Outside London! Pashley Manor Gardens

A change is as good as a rest, as the saying goes.  Very occasionally we Londoners like to venture beyond the extremities of the tube map and visit The Countryside.

This week I had to make a trip to Kent and as I'm always on the lookout for new gardens to visit I'd noticed that Pashley Manor Gardens in East Sussex was on my route.  It was too good an opportunity to miss so I popped in to take a look.

The house was built in the Tudor period with a Georgian facade added in 1720.  As it's a family home it isn't open to the public but the exterior is glorious and provides a splendid backdrop to the gardens.

Each summer there's an exhibition of sculpture in the grounds and I was keen to see the pieces in the outdoor setting.  I wasn't disappointed.  There were various styles on show and the works were carefully placed so that some were took centre stage and some you discover as you wander along the pathways.

The gardens themselves offer some secluded woodland trails with natural planting as well as sweeping lawns, a fountain and walled, formal gardens close to the house.  Walking the paths felt like a treasure hunt with something to draw your attention at every turn.  Luckily my timing coincided with the magnificent collection of roses being in full bloom.  Their scent was glorious and they looked so romantic.

I envy the team of gardeners who keep it all in such splendour.  I watched one gardener doing some pruning and her care and attention to detail was admirable.  She would assess what needed to be removed, make a snip or two and stand back to assess again.

There is a lovely cafe with a terrace overlooking the lawn down to the pond.  I had a generous portion of smoked chicken with a selection of fresh salads and a zingy ginger beer.  There's also a very tempting spread of cakes that all looked homemade.

Cafe visitors are entertained by ducks who come up onto the terrace to chance their luck in persuading visitors to part with some bread.  They are very well mannered and will patiently stand next to your seat, gently brushing your leg with a beak lest you forget they are there.  They made everyone smile although a couple of them were especially cheeky and had to be chased out of the cafe by a member of staff.

As always there is a gift shop that serves as the entrance and exit.  This one is better than most and there are some lovely items so worth a little look.  There's also a small array of plants on sale for those preferring a souvenir with foliage.

Pashley is one of the loveliest gardens I've visited.  They have a series of special events on through the spring/summer months so take a look at http://www.pashleymanorgardens.com/ for more information.  Admission is £9.00 for adults, £5 for children under 16 and free for children under 6.  There's free parking with an adjacent picnic area.

Pashley Manor Gardens, Ticehurst, East Sussex TN5 7HE.