We’re proud to announce that our fantastic grounds team, who work across several of our UK holiday park locations, have been given the opportunity to showcase their exceptional skills at this year’s 2015 RHS Chelsea Flower Show.

As we speak, members of the Darwin Escapes grounds team are hard at work preparing the Living Legacy Garden to ensure it’s ready for when the show begins on the 19th May 2015. The garden, sponsored by Darwin Property Investment Management, is being created to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo.

“The garden progresses from the bleakness and brutality of the Battle of Waterloo 200 years ago, through the greening and flowering of the landscape, to an abstraction of the iconic architecture of Wellington College, the memorial to the Duke of Wellington. The design reconciles the drama and violence of the battle with a progressive and positive future.”

More information on the Living Legacy Garden, at this years Chelsea Flower Show, can be found here.

It’s a real privilege and a once in a lifetime opportunity for our team to be involved in such a prestigious industry event.

The RHS Chelsea Flower Show dates are between 19th – 23rd May 2015. Tickets can be bought here.

Come and join us as we explore some of the best hidden gems in North Wales. We have done the research so you don’t have to! North Wales is full of spectacular landscapes, wildlife and areas of outstanding natural beauty. With so much to see and do within the region it’s no surprise that certain “gems” slip between the net when we are planning a trip out. Below we have highlighted 5 hidden gems in North Wales you may never have heard of or visited before. Next time you’re in the area it is definitely worth checking out one or more of the following.

Ewole castle – the castle hidden in the woods of north wales

Hidden deep within Wepre Park, Ewole Castle is a relic of the brief and short lived victory that the Welsh Prince Llywelyn ap Gruffudd had over the Anglo-Norman Marcher Lords. The strategic position of the castle, near to the English border, allowed the Welsh to control the road to Chester whilst commanding the lands of North East Wales. Today Ewole Castle is open to the public without admission and is under the care of the Welsh Heritage agency.

Talacre lighthouse – the haunted lighthouse

Although Talacre Beach Lighthouse is famous for its ghostly sightings it is often overlooked during a visit to the wonderful North Wales. Located on the sand dunes of the lovely Talacre Village in Flintshire the lighthouse provides a fantastic opportunity for the whole family to enjoy. The ‘hidden gem’ lighthouse was built in 1776 and is a must see for every visit to the region.

Dyserth falls – limestone 60ft waterfall

Situated near to the ancient village of Dyserth, Dyserth Falls is an impressive natural landmark for you to visit. Visitors are able to get up close to the waterfall and there is also a path which will take you up to the top. Dyserth Falls is free to visit but donations are welcomed and can be placed in clearly signed ‘honesty box’ (the suggested amount is 40p). It is a lovely location for a family picnic whilst you enjoy the unrivalled views of North Wales from this ‘hidden gem’.

Prestatyn roman bath house – hidden ruins

This is a small but highly interesting ruin of a Roman Bathhouse situated in the North Wales town of Prestatyn. According to sources the bath house was built around 120 AD and extended in about 150 AD. Excavations between 1984- 85 unearthed the Roman settlement, which can now be visited by the public.

Talacre ancient sand dunes – the natterjack toads

This area of ancient dunes is of special scientific importance due to its rare colony of Natterjack toads. According to the BBC, the Natterjack are claimed to be Europe’s noisiest amphibian so you are more likely to hear them than physically see them, especially as they are most active at night. These little guys can live up to 15 years and feed on insects, worms and small reptiles. Back in 2012 new ponds have been created in the Talacre Sand Dunes to safeguard the future existence of the Natterjack toad in North Wales; these hidden gems maybe the hardest to find!

The Isle of Wight is a wonderful place to visit. Be it for a short break, or a 10 day holiday, there is so much to see and do on this glorious island. Famous for its sailing, royal history and its spectacular views, there are many brilliant and wacky things to do. Here we have highlighted our top attractions on the Island. The Isle of Wight Festival is one of the biggest music festivals in Britain.

It used to be a 60’s counterculture show. It was discontinued in 1970, but reintroduced in 2002. It has been held annually since that year, progressively extending itself northwards beyond Seaclose Park, along the fields of the eastern Medina valley. Many notable artists have performed since its revival including The Rolling Stones, Paul McCartney, Muse, Stereophonics, David Bowie, Manic Street Preachers, The Who, R.E.M., Coldplay, Bryan Adams, The Police, Foo Fighters and Kings of Leon. It is a festival that can be enjoyed as a group, and as a family, with quirky tepee accommodation, as well as fair rides and shows. It is a fantastic weekend away, and a great chance to see some of the world’s best bands and music talent. It is held in the summer, normally in June. Tickets can be purchased through the Isle of Wight Festival website.

cowes week

Cowes week is one of the biggest sailing regattas in the world. Competitors come from all around the world to test their skills against the best professional and nonprofessional yachtsmen. Typically Cowes Week comprises up to forty starts a day for classes of cruiser-racers, one designs and keelboats; with up to a thousand boats and 8,000 competitors taking part from every level, Olympian to amateur. During this time the Solent, which is a busy commercial waterway, is filled with boats of all classes, shape, size and colour. Afternoons and evenings are filled with live music, restaurants, shows, discos, cocktails and much more entertainment. It is an incredible way to spend a long weekend or a day trip with children. Cowes week is normally help in the first week of August.

osborne house

Osborne house is a former Royal Residence in East Cowes on the Island. Osborne House is one of the best-visited locations the Isle of Wight and ‘It is impossible to imagine a prettier spot’ was how Queen Victoria described it. The house is under the care of English Heritage and is open to the public. Osborne house hosts picnic concerts on the lawn during the summer, which this year will feature the likes of Tom Jones and Little Mix. It is a truly beautiful place to visit and is dripping in history. It is a superb day out, and is one for the whole family; entry is only £37.20 for a family of four.

fishing

One of the best things to do on a day out on the Island, is a day spent fishing. But not just any fishing, you can go sea fishing or visit various course fishing lakes. There are many course fishing lakes. Rookley Country Park, for example, has fishing equipment for hire, and a fully equipped shop for their two lakes. Carp are abundant in their waters, but also Rudd, Roach and Trent have been know to be caught. The sheltered Solent and the Channel provide fantastic arenas to catch Bass, Conger, Plaice and Rays to name a few. This of course is all year round for the sea fishing, but mostly picks up in the Spring and Summer. You can join a group, or you can hire out your own charter. It is a delightful way to spend the day, and with 64 miles of coastline, fishermen are really spoilt for choice.

st catherine’s lighthouse

St Catherine’s Lighthouse is on the southern most tip of the Island. The light has been active in one form or another since 1323. Festooned in history, St Catherine’s Lighthouse is a fantastic way to spend a morning. It has everything from a guided tour, to wonderful views and a sublime walking spot to view the English Channel and the incredible beach. St Catherine’s Point is ultimately a perfect place to chill and to spend a relaxing time.

A trip to Somerset isn’t complete until you sample some of the locally produced Cider. With so much choice available we did the hard work in narrowing your search down to just the top 5 ciders in Somerset, that every cider enthusiast should try.

Cider has been a classic industry in Somerset for many years. Whether you encounter a small family run ‘Scrumpy’ orchard, or a large factory producing vast quantities, Apple and Pear ciders are an absolute must to try when in Somerset.

here are our top 5 somerset ciders

1. perry’s farm pressed dry

If you like a dry cider, this is one of the best. Perry leaves it to mature for 6 months, enabling it to gain the perfect, crisp taste. All of Perry’s ciders are made from apples grown in Somerset, the ‘spiritual home’ of cider.

Perry’s Farm Pressed Dry can be found bottled in most pubs and large supermarkets in the area, and is on sale for around £2.15 a bottle. The farm is open to the public and is located in Ilminster and offers tours and a farm shop, and they have a ‘try before you buy’ policy. So even if this isn’t the right taste for you, there is still the option of choosing something else from their range that you will definitely enjoy. This cider has a mild alcohol content of 5%.

2.sheppy’s dabinett apple

Dabinett is a high quality Somerset cider apple, which produces a distinctive full flavoured single variety cider in a medium taste. Sheppy’s Dabinett Apple is a light sparkling cider which is extremely refreshing and works perfectly as an afternoon tipple on a lovely Somerset day. At around £1.90 a bottle, there is certainly a lot of bang for your buck. Sheppy’s is widely distributed around the region, and it’s not hard to see why.

Visit the Sheppy’s orchard with the family and see the museum, the orchards and even the resident Three Bridges Longhorn cattle, which roam freely in their fields. This cider is quite lively with an alcohol content of 7.2%.

3.thatchers katy

Thatchers highest quality cider is made from the best apples its orchard has to offer. Katy is not the most well known product Thatchers has, but is certainly one of the best. It is light, fragrant and softly sparkling, perfect on its own, at 7.4% abv.

Thatchers Katy is crafted at their family farm in Somerset, where they’ve been making cider using traditional methods for over 100 years. It costs around £2 a bottle, and is brewed in Sandford. The Thatcher company is a family business and is currently being run by a 4th generation Thatcher. The farm shop in Sandford is open to the public, so pop into the store to see the huge variety of their products.

4.orchard pig’s charmer

This is an award winning craft cider. Its tangy, medium dry taste makes it one of the most delicious ciders you can buy. The cider has a certain sharpened edge to it, while still being smooth. What makes this cider so special is the evolution of taste while being drunk. With an ABV of 6%, it starts off by giving way to a floral, citrusy and summery flavour but gradual turns into a more mellow finish. Orchard Pig came about in a very peculiar way. Two friends, Andrew Quinlan and Neil Macdonald decided to make a home brew cider for a mate’s BBQ in Glastonbury. They realised that their scrupled home-grown cider tasted amazing, and that was that, Orchard Pig was born. They have been producing since 2004, and are a very small producer.

Orchard pig is available from Ocado and Waitrose, as well as direct from the Orchard.

5.lilley’s crazy goat

This is not your average cider. It is a perry and cider (pear and apple) blend. It is a medium sweet mix, expertly blended giving it a mouth-watering juicy flavour.

Although not award winning, it is a little bit different. But this one is not for the faint hearted, as it goes down with ease. Beware though, as it is notoriously deceptively strong and easy to drink, with an ABV of 6%. It can be found through the Lilly’s suppliers or on amazon, and will cost around £2.10 per 500ml bottle.

Please do enjoy these ciders, but as always, please drink responsibly.