Sissinghurst Castle. A garden I had failed to get to in many years. But I made it this May. A garden visit to be remembered, and one to get back to as soon as I get the opportunity. Sissinghurst is a great garden to visit with children. There is a lot to see, and many opportunities to get lost and be found!

It is the perfect garden to visit after Chelsea Flower Show. The borders are so full, so diverse and so floriferous- it gives the Chelsea gardens a run for their money. So much to see, and such a wonderful journey where you can experience the gardens from within, and also look down upon them.

Historically the site began as a pig farm and has been through a number of identities including a prisoner of war camp. The National Trust now manage the property whose last private owners were Vita Sackville-West and Harold Nicolson who created the now famous gardens.

The property is spread out and takes the form of farm buildings and the main house, with other ancillary buildings and houses dotted around. The estate runs to 460 acres, is managed by rangers and has tenant farmers. Much of the wider property is accessible via paths that take you through woods and around lakes in the beautiful Wealden countryside. 460 acres was a bit much for me to manage this particular day, but a good stroll about the gardens and buildings open to the public was both enthralling and inspiring.

*The gardens are full to bursting with seasonal wonders like these foxgloves, perfectly set off by the foliage of the ferns at their base.*

Long grass in the orchard creates a romantic, wilder feel to this part of the garden.

*Small paths and twists and turns, gaps in hedges and revealed views make this an exciting experience*

As a garden designer, visiting gardens of all eras and styles allows us to build on our knowledge and to take away idea for the studio. Studying paving patterns, using these images an conceptual images for clients, taking pictures of specific plant associations and colour combinations and also methods of gardening and garden planning is useful.

You definitely must go and immerse yourselves in stunning borders, wildflower meadows, lawns, kitchen gardens and orchards.

*Sissinghurt is home to a good proportion of wildflower meadows, a fabulous resource for native wildlife*

Dotted along the way are buildings to stick your head in, benches to sit on, and trees to sit under and throw down a rug and picnic.

Round the day off with a double scoop rich ice-cream, buy a bunch of cutting garden flowers, and then head home satisfied.

To find out more about the castle, when to visit and how to get there, see the National Trust website here.

Sissinghurst Castle - a National Trust Treasure