Historic Gardens

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

Great Comp, St Mary's Platt

Great Comp Garden, near Sevenoaks, comprises of seven acres of beautiful and rare plants around a 17th century manor house which includes an Italian garden, romantic ruins and woodland walks. It was developed by Roderick and Joyce Cameron in the 1950s and was first open to the public in 1968. It now holds garden festivals, workshops and outdoor theatre productions and is home to a diverse collection of Salvias.

www.greatcompgarden.co.uk

Groombridge Place, Tunbridge Wells

Picture of Groombridge Place The award-winning formal gardens at Groombridge Place comprise a series of outdoor rooms, each with its own colour scheme. Through the seasons, each space offers a new highlight: cherry blossom, wisteria, roses and golden autumn foliage. Behind the delightful 17th century house are terraces originally designed by the gardener and diarist, John Evelyn (1620-1706), containing clipped topiary, urns and statues which have remained more or less unchanged since the 17th century. During the 18th and 19th centuries many trees were planted, and in the late 20th century the Knot garden, the White garden and the Peacock Walk were added. There is also a woodland valley for children designed by the landscape designer Ivan Hicks. The estate also has its own small vineyard and a deer park.

www.groombridge.co.uk