Warm September days are a wonderful time to visit gardens when an abundance of summer colour can still be enjoyed, with many plants having a final flourish before dying down later in the season. A full list of September Kent gardens opening for the National Garden Scheme can be found here, including the iconic Sissinghurst Castle Garden: September open gardens in Kent
The Copper House
A new garden opening for the National Garden Scheme this year is The Copper House near Benenden, where you’ll find a modern flower garden planted to suit the striking architecture of the house. The planting is packed full of annuals, perennials, bulbs and shrubs, as well as a small wildflower meadow, orchard and three revitalised ponds to encourage wildlife. Please note that parking is limited so all tickets need to be pre-booked via the website: www.ngs.org.uk
The Copper House, Hinksden Road, Benenden, Cranbrook, TN17 4LE
Located close to Hinksden Dairy
Saturday 9 September & Sunday 10 September, 11.00am–3.00pm.
Cream teas will be served. Dog friendly.
Admission: Adult: £5.00. Child: Free.
This garden also opens By Arrangement until end of September 2023 for groups of between 10 and 15. Please see website for details.
Churchmans Farm
Churchmans Farm near Faversham is also opening for the first time for the National Garden Scheme this month. Here you’ll find a dry and sunny valley garden with paths around the adjoining lake and fields, where encouraging wildlife is a priority. The chalk and flint soil has limited shade so dahlias and salvias grow here in abundance. By the house is a more traditional English country garden, with a large lawn, rose beds and a very pretty herbaceous border.
Churchmans Farm, Stalisfield Rd, Faversham, ME13 0HA
Friday 8 September & Saturday 9 September, 11.00am–4.00pm.
Homemade teas will be served. Picnics are welcome by the lake. Plants for sale.
Admission: Adult: £6.00. Child: Free.
Accessibility: Wheelchair access to main garden only.
Old Bladbean Stud makes shortlist to find the Nation’s Favourite Garden
The beautiful garden at Old Bladbean Stud, near Elham in the heart of the Kent Downs, has made the shortlist to find the Nation’s Favourite Garden, a competition run by The English Garden magazine in collaboration with the National Garden Scheme. :Voting closes on 30 September. The garden owner, Carol Bruce, has not only created a 3-acre garden from scratch but also does all the gardening work herself. On hearing the news of reaching the shortlist, Carol commented:
“I didn’t even know there was a competition so it was quite a shock, but I am really touched to realise that people care about my garden. It is so validating to feel that my passion and commitment to the garden are recognised and valued, and I know it will spur me on.”
To vote for Old Bladbean Stud, or indeed any of the other 27 gardens, please visit theenglishgarden.co.uk/ngs between now and 30 September to place your vote.
Please visit the website to search for a garden open near to you: Kent NGS open gardens
About the National Garden Scheme
The National Garden Scheme gives visitors unique, affordable access to over 3,500 exceptional private gardens and raises impressive amounts of money for nursing and health charities through admissions, teas and cake.
Thanks to the generosity of garden owners, volunteers and visitors we have donated over £65 million to nursing and health charities. Founded in 1927 to support district nurses, we are now the most significant charitable funder of nursing in the UK and our beneficiaries include Macmillan Cancer Support, Marie Curie, Hospice UK and The Queen’s Nursing Institute.
The National Garden Scheme doesn’t just open beautiful gardens for charity – we are passionate about the physical and mental health benefits of gardens too. We fund projects which promote gardens and gardening as therapy, and in 2017, we launched our annual Gardens and Health Week to raise awareness of the topic. To find your perfect garden, visit ngs.org.uk, download the National Garden Scheme app or purchase the National Garden Scheme’s Garden Visitor’s Handbook, which is published annually and available via ngs.org.uk/shop
