ACTIVITIES AND EXPERIENCES

Tincture Making

This unique and immersive tincture workshop that connects the art of drink making with the therapeutic properties of the natural world. You’ll learn the age-old craft of creating tinctures, discovering how to prepare and infuse the botanicals for a specific purpose.

Leave with your custom-crafted tincture, along with a detailed guide on how to care for it over the next six weeks, ensuring it reaches its full potential.

Available from November - April. 

Foraged Cocktail Making Workshop

Join Heckfield Place’s knowledgeable bar team in learning how to create cocktails using freshly foraged ingredients along with our House-made liqueurs
and tinctures.

Set off from the House to forage through the woodlands to hand-pick plants, herbs and flowers to use in your workshop, while learning about the practical qualities of each along with a view of what’s currently growing on our estate.

Available from April - September. 

Gin Garden Experience

Join one of our skilled bar team to explore the intricate world of gin, and craft your own with freshly foraged botanicals.
 
Sample three vastly different gins, including Heckfield’s own London Dry Gin, then be led on a guided walk to collect a variety of fresh botanicals from our Walled Gardens.

Available from May - August. 

Home Farm Flower Arranging Workshop

Join Heckfield Place's resident florist to create a beautiful bowl arrangement using fresh, seasonal flowers from Heckfield Home Farm. Journey down to our biodynamic Market Garden which provides up to 5,000 stems a week for the House to be guided on selecting, cutting and conditioning your own blooms.

You’ll then head back to the Glass House in our Upper Walled Gardens where you’ll receive expert guidance to create your own floral work of art, while enjoying a selection of tea, coffee and cake.

Available June - September. 

PICNICS

In the warmer months, head out to the lake or the woods or wherever takes your fancy for a relaxing afternoon.

Best paired with a bit of wild swimming and a relaxing lunch underneath the willows.

Fishing

The Lower Lake is stocked with Carp, Perch, Tench & Rudd. All levels of fishing are welcome, whether it’s introducing you to the lake, setting you up, teaching for the first time or just guiding.
our Walled Gardens.

Available from mid June - October. 

Boating on the Lower Lake

Take one of our rowing boats out onto the Lower Lake to enjoy the peace and calm of the nature of the Heckfield Estate.
Add a picnic and make a day of it. Available May to end of September.

Wild Swimming

The Lower Lake is a wonderful spot to enjoy a dip in nature. Book one of our guided experiences and head to the eastern end of the Lake where the water is deep and clear. Find our wooden pontoon and step ladder to
ease your way in and out.

Please note that we advise against swimming in our Lower Lake alone, and all open water dips should be supervised by a member of our trained team. We recommend booking one of our guided experiences.

BIRD WATCHING

Join the birdwatching team for a peaceful walk through the woods to
discover the birds and wildlife that have made this gently wilding estate
their home.

Falconry

Behold the majesty of these Birds of Prey. Under the supervision of our professional falconer, guests are invited to handle and fly these magnificent birds. It is an unforgettable moment when a hawk swoops out of the sky and lands on your gloved fist.

WILLOW WEAVING

Embrace your creativity and try your hand at willow weaving. Using locally grown willow, make either a willow star or a willow bird feeder.

NATURE PHOTOGRAPHY

This private tuition session will teach you the fundamental techniques and principles of photography, and will leave you feeling more inspired and confident in taking photos that you will love. 

All About Composting

Learn about how we use compost at Home Farm and how to make it, care for it and use it in your own garden. Leave with your own compost, gloves and a care sheet.

JOURNEY OF A PLANT

Learn about the stages of a plant – from seed sowing to planting, weeding to watering and harvesting. Leave with your own gloves and a small plant to continue your journey at home.

The No Dig Method

Learn all about the no-dig method and visit our mini no-dig allotment in the Market Garden. Leave knowing what it is, the benefits and how to get started, along with your own gloves and something from our allotment.

Bird Box and Bug Hotel Making

Join our wildlife coordinator and learn to make a bird box or bug hotel. Both experiences begin with a short talk on the importance of looking after our birds or bugs, followed by a hands-on tutorial using recycled materials to make a home for these important creatures. 

Sauna Medicine

An immersive journey to an expansive self where time suspends, enveloping you in stillness. Expect gentle warmth as pure essential oils infuse the air and ready the senses for purification of mind and body. Heat slowly intensifies as our practitioners circulate the aroma and the rhythm builds.

Led by our sauna practitioners, the 90-minute ritual includes a natural steam scrub, aroma infusions and the traditional technique of leaf whisking.

Nature Therapy

Join our Resident Wellbeing and Nature Psychologist, Amy Steadman (MSc) in a mindful outdoor experience. Like a massage for your mind, these group walks combine positive psychology and eco-psychology to help you alleviate stress and find inner calm. The antidote to an ‘always-on’ indoor life, you’ll walk away from the session rooted with a deeper connection to nature and more importantly to yourself.

Amy also leads Nature Immersion sessions - a meditative walk through our estate. 

MOVEMENT AT THE BOTHY BY WILDSMITH

From yoga, meditation and breathwork to mat and reformer Pilates, gentle stretching and more, find calm through movement in the tranquillity
of The Bothy by Wildsmith. 

L E A R N  M O R E

MOVEMENT IN NATURE

Re-energise and refocus through moving your body in the Great Outdoors.
From our signature Woodland Movement to Farm Fit, Forest Bathing, Cold Water Immersion and more. 

L E A R N  M O R E

COCKTAIL MASTERCLASS

Join Heckfield Place’s cocktail-making maestros in learning how to create the best drinks fresh with ingredients often foraged from our 438-acre estate.

WINE TASTING

Calling all oenophiles... A tutored tasting with our Senior Sommelier. We show a diverse and unusual selection of wines that can all fall into the ‘twists on the classics’ category.

WEEKLY FILMS IN THE SCREENING ROOM

Our beautiful 67-seater, Dolby Atmos Screening room is hidden underground at Heckfield and hosts regular screening of movies on Sundays and Tuesdays. 

PRIVATE SCREENINGS

Our Screening Room can also be hired for private screenings, whether it be a favourite festive film for the whole family to enjoy or perhaps a romantic favourite for a special occasion. We can also arrange for House-made snacks
and drinks to accompany. 

Heckfield Tree Hunt

The Pleasure Grounds and the Estate are the biggest playground. Make sure you get straight out there and discover the natural treasures right on our doorstep.

Tricycles and Bikes

You'll find tricycles at the front of the House - just ask if you'd like to borrow one. For older children, we have bicycles to explore the estate as well. 

Go Skipping

Borrow one of our skipping ropes (made from Chatham Hemp and the handles are reclaimed cotton bobbins from a Cotton Mill in Yorkshire) and experience the benefits of skipping.

Heckfield Games

Immerse yourself in the Great Outdoors to try out Heckfield games. These games (suitable for children aged 5-1 I years) are fun, challenging and can be enjoyed by all the family.

Willow Workshop

Embrace your creativity and try your hand at willow weaving. Using Locally grown willow, make either a willow star or a willow bird feeder.

Wildlife Photography

Do you have an interest in photography and a curiosity in the world around you? Would you Like to grasp some fundamental principles and techniques in photography? This private tuition session, suitable for children aged 3 and above is aimed at doing just that and will lead to you feeling more inspired and confident in taking photos that you will love.

Market Garden and Home Farm Tour

Book a tour with one of our experts to visit our chickens, pigs, sheep and discover the dairy that produces all the milk used in the house. Or feel free to explore at your leisure with an adult.

Wellington Country Park - Nearby

We neighbour the Wellington Country Park, 350 acres of beautiful park land with myriad children’s play areas, nature trails, zip wires. Visit for an hour or a day and keep your small people very happy.
Age range 5-1 5 years

Guided Estate Tours

Embark on a guided tour to learn all about our 438-acres in every season. From learning about biodynamic principles at Home Farm to exploring the ancient woodlands with a member of our arborist team and more.

Guided tours of our estate, gardens, woodlands and Home Farm are part of our weekly activities schedule and are included in your stay. 

Time in The Bothy by Wildsmith

Nestled behind a secret door on the edge of our Walled Gardens, The Bothy by Wildsmith is our home of wellbeing.

Its many spaces - including its indoor 18 m x 6 m chlorine-free Waters, hydrotherapy, sauna and steam - are complimentary for our resident guests aged 16 and older
to enjoy. 

CYCLING AND HIKING

Cycle or hike across the Estate and out into the little lanes to Farley Hill, or around the forestry tracks of Bramshill Forest to discover the peace and quiet of the Hampshire countryside.

We also offer guided bike tours of the local area at an additional cost. 

BADMINTON, CROQUET & PETANQUE

Wander the grounds and find different garden games to join in with.

Badminton and croquet are available April to end of September.