Eynsford

Sunday 30th April 2006 : 2pm - 5pm

The Venue Set within 120 acres of beautiful countryside, in the heart of the Darent Valley, Lullingstone Castle is one of England's oldest estates, recorded in the Domesday Book and known to have been popular with both Henry VIII and Queen Anne. Indeed, Queen Anne's bathhouse can still be found in the grounds, as can an eighteenth-century ice-house. The current house dates from 1497 and overlooks a 15-acre lake. However, it is the two-acre walled garden that has been the recent focus of interest as plant hunter Tom Hart-Dyke has been realising his dream of creating a 'World Garden of Plants in honour of the intrepid plant hunters of the past. This will show visitors where so many of the plants we take for granted, and think of as quintessentially English, such as roses, actually originate from. The garden, which will eventually house more than 10,000 species, is still being planted, but it will be interesting to see how it is progressing at the start of only its second season. Lullingstone Castle [website] Directions Eynsford is on the A225 Sevenoaks to Dartford road, north of Otford and just south of Farningham which is on the A20. From Otford, the castle should be signed to your left as you approach Eynsford; from Farningham, pass Eynsford Station and the castle should be signed to your right. Nurseries Nurseries booked to attend the sale include - Bramley Cottage Nursery Brickwall Cottage Nursery * Charity Corner Nursery Cottage Garden Geraniums Dawn 'n Dusk Fletchers Nursery Gould Farm Halls Court Geraniums In The Border Pineview Plants Plaxtol Nursery Silver Spray The Old Walled Garden Wallace Plants * Indicates nursery with details listed on the [nurseries page] Sundries A Bone Engineering - Wrought Iron Furniture Rokatha - Contemporary Metalwork Copyright ©2006 The Hardy Plant Society Kent Group