{"id":5494,"date":"2016-09-26T12:33:16","date_gmt":"2016-09-26T12:33:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.paramountplants.co.uk\/blog\/?p=5494"},"modified":"2019-08-08T08:47:43","modified_gmt":"2019-08-08T08:47:43","slug":"sissinghurst-gardens","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.paramountplants.co.uk\/blog\/index.php\/sissinghurst-gardens\/","title":{"rendered":"Sissinghurst Gardens – an inspirational visit"},"content":{"rendered":"

Sissinghurst Gardens, iconic destination and one of the best known gardens in the UK.\u00a0Visiting in Autumn will give you so many inspiring ideas for planning your garden for next year.<\/p>\n

The Journey to Sissinghurst<\/strong><\/em><\/h2>\n

Setting off on a glorious warm and sunny late September morning, the drive through Kent was beautiful. The orchards are laden with apples and pears, the vines heavy with hops and the hedgerows full of jewel-like berries and bird song. It’s hard to believe that in just one hour from Central London, I\u2019m immersed in a landscape so quintessentially English. Kent has long been known as The Garden of England – this is H.E.Bates\u00a0country…<\/p>\n

\"Yew<\/a>

Yew Tree with low Lavender hedging, at the entrance to Sissinghurst Gardens<\/p><\/div>\n

Sissinghurst Castle and Garden<\/strong> <\/em><\/h4>\n

Now run by The National Trust, Sissinghurst was bought as an estate by Harold Nicholson and Vita Sackville-West in 1932. They moved here from Long Barn (also in Kent), after they fell in love with the estate and so began their journey to create this spectacularly romantic garden.<\/p>\n

\"Clipped<\/a>

16th Century Tower at Sissinghurst Gardens with Yew Hedging<\/p><\/div>\n

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The Sissinghurst Tower and houses are still partially surrounded by the original moat which dates back to Saxon times. A magnificent courtyard house was built in the late 1500\u2019s and there are several buildings still remaining from the Tudor period. The current house, tower and gardens remain at the heart of the estate which now operates as a working farm. Sheep, cattle and pigs are kept and there are woodland and lake walks, to explore\u00a0the farm beyond the garden walls.\u00a0Visiting in late September, the orchards are luscious with apples, crab apples and pears. The hives are buzzing and there is an\u00a0atmosphere of end of summer lazy days, perfect for a gentle stroll around a garden revealing\u00a0its hidden secrets.<\/p>\n

\"Archway<\/a>

Archway in walled gardens, clothed in climbers, lead you through the garden ‘rooms’ at Sissinghurst<\/p><\/div>\n

Sissinghurst’s Garden ‘Rooms’<\/strong><\/em><\/h4>\n

Flanked by the original stables (long since converted to \u2018the library\u2019) the gardens open up slowly and mysteriously. Constructed as a collection of garden rooms, there is a maze like quality to their discovery. The enormous Yew hedges<\/a> trimmed to right angle perfection, lead you from one \u2018room\u2019 to the next. Wrought iron gateways and Tudor timber doorways, entice you through secluded, ancient walled gardens.
\nThere are many perfectly placed vantage points – Lutyens benches, shady pergolas, ancient stone ledges, inviting you to perch and rest and appreciate the profusion and abundant planting. The constant humming of pollinators and singing birds is a reminder of how a garden should sound.<\/p>\n

\"Lutyens<\/a>

Lutyens bench offering a fabulous vantage point to sit and contemplate the garden at Sissinghurst<\/p><\/div>\n

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For gardeners and garden designers, Sissinghurst is an inspirational destination and testament to the partnership of Harold and Vita. Harold provided the architectural design and landscaping and Vita the planting, the resulting garden is a delight for the senses.<\/p>\n

The Creation Of Sissinghurst Garden<\/strong><\/em><\/h4>\n

Vita Sackville-West was a writer, poet and renowned member of \u2018The Bloomsbury Set\u2019 and it was only after her marriage to Harold Nicholson that she began gardening in earnest, when they began working together on the garden at\u00a0Long Barn. It was during the creation of the garden at Sissinghurst, that Vita began writing a\u00a0popular gardening column for The Observer, which she continued to write for many years.\u00a0Vita had definite rules which she employed in her garden at Sissinghurst\u00a0–<\/p>\n