JENNY RAWORTH GARDEN DAYS 2010
Special visits
for small groups to private gardens
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DAY 2
SUSSEX GARDENS
Thursday, 20th May 2010
ROUNDHILL COTTAGE, EAST DEAN
This cottage garden is looked after by Louise Adams, a photographer and passionate gardener. This garden has everything I think is essential for a real cottage garden from the brick and flint cottage with a pond with ducks, a neat vegetable patch, great planting, beehives, wild flowers, summerhouse and a shepherds hut designed by Louise. She makes everything herself including the dry stone walls with ‘Ratty’s frontdoor’ in the bank. Handmade benches and seats are hidden in different parts of the garden giving delightful places to sit. Winding paths lead from one area to another with surprises round every corner. This is a really charming garden and one that Louise is constantly adding to with new projects.
UPWALTHAM BARNS, UPWALTHAM
The old farm buildings at Upwaltham have been expertly converted as a wonderful venue for weddings and parties. Sue Kearsey and her family run the business here but Sue is responsible for the delightful gardens of many different rooms surrounding the barns. At the rear, there is a walled terrace garden, herb and vegetable garden. A new project is a rill garden with a fastigiate hornbeam allee, planted in the French style. Lots of good planting and wonderful views to the Downs beyond. Lunch will be served here.
PETWORTH HOUSE, PETWORTH
Lady Egremont has very kindly agreed to let me bring a group to see her private garden within the old walled garden of Petworth House. Lady Egremont is a garden designer and knowledgeable plantswoman and will show us round. Below the main terrace, the park has mown paths through grass with wild flowers and bulbs taking you down to the entrance of the garden. This has been divided into different rooms with yew and hornbeam hedging, all beautifully maintained. The cloister garden has rose and wisteria-clad pergolas with a gravel garden in the centre around a pond. The high walls give shelter to all sorts of climbing plants. The vegetable garden is huge with greenhouses and a perfect potting shed with everything in its place! I was thrilled to discover this wonderful private garden that members of the public never get to see when they visit Petworth House.
Meet: 10.30am Roundhill Cottage, East Dean
Transport: Own cars – directions sent with confirmation
Finish: 4.00pm
Price: £95.00 to include coffee, lunch with wine and garden fees.