Inspiring English Gardens To Welcome The Spring In Style

The spring season will shortly be in full bloom as we count down to April and May. It’s the ideal time to visit a public garden, whether you’re a keen gardener or just want to enjoy the warmer weather in tranquil natural surroundings. 

The south east of England has some particularly beautiful gardens that are within an easy distance of London and the surrounding areas. Here’s a look at some of the best spring destinations for nature lovers. If you are travelling as a group or just don’t want the hassle of driving or public transport, coach hire is an excellent option.

Kew Gardens, Richmond, London

The world-famous Kew Gardens has over 50,000 living plants and is just a 30 minute journey from central London. There are several events happening this spring, including Sounds of Blossom (15 March- 6 April), a special soundtrack of uplifting melodies composed by students from the Royal College of Music. 

The specially commissioned tunes will accompany you as you stroll through the cherry blossoms and magnolia trees, and is sure to be a relaxing and soul-restoring experience. Between 12 April and 14 September, there will be The Power of Trees exhibition, which includes inspiring and uplifting work by Finnish visual artist Eija-Liisa Ahtila, plus more. 

If you are looking for a way to keep the kids entertained over Easter, then Supertato at Kew is the place for you! This is a family-friendly event that will help youngsters understand how fruits and vegetables grow with the help of some veggie superheros. 

Supertato’s Super Squad are based on the best-selling books by Sue Hendra and Paul Linnet, and they will be at Kew with some fun hands-on activities and adventures. There will be a dressing up zone, and kids are encouraged to wear colourful veggie-inspired outfits. 

Great Dixter House and Gardens, Rye, East Sussex

The gardens at Great Dixter are quintessential English cottage gardens, and they reopen for the season on April 1. The imposing timber frame house was restored by Sir Edwin Lutyens in the 15th century, and the garden was designed by the celebrated horticulturist and writer Christopher Lloyd (1921-2006).

The gardens completely surround the house, so you can make a pleasant circular walk as you explore the diverse features that are characterised by a naturalistic country garden design. There are wildflower meadows, orchards, lawns, a horse pond, a solar garden, and much more that will be springing into new life. 

Between the 5-6 April, the Great Dixter Spring Plant Fair will be taking place. There will be stands from over 20 different nurseries from around the country, with talks and demonstrations, and the opportunity to stock up on some quality specimens for your garden ahead of the summer. 

RHS Wisley, Woking, Surrey

RHS Wisley is considered to be one of the greatest gardens in the world, and it is the flagship garden of the Royal Horticultural Society, attracting over one million visitors every year. It’s a massive 97 hectares, so it’s a good idea to plan your visit in advance to prioritise the areas you’d most like to see. 

Highlights include the Jellicoe Canal, which is home to one the UK’s largest collection of waterlily cultivars, and Battleston Hill, which consists of 20 acres of rhododendrons, camellias, magnolias, and hydrangeas. It’s particularly colourful in spring as these trees come into bloom. Look out for the salmon pink foliage of the Chinese cedar Flamingo.

There’s also woodlands, a rock garden, and a giant glasshouse about the size of ten tennis courts, housing exotic flowers and plants from around the world. You’ll find that there are always plenty of talks, exhibitions and family friendly events going on at the gardens, so check the website for the latest information.