A Week of Garden Celebrations at Leeds Castle 24th to 30th June 2019
Leeds Castle in Kent is set within 500 acres of beautiful grounds and formal gardens in the very heart of the Garden of England.
As part of exciting events during a week of garden celebrations to mark the Castle’s 900th anniversary, a grand redesign project is underway. On the afternoon of 25th June, HRH Princess Alexandra, Patron of the Leeds Castle Foundation, will join with us and visitors to formally rename and open the gardens as ‘The Princess Alexandra Gardens’. The former Woodland Gardens will be brought to life over the coming years and separated into six exciting new areas, the first for visitors to view being the Oriental Garden, followed by the Jungle Garden. Working with external consultants, the ancient landscape is being transformed to bring a diverse mixture of new planting, colourful blooms, varying textures and structures designed to take visitors on a sensory journey beside the River Len as they make their way from the entrance to the Castle itself.
Looking back into the history of the landscape, records show that the development of the more formal gardens at Leeds Castle date back to the 19th Century when the water cascade was built in 1827. These new garden areas build on established Leeds Castle gardens each with their own distinctive planting schemes that offer interest all year round. The subtle Castle Island garden creates an ancient feel with an abundance of traditional flowers in whites and creams. In contrast the Barbican rockery boasts flora from around the world with Turkish bulbs and Australian ferns. Meanwhile the beautiful Culpeper Garden, created by Russell Page, is in the English cottage style with its low box hedges and abundance of colours and shapes. However for garden enthusiasts looking for more exotic plants, the Lady Baillie Gardens contain an impressive array of palms, succulents and cactuses.
During the Royal Garden Celebration Week, running from 24th to the 30th June 2019, visitors will be given the opportunity to experience hands-on demonstrations, with Head Gardener Andrew McCoryn, where budding garden enthusiasts will be able to take home some practical gardening tips and gain new expertise on horticulture.
There’s something for everyone, with workshops from ‘How to look after exotic plants in the Lady Baillie Mediterranean Terraces’ to ‘Growing bedding plants successfully in the Fairfax Courtyard’. Visitors can book onto a watercolour workshop to learn from an expert on painting plants and flowers, or a photo-walk around the estate where a professional will guide visitors in getting the best images of summer blooms.
Find out more about Leeds Castle here
GET TICKETS FOR THE ROYAL GARDEN CELEBRATION WEEK HERE
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