In 1991, in the aftermath of the Great Storms of 1987, Head Gardeners Jim Buckland and Sarah Wain began a programme of renovating works at West Dean Gardens. They have been the inspirational leaders of the professional garden team, bringing to the place zeal, imagination, deep horticultural knowledge and an ever-growing understanding and enthusiasm for … Continue reading
Tag Archives: gardens
Snowdrop Time
The gardeners at West Dean are set to welcome visitors back this weekend (re-opening Sunday 1st February). Childish excitement abounds when playing the ‘can-you-spot-it game?’ as bulbs erupt from their winter quarters on the lawns. Early spring is the best time to see the emerging displays of snowdrops and crocuses which carpet the lawns here, … Continue reading
Getting the Garden Ready for Winter
As temperatures plummet this time of the year the lights go back on in the cold frames at West Dean Gardens. It is essential to provide a minimum of frost protection for those border line hardy plants that are lined out to over-winter. Large mature plants of frost tender perennials, that have a semi-woody framework … Continue reading
October at West Dean
There is a wistful softness about golden October, a period that can produce some of our most congenial weather in which to enjoy the less urgent jobs of autumn such as lawn raking! Highly meditative if you allow yourself to be lost in its tranquil rhythm, or perhaps even better, picking apples and pears. So … Continue reading
West Dean Gardens – June 2014
Last winter’s rain has acted like rocket fuel to the gardens, there is fabulous growth on trees, shrubs and herbaceous perennials everywhere. As a result the early season wild flower display was floriferous in the extreme – always a glorious sight. Shortly it will be mown down (before it falls down!), however there will be … Continue reading