Latest news & blogs
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.
Young local artists explore risk in exhibition inspired by Dartington’s history of experimentation
An exhibition of student’s artwork inspired by Dartington’s history of risk taking has opened at the Green Table café in Dartington.
Meeting the creators of Kite
As award-winning theatre company The Wrong Crowd develop their new show at Dartington, we went behind the scenes find out more about their sparkling new creation.
Horse therapy charity opens new centre on Dartington estate
A new purpose-built centre providing equine-assisted therapy & learning to young people and adults with additional needs is to open on the Dartington Hall estate.
Why healthy grassland means a healthy ecosystem
Grassland is the basis of most of the UK’s food supply chain and the main source of diet for livestock in the UK. Good grassland management is crucial – and our Estate Warden Mike is on hand to explain how it all work on the Dartington Hall estate.
Artistic Director appointed for 2020 Summer School
The Dartington Hall Trust has announced that Sara Mohr-Pietsch will be the next Artistic Director of the Dartington International Summer School & Festival.
Meeting Andy Smith, theatre maker and Dartington College of Arts alumnus
Renowned theatre maker Andy Smith is the creator of Dartington Live shows The Preston Bill and Summit, the latter of which comes to Space Studios on 9-10 November. We caught up with him to find out more about his new show, and how his time at Dartington continues to shape his work today.
Dynamic duo challenge public attitudes to disability
Dartington Live presents Improbable and Royal Court Theatre’s ‘mischievous exposé of good intentions gone bad’.
Leading arts charity to use pop culture to change minds on migration
A new retreat that asks how pop culture can change the conversation on migration kicks off on the Dartington Hall estate.
Getting hands on with some Bracken Bruising
In his latest blog, Mike explains how the team’s new Bracken Bruiser is saving a phenomenal amount of time and effort for everyone – in addition to providing benefits to humans, grazing cattle and wildlife.
Excellent Elderflower, poor peppers and the ‘triangle of doom’
A look at how our groundbreaking agroforestry field project is getting on, with ups and downs aplenty – and one highly unexpected visitor to Broadlears field.
Survey shows Dartington estate home to wide range of bat species
Devon Greater Horseshoe Bat Project survey sees high numbers and rare species recorded, including Common Pipistrelle, Noctule, Soprano Pipistrelle, Serotine, Leisler, Daubenton’s bat and Greater Horseshoe.
25 years on: Bird nesting scheme still going strong at Dartington
Our estate warden pays tribute to Peter Morris, whose nesting box scheme in Dartington Hills continues to play a vital part in understanding Britain’s birds – a quarter of a century after its creation.
Agroforestry on farms essential to improve productivity and environmental protection
Major agroforestry trials – as pioneered on the Dartington Hall estate – should be established during the EU withdrawal period, according to a report launched by the Woodland Trust and Soil Association.
Mary’s blog: How stamps tell the story of Leonard Elmhirst in wartime Mesopotamia
As R.C.Sheriff’s play Journey’s End arrives both on stage and screen at Dartington, bookbinding tutor Mary Bartlett looks at how Dartington founder Leonard Elmhirst’s experiences in wartime Mesopotamia led to the eventual funding and initial success of this seminal work.
TRESOC awarded grant to develop Anaerobic Digester at Old Parsonage Farm
The proposed plant would process farmyard manures with other green materials – and potentially food wastes from cafés and restaurants on the estate – to generate electricity and heat.
Food and Farming blog: New bird hide design is a winner!
Students from the University of Plymouth have created a design inspired by Dartington’s kingfishers – but we need your feedback to help us decide where the new bird hide should be located.
The Unicorn and the White Hole
Dartington’s bookbinding tutor, Mary Bartlett, takes another look back into Dartington Hall history and how it fuels her ongoing interest in the symbolism of the unicorn.
Dartington Deer Park wall to be removed from Historic England’s ‘Heritage at Risk’ register
A 14th century deer park wall on the Dartington Hall estate that was in danger of being lost forever is to be removed from Historic England’s ‘Heritage At Risk’ register after repair and conservation works.
Work starts on first stage of Queen’s Marsh wetland habitat restoration
Work has begun to transform Queen’s Marsh area into a wetland home for a vast array of wildlife – but the help of the public is needed to ensure the project can be completed.
Grounds for celebration: Award-winning designer Dan Pearson appointed to rethink our Gardens
Leading landscape designer Dan Pearson has been commissioned to produce a creative masterplan and management plan for Dartington Hall’s Grade 2* listed gardens.
Agroforestry: Our mistakes don’t have to be your mistakes
As Dartington’s pioneering new agroforestry project reaches a more advanced stage, Harriet takes a moment to outline some key lessons learned, in order to help those who are interested in ‘growing their own’.
Behind the scenes: Researching our ever-changing Gardens
Dartington’s Gardens are often seen as a ‘timeless’ feature that has hardly changed in centuries. In fact, the opposite is true – as Gardener Katherine found as part of a historical research project.
Food and Farming blog: Our ducks are in a row – now they’re getting a pond
After much planning, it’s time for action! Work to create the fundamental structure for reinstating the entire 7 hectares of Queen’s Marsh field as a wetland has now been confirmed – read on to find out more.