GARDENS & VINEYARDS
Horsham, winner of Britain in Bloom 2007 and South East In Bloom Competition in 2002, 2000, 1999, 1998 and 1997, takes pride in ensuring that its streets and parks are a mass of colourful flowering glory during the summer months. Throughout the year, the walled garden of Horsham Museum and Horsham Park's scented gardens provide a wealth of interest and colour.
Great Gardens of Sussex: Sussex has a unique collection of magnificent gardens all within a few minutes drive of eachother. These include: Wakehurst Place, High Beeches, Nymans, Leonardslee and Borde Hill Gardens. Set in hundreds of acres of unspoilt Sussex countryside, these botanically rich gardens, steeped in gardening history, can be enjoyed by all. If you love plants you’ll find them in abundance here, from small wild flowers to the some of the largest trees in Britain. Many of the gardens also have extra features including beautiful lakes, a sculpture garden, a vintage car collection, a unique dolls house display and more. A new website has now been set up which give full details of these magnificent gardens including opening times, prices, details of their special collections and an events calendar.
Leonardslee Gardens, Lower Beeding near Horsham is one of the most attractive gardens in the country, specialising in an abundance of exotic and colourful flora and fauna, especially rhododendrons and azaleas as well as a number of "semi-wild" wallabies. The range of flowering plants can best be appreciated in the late spring and early summer, while the 'autumn tints' are superb in October. Seasonal events are offered as well as permanent special displays including vintage cars and a bonzai tree collection. Telephone (01403) 891212 or visit http://www.leonardslee.com/.
Parham House and Gardens. This award winning walled, formal garden covers over seven acres of land and can be visited independently of the nearby Elizabethan house. Parham House and its award winning gardens are set in almost 1000 acres of open parkland including some 300 acres of ancient park within which fallow deer roam. A low brick maze has also been recently built which can baffle both adults and children alike. Telephone (01903) 744888 or visit http://www.parhaminsussex.co.uk/. NB: Check out the new Heritage Trail which has recently been produced for Parham Park and can be downloaded from the Rural Ways website.
St Mary's House and Garden, in Bramber, is a beautiful 15th century timber house with a recently restored Victorian garden once lost to rack and ruin. Limited opening hours. Telephone (01903) 816295 or visit http://www.stmarysbramber.co.uk/
Nutbourne Manor Vineyard, one of several successful Sussex Vineyards, is beautifully situated in the countryside to the east of Pulborough and is one of the largest vineyards in Sussex open to the public. Telephone (01798) 812194.
Hollygate Cactus Nursery at Ashington is a world famous cactus garden with a unique collection of over 30,000 cactus plants. This collection has been built up over many years and is now well known throughout the world. Displayed in over 10,000 square feet of greenhouses the Nursery features many rare plants from the more arid areas of the world such as USA, Mexico, South America, Africa etc. and the more tropical jungle cactus of Central and South America. It has featured on various radio and tv programmes as well as numerous gardening magazines. 1000's of cactus are also for sale. Telephone (01903) 892930 or visit http://www.hollygatecactus.co.uk/
Horsham District in Bloom - During the spring and summer months colourful planting schemes, spectacular hanging baskets and high quality landscaping enhance the street scene in towns and villages alike. Over recent years the horticultural excellence and quality of the environment in general has led to spectacular success in the prestigious South East in Bloom competition around the Horsham District. Horsham Town, Bramber, Steyning and Henfield have all won their respective categories, while other village entries have been praised for their efforts. In 2001, Horsham achieved international success when the town became the only place in the world to win two awards at the Nations in Bloom competition!
The National Gardens Scheme provides an excellent opportunity to view the gardens in private ownership, which are not normally open to the public. These gardens are open on limited days and details of the many gardens in the area can be obtained from the Tourist Information Centre. Telephone (01403) 211661 or visit http://www.ngs.org.uk/