25 gorgeous Sussex gardens to visit during the summer

Sussex has a wealth of beautiful gardens. Leigh Clapp selects some of the very best to visit this year that are packed with creative ideas to inspire and translate to your own garden, whether large or small

Do check websites before travelling for updated information. Many of the gardens also serve delicious teas and refreshments, generally at an extra cost, to complete your visit and encourage relaxing while soaking up the atmosphere.

'Kathryn Morley' is one of the lovely roses in the rose garden at Borde Hill Image: Leigh Clapp1. Borde Hill

A series of rooms set within 200 acres of parkland offer visitors different gardens to explore – from the formal Italian and rose gardens to subtropical plants in the dell or the dappled shade of the woodland. Camellias, azaleas, rhododendrons, magnolias and bluebells star in spring, while later over 450 of roses, including the collection of more than 100 David Austin varieties, add a touch of romance. See the gardening section for more on the stunning roses. Herbaceous borders through summer and autumnal foliage colour. For the children there is also an adventure playground to enjoy.

Opening times

Borde Hill, Haywards Heath, RH16 1XP

Open to 21 December, see website for booking, prices and events

bordehill.co.uk

A seaside corner at Butlers Farmhouse Image: Leigh Clapp2. Butlers Farmhouse

One acre garden around a 16th century CHECK farmhouse with views of the South Downs. Combination of traditional borders and planting, yet a rather quirky sense of fun with surprises such as a poison garden, complete with labelled plants that you may not have known were poisonous, a rainbow border, Cornish-inspired beach corner by the swimming pool and a secret jungle garden to discover. Home to the NGS East and Mid Sussex county organiser, Irene Eltringham-Willson and musician husband Peter. Plants for sale, picnics welcome in June and August and live jazz in August

Opening times

Butlers Farmhouse, Herstmonceux, BN27 1QH

National Garden Scheme, NGS: Mon 9, Tue 10 June, Sat 23, Sun 24 Aug (2-5)

Adm £5 June, £7.50 Aug, chd free

Home-made teas, live jazz in Aug

Vists also by arrangement Mar-Oct

ngs.org.uk

Roses abound at Clinton Lodge Image: Leigh Clapp

3. Clinton Lodge

Elegant and timeless with a romantic atmosphere where peonies bloom, roses entwine and scented herbs entice in a Medieval style potager. The six acres are divided into rooms, which also include a formal knot garden, a folly, an orchard and a wildflower garden, linked with hedging, allées and a cloister walk inspired by a pre-Raphaelite painting. Owner, Lady Collum guides the garden with both a consummate knowledge and an innate sense of style and charm.

Opening times

Clinton Lodge, Fletching, TN22 3ST

clintonlodgegardens.co.uk

NGS: Thurs 19 June (11-5))

Adm £7, chd free

Home-made teas from 12

ngs.org.uk

A little seating area at the Cottage, image courtesy NGS

4. The Cottage

Inspiration here for making the most of a sloping, potentially challenging, site. By cleverly terracing the site, four distinct rooms have been created and every inch has been used. Planting is in a quintessential cottage style with a jostling medley of perennial and bulbs in ornamental beds, as well as a productive veg plot. There are several sets of stairs but also lots of lovely seating areas to rest on your journey.

Opening times

The Cottage, Pulborough, RH20 2BT

NGS: Pre-booking essential

Fri 16 May (6-8pm), Adm £9, chd free

Sat 17 May (11-5), Adm £9, combined entry with Olivers garden6.

Sat 6 Sept, (10-4), Adm £6, chd free

Visits also by arrangement 13 May to 16 Sept, groups 6 – 20

ngs.org.uk

Recycling seaside paraphernalia at Driftwood garden Image: Leigh Clapp5. Driftwood

Learn about selecting plants that will thrive in the coastal environment and discover quirky ways to repurpose an eclectic assortment of found objects, from lobster pots to carousel horses, plus admire an array of seasonal containers. Colourful, innovative and making use of every inch of space, no lawn or exposed soil, creative ideas, budget-conscious, the ever-enthusiastic owner Geoff Stonebanks, plus scrumptious home-made teas, makes this a popular garden for return visitors.

Opening times

Driftwood, Bishopstone, Seaford, BN25 2RS

NGS: Open by arrangement June - 3 Aug for groups of up to 25

Adm £6, chd free, discuss catering options upon booking

ngs.org.uk

Creative ideas abound at Foxglove Cottage Image: Leigh Clapp6. Foxglove Cottage

Discover a plantaholic’s delight tucked behind the 18th century town cottage, adorned with vintage finds, containers and quirky elements. Brimming with ideas to take home. Navigate slowly along the partially hidden gravel paths so you won’t miss any of the details and surprises at every turn, from water features to a gravel garden complete with a rusty metal arbour. There’s a quaint nautical summerhouse and other areas to sit a while and take it all in. Everywhere you look plants are thriving in the different micro-climates that have been created by layering from canopy to groundcover.

Opening times

Foxglove Cottage, Horsham, RH13 5NF

NGS: Sun 25 May (11-5), Adm £6, chd free, home-made teas

Visits also by arrangement 27 to 4 July, groups 12 – 30

ngs.org.uk

At Great Dixter containers are moveable seasonal displays Image: Leigh Clapp7. Great Dixter House, Garden and Nurseries

This iconic garden continues to be at the forefront of garden design and practices. A green ethos runs through the estate, from the bio-diverse planting to the nursery and café, with an aim to be as environmentally sustainable as possible. Areas to explore include the prairie, wildflower meadows, an orchard, the vegetable gardens, herbaceous borders and the exotic garden. Although an intensively gardened style it works with nature, merging the cultivated with the natural, has a comfortable feel, organic waste and compost is used to feed the plants, minimal chemicals are used, the majority of plants are grown on site, and watering is from their own borehole.

Opening times

Great Dixter House and Garden, Northiam, TN31 6PH

Tues-Sun and BHM (gardens 11-5)

Adm £17 chd £5.50

greatdixter.co.uk

Atmospheric planting at Hoopers Farm links to the fields beyond Image: Leigh Clapp8. Hoopers Farm

Planting, including an array of tumbling roses, softens the structure of loosely divided rooms, sight lines and grass paths in this attractive country garden. Colours are also thought through to create a blended tapestry, with areas of harmonious pinks, glues, white and purple shifting into hotter colours from oranges, reds and yellows. Along with herbaceous beds billowing with colour and texture, there’s a productive plot, meadow, wildlife pond and ancient woodland to enjoy.

Opening times

Hoopers Farm, Mayfield, TN20 6BD

NGS: Sat 14, Sun 15 June (11-5), Adm £6, chd free

Home-made teas

Also Mayfield Group opening, Sat 2, Sun 3 Aug, £7

ngs.org.uk

9. 12 Keepers Wood

Situated at the edge of Chichester, this north-facing ¼ acre garden is wedged between mature trees and open agricultural land. Its clever design allows different moods from the planting areas, such as a Piet Oudolf inspired prairie border, a cut flower border, a pond and ferns in a woodland corner.

Opening times

12 Keepers Wood, Chichester, PO19 5XU

NGS: Thurs 10, 17 July (2-5)

Pre-booking essential

Adm £7, chd free, home-made teas

Visits also by arrangement July for groups 5 – 15

ngs.org.uk

Take in the sweeping drifts at Knightsbridge House Image: Leigh Clapp10. Knightsbridge House

Wonderful drifts of grasses and perennials peak from summer to autumn as they meld down the sloping site to the borrowed landscape of the fields beyond. Close to the house rich pinks and purples mingle in artistically planted beds bordered by neatly clipped hedging, while as you journey down the slope the colours become more mellow with burnt oranges and deep maroons against parchment-toned ornamental grasses.

Opening times

Knightsbridge House, Hellingly, BN27 4HH

NGS: Sat 26 July (2-5)

Adm £7.50, chd free, home-made teas

ngs.org.uk

11. Kotimaki

With influences from Great Dixter and a touch of the exotic, this large, creatively planted garden has a range of stunning areas to discover, including deep herbaceous double borders, imaginative combinations of shrubs and climbers, wildflower meadows, a kitchen garden, rockery and shade garden. Framework from hedging, trellis and a pergola are softened with orchestrated infill.

Opening times

Kotimaki, Broad Oak, TN21 8UH

NGS: pre-booking essential, Sats 17 May, 7 June, 19 July, 6 Sept 4 Oct

(10-12), Adm £12, chd £6, includes tea, coffee, biscuits, talk at 10.30

ngs.org.uk

Spring at Legsheath Farm Image: Leigh Clapp12. Legsheath Farm

This lovely woodland and water garden is particularly beautiful in spring, not just for its mature rhododendrons, magnolias and azaleas in full bloom, but also to see the rare blue poppies, meconopsis. Spread over 11 acres, with a spring fed stream creating a series of falls to three large ponds, accompanied by masses marginal plants, such as irises and primula, the scene varies from formal to naturalistic in style.

Opening times

Legsheath Farm, Forest Row, RH19 4JN

NGS: Sun 18 May (1.30-4.30)

Adm £7, chd free, home-made teas

Visits also by arrangement, 4 May – 7 September

ngs.org.uk

Pretty borders at Luctons Image: Leigh Clapp13. Luctons

Densely packed herbaceous borders influenced by Gertrude Jekyll feature in this traditional country garden, brimming with colourful perennials, annuals and shrubs to enjoy as you stroll the lawned paths. The two-acre garden also features a wildflower orchard, swathes of spotted orchids, productive plots, a vine house, pond and shrubberies.

Opening times

Luctons, West Hoathly, RH19 4PP

NGS: Sat 21, Wed 25, Sun 29 June, Tues 1 July (1.30-3.30)

Pre-booking essential, Adm £7, chd free, tea, coffee and cake

Visits also by arrangement, 2 June – 28 Aug, groups 10 – 30

ngs.org.uk

Veg are a feature at Malthouse Farm Image: Leigh Clapp14. Malthouse Farm

Here you will find a country garden with extra touches, such as a birch maze and willow tunnel, wildflowers in the orchard, a wildlife pond, grass walks and a small mound, combining the traditional with adventurous planting combinations and ideas. Spread over five acres with distant borrowed views to the South Downs, there is a series of garden rooms – from topiary to borders and a kitchen garden.

Opening times

Malthouse Farm, Streat, BN6 8SA

NGS: Visits by arrangement May-Sept groups 10 - 40

ngs.org.uk

Wander the paths at Meadowside, image courtesy NGS and Smey & Raksme Image: Leigh Clapp15. Meadowside

From the formal areas in the front garden with a raised lawn bordered by hedging, shrubs and trees, wander the narrow side path to the back garden, where the focus is on more informality and gardening with wildlife in mind. Annual wildflowers have replaced box hedging, erigeron and chamomile encouraged to self-seed between pavers and a section of lawn has become a wildflower area. There are decorative collections of potted containers, a summerhouse looks out onto a small fish pond and there are views to woodland beyond.

Opening times

Meadowside, West Chiltington, RH20 2PX

NGS: Thurs 26 June, 3 July, (10.30-4.30)

Adm £6, chd free, tea, coffee and cake

ngs.org.uk

The pretty herb garden at Offham House Image: Leigh Clapp16. Offham House

Romantic garden with pretty borders, floriferous herb and vegetable gardens and a long peony walk, are supported with traditional structure from mellow walls and evergreen hedges. There is a delightful, relaxing atmosphere in this country garden. The sloping garden allows views to the distant countryside of rolling hills and fields beyond.

Opening times

Offham House, Offham, BN7 3QE

NGS: Sun 1 June (1-5)

Adm £7, chd free, home-made teas

ngs.org.uk

17. The Old Rectory, Warbleton

Nestled in an AONB, the two-acre garden has recently been re-imagined by leading garden designer Arne Maynard, with an aim for a romantic garden that blends beautifully into its surroundings. The balance of formal and informal spaces combines topiary, a small knot garden and herbaceous borders with rambling roses and wildflowers.

Opening times

The Old Rectory, Warbleton, TN21 9PT

NGS: Wed 11, Thurs 12 June (11-4)

Pre-booking essential, Adm£9, chd free, tea, coffee and cake

Also by arrangement to 6 Oct

ngs.org.uk

The exotic border at The Old Vicarage Image: Leigh Clapp 18. The Old Vicarage

Gardens for a long season spread around the handsome Regency house, formal in the front and melding into the landscape of the North Downs beyond in the rear garden with curving borders, fine trees and a water garden. There are many pockets of interest, including a Japanese inspired waterfall, pond and stands of bamboo, a working kitchen garden and an Italianate gazebo. Seating is strategically placed to enjoy the closer vignettes and also the wider vistas.

Opening times

The Old Vicarage, Washington, RH20 4AS

NGS: Multiple dates May – Oct, see website for details

Pre-booking essential

Adm £8, chd free, light refreshments

Visits also by arrangement Mar-Oct for groups 12 – 30

ngs.org.uk

Enter the magical Parham House garden Image: Leigh Clapp19. Parham House and Gardens

Timeless interlocking gardens around an historic Elizabethan house. Opulent herbaceous borders billow over gravel paths in the walled garden; especially beautiful backlit by late afternoon sun. There are also herb and vegetable gardens, a long greenhouse brimming with fuchsias, an orchard, a mown grass maze and acres of rolling lawns. There is an ongoing programme of renewal, renovation and conservation, which adds to the interest and invites visits in different seasons.

Opening times

Parham House & Gardens, Pulborough, RH20 4HS

Wed, Thurs, Fri, Sun and BHM to Sun 12 Oct (12-5), café

Adm House and Garden £16, conc. £15.50, chd £7.50, Gardens only £12, £11.50, £5, cashless, all purchases credit or debit card

parhaminsussex.co.uk

Stunning combinations at Parsonage Farm Image: Leigh Clapp20. Parsonage Farm

Impressive garden on a grand scale, but brimming with ideas to scale down at home. Orange and blue themed border with kniphofia and salvias highlighted with vibrant roses, cannas and gladioli. Large productive vegetable and fruit garden as well as tomatoes and chillies growing in a greenhouse. Formal avenues with long vistas, including a topiary walk and pleached lime allee, turf amphitheatre, autumn shrubbery, yew cloisters and a jungle walk.

Opening times

Parsonage farm, Kirdford, RH14 0NH

NGS: Fri 20 June, Sun 7 Sept (2-6)

Adm £10, chd free, home-made teas

ngs.org.uk

A vista through to the potager at Pashley Manor Image: Leigh Clapp21. Pashley Manor

A quintessential English garden of rooms and areas set around a handsome period manor. Romantic in style, with beautiful plantings through the season. The scene changes from drifts of thousands of tulips and spring blossom to the vibrant tones of the hot border in late summer and autumn. Throughout the year there are special events that include the Tulip Festival, Sculpture, as well as Rose and Kitchen garden weeks. The very popular café uses local produce, including straight from their decorative potager.

Opening times

Pashley Manor, Ticehurst, TN5 7HE

Tues to Sat, BHM, and special event days, until end Sept (10-5)

Adm £15, chd £6

pashleymanorgardens.com

22. Pigeon Mead House

The front garden features a wildlife pond and small meadow, while the back garden has a formal structure infilled with mixed planting. Set on a third-of-an-acre plot and close to the coast, there are many resilient plants in lovely combinations in a repeated rhythm for continuity, in both sunny and shady areas.

Openings

Pigeon Mead House, Earnley, PO20 7JQ

NGS: Sat 17, Sun 18 May (11-4)

Pre-booking essential Adm £6, chd free

Tea, coffee, cake

ngs.org.uk

A textural and colourful profusion at Saffrons Image: Leigh Clapp23. Saffrons

An artist’s garden with an emphasis on a wonderfully blowsy array of sun-loving summery plants, such as salvias, dahlias and scented lilies, to the delight of the local bees and butterflies. Enthusiastic owners, Tim Melton and Bernardean Carey, have blended colours and textures beautifully with a predominance of glorious pinks, burgundies and silvers, contrasted by an occassional splash of even brighter hues from fiery crocosmias and rich blue agapanthus. In other areas of the garden there are layers of green from shade-loving plants, while the productive area consists of veg beds and a fruit cage.

Opening times

Saffrons, Steyning, BN44 3GJ

NGS: Fri 4, 11 July, opening with Lynwood garden, Adm £8, chd free,

Home-made teas

Visits also by arrangement 16 June to July for groups 8 to 30.

ngs.org.uk

Characterful Shalford House Image: Leigh Clapp24. Shalford House

A garden designer and plantsman’s ten-acre garden of different areas, some shaded under mature trees, others set in sunshine with hot colours from dahlias and helianthus. Allow time to admire the herbaceous and mixed borders, a rill bordered with irises, hostas and primulas, the lake, ponds and woodland dell.

Opening times

Shalford House, Kingsley Green, GU27 3LW

NGS: Sun 27 July (1-5.30)

Adm £8, chd free, opens with The Beeches, home-made teas

ngs.org.uk

25. Town Place

This gorgeous three-acre garden has inspired visitors from across the globe with its classic design and orchestrated planting. Set out from the 17th century Sussex farmhouse, there are many areas to inspire, including floriferous herbaceous borders, a decorative potager, scented herbs, a white garden, some 400 roses and topiary inspired by the sculptures of Henry Moore. There is also an 800-year-old oak, and a unique ruined Priory church and cloisters in hornbeam.

Opening times

Town Place, Freshfield, RH17 7NR

NGS: Sun 8, Wed 11, Wed 18, Sun 22, 29 June; Sun 6 July (2-5)

Adm £8, chd free

Visits also by arrangement 9 June to 5 July

ngs.org.uk

Look for plants for pollinators Image: Leigh Clapp