Historic Gardens

Emmetts Garden, Ide Hill

Picture of Emmetts Garden Emmetts Garden is a late 19th century plantsman's garden influenced by the gardener and journalist William Robinson (1838-1935), and is now managed by the National Trust. The garden contains many unusual trees and shrubs, rose and rock gardens. Magnificent displays of flowers and shrubs can be seen in spring. The garden lies near the highest point in Kent and there are wonderful views between the informal planting.

www.nationaltrust.org.uk/emmetts-garden

Godinton House, Ashford

Picture of Godinton House Godinton house and gardens are set in a beautiful 18th century landscaped park with views across the countryside to Great Chart church to the south. The gardens were designed by the architect Reginald Blomfield at the turn of the 20th century and include terraced lawns, topiary, formal pond and rose garden all surrounded by a vast yew hedge and ornamented with impressive statuary. In contrast to Robinson and Jekyll's natural planting principles, Blomfield created a strict distinction between garden and countryside bringing ‘house and garden into harmony, to make the house grow out of its surroundings’. The additions of herbaceous borders and tree planting by subsequent owners have modified and softened the original design. A small walled Italian garden with central fountain and scented mediterranean planting looks out over the wild garden. The 18th century walled kitchen garden contains delphinium borders, potager planting, ornamental, alpine and fern houses.

www.godinton-house-gardens.co.uk

Goodnestone Park, Wingham

Goodnestone Park is a handsome 18th century house and parkland where Jane Austen frequently visited her brother who grew up there. Old trees, the walled garden and some terracing survive from the 18th and early 19th centuries. A woodland garden dates from the early part of the 20th century. Wonderful plantsman's gardens have been developed over the last 50 years, in the walled kitchen garden and surrounding woodlands.

www.goodnestoneparkgardens.co.uk