Garden
Hyde Hall in Essex, RHS Garden Harlow
Carr in North Yorkshire and RHS Garden
Rosemoor in Devon. From Devon apples
to Yorkshire ales, there will be a wide
selection of regional food and drink on
offer and visitors can celebrate the rich
bounty of the autumn harvests as well
as take part in a range of events and
activities for all the family.
The events will be set against the richly
coloured and beautiful backdrop of the
gardens in autumn, when they come
ablaze with fiery reds, rustic bronzes and
vibrant hues of amber and gold. From the
reds, russets and browns of ornamental
grasses to the abundance of bright
autumn berries, the gardens provide an
evocative setting for invigorating autumn
walks. The season starts in September
with a Real Ale and Cider Festival at
RHS Garden Harlow Carr (10-11 Sept),
celebrating all things Yorkshire and for
the first time featuring Yorkshire wines.
RHS Garden Rosemoor’s Real Ale and
Cider Weekend (23-25 Sept) will include
traditional ‘pub style’ games for children
such as Table Skittles and Quoits.
RHS Garden Wisley’s Taste of Autumn
event (19-23 Oct) offers a platter of
delights including cheese, fudge, cakes,
liquorice, nuts and garlic, apples and
more. The autumn events season draws
to a close with RHS Garden Hyde Hall’s
Autumn Festival (5-6 Nov) which as well
as tasty treats also offers the chance to
admire the beauty of crafted wood. Visit
the RHS website for full listings.
RHS Autumn Food Highlights
10-11 Sept: Real Ale and Cider Festival,
RHS Garden Harlow Carr
A celebration of all things Yorkshire,
with a range of unusual ales from across
the county, as well as locally produced
ciders and, new for 2016, Yorkshire
wines! Visitors can bring along their
dancing shoes and enjoy live music as
well as a choice of ale-inspired street
food and gourmet treats. www.rhs.org.uk/
harlowcarr
23-25 Sept: Real Ale and Cider
Weekend, RHS Garden Rosemoor
The garden’s fourth Real Ale and Cider
Weekend offers a range of interesting,
unusual and eminently quaffable real
ales and ciders. There will be harvest
produce on display from the garden,
a barbeque, food stalls and delicious
wines from Devon and Cornish vineyards.
Food stalls will include cheese from
Glastonbury Dairy Company, Jams &
Chutneys from Louise’s Larder, sausages
from Yetland Farm and Devon Cider from
Hancocks. www.rhs.org.uk/rosemoor
1-2 Oct: Autumn Food & Wood Festival,
RHS Garden Harlow Carr
A weekend-long event celebrating the
best of autumn, with woodland products
and willow demonstrations, a food
market specialising in local delights,
cookery demonstrations using the best
of home grown seasonal produce, and
live music from local groups. www.rhs.
org.uk/harlowcarr
2 Oct: Apple Day, RHS Garden Rosemoor
A great day out for all the family,
Rosemoor’s Apple Day include apple
identification, fantastic apple displays,
cookery demonstrations and recipes,
tastings and children’s activities.
Angle Twitch, a mixed Morris side from
Barnstaple, will dance in the Fruit Field.
www.rhs.org.uk/wisley
7-9 Oct: Food Festival, RHS Garden
Hyde Hall
Perfect for families and foodies alike,
visitors can sample the best in fresh
regional produce from over 30 stalls
and buy delicious food gifts to take
home. There will be guest chefs in
the demonstration tent and plenty of
entertainment for children.www.rhs.org.
uk/harlowcarr
19-23 Oct: Taste of Autumn: RHS
Garden Wisley
Celebrate the sights, sounds and tastes
of the season with 30 exhibitors,
featuring Surrey Bees, National
Vegetable Society, National Society of
Allotments and Leisure Gardeners, St
Georges who produce Wisley Jams and
the Fruit Group. Plus enjoy delicious
produce – including Wisley apple
tastings, apple pressing and apple
identification, kids’ cookery workshops
and a tractor display.www.rhs.org.uk/
wisley
29 Oct-2 Nov: Autumn Apple Display,
RHS Garden Harlow Carr
A feast for eyes and noses! Visitors can
enjoy a taster or two, get advice on
growing apples at home and see the
huge variety of apples grown in the north
of England, including fantastic displays
of more than 200 northern apple
cultivars. They include the Yorkshire-bred
‘Ribston Pippin’ – one parent of ‘Cox's
Orange Pippin’ which used to be a real
favourite, oddly-named apples such as
the ‘Bloody Ploughman’ and others with
unusual shapes including ‘Catshead’ and
‘Dog's Snout’.www.rhs.org.uk/harlowcarr
5-6 Nov: Autumn Festival, RHS Garden
Hyde Hall
The chance to celebrate the best of
autumn with wood-related activity and
crafts, including inspiring displays and
demonstrations. Visitors can browse and
buy seasonal products and tasty treats.
www.rhs.org.uk/hydehall
Landscape & Urban Design Issue 21
7