Calendar of Natural and Cultural Events

Hembury Court Calendar of Natural and Cultural Events

 

Natural events

 

Devon has a wealth of natural Flora and Fauna for you to enjoy and explore.

 The county is renowned for primroses and wild violets and these become abundant in the hedgerows during the spring. The primroses are followed by bluebells and carpets of these can be enjoyed during late April and May at the nearby ancient Roman tumuli of Hembury Fort. Rhododedendrums flower in May and June and the footpaths in the hills behind Hembury Court pass through acres of these shrubs. Fungi can be found in the woods of the Blackdown Hills during the summer months, but expertise in identification is advisable! Blackberries are ready to harvest from the hedgerows from August onwards- why not borrow a basket and see what you can find? Sloes for enriching gin can be found in the hedgerows from September onwards, and conkers are plentiful too.

 

Cultural events.

 

Broadhembury is in the Blackdown Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, please visit the‘events diary' at www.blackdown-hills.net . The Blackdown Hills are home to a multitude of crafts people and there are several talks and exhibitions during the year.

 

The following fairs and shows are annual events within the area:-

 

Spring • 

Exeter Festival of South West Food and Drink is the South West's largest food and drink festival, held in Northernhay Gardens and Exeter Castle Courtyard for a weekend in April. www.exeterfoodanddrinkfestival.co.uk •Devon County Show at Westpoint, Exeter is a three day agricultural show in mid-May. Westpoint is home to many events during the year. View ‘whats on' at www.westpointarena.com

 

Summer •

Exeter has a two day craft festival located on the Cathedral Green in mid June. www.exetercraftfestival.co.uk •Honiton Charter Fair is the first Tuesday after July 19th. Events include the throwing of hot pennies to children from an upstairs window in the town centre. •Mid Devon Show is a Saturday agricultural show at the end of July based at Tiverton. www.middevonshow.co.uk .•Honiton Show is a one day agricultural show on the first Thursday in August. www.honitonshow.co.uk •Sidmouth is host to an International Folk Festival in early August. www.sidmouthfolkweek.co.uk •Beer Regatta takes place in early August. Why not watch the boats while you have lunch in The Anchor's beer garden overlooking the sea? Beautiful Days is a weekend family music festival with five stages located at nearby Escot Park. The event takes place towards the end of August. www.beautifuldays.org

 

Autumn •

Widecombe Fair, a traditional country fair made famous by the folk song, takes place around the beginning of September in the heart of the Dartmoor National Park. www.widecombefair.com•Honiton Carnival takes place in October when the town plays host to decorated carnival floats and a fairground.

 

Winter•

Ottery St Mary Tar Barrels night is held on November 5th and is part of the carnival with a procession of decorated floats. Burning wooden tar barrels are carried at speed through the crowds. Each pub in the town sponsors a tar barrel. This event is not for the faint hearted and is unsuitable for small children www.otterytarbarrels.co.uk   Totnes Christmas Market takes place once a week throughout December (normally Tuesdays from 6pm). The individual shops in this quirky town on the edge of Dartmoor stay open late with market stalls lining the street and plenty of interesting local food and drink to try as well as street performers. •Make room for your Christmas dinner and join hundreds of others for a dip in the sea as part of the Exmouth Christmas Day Swim. The event normally starts at 11am. www.exmouth-guide.co.uk/xmasswim.htm