KENTSTAYCATION
NATIONAL GARDEN SCHEME :
OCTOBER MISTS
OCTOBER IS A MONTH OF MISTS AND MELLOW FRUITFULNESS , A BEAUTIFUL TIME OF YEAR TO ENJOY A KENT OPEN GARDEN AS THE VISITING SEASON ENDS IN A FLOURISH OF AUTUMN COLOUR .
NETTLESTEAD PLACE
EAGLESWOOD
October is the last month of the year that gardens open for the National Garden Scheme , ending the season with a fabulous flourish of autumn colour . You ’ ll find a wonderful mix of Kent private and public gardens , ranging from those in towns to large country estates , all opening their garden gates to raise money for nursing and health charities . October is the time to enjoy the season of mists and mellow fruitfulness in a beautiful garden , hopefully with a cup of something warm and a slice of cake too .
Nettlestead Place is a C13 manor house set in a 10-acre plantsman ’ s garden . October will be the perfect time to enjoy the wonderful leaf colours of the stunning acer lawn . You ’ ll find a fine collection of trees and shrubs throughout , as well as a sunken pond garden , a thuja maze , terraces , bamboos , a glen garden , a rose garden , large herbaceous borders , and a recently planted succulent garden . A young pinetum is also adjacent to the garden . Sculptures dot the landscape , and beyond are wonderful open country views .
Nettlestead Place , Nettlestead , Maidstone , ME18 5HA Open day : Sunday 2nd October , 1.30pm - 4.30pm Refreshments : Homemade teas . Picnics welcome . Admission : Adult : £ 7 . Child : free . Most areas are suitable for wheelchairs except the sunken pond garden . Dog friendly .
Eagleswood sits atop the North Downs , and has been lovingly planted by very knowledgeable plantspeople , creating a 2-acre garden filled with a wide range of trees and shrubs , as well as herbaceous and woodland plants for year-round interest . The layout is quite complex and largely based on island beds of varying shape and size . A lot of the plants are rare and unusual and should prove to be of interest to plantspeople . Virtually all of the trees and shrubs , apart from those on the boundary , have been planted by the owners , many grown from seed or cuttings .
Eagleswood , Slade Road , Warren Street , Lenham , ME17 2EG Open day : Sunday 9th October , 11am - 5pm Refreshments : Light refreshments Admission : Adult : £ 5 . Child : free . Plants for sale .
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