BIG NEWS: Gnome Reserve Gnomes Find a New Home at Merry Harriers Garden Centre

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Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in the June 2021 issue of the International Gnome Club Newsletter.

Ann Atkin is our club’s founder and an inspiration to everyone who loves gnomes all around the world. She and her family ran The Gnome Reserve for over 40 years, which is a place that I had the pleasure of visiting during my honeymoon in 2015. Well, the Atkin family has finally decided to “call it a day” in running the Gnome Reserve and recently sold the property as private house. While you can no longer visit the beloved Gnome Reserve in all its glory any longer, the good news is that the gnomes have relocated to the Merry Harriers Garden Centre, which is a family-run business just a few miles away.

Running the Gnome Reserve was so very enjoyable for Ann and her family members, Richard and Margaret, but also a lot of hard work and everyone is getting older – we can all relate to that! To learn more about this big transition, I asked our very own Ann Atkin a few questions about how all of this came to be.

“I had the most wonderful 42 years with The Gnome Reserve, including The Wildflower Garden and making little pottery pixies daily in The Pixie Kiln, which our visitors (adults and children) liked to take home with them as well as prints of my paintings – landscapes inhabited by gnomes, landscapes inhabited by fairies and some with birds,” Ann said.

When I asked Ann about keeping some of the gnomes from her collection for herself, she said that she still has one gnome – a little painted bronze one with an open umbrella, which she is very fond of. However, the bulk of her collection has now made its way to Merry Harriers.

“As I say, they were 42 really happy years…and I miss it all very much especially the visitors,” Ann said. “We used to loan visitors gnome hats so they could forget about any cares of the world, put on their gnome hats and just be at one with the gnomes (and fairies in The Wild Flower Garden) and the trees, the stream running through the woodland, the birds, mosses, flowers, and nature.  Some of the visitors came just once while on holiday, but lots of them came perhaps every year – and that was so very enjoyable.”

Merry Harriers has now welcomed The Gnome Reserve’s 2,000+ residents so you can visit many of them here in the gardens! This local business in the UK sells plants, garden products, furniture, and even has an onsite restaurant. The Merry Harriers staff was unavailable to be interviewed for this article. But I hope to connect with them and feature their business and their new home for the gnomes in a future issue of Gnome News.  

“It is cheering that Merry Harriers is keeping it going… and I think I shall help them there for about 3 days a week!” Ann said.

I think it’s amazing that Ann will be able to stay involved with her gnomes in their new home and that her collection will be largely kept together for many more people to come see and enjoy. Hopefully one day soon, I will get back to the UK and can visit them at Merry Harriers. In the meantime, here are a few of my favorite Gnome Reserve photos to reminisce about old times. I wish Ann, her family, and the Gnome Reserve gnomes all the best in during this transition and their next phase of life!

Gnome Party Ideas for Festive Fun!

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I miss going to parties…and festivals, concerts, and social gatherings with friends and family. How about you? This pandemic year has been hard on many of us who are missing out on having fun plans with favorite people. But with a little help from the magical red-hatted ones, you can still plan and host a party – even if it’s just for your kids, spouse, or your collection of gnomes!

Just in time for the upcoming winter holidays, here are some gnome-themed party ideas to inspire you and bring a little joy to the end of your year!

Gnome-themed party invitations
Gnome party table setting
Gnome plates, cups & napkins
Birthday gnome banner
Hats for everyone!
Plan a craft activity!

You’ve Gotta Visit This Gnome-Themed Sandwich Shop in Denver!

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As part of our ongoing series about gnome-themed businesses around the world, wanted to share a bit about our recent visit to The Grateful Gnome Sandwich Shoppe & Brewery in Denver, Colorado.

The Grateful Gnome is an authentic Italian-style delicatessen that doubles as a microbrewery, because well, this is Colorado after all. Being only established in March 2018, it’s pretty new on the local restaurant scene but makes an awesome addition to the hip Berkley neighborhood on the northwest side of town.

Dan Appell is the brains and heart behind The Grateful Gnome, inspired by his dad’s Parsippany, New Jersey sandwich shop when he was a kid. Meanwhile, Bess is the expert brewmaster who provides the sandwich shop with well-balanced and tasty beers.

As you might expect, The Grateful Gnome is decked out with gnome figurines, banners, signage, and merchandise for sale. Look behind the bar for a big collection of gnomes, and then stroll around inside to find “hidden gnome gems” that will make you smile. My husband and I sat outside on the restaurant’s patio because it’s dog-friendly out there if you tie your pup to the side of the fence and we had our “Monkey” with us.

The restaurant’s sandwich menu is extensive and pretty overwhelming with at least 54 options to choose from, plus dozens of toppings and add-ons. At the Grateful Gnome, you’ll also find a kids’ menu, soups, salads, fries, and other surprises. And don’t forget about the beer! You’ll find about 12 beers on tap here, as well as a cider and a non-alcoholic root beer. Get a sampler if you can’t make up your mind or want to try a few different gnome-inspired varieties.

I’ll admit that the menu is a bit challenging as a vegetarian because it’s very meat-heavy, but they have a great “vegwich” that tastes great with the Giggity IPA and Hibiscus Saison. The service was good, the t-shirts are cute, and the neighborhood is fun to walk around. Better yet, The Grateful Gnome offers live music sporadically throughout the week and updates its Facebook page with details about who’s playing when. So next time you’re in Denver, stop by The Grateful Gnome and tell the gnomies we say hello!

Get Your Very Own Gnome-Shaped Snow Cone in Texas!

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In the summertime, it doesn’t get much more refreshing than a cool and delicious snow cone. If you’re lucky enough to live in or be traveling through Texas, you can enjoy a gnome-themed snow cone to cool off and embrace your love of gnomes!

Gnome Cones is a small snow cone business that was launched in Argyle, Texas in 2017. The founders created the world’s first gnome-shaped shaved ice treats with all-natural ingredients, rather the artificial syrups and dyes that are common in this industry.

While recently traveling in my RV from Texas to Oklahoma, I couldn’t resist hopping off Interstate-35 to make a pit stop at Gnome Cones to try one for myself!

Gnome cones come in many different flavors and are served in cute cups with gnomes’ faces on them. I ordered a “Troll’s Blood” flavor, which is a combination of cherry, strawberry, and coconut. You can even get a scoop of vanilla ice cream underneath your shaved ice treat, which is delicious and highly recommended.

I can honestly say this was the best snow cone I’ve ever tasted, and that’s not just because it’s shaped like a gnome!

The adorable Gnome Cones stand has a few picnic tables outside to enjoy your treat. Take some time to check out the shop’s diverse gnome collection that surrounds the building. It’s also next to a local food truck called Bumbershoot Barbecue, which has a large and lovely seating area that’s cozy and shaded. Both areas are pet-friendly, so feel free to bring your four-legged companion along. The Gnome Cones staff serves you while wearing red gnome hats, which adds a fun touch to the whole experience. Gnome Cones also sells gnome-themed merchandise, so I made sure to buy a “Don’t Mess with Gnomes in Texas” t-shirt and a fun keychain for my purse to take home as souvenirs.

Gnome Cones in Argyle is open daily from noon to 9pm, and shortly after my visit, it opened up a second location in the nearby town of Denton. The new downtown Denton location is much larger, has a covered patio, and offers an extended menu with soft-serve ice cream, pastries, and hot drinks too.

So, if you’re ever passing through this part of Texas, consider treating yourself to something delicious and supporting gnome-loving businesses like Gnome Cones!

Jaw-Dropping Gnome Collections Around the World

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When it comes to gnome collecting, there’s no such thing as a collection that’s too big or too small. In fact, some of the most interesting collections around the world focus on niche types of our red-hatted heroes, such antique gnomes or zombie gnomes.

But while the world of gnomes truly is very small, gnome enthusiasts are always intrigued by those enormous, jaw-dropping collections that make our heads spin!

Based in North Devon, UK, the iconic gnome collector and artist, Ann Atkin, holds the Guinness World Record for the largest collection of garden gnomes. Her impressive collection stands around 2,042 gnomes strong, and her “Gnome Reserve” is visited by over 25,000 people each year. When you visit, you’ll get your very own gnome hat to borrow and wear as you stroll through the lovely four-acre property filled with carefully crafted gnome scenes. There’s even a quiz just to make sure you’re paying attention, and freshly cut sandwiches and local cream teas are served are served at the onsite Gnome Kitchen to satisfy your taste buds after a self-guided tour.

Another UK gnome collector legend, Ron Broomfield, who is sadly no longer with us, collected over 1,800 gnomes before his death – a collection that he built over the course of over 50 years. The retired window cleaner was a locally famous figure who raised money for charity and chose to be cremated in the gnome outfit that he wore on a regular basis.

Meanwhile, an Austrian woman and pensioner named Helga Eidenhammer has spent over 25 collecting an estimated 4,443 garden gnomes. She may put these other collections to shame in terms of sheer numbers! Helga received her very first gnome as a gift from her husband, and her collection continued to multiply from that moment forward.

Clearly, Europe is a prime place to be for gnome collectors, and after all, gnomes did originate in Germany. But on the other side of the pond, there are some amazingly dedicated gnome collectors as well, especially in Northern California.

Liz Spera, president of the International Gnome Club, maintains a collection of over 2,000 gnomes in her barn-turned-museum and around her enchanting five-acre property in Placer County. Liz is a true gnome enthusiast in every sense of the word and embraces all eras, styles, and themes of gnomes in her outdoor gardens and beautiful museum.

Jean Fenstermaker of Sonoma County, California has created a picture-perfect “Gnome Man’s Land” in her backyard with various themes and over 1,200 gnomes in her collection. Jean is also a skilled gardener and offers tours to local garden and church groups that include wonderfully gnome-themed picnics and games.

Head over to Wellington Mill in Western Australia, and you’ll find a local attraction called Gnomesville that features an estimated 7,000 gnomes contributed by community members. Locals and visitors continuously add new gnomes to this collection when they visit, creating a collaborative gnome project that perfectly embodies the generous spirit of gnome collecting.

Yet big or small, diverse or themed, every gnome collection is unique, and that’s what keeps our community so alive and fascinating.