insideKENT Magazine Issue 52 - July 2016 | Page 92

VISITKENT

Sissinghurst Castle Garden
Step down the winding driveway to the National Trust’s Sissinghurst Castle Garden this
summer and experience some of the county’s most famous gardens in all their splendour!

Designed by Vita-Sackville West, the series of scent- and flower-filled
outdoor ‘rooms’ at Sissinghurst are framed by warm, weathered walls and
crowned by an iconic tower. Floral aromas and pops of fantastic colour will
follow you as you make your way from ‘room’ to ‘room’. Climb up inside
the tower to get an awe-inspiring aerial view of the 460 acres of beautiful
Wealden countryside that is home to the Sissinghurst Castle Garden estate.

Morning Garden Tour, Saturday 2nd July
The early bird catches the… meadows! Join in with a tour of the gardens
and wider estate before they are opened to the general public. This sunrise
stroll around Sissinghurst will give you the opportunity to find out all about
how the gardeners are managing, improving and experimenting with their
meadows. Ask any burning questions you may have, or simply enjoy the
fresh air and fantastic early morning views of the rolling Wealden countryside.
When you finish enjoy a mid-morning coffee and cake and take some time
to explore at your leisure.

For foodies learn all about the good life whilst you stroll around the working
vegetable gardens, then pop into the Granary restaurant to taste a whole
array of fresh and home-grown food that will really get your taste buds
tingling. Why not also take a relaxing stroll through the estate’s working
farm to see what animals you can spot?

Evening Garden Tour, Friday 22nd July
If you’re more of a night owl than an early bird, you could enjoy an evening
tour of the gardens and wider estate at sundown instead. Arrive at 6pm to
drinks and canapés before embarking on your meadow meander. The
perfect way to wind down on a summer’s evening!

For curious minds take some time out to learn about Vita and Harold’s life
in the exhibitions on display. Don’t miss Vita’s writing room as you climb
up within the tower – you can use it as a place to stop and catch your
breath! Daily talks will teach you all about the various aspects of Sissinghurst’s
colourful past and present.

An Evening with Nigel Dunnett, Saturday 2nd July
Coinciding with National Meadow Day Sissinghurst are giving the unique
opportunity to join Sheffield University Professor Nigel Dunnett as he
discusses his work on naturalistic and meadow planting. Wander around
the gardens at your leisure enjoying the evening sun with a drink, before
heading into the restaurant where you’ll be hosted for a delicious dinner.

Enjoy a day of family fun this this summer as you follow a brand new trail
around the grounds. Trail a dragonfly through the estate as you cover
vegetable gardens, gardens, lakes and woodlands learning all about the
core work that’s done on the estate, and the conservation that’s needed
to protect it. Fun for adults and children alike.

Scything Day, Monday 25th July
Join expert scythers and spend a day in the Sissinghurst meadows learning
about and perfecting this ancient art to take home and use in your own
gardens. Catch your breath at lunch by sitting down to a picnic amongst
the hay and once you’re finished for the day, wander around the grounds
and gardens until close.

This July at Sissinghurst why not join in with the tours, workshops and
celebrations surrounding the estate’s ‘Inspired by Meadows’ theme. Take
a look at some of the fantastic events taking place as part of this monthlong appreciation for all things meadow-minded!

www.nationaltrust.org.uk/sissinghurst-castle-garden

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