KIC Garden visits

Each month we visit one of the many beautiful and accessible gardens in and surrounding Kent. Our May Garden Visit was to The Chauffeurs Flat, Tandridge  in Surrey, west of Oxted as part of the NGS scheme. We arrived into the impressive entrance to the former circular garaging and servant’s quarters of an old house. These have now been converted into homes with wedge -shaped gardens running down and across a south -facing ridge. The garden is 1.5 acres of charming, quirky paths opening up to fantastic views right across to the Ashdown Forest. Many structures and sculptures often made with recycled materials sit in flower beds or create surprise. Planting is varied, with many climbing plants including white and lilac wisteria, climbing roses and wild meadows of buttercup and grasses. The garden is an interesting mixture of planting and very imaginative design. Our group had a lovely sunny day for our visit and enjoyed meeting the very friendly owners who have spent 46 years creating the garden. In April we visited the tulip festival at Pashley Manor garden near Ticehurst