South East England 1

Kent

Sissinghurst Castle Garden, Sissinghurst, Cranbrook, Kent (NT)

Your gardens tour of Southern England begins aptly in the county of Kent. Known as the Garden of England, Kent is home to many impressive gardens. The first garden on your tour is Sissinghurst, an enchanting garden of huge importance in English garden design. Created by Vita Sackville-West and Sir Harold Nicholson in the grounds of a ruined Elizabethan mansion. Divided by walls and hedges into enclosed gardens who's apparently artless planting is contained within ordered formality. The white garden has been widely emulated. However, it is important to note that due to the popularity of this garden the National Trust have introduced timed ticketing. In peak season (May - September) it is advisable to call before travelling.

Leeds Castle, Maidstone, Kent

Said to be the most beautiful castle in the world, Leeds Castle is built on two small islands in the middle of a lake and surrounded by woods and parkland. The cottage-style Culpeper garden has paths lined with box and old roses riotously underplanted with herbaceous perennials. There is a terraced garden sheltering sub-tropical plants, a yew maze and an underground grotto.

Penshurst Place, Penshurst, Tonbridge, Kent

The next garden on your itinerary is Penshurst Place, a medieval mansion with beautiful gardens divided by yew hedges into enclosures, with displays throughout the season. There is an Italian garden complete with fountain, a rose garden, medieval fishponds, a garden for the blind and herbaceous borders teeming with colour. There is also an orchard underplanted with spring flowers, lake and nature trail.  If you plan to visit in July you will see the Union Jack Garden in full bloom.

Hever Castle & Gardens, Hever, Edenbridge, Kent

Kent is also home to the moated 13th century Hever Castle, childhood home of Henry VIII's  second wife, Anne Boleyn. Set in 30 acres of formal gardens the castle grounds house a walled Italian garden with classical statuary, Tudor herb garden, rose garden, 350-foot herbaceous border, rhododendron walks, orchard, yew maze and a splashing water maze.

West Sussex

Wakehurst Place, Ardingly, Haywards Heath, West Sussex

From Kent travel south to Wakehurst Place. Here you will find 180 acres of landscaped woodland in the grounds of an Elizabethan mansion. The gardens are managed by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and contain a superb collection of hardy plants, including Four National collections. Wakehurst is also home to a valuable conservation project. Opened in November 2000, The Millennium Seed Bank houses rare species of seeds and incorporates a centre of learning to further understanding of plant development. There is a unique glade planted with Himalayan species and a bewitching winter garden.

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