Fun and fundraising planned at Stody Lodge Gardens this May

Stody Lodge Gardens, the spectacular 14-acre rhododendron and azalea gardens just outside Holt, is hosting a raft of exciting events for its open gardens season this May. Each of its open days support a different local charity and this year these include the Holt Youth Centre, St Johns Ambulance, The Benjamin Foundation, St Andrew’s Church (Holt), Thornage Hall, The Norfolk Hospice, Heritage House and Stody & Hunworth Churches.

The much-loved Stody ‘Kids for Kids’ Family Fun Day returns on Sunday 6th May. Norfolk’s youngsters are invited to come and enjoy a wide range of activities and farmyard animals including feeding young goats and kids. The highly popular Stody Fun Dog Show will return with fourteen fun and accessible classes. New for this year will be donkey rides by the wonderful Scratby Donkeys. There will be fantastic face painting, a tricksy treasure hunt and fun games on the lawn.

On Sunday 13th May 2018, Stody Lodge Gardens invites the region’s classic vehicle lovers to The Stody Classic Vehicles Day.  This event will be a great celebration and gathering of classic vehicles of all varieties. Not just cars but tractors, campervans, motorbikes, coaches… all are welcome. There is no need to register your vehicle but please email enquiries@stodyestate.co.uk if you are coming in a group so we can reserve a parking space for you all to be together. There is ample well-drained parking and plenty of space for picnics and drivers of a classic vehicle will have free entry into the gardens.

Stody Lodge Gardens will also be exhibiting two Norfolk artists from Sunday 20th May to Bank Holiday Monday 28th May inclusive.  Martin Pigg’s contemporary wood sculptures have featured as centrepieces for Gold and Silver winning gardens at the Chelsea Flower Show and Hampton Court Flower Show respectively. Painter Tracy Weston, who lives in the village of Stody, will also be exhibiting her ‘abstract expressionism’ pieces in the gardens.

 Lastly, The Stody Big Gay Out will take place on Saturday 26th May 2018.  A special welcome and invitation is being extended to the region’s LGBT+ community, as well as family and friends, to come and enjoy Stody’s explosion of colour. All members of the public are welcome. This event has been developed in association with Norwich Pride who will serve delicious rainbow cakes and fundraise for Norwich’s 10th Anniversary Pride on 28th July 2018. 

Kate MacNicol of Stody Lodge Gardens, said: “We place a real emphasis on inclusivity with everything we do and wish to welcome everyone in our community to our gardens. We hope they will enjoy themselves either at one of our special events or just to soak up the colour and beauty of the gardens if they prefer to come on a quieter Sunday or mid-week open day.”

For further information please visit www.stodylodgegardens.co.uk or call 01263 860572 and email enquiries@stodyestate.co.uk.

Stody Lodge Gardens raises £13,300 for local charities during May 2017

Visitors to Stody Lodge Gardens enjoying homemade tea and cake provided by local charities

Stody Lodge Gardens, Stody Estate's 14-acre rhododendron and azalea gardens near Holt, welcomed record visitor numbers through its doors in May 2017 and raised a fantastic £13,300 for local charities through its homemade teas.

This year the charities invited to provide the homemade teas at Stody Lodge Gardens, from which they take all the proceeds, included Tapping House, The Benjamin Foundation, Heritage House, The Holt Youth Project, St Johns Ambulance, St Andrews Church in Holt, North Norfolk Radio Kids Trust, Stody and Hunworth Village Room, Thornage hall, and the Norfolk and Norwich Association for the Blind. These ten charities fuelled busy garden lovers with delicious cakes, brownies, flapjacks and scones with homemade sausage rolls also proving to be a huge hit. 

Norfolk & Norwich Association for the Blind raises £2,300 at Stody Lodge Gardens

Donna Minto of the NNAB serving delicious homemade teas at Stody Lodge Gardens

The fantastic volunteer bakers for the Norfolk & Norwich Association for the Blind treated visitors to Stody Lodge Gardens to an amazing array of cakes, scones, cookies and flapjacks on Tuesday 23rd and Wednesday 24th May 2017. Thanks to all their hard work the charity raised a wonderful £2,300 over the two days.

NNAB fundraiser Donna Minto, said, “We were blessed with two sunny afternoons, which brought lots of visitors to the stunning gardens at Stody Lodge. Catering for so many people all in search of a traditional English tea was a big challenge for a team of volunteers, but they rose to it magnificently.

“We want to thank the Stody Estate for allowing us to provide the refreshments and raise money in this way – their generosity has seen so many Norfolk charities benefit over the years. We hope our teas were worthy of one of the most stunning gardens in the county.”

Last chance to visit Stody Lodge Gardens this May

Stody Lodge Gardens will open its doors to the public for the final two open days in its 2017 flowering season.

Open from 1pm to 5pm on Sunday 28th May and Bank Holiday Monday 29th May, visitors will be amazed by the towering rhododendrons now lining the gardens' many walkways with beautiful blooms. This magnificent colour is softened by lily of the valley and bluebells below.

As always our busy garden lovers will be fuelled with delicious homemade teas by local charities. On Sunday 28th May the teas will be provided by Heritage House and on Bank Holiday Monday 29th May they will be provided by St Johns Ambulance.

Don't miss this last opportunity to enjoy the magic of this May-flowering garden.

Entrance is £6, children under 12 free.

£1,934 raised for The Benjamin Foundation

Delicious homemade teas provided by The Benjamin Foundation

Stody Lodge Gardens is delighted that The Benjamin Foundation had such a successful day of fundraising when it provided the homemade teas at Stody Lodge Gardens on Sunday 14th May. Blessed with beautiful weather and a loyal group of supporters, The Benjamin Foundation fuelled busy garden lovers with sensational cakes, traybakes and cream teas from which it took all the proceeds.

The Benjamin Foundation helps people deal with many of the challenges that life throws at them. In 1994 the charity began by delivering rural youth services in North Norfolk and now, 19 years later, it has grown to help thousands of people from different age groups and backgrounds across Norfolk. Today it provides a diverse range of services which are all driven by the needs of people who live and work in our county.

Announcing the winners of the 2017 Stody Young Talent Awards

Image courtesy of North Norfolk News

Stody Lodge Gardens is delighted to announce the three winners of the 2017 Stody Young Talent Awards.

Now in its third year, this year’s awards challenged years 4, 5 and 6 and four local primary schools to depict ‘farmyard animals’ in any 2D form. Millie McCallum, the London-based animal artist, judged the finalists and selected the following winners from each of the three age groups:

Toby Monk of Astley Primary School won the Year 4 category for his pencil drawing of a delightful highland cow. Mille McCallum praised ‘the simple confident lines’ which she said beautifully portrayed the animal’s character.

In the year 5 category, Skye McIntyre of Gresham’s Preparatory School won for her white pig on a pink background. Her work stood out for its ‘original use of stencil technique and brilliant variety of shapes and shades of pink.’

Felix Lazell of Beeston Hall Preparatory School won the Year 6 category for his stunning depiction of a cow on a gold background. Millie McCallum noted his ‘excellent use of geometric pattern to contrast beautifully with the natural state of the animal’ and ‘fantastic attention to detail.’

Unable to only select three winners, one for each age group, Millie also awarded Special Mentions to Jemima Morgan-Evans and Hettie Holden from Gresham’s Preparatory (year 4), Holly Mitchell from Holt Community Primary School (year 5) and Stanley Peart from Astley Primary School, Jesse Brown from Corpusty Primary School and Louis Horsman-Carpenter from Gresham’s Preparatory School (year 6.)

Stody Kids day raises £1,590 for The Holt Youth Project and £385 for the North Norfolk Radio Kids Trust!

Visitors to the Stody 'Kids for Kids' Family Fun Day on Sunday 7th May 2017

The Stody ‘Kids for Kids’ Family Fun Day on Sunday 7th May saw hundreds of children enjoying face painting, petting zoo, goat show, fun dog show and treasure hunt throughout Stody Lodge’s stunning 14-acre rhododendron and azalea gardens.

Kate MacNicol of Stody Lodge Gardens, said: ‘We love filling our brightly coloured gardens with children and this year’s Stody Kids For Kids Family Fun Day was no exception.  We had a great turnout despite the chilly weather and we were thrilled to raised £1,590 for The Holt Youth Project and £385 for the North Norfolk Radio Kids Trust.”

Stody Lodge Gardens announces opening dates for May 2017

The Azalea Water Gardens - over 2,000 azalea mollis plants across two acres, filled with meandering waterways, gravel paths and bridges (photograph by Steven Brooks)
  

The spectacular 14-acre rhododendron and azalea gardens at Stody Lodge near Holt will be welcoming the public through its gates once again in May 2017. Bookings for groups and tours are being taken now - don't miss out on this unique garden experience!

2017 opening times are:

- Sunday 7th May 2017 (1pm - 5pm) The Stody 'Kids for Kids' Family Fun Day

- Sunday 14th May 2017 (1pm - 5pm) 

- Sunday 21st May 2017 (1pm - 5pm)

- Tuesday 23rd May 2017* (1pm - 5pm) in aid of the National Garden Scheme

- Wednesday 24th May 2017 (1pm - 5pm)

- Thursday 25th May 2017 (1pm - 5pm)

- Friday 26th May 2017 - (1pm - 5pm)

(Saturday 27th May 2017 - CLOSED)

- Sunday 28th May 2017 (1pm - 5pm)

- Bank Holiday Monday 29th May 2017 (1pm - 5pm)

*Stody Lodge Gardens will open in aid of the National Garden Scheme 1pm - 5pm on Tuesday 23rd May 2017. Non-members also welcome.

Entrance is £6, children under 12 free (payable by cash or cheque)

For details of charities supported on Stody Lodge Gardens open days, please click here.

Dogs on leads are welcome, there is a free car park, plant stall and delicious homemade teas.

Private group visits are available by appointment Monday to Friday.

Please contact 01263 863994 for further visitor information and entrance fees.

There is good disabled access to most areas of the gardens.

 
Entrance is £6*, children under 12 free, payable by cash or cheque.
Dogs welcome. Delicious homemade teas. Good wheelchair access to most areas of the garden.

Midweek groups welcome by appointment. Please call 01263 863994 or email enquiries@stodyestate.co.uk

Last chance to see Stody Lodge Gardens this May

Come and enjoy the beautiful colour and scent at Stody Lodge Gardens for the last few days this season.

Open 1pm - 5pm this Friday 27th, Sunday 29th and Bank Holiday Monday 30th May, visitors are invited to explore Stody Lodge's 14-acre gardens, relax with delicious homemade teas and support local causes.

The Azalea Water Gardens are still at their peak with some azaleas just starting to scatter drifts of stunning multicoloured petals on the paths and waterways. Meanwhile the rhododendrons have stolen the show in the gardens surrounding Stody Lodge with towering trees of colour lining beautiful winding pathways.

About with Friends, the charity supporting young adults with learning disabilities based in Cromer, is providing the teas on Friday 27th and Sunday 29th May. Funds will be raised for Stody and Hunworth Churches through the teas offered on Bank Holiday Monday 30th May.

Stody Lodge Gardens is open daily from 1pm - 5pm. It is closed on Saturday 28th May. £5 entry (payable by cash) children under 12 free. Plant stall and dogs on leads welcome.

Katrina, cocktails and all things vintage at The Stody Boutique Festival this Sunday 22nd May

Katrina, formerly of Katrina & the Waves, will perform on the terrace of Stody Lodge at 4pm on Sunday

Stody Lodge Gardens is teaming up with national event organisers, Britain Does Vintage, to host a brand new, exciting boutique festival in the heart of North Norfolk. 

Set within Stody’s brightly coloured gardens and surrounding parkland, the festival will be the home to Norfolk’s finest artisans, delicious food stalls, brilliant live music, demonstrations and tastings, classic cars, children’s activities including farm yard animals and treasure hunt, relaxation zone, prosecco bar – and of course vintage stalls. 

There is a fantastic music line-up with Katrina from the grammy-nominated band, Katrina & the Waves, performing on the terrace of Stody Lodge at 4pm. Katrina’s ‘Walking on Sunshine’ was a top ten hit around the globe in 1985 and in 1997 her song ‘Love Shine A Light’ won the Eurovision Song Contest with the largest ever margin.

There will also be live music from the brilliant Norfolk folk band Rattlebox and the most perfect vintage DJ, Major Swing and Kitty, will also keep toes tapping with his excellent selection of music from the 20s through to the late 40s and his troupe of professional vintage dance instructors. If you can’t resist having a singalong yourself, then you can let rip with 60s and 70s karaoke inside Songstream Studio’s mobile American Airstream. We also have blacksmith and log carving demonstrations throughout the day alongside crafty workshops for all ages and Junk In Love’s fabulous vintage style Photo Booth with lots of fancy dress.

Hungry visitors will not be disappointed. Expect the most fabulous afternoon teas with Melonberry Vintage, the best fish and chips you’ve ever tasted served from a retro red bus by Red Bus Food, handcrafted pizzas by The Woodfired Feast and ice cream by The Tricicle. If the sound of a rustic Norfolk craft ale and local cider bar takes your fancy then join East Coast Bars throughout the day. If cocktails and prosecco are more your thing then we have Coot & Moorhen serving up unusual and delicious tipples.

And if you need a break from all the fun you can steal away to Penny Groom’s holistic bell tent for a restorative massage or enjoy a peaceful wander through Stody Lodge’s beautiful 14 acre gardens.  The rhododendrons and azaleas are now fully out providing a sensational technicolour backdrop for the festival.

Entrance to the festival and gardens is £9, children under 12 free. Tickets available at the entrance to the festival, payable by cash only.

For more information on the Stody Boutique Festival please join us on Facebook.

Enjoy Stody Lodge Gardens in its full technicolour glory this Sunday 15th May, 1pm - 5pm

This Sunday Stody Lodge is hosting a 'Sensory Garden' day in aid of the Norfolk & Norwich Association for the Blind. The fantastic sunshine (and rainfall) this week has initiated an explosion of colour in Stody's notorious rhododendron and azalea gardens. The scent from the azaleas is overwhelming, just in time for the sensory experience we wish to share with our visually impaired visitors and the general public alike.

Visitors can expect sensory surprises throughout the gardens, unexpected acoustic performances, giant games on the lawn and delicious homemade teas provided by supporters of the Norfolk & Norwich Association for the Blind with all proceeds going to the charity.

Open 1pm – 5pm. £5 entry (payable by cash) children under 12 free. Plant stall and dogs on leads welcome.

“EXCEPTIONALLY HIGH STANDARD” OF BOTANICAL ART WORK AT THE STODY YOUNG TALENT AWARDS 2016

Maxwell Starling of Astley Primary School, Tallulah Bason of Beeston Hall Preparatory School and Freddie Betts of Greshams Preparatory School

Stody Lodge Gardens is delighted to announce the three winners of the 2016 Stody Young Talent Awards.

Sarah Caswell, a member of the Society of Botanical Artists and a regular exhibitor at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, judged the finalists. She was very impressed by “the exceptionally high standard” of all the entries and selected the following winners from each of the three age groups:

Freddie Betts of Greshams Preparatory School won the Year 4 category for his beautiful watercolour of two daffodils.  Sarah Caswell praised his “astonishing lightness of touch for his age” adding that “yellow is really difficult to paint so well done him.”  

In the year 5 category, Maxwell Starling of Astley Primary School was chosen for his delicate depiction of some cherry blossom which so impressed Sarah Caswell that she said “the Society of Botanical Artists will be looking out for his submissions in the future!”

Tallulah Bason of Beeston Hall Preparatory School won the Year 6 category with her stunning geometric kaleidoscope flower. Sarah Caswell praised “her interpretation of the brief and how she combines boldness of colour with finding the patterns in nature.”

Unable to only select three winners, one for each age group, Sarah also awarded Special Mentions to Monty Rolfe from Greshams Preparatory (year 4), Benjamen Whalley from Holt Community Primary School (year 5) and Jenna Morgan-Wickson from Astley Primary School (year 6.)

Celebrated local botanical artist, Sarah Caswell, judges the finalists of the Stody Young Talent Awards 2016

Five North Norfolk primary schools were invited to take part in the Stody Young Talent Awards 2016. Years 4, 5 and 6 at Astley Primary School, Holt Community Primary School, Corpusty Primary School, Beeston Hall Preparatory School and Greshams Preparatory School have in the past two weeks been hard at work creating beautiful depictions of flowers, foliage and garden views in any frameable medium.  The 40 finalists were exhibited at the Stody ‘Kids for Kids’ Family Fun Day on Sunday 8th May with hundreds of children enjoying the face painting, petting zoo, goat show and treasure hunt throughout Stody Lodge’s stunning 14-acre rhododendron and azalea gardens.

Kate MacNicol of Stody Lodge Gardens, said: ‘We are delighted that our gardens have has inspired our local primary school children to be so creative. Many of them came to see their works exhibited in the gardens on Sunday at our sell-out Stody ‘Kids for Kids’ Family Fun Day – it was beautiful weather and we were thrilled to raised £1,333 for The Holt Youth Project and £340 for the North Norfolk Radio Kids Trust.”