Saturday 11th June sees the arrival of the first ever Connaught Village Garden Festival – a day long celebration with free craft workshops, alfresco feasting, pony grooming, plant sales, outdoor art installations, exclusive in-store promotions and more.
This event coincides with the National Garden Scheme’s (NGS) annual charity event on Saturday 11th June. For one day only, the Hyde Park Estate will be revealing some of its secret residential gardens that would usually be closed to the public. Last year the NGS donated over £3 million to its beneficiary charities.
Follow the Connaught Village dog-friendly walking tour and visit the Hyde Park Estate’s four secret residential gardens for a small donation of £6 to the National Garden Scheme charity. The Gardens include Coniston, Devonport, Quadrangle, Reflections 2020 and the award-winning modernist garden, The Water Gardens. Each garden has information on the flowers, and the natural wildlife found living in the middle of the West End.
For the early birds, there is a complementary open-air vinyasa flow Yoga Class taking place in one of the tranquil and peaceful gardens, Devonport, at 10:30am. The class promises to be a truly nourishing start to the day – sun salutations (and manifestation!) actively encouraged.
In Bathurst Mews, Pony Grooming is the order of the day. One of the last standing mews with horses in Central London, Hyde Park Stables will set up a family friendly pony grooming station where some very charming horses will be for visitors to brush, braid, groom and paint. For the equestrian inclined, visitors can even book ahead to arrange an afternoon’s canter around Hyde Park.
On the neighbouring Bathurst Street, the legendary Brixton Life Drawing duo will be taking over with a series of free Botanical Life Drawing classes. Each class invites visitors to flex their sketching muscles while models draped in seasonal blooms, palms and miscellaneous foliage pose for this one of a kind activity. Classes will run at 12:30, 14:00, 15:30 and 17:00.
For the artists amongst us, there is a special opportunity to try a hand at a number of free botanical themed craft workshops taking place in Titchborne Row. The line up includes: Terracotta Pot Painting, Macrame Weaving, Dried Flower Pressing, and much more. To register into a ballot to win a spot, select a workshop below:
Summer feasting in Porchester Place will host several picnic benches for visitors to gather and enjoy alfresco feasting. To tickle your tastebuds, come and enjoy mini pavlova’s with whipped cream and seasonal berries, strawberry and mascarpone tartlets, coffee & walnut cake accompanied with espresso buttercream and Victoria sponge and fresh raspberry jam with clotted cream.
A pop-up ice lolly cart by the legendary PoppingLicks will be on hand to keep everyone refreshed with iced refreshments laced with edible petals! Visitors are also invited to grab and go from the numerous cafes, restaurants and delis within the village and dine together amongst the festivities. Stationed at the top of Porchester Place will be a groovy Flower Power Beetle car converted into a free photobooth so all attendees can take home a keepsake. Get your sparkle on at our fabulous Glitter Station on Titchborne Row. Head over between 12 and 5pm to receive your free glitter makeup to get you into the festival spirit for a day of celebrations.
At 12 Connaught Street you will find a plant sale by The City Gardener who is selling a selection of beautiful house plants, guaranteed to brighten up your home. Joining The City Gardener is Tracey Burfield who works as a gardener around the Hyde Park Estate. Tracey will be selling a variety of her handmade air plant holders which would look great in your home.
Local fashion illustrator, @eleni.illustrator, will be stationed outside the Duke of Kendal pub creating bespoke, floral illustrations for you to take home. Put on your best outfit and strike a pose… you don’t want to miss this opportunity!If that’s not enough, enjoy a sculptural garden talk by artists Heywood and Condie the Hyde Park Estate Gardeners and award-winning artists in their own right or follow a historical walking tour with author and award-winning Blue Badge Guide Rachel Kolsky. Please meet at the entrance to Coniston Gardens at 12pm to join Heywood and Condies garden talk.
Also taking place on Saturday 11th June is the Hyde Park Estate Association’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations. From 3 – 8pm, visit Gloucester Square Gardens for a fun-filled day of family events including magic, balloons, bubbles and a jazz band. For more information, visit their website.
Enjoy special discounts and activations in Connaught Village throughout the day. Take a look at the list below to find out what’s happening:
Buchanans Cheesemonger – Visit Buchanans Cheesemonger to taste mini gorgonzola cones for £1.50 or £2 with added truffle honey drizzle
Circus 25 – Enjoy 20% off all vases and planters from Circus 25 on the day and purchase the perfect flower arrangement for your vase inside their store.
Fé Hair & Beauty – Enjoy a complimentary manicure with all hair appointments booked on the day alongside a complimentary Face Glow treatment using the amazing LPG Endermologie machine or complimentary braids and mini blow dries.
Hyde Park Stables – From 1-4pm visitors can spend the day grooming the horses with flower clips and painting.
Lacquered + Stripped – When visiting Lacquered + Stripped on the day, take a look at their signature floral nail designs and enjoy a glass of Aperol or Elderflower Spritz
London Chocolate – Shoppers can enjoy a 10% discount and chocolate bars with edible flowers. That’s not all, grab yourself an iced chocolate or mocha drink infused with lavender to stay hydrated.
PM Flowers – Enjoy 20% off ready-made bouquets from PM Flowers at the Garden Festival.
Purple Ski – Visitors will be offered cheese, charcuterie and wine from the shop and can enjoy 20% discount on all villas and weeks for summer 2022 and 10% discount on all chalets and weeks for winter 2022/23.
Simon Carter – When spending over £65 in-store on the day, receive a silk paisley pocket square worth £30 as a gift with purchase.
The Stablehand – When dining at The Stablehand on the day, enjoy their beautifully British curated set menu worth £24.95 per person for 3 courses!
The Place London – When shopping at The Place London on the day, pick up a botanical themed journal as a gift with purchase.
Join our monthly newsletter to stay in the know with the upcoming Garden Festival and an exciting competition by registering below!
Find out more about The National Garden Scheme here at ngs.org.uk.
Date: Saturday 11th June, 2022
Gardens open from: 10.30am – 4pm
Event time: 10.30 – 6pm
