Kent's spring gardens

Now is the perfect time to pay a visit to Kent, the Garden of England and experience some of the wonders of this beautiful county as it begins to bloom. Carpets of spring bulbs, hellebores, tulips, magnolias, blossom, and then the spectacular bluebells; Kent's gardens are rightly world renowned.

And with 180-plus to choose from, there's one to match your every mood and interest: grand and historic, exotic and informal, innovative vistas in the making like the World Garden of Plants. Excite or soothe your senses on a genuinely revitalising escape (and pick up brilliant ideas for your own garden from celebrated designers across the ages).
 

New for 2009:

Emmetts: Restored to its Edwardian Glory

The garden team at Emmetts has spent the winter working hard to return the garden to how it looked at the very start of the twentieth century. The overgrown rock garden has now been redesigned to make way for a pretty scree garden complete with bespoke wrought iron fencing. Rose swags and benches will also be added to the formal rose garden.

To celebrate the changes, Emmetts Garden will be open five days a week in 2009, from Saturday to Wednesday until November 1.

New Cloud Garden at Lullingstone Castle World Garden

The new garden allows visitors to be transported to the temperate rainforests of Australia, New Zealand and South America. The peaceful jungle planting, areas of swamp, mist and Amazonian sounds are the brainchild of Tom Hart Dyke, modern day plant hunter and his team. You'll find Tree Ferns, Eucalyptus and Acacias from Australia and New Zealand together with many species of North American carnivorous plants such as ‘Pitcher' plants and Venus Fly Traps - great fun for the kids.

Penshurst Place Historic Gardens Development

Penshurst is embarking on a unique restoration project on the 80 yard double herbaceous border over the next 2 years - to be designed by the Chelsea Gold medallist garden designer George Carter. The Heraldic Garden - reminiscent of Henry VIII's gardens at Hampton Court - with heraldic beasts on colourful painted poles, have been spruced up for this year's anniversary. An elegant new sculpture by Robert Rattray will also be unveiled in the Demi Lune during the season to commemorate the birth year of the first Viscount De L'Isle.

Port Lympne Mansion & Gardens Tours

Port Lympne Gardens are set in 15 acres of beautiful landscaped terrain and include a vineyard, figary,chessboard and the stripe garden. Enjoy breathtaking panoramic views from the Trojan stairway across Romney Marsh and the English Channel. Port Lympne Mansion was built between 1914 - 1920. A lavish and expensive project, it consists of delightful mural painted rooms by famous English artists, artefacts and ornaments. Enjoy a full guided historical tour about the Gardens and Mansion at Port Lympne.

Kent's Spring Garden Highlights:

Goodnestone Park Gardens 

Follow Jane Austen to Goodnestone, a surprising haven of tranquillity - the author was a frequent visitor to this family home of her sister-in-law. After February's miniature daffodils, hellebores, daphnes, witch hazels, mahonias and bold winter views, March and April will bring blossom in the arboretum, early magnolias, euphorbias, tulips, alliums and spring perennials in the borders.
 

Bedgebury National Pinetum 

Spring is always an exciting time in the National Pinetum at Bedgebury. It's the first chance to see if all the trees planted last year have survived the winter. On average Bedgebury plant around 550 trees per annum. Their horticultural role involves experimenting with new plants and pushing the accepted boundaries for plant survival - Bedgebury is a test bed for new species. So keep your eyes open for some unique and wonderful new trees this spring!

Sissinghurst Castle Gardens

Sissinghurst, one of the world's most celebrated gardens inspires no matter how many times you visit, with its bewitching play of colours and mood. The creation of writer Vita Sackville-West and her husband Sir Harold Nicolson, it surrounds the surviving parts of an Elizabethan mansion in a series of small compartments - among them, the iconic White Garden which certainly cools your senses after the abundance of ‘hot' colours elsewhere. There are hundreds of spring-flowering bulbs along the lime walk, while the azaleas and wisteria will be at their peak towards May.

Brogdale, Home to the National Fruit Collections

Brogdale, near Faversham, is home to The National Fruit Collections, including over 2,300 different varieties of apple, 550 of pear, 350 of plum, and 320 of cherry. From late March onwards, the site erupts into a frothy mass of flowers, ranging from dazzling white to vivid coral pink. First to come into bloom are the pears, followed by plums and cherries, then early apples. No need to feel baffled, there's plenty of plant advice if you want to buy something to take home, and guided orchard tours take place regularly.

  

Other spring delights

National Trust properties are alive with the sights and sounds of this colourful season. At Chartwell, golden daffodils carpet the ground. Scotney Castle is renowned for its vibrant rhododendrons and azaleas - a sight not to be missed. Ightham Mote is alive with tulips, apple blossom and cherry trees. Check out the events listings for spring walks in Kent.

Visit Mount Ephraim, near Faversham, an enchanting nine-acre Edwardian garden with views to surrounding blossoming orchards. An extensive collection of shrubs and trees plus a rock garden will keep you fascinated.

The magic of the 13th-century double-moated Hever Castle, near Edenbridge, where Henry VIII romanced Anne Boleyn is matched by spellbinding gardens. For the very first time since 1939 visitors will now be able to walk the entire distance around the lake. Along the way visitors will be able to look out for kingfishers, swans, herons and crested grebes on the lake.