Festina Lente Equestrian Centre & Walled Gardens

About

Festina Lente is an embracing not-for-profit organisation founded in 1988 which hosts an Equestrian Centre, Walled Gardens, Garden Centre & Educational Training Centre and provides a range of occupational, learning and employment opportunities for people whose needs have not been met in mainstream services. All activities encourage individual choice, personal development, achievement and progression. Our campus is situated in the grounds of what was once Old Connaught House: formerly the residence of the Plunket family. Festina Lente (Latin) means Hasten Slowly and is the Plunket family motto. We adopted this as the name of our organisation in 1995 because it conveys our culture perfectly. On the campus there is a two and a half acre Victorian Walled Garden. The Garden was once part of the Plunket estate and was developed during the family's ownership. Each Baron Plunket made changes to the Garden which included the addition of the kitchen garden, a large greenhouse and a pool garden. Today the Ornamental Garden has a beautiful fountain, various flower beds, borders, statues and a variety of other original features. The Pool Garden has two large rectangular pools; they are home to our terrapins and goldfish. The Kitchen Garden has a spectacular herbaceous border and a working kitchen garden where fruit and vegetables are grown in allotments. The Walled Garden is also home to our Garden Shop where we stock a variety of seeds and plants, as well as various crafts and foods. We have wonderful facilities in our Equestrian Centre; it is both a working and learning environment for hundreds of people every year. We have a reputation for excellence in coaching people of all ages and abilities who, not only learn to ride, they also learn about horse welfare and management.