New Centenary Garden in Autumn

A riot of autumn colour awaits visitors to Hole Park Gardens in Rolvenden throughout the year.

A variety of new garden and wellbeing events have been introduced to the existing events programme at Hole Park for all to enjoy during the opening season from 1 April to the end of October.  Choose from educational workshops with the gardening team and enjoy nature and wildlife events such as the Bumblebee experience.  Take part in art and yoga days and learn about the fascinating history of Hole Park with owner Edward Barham.   Events can be booked via the website www.holepark.com

This year will also be the first opportunity for visitors to see the impact of the impressive planting scheme in the new Centenary Walled Garden, following the completion of its hard landscaping last year.  The formal space, adjacent to the main house, has been created in celebration of 100 years since the founder of the gardens, Colonel Barham, the Great Grandfather of the current owner Edward Barham, first opened the gardens to the public.

The gardens and tearooms are now open on Wednesdays and Thursdays until the end of October and on Sundays in October.

Opening hours are 11am to 6pm.

The circular network of hard paths enables visitors of all ages, including those who require a wheelchair, to enjoy the gardens.  Wheelchairs may be reserved free of charge and there are full disability WC facilities.

Light lunches and delicious homemade cakes are available in the coach house and local apple juice, beer and homemade jam and honey can be purchased.  There is also a small plant stall next to the Coach House during Spring opening.

Admission in advance through the website: £11 prebooked for adults £12 on the gate and £2.50 for children (5 to 17). 

Adult Season ticket £30 each.  Child Season Ticket £8.

There is a dedicated tearoom for groups, free parking for cars and coaches and conducted tours can also be arranged for groups by prior arrangement.  Groups can request a Guided Garden Tour for £4pp (£40 minimum fee applies).

Hole Park is situated 4 miles west of Tenterden on the B2086 between Rolvenden and Benenden. 

For further information about Hole Park can be viewed on www.holepark.com  Group enquiries to events@holepark.com  01580 241 344.Spring Highlights

Visitors to the gardens in early April will see swathes of crocuses, narcissi and daffodils.  A pretty ‘Camelia Walk’ with shade-loving hellebores takes walkers down a path flanked by flowering cherry trees.  Before the bluebells take centre stage, the meadows and woodland floor are a sea of primroses and dainty blue scillas.  Magnificent mature magnolia trees will also be flowering throughout the gardens and woodlands.

In May the gardens are full of tulips, roses and clematis and the vineyard garden has several impressive standard wisterias to admire.  Rhododendrons and azaleas flower throughout the gardens and the delicate wild orchids will start to flower in the meadows alongside the architectural spires and star-shaped flowers of ‘camassia’. The sundial garden provides an interesting view over the Wealden countryside through an oval shaped window in the topiary hedge.

 Summer Highlights

Visitors to the gardens in the summer months can see the recently renovated long herbaceous borders.  Half the border has been replanted in the original pink and blue planting scheme first used by the late Christopher Lloyd when he first designed the border at Hole Park.  The remainder of the border was replanted using the original colour scheme of yellow and white. 

 Late Summer and Autumn Highlights

The late flowering agapanthus ‘Hole Park Blue’ and colourful exotic border with its cannas and dahlias are an impressive sight in late summer before the reds, yellows and golds of autumn appear bringing colour and interest to the gardens in October.