Sandling Park Garden Kent Open One Day Only Sunday 11th May 2014

Sandling Park Garden- Open Sunday 11th May 2014
10am – 5pm
Admission £4 Children Free

Open for One Day Only in aid of Pilgrims Hospices

Sandling, Hythe CT21 4HN

Allow 2 hours for the garden tour

Tea, coffee and hand made cakes will be available

Free Car Parking
The garden is situated 1 1⁄2 miles NW of Hythe. Entrance from the A20 only. From M20 J11 turn east (left) onto A20 towards Folkestone. Entrance 1⁄4 mile.

Sorry No dogs allowed

Woodland Garden unsuitable for wheelchair access

A beautiful 25acre woodland garden giving a magnificent display of Rhododendrons and Azaleas.

Sandling Park has been a jewel in the Kentish crown for centuries. The original house was built by Bonomi, an Italian Architect in 1796, but was sadly destroyed by enemy action in 1942.

The present house is not open to the public, as it is home for the Hardy family. It was designed and built by the Architect Quinlan Terry in 1999. The garden and lawns as they are today were largely constructed by Lawrence Hardy when he moved to Sandling in 1897. He realised that Rhododendrons and Azaleas would flourish in the area and his foresight has now grown in to a magnificent 25 acre woodland garden.

Unfortunately, Sandling Park garden suffered badly in the storm of 1987. In those few catastrophic hours, more than 200 mature trees crashed down, destroying the beauty surrounding them. The Hardy family set about the task of recovering from the damage by embarking on a considerable replanting programme. Many of the re-planted rare species were donated by Houses and Gardens across the country and in 2002, the garden opened tentatively to the public.

It is now in full flourish and the magnificent sight of 25 acres of Rhododendrons, Azaleas and other acid soil loving species can be enjoyed by all. Visitors will be welcome every Sunday and Wednesday throughout the month of May. Proceeds from one of those days on Sunday 11th will be given to charity through the National Gardens Scheme. It is with regret that the woodland garden is not suitable for wheelchair users and dogs cannot be admitted.

The visitor, for an entrance fee of just £4, will be able to wander for hours enjoying the peace and tranquillity of Sandling Park. This is a garden for both the connoisseur and keen amateur alike. The Hardy family and their dedicated team are always working hard to find extra areas of the garden to be explored.

A recently opened area of Sandling Park is “The Mound” which has been planted with some interesting trees as well as Rhododendrons, following the extensive re-planting. This is an artificial mound, put in when the railway originally came through, to protect the old house from the site and noise of steam trains!

When the time comes for your visit to end, you will walk further up the rear lawns to see the Canon Balls which were made at the Low Moor Ironworks in Yorkshire. No mortar could be made large enough to fire the largest ball, which weighs 1.5 tons!

The Yew Hedge planted in 1900 leads into the Rose Garden, where you will see Tree Paeonies, Viburnums and other interesting shrubs.

This exquisite jewel is situated 1½ north west of Hythe, with the entrance off the A20. For those visiting by motorway, they should leave the M20 at Junction 11 and turn East on to the A20 where they will find the entrance is ½ mile. A truly remarkable experience, full of colour and bloom, awaits visitors every Sunday and Wednesday between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. in May.