The open garden season is fast approaching its end for 2022, and as usual, we have a shortlist of some to visit from someone in the know! Geoff Stonebanks, Publicity Officer for the National Garden Scheme in East & Mid Sussex says: “Can you believe, this is the penultimate update of gardens opening for the charity in 2022! How the year has flown by. I’ve really enjoyed writing about some of our gardens across Sussex for you to visit. We’ll have a few in early October but September is really the last busy month for our garden owners.”
Please check the scheme’s website to see a full list of all gardens opening in September. All the gardens mentioned below allow children in free and serve delicious homemade teas, unless otherwise stated: www.ngs.org.uk
Parsonage Farm in Kirdford, RH14 0NH
Sunday 4th September, 2-6 pm, entry £7.
This is a major garden in a beautiful setting, developed over 30 years with a fruit theme and many unusual plants. Don’t miss the 18th century walled garden with borders in apricot, orange, scarlet and crimson. Saunter along the topiary walk, see pleached lime allée, tulip tree avenue, rose borders and a vegetable garden with trained fruit along with the turf amphitheatre, informal autumn shrubbery, yew cloisters and jungle walk. Lots to see. Note: unfortunately, this weekend the Council are closing the road from Parsonage Farm to Isling Bridge. The only approach to Parsonage Farm will be from the village of Kirdford or Plaistow Road.
https://findagarden.ngs.org.uk/garden/18581/parsonage-farm
54 Elmleigh, Midhurst, GU29 9HA
Saturday 3rd and Sunday 4th September, 11-5 pm, entry £4.
The property has a terraced front garden, leading to a heavily planted rear garden with majestic 120-year-old black pines. There are many raised beds, numerous sculptures, vegetables in boxes, a greenhouse, pond and don’t miss the hedgehogs in residence. A large collection of tree lilies on show too, growing over 8ft tall.
https://findagarden.ngs.org.uk/garden/23169/54-elmleigh
Hollist House, Hollist Lane, Easebourne, Midhurst, West Sussex, GU29 9RS
Thursday 8th September, 2-5.30 pm, entry £5.
A wonderful, traditional English garden with a natural spring pond and the River Rother running through its acres of lawns, woods, herbaceous borders and kitchen garden. Not to be missed. Plants for sale too.
South Grange, Quickbourne Lane, Northiam, Rye TN31 6QY
Saturday 3rd and Sunday 4th September, 11-5 pm, entry by donation.
The garden is owned by a Hardy Plant Society member and is filled with a wide variety of trees, shrubs, perennials, grasses and pots, all arranged into a complex and fascinating garden display, providing year-round colour and interest. In addition, see raised vegetable beds, a wildlife pond, water features, an orchard, rose arbour, soft fruit cage and living gazebo. There is a house roof runoff, diverted to storage and pond along with a small area of wild wood. Throughout, there is an emphasis on planting for insects. Entry by donation, rather than fixed price, as owners are mindful of the impact the drought has had on their displays.
https://findagarden.ngs.org.uk/garden/21434/south-grange
Holford Manor, Holford Manor Lane, North Chailey, Lewes. BN8 4DU
Fridays 9th & 16th and Saturday 17th September, 11-4 pm, entry £7.
The garden covers 5 acres and is planted for all seasons. It surrounds a 16th century manor with far-reaching views over the ha-ha to open fields, with rare breed sheep and geese. It was designed and laid out by the current owners with extensive herbaceous borders, iris beds and a formal parterre rose garden.
https://findagarden.ngs.org.uk/garden/36067/holford-manor
East Grinstead Gardens RH19 1JJ
Sunday 4th September, 1-5 pm, entry £6.
Gardens to lift the spirits and make you smile! Established gardens, displaying a mix of planting, including shrubs, perennials, dahlias and annuals, tubs and baskets. Some gardens are past winners of East Grinstead in Bloom. The gardens all have quite different styles. 16 Musgrave Avenue is a cottage-style garden with a thriving vegetable patch. 7 Nightingale Close is on heavy clay in a frost pocket going down to a stream, plus a potager and collection of bonsai. The garden at 35 Blount Avenue (pictured) has a more modern image for the younger gardener. Imberhorne Allotments consist of 80 plots with a diverse mix of planting including grape vines, fruit, flowers and a community orchard. All the enthusiastic garden owners are keen propagators, growing from seed, cuttings and plugs, sharing their surplus plants. Plenty of gardening advice available and homegrown plants for sale at several gardens.
https://findagarden.ngs.org.uk/garden/35294/east-grinstead-gardens
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