October sees the final few gardens opening their gates for the National Garden Scheme this year. Here, Geoff Stonebanks, the Publicity Officer for the scheme in East & Mid Sussex shares details of the final few gardens of the season, with input from his colleague in West Sussex, Kate Harrison.
BATES GREEN GARDEN, Tye Hill Road, Arlington, BN26 6SH. Open Sunday 5th October from 10.30am to 3.30pm with entry £7 and children £3.50.
This plantswoman’s tranquil garden provides interest through the seasons. The woodland garden has been created around a majestic oak tree. See the colour themed middle garden and courtyard gardens with seasonal containers. The front garden is an autumn joy with coloured stems and leaves of cornus and salix. There is a wildlife pond and wildflower meadow. The plot is gardened for nature and wildlife. Beatons Wood is managed for conservation and diversity and autumn guests can enjoy spotting the abundant fungi within.
DENMANS GARDEN, Denmans Lane, Fontwell, BN18 0SU. Open Sunday 26th October from 11am to 4pm with entry £10 and children £8.
The garden was created by Joyce Robinson, a horticulturalist and pioneer in gravel gardening and is the former home of influential landscape designer, John Brookes. Denmans is a Grade II registered post-war garden renowned for its curvilinear layout and complex plantings. See year-round colour, unusual plants, structure and fragrance in the gravel gardens, faux riverbeds, intimate walled garden, ponds and conservatory. On site there is a plant centre with unusual plants for sale, a gift shop and Midpines Café offering breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea and a selection of sweet treats.
KOTIMAKI, Tottingworth Park, Broad Oak, Heathfield, TN21 8UH. Open Saturday 4th October from 10am to midday with pre booked entry only, £12 and children £6, refreshments included.
Large creatively planted gardens featuring a long double border within yew hedging, rockery, shade garden, exotic garden, pot garden, wildflower meadows, and kitchen garden. There is an emphasis on continuity of interest via imaginative mixed plantings of shrubs, climbers, perennials, bulbs, annuals and self-sowers; plus a varied collection of wisterias trained as shrubs, on trellis work, and on a pergola. Talk provided by owners at 10.30.
THE OLD VICARAGE, The Street, Washington, RH20 4AS. Open Thursday 2nd October from 10am to 4pm with pre booked entry only, £8.
Enjoy a walk through 3.5 acres of garden set around the 1832 Regency house. The front is formally laid out with topiary, wide lawn, mixed border and contemporary water sculpture. The rear features new and mature trees from C19, herbaceous borders, water garden and stunning uninterrupted views of the North Downs. The Japanese garden with waterfall and pond leads to a large copse, stream, treehouse and stumpery.
Sadly, Five Oaks Cottage in Petworth has had to cancel its opening on the 3rd and 4th October.
National Garden Scheme Ask the Experts, Kensington Gore, South Kensington, London, SW7 2AR on Tuesday 2nd December at 7pm.
This year BBC TV presenter, keen gardener and new National Garden Scheme Ambassador, Fiona Bruce hosts our very special National Garden Scheme Ask the Experts at the Royal Geographical Society. Answering a range of pre-submitted audience questions and covering all aspects of gardens and gardening from design and planting to weeding and watering, and gardens and health will be a panel of leading gardening broadcasters and professionals, including Arit Anderson, Danny Clarke, Rachel de Thame, Joe Swift and Martha Swales. Whether you want to know how to grow food in a tiny city space, the key elements to designing your perfect garden, which tree to plant where or how to plant for dry summers and wet winters, or are gardens really good for your health, our panel has a wealth of expertise to share. This fun, fundraising evening is the perfect opportunity to quiz some of the country’s leading gardening experts and to enjoy their lively debate which will be led and chaired by Fiona Bruce in her inimitable style. Attend in person or watch online, with full details on the Ask the Expert event and all gardens available at www.ngs.org.uk
Look out for our garden updates beginning again in the New Year with our wonderful snowdrop and hellebore gardens.
The next National Garden Scheme update will be in January.
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