Gardens to visit
AUTUMN glory
The season offers a new chapter for garden lovers in Kent, as Dawn Kingsford discovers at Emmetts Garden.
With its expansive pinetum, Emmetts Garden is the perfect place to marvel at autumn’s rich russets and golds, while taking in panoramic views across The Weald.
The National Trust ranks the four-and- a-half acre gardens — along with those at Scotney Castle — as the top place to celebrate autumn in all its glory.
Once owned by Frederic Lubbock, the charming Edwardian estate is known for its array of autumn colour. Fostered as a plantsman’s paradise in the late 19th century and now owned by the National Trust, the garden is teeming with rare and exotic trees and shrubs that come in to their prime at this time of year.
It incorporates a quintessential English
rose garden, alpine and rock garden, and its south garden is brimming with impressive hardy exotic trees and shrubs, with 200 acres of woodland beyond.
The garden’s Japanese Katsura tree is the flavour of the moment — not only does it turn yellow and orange in
autumn but gives off the aroma of burnt sugar, similar to the smell of candyfloss.
A great place for the whole family, including the dog — it is one of only a handful of National Trust properties that permit your pet on a lead in all parts of the grounds — Emmetts’ wide open spaces, outdoor seating and takeaway refreshments provide the perfect place to let off steam.
This autumn, the family Hallowe’en pumpkin trail enables adults and children alike to explore the garden, spot spooky items, answer sinister questions and pick up some Hallowe’en facts and prizes. Later in the year children can take part in the Christmas elf trail, helping Father Christmas’ elves prepare for the big day.
New for this year is the children’s wild
play area, offering youngsters a chance to clamber and get in touch with nature, or to borrow games such as giant dominoes and jenga, kites and cricket sets, while parents can look on from the nearby seated refreshment area.
Things to do
Family Hallowe’en pumpkin trail, 10am-5pm, from Saturday, October 24 to Sunday, November 1. Trails are £1 each, available from the visitor centre.
Christmas elf trail, from December 1 to January 3 2016.
Guided tours — Monday-Friday at 2pm, discovering the latest shrubs, flowers and trees.
Find it Emmetts Garden, Ide Hill, Sevenoaks, is open daily (except Dec 24 and 25) until Jan 3, from 10am to 5pm,
and then closed until Feb 27. Entry is £8.30 for adults and £4.15 for children from five to 16, including gift aid. For details visit
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/emmetts-garden.
26 Mid Kent Living
Images courtesy of: Bench (autumn scene) — National Trust/D Sellman Right panel images — Henry Jarvis
Gardener’s question time
- with Emmetts’ head gardener Simon Walker
Your top tip? Spend some time in the garden, not gardening, just enjoying.
Least favourite job? Digging out brambles.
Favourite flower? I’m a sucker for a pink tulip.
Flowers, fruit or veg? Fruit. I used to help grow peaches, it’s a real art and I love stuff like that.
What’s your busiest month? For us at Emmetts Garden it’s February, just before we reopen to the public.
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