Artists' Gardens of Sussex

This tour starts at Haywards Heath Railway Station at 12 noon to take advantage of the train service from London. Those who wish to drive, can park at Ockenden Manor to be collected at 11:30 by the coach en-route to the station.  We journey together to Bradness Gallery, the home and garden of contemporary artists Emma Burnett and Michael Cruickshank, for a delicious home-made lunch. After this relaxing start we travel to Holford Manor, close to Chailey Common. Here the extensive gardens wrap around the Sussex vernacular house, but the real highlight at this time of year is the colourful collection of Iris, all raised at Holford Manor. After tea we leave in time to check-in at Ockenden Manor before dining together.

Fairlight End, a private garden on the SE edge of the Sussex Weald, is just a mile from the sea. Here you will discover beautiful wildflower meadows with extensive views over natural ponds.  The use of modern corten steel is a throw-back to the days when the region was alive to the sights and sounds of iron foundries. The garden provides the plant material for Robin Hutt’s photographs and experimental cyanotypes displayed in her on-site gallery. Reighton Wood is a contemporary garden, skilfully designed by locally based designer Marian Boswall who was led by the surrounding Sussex Weald landscape.  Following a picnic lunch in the gardens we travel on to Balmoral Cottage where former art teacher Charlotte Molesworth has exemplified the use of extensive topiary as a backbone to her cottage garden. The warren of garden rooms is knitted seamlessly together, creating an ever-changing view of textures and shapes. We return to the hotel for dinner together.

This day we focus on the Bloomsbury Group who settled at the edge of the Sussex Downs in the early 20th century. At Charleston Vanessa Bell and an array of artists including Duncan Grant took inspiration from the walled gardens, the ponds, and fields, adding decorative flourishes both inside and outside the house. After lunch we go on to Monk’s House where the gardens provided solace to Virginia Woolf but also stirred Leonard Woolf’s great horticultural passions. We stop at the picturesque Church of All Angels, Berwick to view the artists’ many decorated panels and screens, influenced by the agricultural rhythms of Sussex.  Dinner together at the hotel.

Our final day starts with an exclusive visit to Sussex Prairies. Most of us dabble with herbaceous plants in our gardens but Paul & Pauline McBride have broken the mould by boldly planting a large field with huge swathes of perennials, interspersed with modern sculptures. Lunch is included today at The Star in Alfriston, the latest addition to the Polizzi collection. This will be followed by some free time to explore the village of Alfriston. Our afternoon visit is to the deceptively suburban garden Driftwood where Geoff Stonebanks has created a very personal and exuberant garden, described by Monty Don as “a small garden by the sea with inspired planting and design”. At the top of the garden Geoff’s partner Mark Glassman paints, inspired by the local land and seascapes. We then return to Haywards Heath Railway Station for 17:00 and onward to Ockenden Manor at 17:30 for those who have left cars.