Historic Gardens

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

Hever Castle, Edenbridge

Picture of Hever Castle Best known as the childhood home of Anne Boleyn, the award-winning gardens at romantic Hever Castle in Kent were created by William Waldorf Astor at the turn of the 20th century. Designed to showcase Astor's unique collection of ancient Greek and Roman statuary acquired while he was American Ambassador to Italy, they were laid out between 1904 and 1908 by Joseph Cheal and Son, turning marshland into spectacular classical and natural gardens.
There are many water features around the gardens including Half Moon Pond, the Cascade, the cool and shady grottoes and the formal Loggia fountain which overlooks the 38-acre lake. Other areas include the Tudor Garden, Rhododendron Walk and Anne Boleyn's orchard with its collection of trees planted more than 100 years ago, as well as the Yew Maze and Water Maze.
The quintessential English walled Rose Garden contains over 4,000 fragrant roses, planted in blocks of colour from palest pink to deep crimson and rich purple. Varieties range from the Alba and Bourbon to Hybrid Tea and Floribunda.

www.hevercastle.co.uk