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East Sussex Gardens   |   Back to Garden Holidays

East Sussex Gardens
27-30 June 2011

With the chalk hills of the South Downs stretching across this county, our summer tour will include a vibrant mix of both classic and private gardens which can be found in this beautiful part of England.

Staying in the 3* Best Western Flackley Ash Hotel near Rye, we travel across the heart of the county to Clinton Lodge (pictured left), a distinguished early 17th century house with an array of formal garden rooms of different periods, comprising a 'medieval' potager, an Elizabethan-style herb garden, a pre- Raphaelite walk and Victorian-style herbaceous borders to name a few.

A series of garden spaces is also included in our next garden, Bates Green. With an agricultural background and an artistic imagination, the owner has transformed 2 acres of farmland surrounding the Sussex farmhouse into a garden of delights, including huge colourful borders and a cooling woodland area.

From here we call in to the highly acclaimed Marchants Hardy Plants garden and nursery, which specialises in unusual perennials and ornamental grasses, for a little retail therapy! King John's Lodge is a romantic Jacobean house, surrounded by a garden for all seasons, including roses, clematis, herbaceous borders, ponds and woodland area.

From here, hugging the Sussex/Kent border, we visit two outstanding gardens. The first is Pashley Manor, a quintessential English garden which offers a sumptuous blend of romantic landscaping, imaginative plantings and fine old trees, fountains, springs and large ponds. The second is the iconic Great Dixter. The garden was originally designed by Edwin Lutyens, but is more famous today for its spectacular mixture of shrubs, climbers, perennials and annuals, which the late Christopher Lloyd masterfully put together - somewhat unconventionally, but to exuberant effect.

En route we will visit Merriments Gardens. Covering 4 acres of gently sloping south facing ground, the informal design leads you through sweeping borders, which include a tropical garden, bog garden, wild garden complete with bird hide and many other gems.

On our way home we will break the journey by calling in to Hatfield House in the county of Hertfordshire. The formal gardens date from the early 17th century and include a scented garden, knot garden, elegant parterres and borders.

Cost per person: £410
Single room supplement: £39

Departure points: Saxilby, Lincoln, Newark.
We may pick-up from a limited number of other points if en route and easy for coach access.