THEGARDENOFENGLAND
THE GARDENS OF ENGLAND CONT .
© Visit Kent
CULPEPPER GARDEN , LEEDS CASTLE
Riverhill Himalayan Gardens , Sevenoaks
Extraordinarily , these beautiful gardens have been home to the same family since 1840 . They are family run and very family and dog friendly . This year they have been shortlisted for the Historic House Association Garden of the Year Award for 2021 ( a public vote that is still open ).
You can enjoy at Riverhill , over 12 acres of historic gardens , punctuated with contemporary sculpture , as well as woodland paths , breathtaking views and plenty of benches for quiet contemplative moments .
Expect the unexpected as you wander from the manicured perfection of the undulating terraces of their famous Walled Garden , with frothy fountains , to the wild Jungle , fragrant Rose Walk , Wood Garden and spectacular Edwardian Rock Garden , carpeted with ferns .
They also host a festival dedicated to bluebells and a truly spectacular collection of rhododendrons and azaleas , many of which were brought back from the Himalayas by the original plant hunters .
www . riverhillgardens . co . uk Price : £ 7pp | Gardens open 9am-5pm but please book tickets in advance
Leeds Castle Garden , Maidstone
A list of gardens you must see in Kent cannot be complete without talking about Leeds Castle garden . Described as “ one of the most beautiful castles in the world ” there are few places more representative and worthy of being a part of the Garden of England .
The gardens and grounds are extensive and there is always so much to see and do here . The gardens are being redeveloped over the course of the next few years into six individual gardens which will excite the senses and create interest at every turn . In spring , the Princess Alexandra Gardens alongside the River Len are a particularly lovely way to approach the Castle . Its carpet of Daffodils , Narcissi and Anemones presents a vibrant burst of colour . Later in May , visitors are treated to the splendour of Azaleas and Rhododendrons .
The Lady Baillie Mediterranean Garden Terraces were designed by the landscape architect , Christopher Carter , on the site of Lady Baillie ' s original aviary . The garden is a favourite amongst visitors , with its south facing aspect and Mediterranean style . The Culpeper Garden was redesigned by Russell Page the famous Garden Designer in 1980 . With its informal layout and low box hedges as a border this very English garden features Roses , Lupins , Poppies , and Lads ' Love , with exotic blooms mixed in to create a profusion of colour and scent .
www . leeds-castle . com Price : Adult £ 28 / Child £ 19.50 | Garden opens 10am to 5pm
Godinton House and Gardens , near Ashford
Nestled in the heart of Kent , Godinton is a remarkable country house set in twelve acres of tranquil gardens surrounded by ancient parkland studded with stately oaks and chestnut trees .
Four hundred years of changing garden design have contributed to a landscape which is now predominantly Reginald Blomfield ’ s 1898 design . The famous , vast yew hedge surrounds the formal gardens , where the additions of long curved-edged herbaceous borders and ornamental tree and shrub planting have softened the terraced lawns bordered by the yew and topiaried box over the last century . Beyond , visitors can delight in the stunning colour of the wild , Italian and walled gardens which are full of seasonal interest and maintained close to Blomfield ’ s original designs .
godintonhouse . co . uk Price : Adult £ 12 for house and garden / £ 7 garden only / Children under 16 free Gardens open Tuesday - Sunday and Bank Holiday Mondays 1pm to 6pm
32