Newsletter - Summer Season 2011

NCCPG PLANT FAIR AND EASTER BUNNY HUNT - 24th and 25th April

The season began in April with our Easter Bunny Hunt in the Gardens. Now a well established annual event, the Bunny Hunt has proved to be very popular with the many families who attend every year. Children armed with pencils and paper set off to solve the cryptic clues and win the coveted Easter chocolate surprise. Parents enjoyed the wonderful Spring Gardens and the banks of primroses in the Woodland Gardens. Well done to our winners (names to come)

The Plant Fair gave many the opportunity to replenish their gardens after a particularly hard Winter. Local nurseries attended selling rare and unusual plants.

FANTASTIC MR FOX - 3rd June

This year has been a busy one. The Woodland Gardens played host to a wonderful production of 'Fantastic Mr Fox' - a Roald Dahl children's classic. We were blessed with the hottest evening of the Summer and the audience of 350 enjoyed their picnics in glorious sunshine by the stream at Ugley Bridge. A team of us were kept very busy selling Pimms for parents and copious amounts of ice-cream to hundreds of children. It really was a magical evening - if you looked carefully, you might even have glimpsed the real Mr Fox through the trees! Illyria did a wonderful job and we look forward to welcoming them back again next year.

ART TREK - 10th - 12th June

Art Trek launched its North Devon Festival exhibition trail with a drinks party at Castle Hill and a wonderful exhibition by many talented local artists including work by Pandora Mond.

MIDSUMMER MUSIC WITH RUSSELL WATSON - 9th July

Our major event this year was a truly fantastic concert with Russell Watson, The National Symphony Orchestra and Special Guest Natasha Marsh who delighted the 3000 plus strong audience to a memorable evening. Jo Wood from The North Devon Journal summed up the evening very well in her review.

'WATSON WAS TRULY WONDERFUL'

The stunning grounds of Castle Hill were the perfect setting for a memorable evening of Midsummer Music. Russell Watson is a truly engaging performer and the atmosphere was amazing.'

'Rousing renditions of Jerusalem, Land of Hope and Glory and Rule Britannia brought the delightful evening to an end,

and left me hoarse with singing along. So apologies to anyone who was sat nearby but I'm pretty sure you werejoining in too.

What a marvelous experience. I hope that Castle Hill will host him again soon. Please?'
Jo Wood - North Devon Journal

PRIDE AND PREJUDICE - 10th August

Heartbreak Productions treated us to a wonderful performance of Pride and Prejudice in the gardens. Although cold, the weather was again kind to us but it was definitely more of a coffee and hot chocolate evening rather than one for Pimms and ice-cream! More than 300 came armed with elaborate picnics. Another superb evening - thank you Heartbreak and we look forward to next year's performance.

WEDDINGS

And finally - Congratulations to all of our lovely couples who got married this year!