DISCOVERKENT
KENT ’ S MAGICAL BLUEBELL WOODS
and Fabulous Spring Gardens
BY SUSIE CHALLEN , NATIONAL GARDEN SCHEME
APRIL IS THE TIME TO SEEK OUT MAGICAL BLUEBELL WOODS , WONDERFUL TULIPS AND ETHEREAL SPRING BLOSSOM IN THE WONDERFUL KENT GARDENS THAT OPEN FOR THE NATIONAL GARDEN SCHEME ( NGS ).
HOLE PARK
A woodland carpeted with bluebells is a wonderful sight to behold . The best time to catch these beautiful native flowers is around mid April to early May , depending on the spring weather . Hole Park ’ s woodland walk is one of the best places to see bluebells en masse . They even have a bluebell barometer on their website ! The 15 acre garden is surrounded by parkland with beautiful views and contains fine yew hedges , large lawns with specimen trees , walled gardens , pools and mixed borders . The garden is proud to stand amongst the group of gardens which first opened in 1927 for the NGS .
Hole Park Rolvenden , Cranbrook , TN17 4JB NGS Spring open days : Sunday 10 April & Wednesday 11 May , 11am - 6pm Refreshments : Homemade teas . Picnics only in the picnic site and car park . Admission : Adult : £ 10 , Child : £ 2 . Dog friendly .
Doddington Place has a wonderful woodland garden within its 10 acres where acid-loving trees and shrubs have been planted , including camellias , rhododendrons and azaleas , as well as many bulbs and herbaceous plants . New plants recently added to the woodland include several magnolias , among them the delicately scented magnolia wilsonii . Elsewhere in the garden there are magnificent cloud pruned yews , formal gardens , wide views and a wonderful Edwardian rock garden with pools . Extensive lawns and avenues are framed by those impressive yew hedges along with many fine trees .
Doddington Place Doddington , Sittingbourne , ME9 OBB NGS April open days : Sunday 3 & Sunday 10 April , 11am - 5pm Refreshments : Homemade teas . Admission : Adult : £ 9 , Child : £ 2.50 . Dog friendly .
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