News | Gnomeagedent Hilgay

25th September 2026

Gnomeagedent sees record sales and donations since BBC TV visit

More than £1,000 was taken for Tapping House and EACH in the week following Gnomeagedent’s appearances on BBC Look East and BBC Breakfast.

The Scrum newspaper front page reporting record Gnomeagedent sales and charity donations following BBC television appearances — Alistair Dent thanks everyone who helped raise more than £1,000 for the two charities.

Thanks to the BBC Gnome Service

Gnomeagedent’s Alistair Dent and his friend Ian Oakley were featured on BBC Look East and the main BBC Breakfast show with the remarkable restoration tale of Harry the Gnome.

Alistair Dent with BBC Look East reporter Alex Dunlop inside the Gnomeagedent shop — Ali and BBC reporter Alex Dunlop at Gnomeagedent

Ian Oakley being filmed in his garden while telling Harry the Gnome’s story — Ian tells Harry’s story for the cameras

Harry the Gnome in his original weathered condition before restoration — Harry before restoration

Harry the Gnome restored and returned to Ian’s Runcton Holme garden — Harry back home after restoration

BBC Breakfast studio displaying the Gnome Service feature — The restoration story reaches BBC Look East and BBC Breakfast

“A forgotten garden gnome, two determined cats and a trip to the BBC — not bad after 50 years underground!”

1st July 2026

The BBC comes to Gnomeagedent Hilgay

Alistair Dent welcomed BBC Look East reporter Alex Dunlop to the shop and shared a glimpse of Gnomeagedent’s restoration work.

The Scrum newspaper front page dated 1st July 2026, featuring Alistair Dent with BBC Look East reporter Alex Dunlop and Alistair restoring a gnome — Alistair Dent and BBC Look East reporter Alex Dunlop at the Gnomeagedent shop.

24th September 2025

Ali and Fred visit EACH charity headquarters

Alistair Dent and Fred Lyons visited EACH at Milton, Cambridgeshire, to present the latest £500 donation raised through the sale of gnomes and garden ornaments.

The Scrum newspaper front page dated 24th September 2025 reporting Ali and Fred’s visit to EACH charity headquarters — Alistair and Fred present Gnomeagedent’s latest £500 donation at EACH in Milton.

Oh Gnome Not Again!

The mysterious Gnome Invasion of 1954 has repeated itself—two years after Hilgay’s well-meant 2023 Gnome Amnesty was apparently mistaken for a permanent open invitation.

A humorous scene of hundreds of gnomes travelling along the River Wissey towards Hilgay in tiny boats — Wissey business: the first wave paddles towards Hilgay while advance parties demand tea, cake and dry socks

A humorous river lifeboat crew rescuing garden gnomes from tiny boats on the River Wissey — All hands on deck: river rescuers answer an urgent mayday from the Wissey’s smallest sailors

Amnesty sparks second landing

Hilgay awoke to scenes not witnessed since the legendary invasion of 1954, when startled villagers reported hundreds of garden gnomes advancing beneath cover of darkness and occupying every available flower bed.

Nearly seventy years later, the trouble began again when Alistair “Ali” Dent announced a good-natured Gnome Amnesty in 2023. Unwanted ornaments were promised safety, restoration and a fresh start—but news of the offer appears to have travelled much farther than expected.

At dawn, lookouts spotted a flotilla of tiny boats rounding the bend of the River Wissey. Witnesses described red hats above the reeds, oars made from lolly sticks and one senior gnome navigating with an upside-down road atlas.

By elevenses, the visitors had formed an orderly but extremely long queue from the river, past the garage and to the shop door. Their demands were modest: sanctuary, a lick of paint and unlimited tea and cakes.

Ali surrounded by cheerful garden gnomes on a bridge holding Give a Gnome a Home banners and placards — Sent to the river to peacefully negotiate, Ali was surrounded by these little creatures chanting “Gave a Gnome a Home!” that could be heard all the way to Ely. With tears in his eyes (although not sure if with joy or pain), Ali finally gave in: “I surrender!!! — Welcome home.”

A cheerful garden gnome holding a banner saying AND Tea and cakes!! — Sent to the river to peacefully negotiate, Ali was surrounded by these little creatures chanting “Gave a Gnome a Home!” that could be heard all the way to Ely. With tears in his eyes (although not sure if with joy or pain), Ali finally gave in: “I surrender!!! — Welcome home.”

“I had to eventually give in to the little blighters. I love them really and, after running out of tea and cakes, I basically shut down the shop and let them move in.”— Alistair Dent MBE

Ali welcoming a crowd of garden gnomes to Gnomeagedent — Ali welcomes the new residents after admitting peaceful surrender was the only sensible option

The Gnomeagedent shop at Stocks Hill, Hilgay, the new home for the arriving gnomes — Home at last: the former butcher’s shop becomes Gnomeagedent—the invasion force’s new Hilgay headquarters

1st April 2023

Gnomes invade Hilgay AGAIN!

Alistair Dent MBE has second thoughts about his gnome amnesty after dozens of unexpected visitors arrive by boat demanding tea and cakes.

However, by the end of the weekend the gnomes mysteriously disappeared—perhaps never to be seen again? Alistair Dent returned to his butcher’s shop with perhaps a little tear in his eye. “I think I’ll miss them.”

Modern front page of The Scrum dated 1st April 2023 with the headline Gnomes invade Hilgay AGAIN and Alistair Dent MBE’s quote about dozens of gnomes arriving by boat — The Scrum’s original 2023 report on the extraordinary Gnome Amnesty in Hilgay.

1st April 1978

Hilgay in a Prickly Pickle!

The proud Dent family butchers found themselves at the centre of village uproar when young Alistair Dent announced an extraordinary cooked-hedgehog special for Hilgay’s medieval fayre.

Villagers stared in disbelief, several ladies demanded to know whether chips were included, and the young butcher insisted the prickly offering would put Hilgay firmly on the culinary map.

Black-and-white front page of The Scrum dated 1st April 1978, reporting young Alistair Dent’s humorous cooked-hedgehog medieval fayre special — The Scrum reports on the Dent family tradition and the medieval fayre special that shocked Hilgay.

The Scrum exclusive

Gnomes invade Hilgay!

A cheerful multitude of garden gnomes has descended on Stocks Hill—with Gnomeagedent at the centre of the excitement.