Having been closed to the public for three decades, the grounds of The Horton Epsom have been transformed into a natural landscaped green space for everyone to enjoy - and they officially opened to the public on Thursday July 24.
“We are delighted to finally be opening our gardens for the community to enjoy,” says Maria Reeves, Director of The Horton.
“It has taken a long time and lot of effort to make the grounds safe and accessible. We’re very grateful to donors and for the funding support we have received from Surrey County Council, Epsom & Ewell Borough Council and others. Our volunteers have been amazing too.
“Three years after opening The Horton, it is wonderful to see the outdoor vision beginning to come to life. We can now start to make the most of the wonderful surroundings the heritage building sits in and plan creative activities for all”
The newly unveiled grounds will host an exciting programme of outdoor performances this summer, including:
- Saturday August 16: aerial circus theatre on a giant spinning parasol – Everywhere’s A Beach from Epsom company, Hikapee.
- Saturday August 23: pirate and mermaids’ event, Message In A Bottle with dressing up, dance, juggling, and drama.
- Thursday August 28: evening of acoustic harmonies with Geoff Robb’s The Music of Trees.
As well as enjoying the outdoor shows, visitors can simply enjoy the birdsong sitting on a brand-new bench with a great cup of coffee – ordering from outside if you’re out with your dog.
The Horton Gardens provide a wonderful tranquil space for visitors and have been designed with accessibility and nature at the forefront.
More than 200 metres of native hedgerow has been planted to provide and improve the habitat for hedgerow birds, hedgehogs, bats and insects. A hibernaculum has been created for green waste, providing safe areas for hibernating mammals, insects and reptiles.
Development of the grounds have been supported by Surrey County Council’s Your Fund Surrey and Epsom & Ewell Borough Council’s Community Infrastructure Levy Fund. Contributions have also been been made by Toyota, Coop Community Fund and members of the local community making private donations.
The Horton’s dedicated team of volunteers has helped to plant trees and clear hundreds of metres of thorns and invasive plants.
There are plenty of opportunities for people to get involved at The Horton. Maintaining the gardens is an ongoing task and the team are on the lookout for more volunteers to help.
If you’d like to find out more about how to help keep The Horton Gardens looking good, or to donate the cost of performance tickets for some local families in need – as Epsom Rotary have done – you can get in touch here.
- The Horton Epsom is open Tuesday to Saturday, 9.15am to 4.30pm
