West Dean Gardens is the perfect destination for an enjoyable family day out during the lead-up to the Festive Season and on Saturday/Sunday 8 - 9 & 15 - 16 December 2018, Father Christmas will be visiting!

Each day, between 10am - 4.30pm (last time slot 4.00pm) children can visit Santa's grotto in the historic Apple Store to share their Christmas wishes with Father Christmas and receive a small gift. There's mulled wine and mince pies for the grown ups too and also, included in the entry price for the children, is a variety of Christmas craft activities, including making Snowflake
decorations; Christmas wreaths; Christmas cards and Tree decorations.

Tickets cost £5 per child and £5.75 per adult (standard Gardens entry).
Book tickets online

Christmas Present Ideas

While at West Dean, it's worth visiting the shop, which is brimming with unique Christmas present ideas you won't find on the high street, as well as decorations, cards and gift wrapping paper. Also the new 'At West Dean' book (a great coffee table read with beautiful images) is perfect for garden lovers.

Or give an experience and buy a voucher for a Gardens visit with afternoon tea or nurture the creativity of family and friends with a gift voucher for a creative short course at West Dean College of Arts and Conservation (Contact Bookings - [email protected] or tel: 01243 818300).

The Gardens Restaurant is offering a delicious traditional three course Christmas lunch for £30.00pp. Mondays-Fridays between 3 - 21 December 2018 (11.45am - 2.30pm). View the menu and book your table online.

Christmas courses at West Dean College of Arts and Conservation

West Dean College offers more than 800 short courses during the year. Christmas-related ones include:

• Sunday, December 2 - Silver Christmas themed earrings. Learn to make an individual pair of Christmas earrings from silver sheet, curving and shaping the metal to create snowflakes, angels or Christmas trees. Cost: £142.
• Saturday, December 15 & Monday, December 17 - Make coloured glass Christmas decorations. Make stained glass decorations - a stocking, present and holly, as you learn how to cut glass, copperfoil and solder. Cost: £155.
• Sunday, December 16 - make a copperfoiled glass holly wreath. Make a beautiful copperfoiled glass holly wreath using coloured glass and glass nuggets, to decorate your home for Christmas. Cost: £160.
• Tuesday, December 18 - Contemporary Christmas decorations from foraged materials. Create contemporary, natural decorations from forages woodland materials. Make twiggystars, fir cone garlands, wild woodland wreaths, funky tree decorations, and take home inspirational place settings and gift-wrapping ideas. Cost: £140.

Editor's Notes

West Dean Gardens is part of the Edward James Foundation, a charitable trust, also comprising West Dean College of Arts and Conservation, West Dean Estate and the West Dean Tapestry Studio. Charity No. 1126084.

More information is available on www.westdean.org.uk or through social media:

• https://www.facebook.com/westdeancollege
• https://www.instagram.com/westdeancollege/
• https://twitter.com/westdeancollege

For further information or high-resolution digital images, please contact: Rachel Aked ([email protected]) tel: 07790 732448