Sissinghurst: the iconic garden
25.07.2023 - 17:03
/ theenglishgarden.co.uk
The Elizabethan Tower where Vita had her study. Credit: Shutterstock
The Sissinghurst estate, home to Vita Sackville-West and Harold Nicholson from the 1930s, is vast at 450 acres, but the gardens cover a manageable 5 acres, and it is easy to imagine oneself going around these very agreeable spaces in pyjamas, for it has a relaxed, feather-filled feel to it, with scent in the air and the sound of bees buzzing from every direction.
The gardens lead from the main entrance in an easterly direction and are formal, yet relaxed. A series of garden rooms make the space feel much larger, while an axial design and crossing linear paths invite the visitor to wander to its many parts. Although the gardens are large, the borders within the garden rooms are manageable and will fit into most outdoor spaces. Nicholson was the master planner, while Sackville-West was the plants-woman. A perfect match for a perfect family garden.
Sissinghurst gardens. Credit: Shutterstock
To see the garden from above is a magical thing, despite the 78 steps inside the tower, but from this vantage point the different spaces and shapes can be seen. The top courtyard with perfect lawn and purple border lead to the lower courtyard or Tower Lawn. Different planting schemes keep this garden evolving, while the White Garden, Rose Garden, Rondel, Cottage Garden, Lime Walk, Nuttery, Azalea Bank, Herb Garden, Moat Walk, Moat, Yew Walk, Erechteum, Delos, Meadow and Orchard form the main features within the garden. Outside, in the far south east corner are the lakes, while to the north-west is the Vegetable Garden.
Like many of the great English gardens it is possible to snuggle up close to the plants. Vibrant shades of orange and lime are seen in the Cottage