Kitchen Garden Open Days
Leigh-on-Mendip, Somerset
Wander, learn and gather inspiration
in a productive kitchen garden
Kitchen Garden Open Days are hosted by leading horticulturalist Chris Smith, with expert seed guidance from Mike Milligan.
Set within the Mendip Hills at The Old Vicarage, Leigh-on-Mendip, Pennard Plants’ Kitchen Show Garden sits within easy reach of Frome, Bruton and Bath.
Dates
Thursday 7th May | Wednesday 20th May
Wednesday 10th June | Thursday 11th June
Thursday 24th September | Friday 9th October
From 10am to 4pm each day you can enjoy:
scheduled talks & informal guidance
garden tours & refreshments
Tools, gardenalia & other treats to peruse
All labelled trees & plants available to take home
Full seed range available in the potting shed
Find us on Kitchen Garden Open Days
We are just 10 minutes drive from Frome, 15 minutes from Bruton and 25 minutes south of Bath.
The Old Vicarage
Leigh-on-Mendip
Somerset
BA3 5QG
what3words: ///farmland.mixers.resonated
Please park considerately on the street, our staff will help co-ordinate pick-up at the front of the property.
Dates reminder
Thursday 7th May
Wednesday 20th May
Wednesday 10th June
Thursday 11th June
Thursday 24th September
Friday 9th October
Time
Open: 10.00am | Close: 4.00pm
These are not traditional nursery open days. Instead, they offer a rare opportunity to experience a fully realised kitchen garden in situ, where heritage varieties are grown, tended and understood within a working setting.
Across the day, you are invited to explore fruit, vegetables, herbs and edible ornamentals as they grow across beds, glasshouse, polytunnel, orchard and ornamental borders. Every plant is clearly labelled, allowing you to connect what you see with what you can grow.
All labelled varieties growing in the garden will be available to purchase, ready to take home. The full seed collection will also be available in the potting shed.
Gardening Courses
Pennard’s horticultural expertise meets Asterion & Co.’s heritage-inspired learning.
Together, we offer a programme of practical gardening courses led by Pennard plantsman Chris Smith.
These cover vegetable growing, fruit cultivation, pruning of all categories of fruiting trees and protected cropping.
Explore Chris’s Gardening Club courses by season…
-
The Sheltered Orchard
Growing fruit in polytunnels and glasshouses
14th MayThe Art of Protected Vegetable Growing
Polytunnels, glasshouses and season extension
16th May -
The Life of Herbs
A two-day course exploring the world of herbs
8th & 9th JuneThe Heritage Fruit Garden in Summer
Stone fruit pruning for health and flavour
25th JuneThe Heritage Fruit Garden in Summer
Stone fruit pruning for health and flavour
27th June -
Pruning with Precision
Masterclass on upkeep and renovation for winter
1st SeptemberPruning with Precision
Masterclass on upkeep and renovation for winter
28th SeptemberPruning with Precision
Masterclass on upkeep and renovation for winter
29th SeptemberEdimentals: The Art of Edible Ornamentals
A course of growing and discovery, culminating in supper at a local inn
8th OctoberEdimentals: The Art of Edible Ornamentals
A course of growing and discovery, culminating in supper at a local inn
10th October
Join the
Asterion Circle
In collaboration with Pennard Plants
Asterion & Co. is proud to collaborate with Pennard Plants, the Somerset nursery known for its exceptional collection of heritage fruit, vegetables, herbs and edible ornamentals.
Founded in 2001 and now celebrating its 25th year, it has become a trusted source for gardeners seeking flavour, character and diversity in what they grow.
Our Gardening Club courses are led by founder Chris Smith, whose depth of knowledge and practical insight shape each session.
Alongside these courses, you can experience Pennard Plants in two other key ways:
25 Year Anniversary
In 2026, Pennard Plants marks twenty-five years of growing, selecting and sharing heritage plants with gardeners across the country. What began in 2001 as a small Somerset nursery with a deep interest in traditional varieties has gradually become one of the UK’s most respected sources for heritage fruit trees, unusual small fruits, heirloom vegetables and open-pollinated seeds.
Throughout that time the nursery has been shaped by the horticultural knowledge and quiet dedication of Chris Smith, alongside fellow Pennard owner Mike Milligan who leads the heritage seed side of the business. Together they have helped keep hundreds of traditional varieties in circulation — not simply preserved as historical curiosities, but actively grown, tasted and enjoyed in gardens and kitchen plots across Britain.
At the heart of Pennard’s work is the belief that these plants belong in cultivation. Many of the varieties the nursery champions carry stories of place, flavour and resilience that stretch back generations, and their continued survival depends on gardeners choosing to grow them.
Above all, this anniversary is an opportunity to thank the remarkable community of growers, gardeners and customers who have supported Pennard Plants over the past quarter-century. Their enthusiasm for heritage varieties is what keeps this work alive.
For a deeper look into the philosophy and horticultural approach behind the nursery, you can read our Asterion Journal feature In Conversation with Chris Smith of Pennard Plants.
