Set within the South Downs National Park, Ditchling is a thriving village dating back to the Anglo-Saxon period. Today it is still home to artists, writers and craftspeople, along with musicians and winemakers. The museum holds an internationally important collection of work by the artists and craftspeople who were resident over many yrs. The Horticultural Society was established in 1822 and is one of the oldest in the country. The love and passion for gardening is evident in the gardens opening. Set within the narrow roads of Ditchling there will be time to explore each garden to discover the different planting and design styles, from formal to country gardens plus the smaller gardens packed with colour and plants, and to talk to the owners. Each garden has its own feel, united by a love of bees, birds, butterflies and wildlife. Opens Saturday 6th July.
De Wilp, a beautiful garden laid to lawn with beds, a large variety of perennial and annual plants, vegetables, a hosta corridor, mature trees and shrubs. The Clinches is a mature cottage garden surrounded by trees and shrubs, Gaudi inspired steps and a pond with fish, toads and newts. 2 Raven Close has beautifully laid out mixed planting inc roses, an arch with climbers along ropes, and fruit and vegetable beds. Orchard Cottage is a plantswoman’s small garden with climbers on trellis and herbaceous borders. 13 Thornbank Crescent has over 50 specimen fruit trees, a pond, flower and vegetable beds with an emphasis on attracting wildlife to the garden. Westlands is a mature garden with significant range of trees, roses, mixed planting, vegetable and fruit garden. Opens Sunday 7th July.
A stunning 3 acre garden with a growing international reputation for the quality of its design, planting and gardening. Set round a C17 Sussex farmhouse (not open), the garden has over 400 roses, herbaceous borders, herb garden, white garden, topiary inspired by the sculptures of Henry Moore, an 800 yr old oak, potager, and a unique ruined Priory Church and Cloisters in hornbeam. Opens Sunday 7th July.
Mature landscaped garden set in 5 acres of tranquil countryside surrounding Georgian house (not open). Several garden rooms, spectacular herbaceous borders planted in contemporary style. Lots of late season colour with grasses and some magnificent specimen trees; also partly walled garden. Opens Wednesday 10th and Saturday 13th July.
6 acre garden in Ashdown Forest, AONB, much of it mixed woodland. Perimeter walk all around property. Delightful and tranquil setting with plenty of space to roam, and various aspects of interest providing sensory and a relaxing visit. Ideal for forest bathing! Lovely stonework, specimen trees, three ponds, herbaceous borders, exotic bed, greenhouse and always something new on the go! Opens Friday 12th July.
Mayfield is a beautiful Wealden village with tearooms, an old pub and many interesting historical connections. The gardens to visit are all within walking distance of the village centre. They vary in size and style with a wide range of shrubs, herbaceous and annual planting and inc wildflower meadows, wildlife ponds, fruit and vegetable plots and a childrens’ play area. There are far-reaching, panoramic views over the beautiful High Weald. Opens Saturday 13th and Sunday 14th July.
Hardy Plant Society members’ garden with wide variety of trees, shrubs, perennials, grasses and pots arranged into a complex garden display for year-round colour and interest. Raised vegetable beds, wildlife pond, water features, orchard, rose arbour, soft fruit cage and living gazebo. House roof runoff diverted to storage and pond. Small area of wild wood. An emphasis on planting for insects. Opens Saturday 13th and Sunday 14th July.
Two new gardens in Willingdon join two other gardens that have opened before to create a new garden trail. The gardens at 36 Jellicoe Close and 16 Hardy Drive are both developed on land reclaimed from the sea. 36 Jellicoe Close has a front and rear garden created over the past 5 yrs on shingle/beach reclaimed land, and is a Mediterranean, cottage style garden with wildlife, ecology and sustainability at its heart, and a potters studio. 16 Hardy Drive is a small urban back garden packed with plants dominated by a large palm tree and full borders. 6 Pashley Road, the tea venue on 14 July only, is a large urban garden backing onto the South Downs with a wide mix of floral shrubs, dahlias, hydrangeas, echium, gingers, a vegetable garden and greenhouse. Opens Sunday 14th July.
A big garden, under constant development with wonderful views down the Brede Valley. The garden features a wide variety of trees, a good number of flower beds, a natural pond much loved by wildlife, with a waterfall and viewing bridge. At the beginning of last year, the owners added a large waterfall with associated woodland planting to the front of the property. Opens Saturday 20th July.
Delightful garden with panoramic views, set in the grounds of the historic The Hundred House (not open). Fine stone ha-ha. 1½ acre garden with mixed herbaceous borders, productive vegetable garden, greenhouse, ancient yew tree, pond area with some subtropical plants, secret woodland copse and orchard. Beech hedge, field walk and silver birch (Jacquemontii) grove. Opens Saturday 20th and Sunday 21st July.
A new 7 acre garden on sloping hillside. Four large ponds, a stream, waterfalls, terraced beds, interesting planting, some tropical, large rhododendrons, wildlife; alpacas, pigs, chickens, ducks, fish. The garden has a great variety of trees, two greenhouses, shepherds hut, summerhouse, paths, kitchen garden, many decks and wildflower terracing to the rear. Very peaceful setting with great views. Opens Sunday 21st July.
A fun jungle garden, created in 2012, but completely revamped in 2021. Measuring 65ft x 36ft but appearing larger with winding paths that lead you through lush jungle and insect friendly planting, listen out for jungle sounds and watch out for Tyson, the tiger! Tea and home-made cakes served overlooking the jungle. Exquisite planting of exotic plants. Tor Cottage is a large, tranquil mature garden surrounds 100 yr old bungalow (not open) with trees, shrubs, plants, bamboos and ornamental grasses. Plenty of colour and different areas inc vegetable garden, rockeries and woodland. There are shady areas and seating in the sun or under the pergola. Combined opening on Thursday 25th and Saturday 27th July.
The garden, created in 2016, landscaped during 2017 and planting started later that yr. Split over three levels filled with colourful perennials, annuals, grasses, and succulents planted in the ground and in containers. The formal garden leads onto a wildflower meadow extending onto the downs, giving spectacular views of both the ocean and South Downs National Park. Front garden revamped in 2023. Opens Thursday 25th and Saturday 27th July.
Atmospheric 2 acre garden and plant nursery with striking backdrop of the South Downs. Featured on Carol Klein’s Great British Gardens TV series, the garden is imaginatively designed and sensitively planted with a rich tapestry of unusual herbaceous plants, and graceful grasses add to the interest. Opens Tuesday 30th and Wednesday 31st July, pre-booking essential.
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