THE TELEGRAPH: Gardens of Sussex

27 June 2022

5 days from £2,950pp

Visit the finest gardens and nurseries in the historic county of Sussex, as chosen by Helen Yemm, including a unique visit to Helen's own garden. Our base for this tour is the fine Elizabethan Ockenden Manor set in eight acres of beautiful grounds overlooking Cuckfield Park.

An 'early-bird' visit to Great Dixter, former home of the great gardener Christopher Lloyd
A private visit to Helen Yemm's own garden Eldenhurst
A special welcome lunch at Gravetye Manor, former home of garden writer William Robinson
Private lunch at Clinton Lodge, Lady Collum's garden

This is an all-star cast of mostly private gardens, including a guided visit to the gardens of Gravetye Manor, an ‘early bird’ visit to Great Dixter, a special invitation to lunch with Lady Collum at Clinton Lodge and a unique visit to Helen Yemm’s own garden. You will stay throughout the tour at Ockenden Manor Hotel, a charming Elizabethan manor, which offers good food and hospitality – the perfect base for the tour.

Day 1:
The tour starts at Haywards Heath railway station at 12pm to take advantage of the train service from London. Those who wish to drive can park at Ockenden Manor, to be collected at 11.30am by the coach en route to the station. You journey together to Gravetye Manor, former home of William Robinson, ‘Father of the English Flower Garden’.Laid out in classic Arts & Crafts style, the property is now a hotel of distinction. A delicious lunch will be served followed by a garden tour with head gardener Tom Coward. These mature gardens are wonderfully renovated. You will arrive at Ockenden Manor in time to settle in before dining together.
Day 2:
Start the day visiting the gardens of Arundel Castle. Designed by Isabel and Julian Bannerman, the gardens were conceived as a light-hearted tribute to Thomas Howard, 14th Earl of Arundel (1585-1646), known as ‘The Collector’ as he was one of the first great art collectors. Parham is one of the country’s finest Elizabethan houses. Situated in ancient parkland at the foot of the South Downs, its beauty and tranquillity have changed little over the centuries. The beautiful pleasure grounds and four-acre walled garden are today cared for and developed by head gardener Andrew Humphris (ex-Wollerton Old Hall). Lunch is included at Parham.
Day 3:
To avoid the crowds, you will benefit from a special ‘early bird’ visit to the garden and house at Great Dixter, the former home of gardener and author Christopher Lloyd (1921–2006). Lloyd devoted his life to creating one of the most exciting and experimental gardens of our time. The garden is now managed with sensitivity and skill by Fergus Garrett. Following lunch at a good local inn, you visit Fairlight End, a private 21st-century garden in the Sussex Weald, just a mile from the sea. Here you will discover wildflower meadows with extensive views over natural ponds. Modern corten steel features reflect back to the days when the region was alive to the sights and sounds of iron foundries.
Day 4:
Start the day visiting Eldenhurst, Helen Yemm’s own garden. Though the smallest garden on the tour, it packs a hefty punch for its skilful planting. Nearby Frankham Manor is a large garden in the making where you’ll enjoy lunch together. Next you’ll visit Balmoral Cottage, where Charlotte Molesworth has made good use of extensive topiary as a backbone to her cottage garden.
Day 5:
Marchants Hardy Plants is a nursery selling an array of unusual and stalwart plants, many grown in the adjoining garden This living catalogue provides innovative ideas for plant combinations. You are then invited for lunch at the 17th-century Clinton Lodge, where Lady Collum will share her knowledge and passion for the wonderful, compartmentalised garden.. In the afternoon, visit the 17th- century farmhouse at Town Place, whose garden contains 800 roses, colour-themed borders and topiary, as well as a hornbeam ruined priory church and cloisters. You then return to Haywards Heath railway station for 4.30pm and travel onward to Ockenden Manor for 5pm.

All transportation from Haywards Heath Railway Station
Four nights’ bed and breakfast in the three-star Ockenden Manor, West Sussex
Four evening meals plus five lunches
Guided visits to sites listed in the programme
Services of the Tour Leader and Hosts
Detailed programme and garden notes
All entrance fees, taxes and gratuities for coach drivers and waiters

Helen Yemm

Helen Yemm is probably best-known for her weekly THORNY PROBLEMS page that has been a fixture for nearly twenty years in the Saturday’s Daily Telegraph. In ‘real life’ she is a hands-on, self-taught, keen-as-mustard gardener and lecturer with a garden in East Sussex that she occasionally opens for small groups.

Helen is a sometime television presenter (GARDENING FROM SCRATCH and GARDENING WEEK for BBC-2) and is the author of several gardening books (the latest being GARDENING IN PYJAMAS). She is also a regular feature writer for THE ENGLISH GARDEN magazine. However, hosting garden tours is, she says, the icing on the cake – she gets enormous pleasure from discovering gardens in the company of others who share her passion.

Overview

Ockenden Manor is an exquisite Elizabethan manor house approximately an hour’s drive from central London. The peace and tranquillity of Ockenden Manor provides a stylish retreat with 28 lavishly decorated rooms, outstanding spa facilities, an award-winning restaurant, all set in 8-acres of beautiful grounds overlooking Cuckfield Park.

Room Facilities & Amenities

En-suite bathroom
Temple Spa bathroom products
Satellite TV
Complimentary Wi-Fi
Direct-dial phone
Fluffy dressing gowns
Complimentary tea & coffee tray with home-made biscuits
Hairdryer
Nine acres of private gardens with terrace and croquet lawn
Fabulous restaurant serving delicious food created using the finest locally sourced ingredients
Award-winning Spa and treatment rooms
Stunning in-and-outdoor swimming pool
Oak-panelled bar
State-of-the-art gym & fitness studio
Elegant drawing room with open fire
Friendly, professional service