CELEBRATE THE SUMMER The Newt in Somerset offers more than its traditional country house hotel, as its guests can also enjoy access to 1,000 acres complete with elegant gardens, wild woodland, rolling valleys and picturesque apple orchards. It also offers a wealth of activities to immerse yourself in year-round, with a seasonal programme of workshops and events. The bucolic setting has also inspired a garden-to-table menu in the hotel’s trio of restaurants, as well as botanical-based treatments in its world-class spa. Plus, a choice of extraordinary experiences use state-of-the-art technology to surround guests in the history of the estate across 16 centuries; from The Story of Gardening – a journey through the history of horticulture, to a full-sized reimagining of a 4th-century Roman Villa, the inhabitants of which once called this idyllic setting home. Highlights approaching this summer include Beekeeping: Respecting the Hive. Head beekeeper and honey sommelier Paula Carnell will be on hand in this workshop to educate attendees on the importance of bees, offering a deep dive into the hive mind. There’s also a Home Grown Floristry Course with The Newt’s resident flower growers and arrangers who’ll lead guests through the cut-flower beds of the farmyard, teaching how to select the blooms, where to cut and how to tidy and prepare before creating stunning floral displays. Finally, as we reach the end of the summer and head into autumn in celebration of harvest weekend, the estate will host an American-inspired barbecue, drawing on the flavours of the Deep South and traditional country boils with a Somerset spin. For further information, check out https://thenewtinsomerset.com HOT TO TROT Ashwell & Co, based in Bristol, is now offering a personal styling service. This bookable, appointment-based experience is designed to help and guide anyone looking for some style advice or for a special outfit for a specific event. So, if your mums are struggling to find something to suit for your big day, or your nearest and dearest are feeling a bit lost in terms of inspiration, it’s worth pointing them in the direction of this local lovely. The styling sessions last 75 minutes and cost £20, which is redeemable against any purchases, but we’re assured there’s no pressure to buy. Attendees will be asked to complete a short questionnaire before they arrive so that the team can tailor their appointment and find pieces they think will work for them. This helps the experts to provide the best experience possible and if necessary, source items especially for their customers. Find out more at https://ashwellandco.com www.sophierosephotography.co.uk Getty Images THE GIFT OF KINDNESS If you’re looking for a wild gift list idea giving you an environmentallyconscious way of celebrating your nuptials, Heal Somerset can help. Your guests can sponsor, in your names, a three-metre by three-metre square of land being rewilded by the environmental charity, near Bruton. The idea originally came about when two of Heal’s supporters got in touch regarding their own wedding list. Lucy Johnson and Joe Swords wanted to offer their family and friends an option that seemed natural to them – giving money to Heal Rewilding to support land being given back to nature. The Heal team were so thrilled by the idea that they created a special set of wedding gift donation options for the couple. Every £20 donation given through a wedding list sponsors a Heal 3 x 3 square of land, which will be brought back to life through rewilding, and multiple squares can be supported. After a year, an optional £3 per year upkeep fee can be paid to keep the sponsor’s name linked to their square. For £100, people can sponsor a Heal 3 x 3 Lifetime square, which maintains their sponsorship in perpetuity. Each donation is a positive step toward paying for Heal’s foundation rewilding site in Somerset. Find out more at www.healrewilding.org.uk 10
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTA0NTE=