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Garden
Tours
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The
British obsession with gardens and gardening has
lasted for many centuries and not only
are
there beautiful gardens centuries old but also
Victorian and twentieth century gardens to
explore.
Although ther are
hundreds of Gardens to explore throughout the U.K,
we have listed a few which can easily be visited on
a 'day out from London'
 Pashley
Manor Gardens quintessential English garden, with
romantic landscaping, imaginative planting and fine
old trees, fountains, springs and ponds.
Great
Dixter is the family home of Christopher Lloyd who
with his Head Gardener has created magnificent
herbaceous beds, yew topiary, pools, ponds and a
'hot' garden around the 15th century house, which
was restored and enlarged in 1910 by Lutyens for
the Lloyd family.
Chilham
Castle Gardens laid out in 17th century by John
Tradescant with terraced lawns and flower filled
borders plus evergreen oaks and mulberries
.
Hever
Castle Gardens once the home of Anne Boleyn the
castle was bought by American multi-millionaire
William Waldorf Astor in 1908 who proceeded to
refurbish the castle and landscape the grounds
which include a 35acre lake and a fine example of
an 'Italian' garden.
Penshurst
Place is a palatial country house, the birthplace
of Sir Philip Sydney the Elizabethan poet and
courtier and set in 10 acres of verdant gardens
which contain a 'Seven Centuries of Gardening'
Exhibition.
Scotney
Castle Gardens (N.T) Despite being severely damaged
in the storm of October 1987,the trees, water and a
14th century stone tower give a romantic 'feel' to
these gardens. The old Tudor manor house, protected
by a moat and the old stone tower, was abandoned in
the 1830's when Edward Hussey built a large stone
mansion up the hill from the castle. He did however
landscape the ruins and planted masses of
rhododendrons and covered the old castle in
roses.
Sissinghurst
Castle Gardens (NT) One of the finest gardens in
the U.K and created in the 1930's by Harold
Nicholson and his wife Vita Sackville-West. When
they purchased the castle the gate-tower and
gardens were derelict and they spent the next
decade restoring the buildings and turning the
gardens into a series of outdoor 'rooms' each of a
different colour and layout such as the White
Garden which is planted entirely with white or grey
plants including roses, artemisias, and a silver
leaf pear.
Culpepper
Gardens are named after the family who owned Leeds
Castle in the 17th century. Created by designer
Russel Page it has the informal feel of an English
country cottage garden and features paths edged
with low box hedges and the scents and colours of
the roses, lavender, pinks, poppies and lupins that
are planted there.
Groombridge
Place and the Enchanted Forest is the winner of 3
major awards in the past 2 years. The 17th century
moated manor house acts as a backdrop to the formal
walled garden and the extensive herbaceous borders.
Above the walled garden is the enchanted forest,
secret, mysterious gardens to challenge the
imagination.
 Visits
and excursions can be designed to suit your
individual requirements.
Customised
itineraries are available upon request.
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gardentours@tour-england.org.uk
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