Enjoy Mapperton in 2022!

From all of us here at Mapperton, very best wishes for a happy, peaceful and hopefully a slightly more “normal” year as we enter 2022!

Although Mapperton House & Gardens is closed at the moment, rest assured: there is still plenty going on.

Mapperton Live goes backstage to get a behind the scenes view of life and times in a historic house. You can join Luke, Julie and the family working with the Mapperton team on YouTube, as they tussle with the demands – and delights – of living on a country estate.

You may remember seeing Julie “enjoying” her cold water plunges in the pool in the garden. Now the time has come to pull the plug. The 18^th century pool needs fixing to be protected for the future and to get Julie back in the swim. 

Don’t miss this episode and if you want to help us protect this important part of British heritage then join us on Patreon. There are always many huge jobs to do at Mapperton and your support helps us to keep up with the repairs!

There are two more episodes to watch every week and updates on previous features.

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY!

We have lots of exciting events coming up this year. Be sure to write them in your new diary or add to your calendar, because you won’t want to miss these!

The Gardens reopen on Tuesday 1 March. But before that our Snowdrop Sundays on 30 January and 6 February offer the chance to see swathes of those tiny white flowers that mean spring can’t be far away. The gardens will be open from 11am until 4pm for you to explore followed by a warming drink and tasty snack in the Coach House Cafe. 

Spring Plant Fair – Sunday 10 April

One of the largest and most popular specialist plant fairs in Dorset, this is a great day out for plant lovers with a large number of stalls from specialist plantsmen and women from all over the region.  Access to our superb gardens (winner of the Garden of the Year 2020 Historic Houses award) is included in the entry price. 

Admission is just £5 per person, with free tickets available for under 5’s.

Children’s Trail 17-21 April

Watch out for more news of our Children’s Trail, which is bound to appeal to the younger family members over the Easter break. Follow the trail round the Gardens and crack the clues! 

Outdoor Theatre – Sunday 10 July.

The greatest West End and Broadway musicals brought to life in the open air on a summer evening in the Gardens here at Mapperton.

Shakespeare in the Garden – Sunday 17 July

We welcome the Castle Theatre Company back to Mapperton with its 2022 touring production of Shakespeare’s The Comedy of Errors. Combining farcical dilemmas of mistaken identity and a desperate search for love, this is a glorious play to enjoy in the open air, with Mapperton House as a stunning backdrop.

Three Men in a Boat – Open Air Theatre – Sunday 21 August

Kick In The Head productions provides a rip-roaring barrel of fun with Three Men in a Boat, with Giles Shenton playing the part of Jerome K Jerome.

Join Jerome as he recounts the hilarious story of his boating holiday along the magnificent River Thames with his two companions and Montmorency the dog. A pitch-perfect evening of entertainment.

Eat Well Dorset – 28-29 August

Enjoy a two-day celebration of Dorset’s amazing food and drink, when Mapperton hosts local stallholders supplying some of the best the region has to offer as well as free talks about some wonderful food.

Autumn Plant Fair – Sunday 11 September

Another Plant Fair where the green-fingered cans stock up for autumn and winter planting. Again, Garden entry is included in the £5 entry.

Halloween Trail – 23-27 October

The haunted Halloween Trail is back when the young and not-so-young can follow our spooky trail around the Gardens. Fancy Dress is very much encouraged!

Yoga Retreat 3-6 November

Julie Montagu hosts a restorative Whole Self Yoga Retreat at Mapperton. Three nights and four days of yoga practice, gentle exploration of the estate, and delicious plant-based meals.

Christmas Market – 26-27 November

Enjoy the magic of Mapperton Estate at Christmas with a weekend of fantastic stalls focusing on local products and delicious food and drink. You can also explore the Mapperton Gardens in winter!

Tickets will be £5 per person including free garden entry.

Mapperton Mud-dle  – Sunday 11 December

Our first Mud-dle! Discover the landscape around Mapperton when White Star Running hosts a 10k and half marathon.

We look forward to welcoming you online and in person to Mapperton in 2022!