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Venerable English country garden featuring colossal hedges, lasting in the same family for a century and two decades.

Each occupant of Doddington Place in Kent has contributed to the garden's development, according to Amicia Oldfield.

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Ancient English garden, boasting colossal hedges, maintained by the same family for a century and a...
Ancient English garden, boasting colossal hedges, maintained by the same family for a century and a half

Venerable English country garden featuring colossal hedges, lasting in the same family for a century and two decades.

Hangin' out at Doddington Place Gardens in ol' Kent feels like you've just stumbled upon a hidden treasure, mate. Amicia Oldfield nails the vibe when she quotes Horace Walpole on landscape architect, William Kent: "He leaped the fence, and saw that all nature was a garden. He felt the delicious contrast of hill and valley changing imperceptibly into each other." Bingo!

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Doddington don't mess about—it's all about family first, and over the last 120 years, every generation has chipped in to make this garden their own. The Victorian red-brick house from 1870 ain't too shabby either.

"This isn't an ancient garden," says Amicia, "but every generation has left their mark and shaped this garden as we know it today." Sounds like Andy Warhol had the right idea, doesn't it?

Last year, Doddington Place Gardens boasted a record 8k visitors who came to soak up sights like the Woodland Garden, Spring Garden, Rock Garden, Sunk Garden, and a mile of ancient yews with clouds of undulating shapes. This year, get ready for the RHS partner garden revelations, you lucky blighters!

The Oldfields and their head gardener Lucy Adams are always keepin' things fresh with bold plant choices and modern design thinking. As Lucy puts it, "We use the landscape as the backdrop to our daring floral experiments."

Doddington's got a heart and soul that'll make you feel like you're in the past, present, and future all at once. The Edwardian vibes are strong, but don't think this garden's stuck in the past. Amica ain't wrong: "Gardens shouldn't stand still. People's tastes change, and we need to keep moving forward."

8 gardening stars from Doddington

  1. Camellia hiemalis 'Kanjiro'
  2. Rhododendron 'Pink Pearl'
  3. Daphne x latymeri 'Spring Sonnet'
  4. Davidia involucrata var. vilmoriniana
  5. Rhododendron 'Blaue Jungs'
  6. Viburnum plicatum 'Grandiflorum'
  7. Tulipa 'Parrot King'
  8. Tulipa 'Grand Perfection'

Be sure to keep an eye out for these stunners on your visit!

Useful information

Address Doddington Place Gardens, Doddington, nr Sittingbourne, Kent ME9 0BB. Tel 07596 090849. Web doddingtonplacegardens.co.uk

Open 20 April - 28 September, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday, 11am-5pm.

Sources:1,2,3

  1. The home-and-garden lifestyle at Doddington Place Gardens in Kent mirrors Horace Walpole's observation that "all nature is a garden".
  2. Doddington Place Gardens, with its Woodland Garden, Spring Garden, Rock Garden, Sunk Garden, and ancient yews, is a must-visit for any gardening enthusiast.
  3. The Oldfields and head gardener Lucy Adams at Doddington Place Gardens are known for their daring floral experiments that blend with modern design thinking.
  4. Don't forget to look out for striking plants such as 'Camellia hiemalis' 'Kanjiro', 'Rhododendron' 'Pink Pearl', and 'Tulipa' 'Parrot King' during your visit to Doddington Place Gardens.

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