Latest news & blogs
Celebrating the launch of the first AWE programme
This week we are celebrating the launch of the first Accelerating Women’s Enterprise (AWE) Making a Difference programme in Plymouth.
Women supporting women
In what ways can we help each other to succeed, as women? The key is to motivate ourselves to make those new connections with other women we admire, says Daisy Healy of Dartington’s Accelerating Women’s Enterprise (AWE) programme.
Old Postern added to English Heritage’s At Risk Register
Schumacher College’s medieval parsonage, once home to the half-brother of Richard II and also to the celebrated botanist William Keble Martin, is among the latest buildings to be added to annual Heritage at Risk Register.
Canine capers – now also in the White Hart!
We’re pleased to announce that dogs are now welcome in the White Hart bar and restaurant. Good news for two regular faces around the estate, writes proud owner, gardener Michael Record.
How do we catch up with a climate that’s changing faster than we are?
As environmentalism goes mainstream and increasing numbers of organisations declare a climate emergency, Andrea Kuhn meets those who’ve been trying out the deep social, economic and cultural changes needed to get us out of this mess.
Ash die back at Dartington
We have been anticipating the arrival of ash die back at Dartington for some years. It’s now unequivocally here – and we are urgently seeking your support to enable us to remove diseased tress from across the estate.
Rapturous raptors: encouraging birds of prey at Dartington
What are raptors, and why are we trying to attract them to Dartington? Estate warden Mike Newby explains why birds of prey are vital to the farmers, gardeners and land managers who work here at Dartington.
16mm film and Dartington: Then and now
As a new film produced entirely on old-fashioned 16mm film roll comes to our Barn Cinema, Will Kemp tells the astonishing story of how film production shaped Dartington Hall throughout the decades.
How to overcome fear as an aspiring entrepreneur
Why do so many projects, enterprises and businesses fail to get beyond the initial idea phase? Daisy Healy explains why fear is the entrepeneur’s greatest enemy – and how to overcome it.
Chief Executive Rhodri Samuel to leave Dartington Hall
The Dartington Hall Trust is sad to announce that, after four years in post, Chief Executive Rhodri Samuel will be leaving the Trust.
AWE: Helping local women to make a difference through social enterprise
With only 17% of start-ups in the UK being founded by women, something needs to change – so The School for Social Entrepreneurs (SSE) Dartington are offering free training and expert mentoring to support women all over Devon to set up enterprises and community projects.
Guest blog: How the story of one Totnes family came to the silver screen
The Warburtons are a family who live at peace with the land and vow to never take more from it than they give. Here, director Kim Laureen tells us more about meeting them and understanding their story.
Would you get intimate with the world’s tiniest cleaners?
As a brilliant new production comes to Dartington, we catch up with artistic director Chris Pirie to find out exactly what an Intronaut is, and how Elvis Presley’s fatberg almost became the star of the show.
Valley Field Plan brings a bit of Jurassic Park to the gardens
Throughout 2019, the gardens team have been putting the first major part of garden designer Dan Pearson’s masterplan into action in Valley Field.
Social Purpose: What is it and how can you find yours?
What’s your social purpose? In other words, what can you do with your life that really matters? Daisy Healy takes a look at how to tackle such a weighty question – and how the Accelerated Women’s Enterprise (AWE) Making a Difference programme can help make your social purpose a reality.
River Dart Charter Survey: What you said
Almost 500 of you participated in a survey aiming to help shape the future of the River Dart in Dartington. Here, Harriet Bell looks at some of the key findings.
England’s forestry specialists head to Dartington to plan for climate change
A multitude of tree lovers – from scientists to philosophers, foresters to artists, policy experts to designers – are convening at Dartington in response to the Climate Change Committee’s call to increase tree planting for zero carbon emissions by 2050.
To hedge or not to hedge? That is the question
In the latest blog from our gardens team, the yew hedges by our Magnolia Steps are looking decidedly peaky. Enter garden designer Dan Pearson – plus a winch, wire rope, blood, sweat…and ‘blind faith’.
It’s official: Huge impact of social enterprise programmes revealed
A new impact evaluation report has highlighted the remarkable impact and reach of a key social enterprise support programme, which is delivered in the south west by Dartington’s own School for Social Entrepreneurs.
Lifeworks charity finds a new home in Dartington
Local learning disability charity Lifeworks has acquired a new site at Webbers Yard, with plans to build a purpose-built base for its central charity offices, further education and training college.
First stop Mumbai; second stop Devon
We are privileged to welcome Revanta Sarabhai fresh from the Royal Opera House in Mumbai for a performance of Bharata Natyam, an ancient Indian classical art form.
The Hungry Games with Goats: Introducing the contenders to the arena
The latest update on our silvopasture experiment, where trees are planted along with animals. Which tree guard will survive the attentions of our all-consuming goat population?
In conversation with: Sam Lee, the man who sings with birds
Sam Lee’s ‘Singing With Nightingales’ is an event taking you into the woods to sing with a bird that is now sadly extinct in Devon. We caught up with him to find out about the man behind the project and to get a sense of what to expect on the night…
Growing Dartington’s historic walled garden
A pilot project began almost one year ago to bring a secret garden on the Dartington estate back to life. With the help of our supporters, we hope to transform it into a successful on-going concern.
Plum plot: A foray into silvopasture
After our Broadlears adventure in silvoarable – and the general take off of agroforestry across the estate – the one area we’ve wanted to focus on next is silvopasture: the art of planting trees in with – and often for the benefit of – animals.
Our gardeners are going nuts about nuts
In the latest in our series of blogs from our gardens team, garden designer Dan Pearson’s vision is realised further through the creation of a new nuttery and wildflower meadow.
Obituary: Ivor Weeks
Ivor Weeks (8.12.1929 – 12.2.2019) was a dedicated teacher with strong social principles, who played a significant part in developing, leading and steadying the development of visual art courses at Dartington.
New vision for The Dartington Hall Trust attracts £2 million gift
We are delighted to announce that we have signed an agreement for a £2 million gift, the largest single donation to Dartington Hall Trust since the deaths of our founders, Dorothy and Leonard Elmhirst, and a major step forward in realising our strategic 5 year plan.
Kate Caddy: Scion of Dartington Hall who became musical impresario
It is with great sadness that we share the news that Kate Caddy, 69, died peacefully at home on Tuesday 19 February.
Cutting-edge new arts programme in former Dartington Hall school building
The founders of renowned east London music venue and member of a Cornish art group have taken over a former school building on the Dartington Hall estate to bring cutting-edge music, exhibitions and events to local people.