The Trust’s Objectives
The Trust’s charitable objective is: to reclaim, restore, preserve, enhance and develop for the education and benefit of the public, the landscape, gardens and buildings of heritage, horticultural or architectural interest associated with Hestercombe and in support of this objective, to undertake educational work and preserve and maintain archives and collections.
President
Sir Andrew Burns KCMG
Trustees
- John Abbott MSc (Chair)
- Catherine Pease, MA (Cantab), AADip, RIBA
- Josephine Waley-Cohen
- Roger Lambert MA
- Charles Hind MA, FSA
- Chris Ormrod
Patrons
- The Hon Mrs Pease
- Jane Brown
- Lady Gass DBE
- Penelope Hobhouse MBE
- The Lord Poltimore
- Sir Roy Strong CH
Executive
- John Williams MSc (Executive Chair)
- Richard Mira (Chief Operating Officer)
- Claire Greenslade (Head Gardener)
- Michael Matravers (Finance Manager)
- Warren Leavens (Estates Manager)
Founder
Philip White MBE
Looking at Hestercombe today, it is hard to believe that back in 1995, the spectacularly picturesque eighteenth century Landscape Garden at Hestercombe was a hidden valley entirely engulfed by trees. Even the sluggish stream that crept through the valley bottom was barely visible. Now it is one of the foremost gardens of its period in the country and is an acclaimed tourist attraction.
The miraculous transformation has taken place thanks to the dogged determination of one man, Philip White, who is the founder and former chief executive of what has now become the Hestercombe Gardens Trust.
