Latest news & blogs
Local primary school helps Luscombe Drinks plant 1,600 trees at Dartington
Local artisan drinks producer, Luscombe Drinks have teamed up with Dartington C of E Primary School to plant 1,600 trees as part of an innovative agroforestry project on The Dartington Hall estate.
Poet-in-residence at Dartington scoops Costa Book Award
Warm congratulations are in order for Devon-based poet Alice Oswald, who has been named Costa Poetry Award Winner 2016 for her seventh collection, Falling Awake.
Trust to test new multi-agency agroforestry model on 48 acres
The Dartington Hall Trust is pioneering a new model of agroforestry that aims to combine five food and farming enterprises to create an agroecological system that is both collaborative and commercially viable.
Food and Farming blog: Will our unique new approach bear fruit?
In her latest blog, Harriet explains how, after a huge amount of work behind the scenes, Dartington is about to deliver agroforestry in a way that has never been seen in the UK before.
Listed 30s building goes solar in local partnership
A new 30kWh solar-PV array has been put on the roof of the Lescaze Offices in Dartington village to provide renewable electricity.
Mary Bartlett’s blog: My travels with unicorns
Dartington’s tutor for bookbinding writes on why unicorns, and the subject of taxonomy, continue to have such an impact on her work and learning.
Volunteer blog: How can stone rubbing tell us about the past?
Martin Broadbent, a Dartington volunteer, is collaborating with Mary Bartlett to survey, map and list the gravestones in St Mary’s Old Churchyard. As the project progresses, Sonja finds out how stone rubbing is aiding Martin’s work.
Fairytale fun as new play area launches at Dartington
A new natural play facility on the Dartington estate was launched recently with a unicorn-themed fun day for children of all ages.
Works starts to conserve Dartington’s Deer Park Wall following funding success
Work is now underway to breathe new life into Dartington’s 66 acre medieval Deer Park after The Dartington Hall Trust successfully met its £998,000 fundraising target in September.
Obituary: Marianne de Trey
Marianne de Trey, who has died aged 102, was one of the pioneers of the British functional studio ceramics movement after the second world war.
Food and Farming blog: Getting our ducks in a row at Queen’s Marsh
Following the results of a feasibility study which recommended proactively reinstating wetland habitats in Queen’s Marsh, Harriet has been trying to do exactly that – but it’s not the simplest of tasks…
Volunteer blog: Dartington’s ancestral stones
The identity of those buried in St Mary’s Old Churchyard, is to a significant degree, unknown. Martin Broadbent, a volunteer, has begun research to discover more of this Dartington story.
New heritage attraction gets green light – nearly!
The Dartington Hall Trust has secured new funding of almost £750,000 to repair and conserve a historically significant area of the 800-acre estate – a medieval Deer Park and its 18th century Grade II listed stone wall.
Conservation diary: Keeping track of nesting birds at Dartington
Each year Mike and the volunteers carry out a nest box survey across the Dartington estate for the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) – a scheme that has been going for over 25 years.
Step back 4.6 billion years with the Deep Time Walk App
The new Deep Time Walk App is a walking audio history of the Living Earth – giving users a detailed and dramatised experience of the planet’s 4.6 billion year big history as they are guided on a 4.6 kilometre walk across time.
Conservation diary: Grasshoppers and other spring sightings
April is the first month where you might be able to see or hear a Meadow Grasshopper at Dartington, with sightings possible until the late autumn.
Obituary: Sir Peter Maxwell Davies
Sir Peter Maxwell Davies, who had a long association with Dartington International Summer School, died at his home in Orkney on 14 March 2016, aged 81.
William Elmhirst dies aged 87
We are very sad to report that William Elmhirst, the youngest of Leonard and Dorothy Elmhirst’s two children, passed away on 29 February while travelling overseas.
Conservation Diary: Recognising the stonechat
In his latest blog, Dartington’s Conservation Warden Mike explains how to identify a stonechat – a bird at its most visible in the spring.
Initial work starts to repair and conserve Dartington’s historic Deer Park Wall
Thanks to funding secured from Natural England, Dartington has started initial work to repair and conserve the historic 18th century Grade 11 listed Deer Park Wall on the estate.
Gardens blog: Connecting Dartington gardens to the landscape beyond
As a 50-page research project mapping the history of Dartington’s Gardens is completed, Gardener Katherine reflects that ‘in order to move forward we need to understand what went before’.
Food and Farming blog: Wetland restoration vision takes shape
Last autumn we asked for help with a feasibility study we had commissioned into the potential to restore Queens Marsh to a wetland habitat. Here, Harriet reveals the study’s conclusions…
Mary’s blog: Why ‘sociable experts’ are good for business
In her latest blog, Bookbinding tutor and Dartington veteran Mary Bartlett looks at why the sharing of skills and expertise is vital for any organisation’s continued success.
Blog: Making room for Dartington’s famous faces
Did you know that many significant figures in Dartington’s history are fondly remembered today in guest rooms at Dartington Hall? In this blog, Karen explains why – and takes a look at one such personality.
Dartington joins call for government adoption of agroforestry methods
The Dartington Hall Trust has co-signed an open letter to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs requesting a review of the government’s position on the use of agroforestry methods in England.
Food and Farming blog: Rediscovering the secrets of Queen’s Marsh
Harriet takes a fascinating look through the archives, in an effort to understand the history of Queen’s Marsh – an exercise that will help guide Dartington’s potential restoration of the site.
Tomorrow’s social entrepreneurs graduate from Dartington
Eighteen social entrepreneurs have just finished a year of intensive social business start-up training at Dartington. Meet some of them here…
Guest blog: The Prehistory of Dartington
In this compelling guest blog, Tom Gloyns writes on his experiences exploring and documenting points of archaelogical interest across Dartington as part of his voluntary work with Dartington’s Woodlands and Conservation team.
Gardens blog: Autumn highlights to look out for
With the weather changing, Dartington gardener Katherine has used her latest blog to help you enjoy some of the seasonal highlights coming up in the Gardens.
Huxhams Cross Community Farm gets off the ground
The new Huxham’s Cross Farm in Dartington, the stunning result of a community share offer from the Biodynamic Land Trust (BDLT), will have a public launch on Saturday 10 October (4pm) at Dartington Village Hall.