Our Open Gardens season returns for 2023 with a full season of events! From lakes to sculptures, exotic fruits to rose gardens, formal beds to wildflower meadows, there really is something for everyone at our beautiful Sussex gardens.
Many of our gardens will also feature wonderful extras, such as live bands, interesting stalls, delicious home-baked cakes and refreshments, informational talks and more.
It really is the perfect summer’s day out, and we can’t wait to welcome you back to a full season this year. No pre-booking is required – you can turn up on the day and make an entry donation.
The gardens
Squirrels
Saturday 15th April 11am - 4pm
The Street, Arlington, BN26 6RX
Medium-size garden with far-reaching views to the Downs and the Long Man of Wilmington, with two cherry trees, a variety of Camellias and Azaleas, along with many spring bulbs and a herbaceous border.
| Refreshments | Yes |
| Stalls | No |
| Dogs allowed | No (except assistance dogs) |
| Wheelchair accessible | No |
| Parking | On street |
Carters Corner Farm
Saturday 22nd April 11am - 4pm
Cowbeech Hill, Cowbeech, Hailsham, BN27 4JA
A large country garden with a small lake, parterre, large beds of mixed planting and a Rose garden. There is an 8-acre Bluebell wood to explore and an attached smallholding with friendly ponies, pygmy goats and alpacas.
| Refreshments | Yes |
| Stalls | Yes |
| Dogs allowed | Yes (on short leads) |
| Wheelchair accessible | Yes |
| Parking | On site |
Bates Green
Wednesday 26th April 10am - 4pm
Tye Hill Road, Arlington, BN26 6SH
Bates Green Garden, now an RHS Partner Garden, is a naturalistic garden in a rural setting. Divided into three distinct areas offering a sensory experience with plants providing colour, scent and texture in all seasons. The Wildflower Meadow has a mown path through its five acres, with seating. St Wilfrid’s will be providing refreshments for the 50th Bluebell Walk and this will be the NHS Thank You Day, with free entry upon presenting your NHS ID badge. Entry to Bates Green Garden is by donation to the hospice.
The ‘Ukeholics’ ukulele band will be providing entertainment on this date, from 2pm.
| Refreshments | Yes |
| Stalls | No |
| Dogs allowed | No (except assistance dogs) |
| Wheelchair accessible | Yes |
| Parking | On site |
Cowbeech House
Saturday 13th May 11am - 4pm
Cowbeech House, Cowbeech, BN27 4JF
A garden with a collection of fascinating sculptures, a large wildlife pond, six waterfalls and a grape vine in the Edwardian greenhouse. The small vestry/chapel in the northern corner (under repair at present), a classic car collection and lots more to explore.
| Refreshments | Yes |
| Stalls | No |
| Dogs allowed | No (except assistance dogs) |
| Wheelchair accessible | Yes |
| Parking | On street only - Please car share if possible |
Sunniva Harte’s Garden
Sunday 28th May 11am - 4pm
Oak Gate Hankham Street, Hankham, BN24 5BG
An English country garden, well planted with an artist’s studio and far-reaching views over Pevensey Marshes.
| Refreshments | Yes |
| Stalls | No |
| Dogs allowed | Yes (on short leads) |
| Wheelchair accessible | No |
| Parking | On street |
Sherrington Manor
Saturday 3rd June 11am - 4pm
Sherrington Manor, Selmeston, BN26 6UB
Attractive gardens and grounds in a glorious rural setting with many distinctive features, including a lake, colourful borders, mixed shrubs, sculptures and an orchard.
Stardust Music Duo will be providing entertainment on this date from 11am, with the Ukeholics ukulele band playing from 2pm.
| Refreshments | Yes |
| Stalls | Yes |
| Dogs allowed | No (except assistance dogs) |
| Wheelchair accessible | Yes |
| Parking | On site |
Friston Place
Saturday 17th June 11am - 4pm
Friston Place, Friston, BN20 0AH
Hidden in the Downs, this beautiful garden has large herbaceous borders, a very formal Italian garden planted with Thyme, a vegetable garden and a flint walled rose garden. At the edge of the garden is a new arboretum planted with 45 cherry trees, with more trees to come.
Stardust Music Duo will be providing entertainment on this date from 11am, with the Ukeholics ukulele band playing from 2pm.
There will also be a fascinating talk about bees from Talha, at around 1pm, by the refreshments.
| Refreshments | Yes |
| Stalls | Yes |
| Dogs allowed | No (except assistance dogs) |
| Wheelchair accessible | No |
| Parking | On site |
St Wilfrid’s Hospice Gardens
Wednesday 5rd July 10am – 3pm
Tours by appointment, please phone 01323 434224 or email fundraising@stwhospice.org
St Wilfrid’s Hospice, 1 Broadwater Way, Eastbourne, BN22 9PZ
| Refreshments | Yes |
| Stalls | No |
| Dogs allowed | No (except assistance dogs) |
| Wheelchair accessible | Yes |
| Parking | On site |
Waldron Gardens
Wednesday 12th July 11am – 4pm
Rafters, Whitehouse Lane, Waldron TN21 0QY
& The Old House, Waldron TN21 0QX
Visit two beautiful gardens in the picturesque village of Waldron. Light refreshments will be available at Rafters garden, along with a plant stall from Rapkyn’s Nursery. If you would like to have lunch at The Star Inn, please book ahead on 01435 812495.
| Refreshments | Yes |
| Stalls | No |
| Dogs allowed | No (except assistance dogs) |
| Wheelchair accessible | No |
| Parking | On street |
Longleys Farmhouse
Saturday 15th and Sunday 16th July 11am – 5pm both days
Longleys Farmhouse, Harebeating Lane Hailsham, BN27 1ER
An 18th-century farmhouse set in the peaceful rural countryside. The home of artist Veronica van Eijk, with plenty of places to sit, relax and enjoy the garden art and sculptures. There is the opportunity to take refreshments across the wildflower meadow, by the pond or under the oaks, surrounded by wildlife.
| Refreshments | Yes |
| Stalls | No |
| Dogs allowed | Yes (on short leads) |
| Wheelchair accessible | Yes |
| Parking | On site |
Limekiln Farm
Saturday 29th July 11am – 4pm
Limekiln Farm, Chalvington Road, Chalvington, BN27 3TA
Flint walls enclose the main lawn, herbaceous borders and rose garden. With a Nepeta-lined courtyard, informal pond and specimen trees, including a very ancient oak and a newly planted prairie garden. Fascinating Physic Garden with talks at 11.30am and 2.30pm on the day about medicinal plants from the owner, a retired anaesthetist.
The ‘Ukeholics’ ukulele band will be providing entertainment on this date, from 2pm.
| Refreshments | Yes |
| Stalls | Yes |
| Dogs allowed | Yes (on short leads) |
| Wheelchair accessible | No |
| Parking | On site |
Pashley Road Gardens
Saturday 5th August 11am – 4pm
6 Pashley Road and 8 Pashley Road, Eastbourne, BN20 8DU
A mature and fully planted garden at number 6, with a large range of flowers and vegetables that take kindly to chalky soil. There is a greenhouse with a selection of fruits, including melons with a full border of Roses around the veg patch.
Mature palms and shrubs make up the framework of this recently landscaped garden at number 8, which has lovely views of the South Downs. A large variety of prairie-style planting and all year-round colour.
| Refreshments | Yes |
| Stalls | No |
| Dogs allowed | No (except assistance dogs) |
| Wheelchair accessible | Yes |
| Parking | On street |
Family open day at The Lottbridge Golf Club
Thursday 10th August 11am – 4pm
Lottbridge Golf Club, Lottbridge Drove, Eastbourne BN23 6QJ
Come and enjoy this delightful 9-hole golf course, in a beautiful parkland setting, sheltered by the South Downs. There are streams, ponds and dykes crisscrossing the course, which provide enjoyable easy walking in this picturesque landscape. The course is closed to players all day, making it accessible for you to come and explore!
| Refreshments | Yes |
| Stalls | Yes |
| Dogs allowed | No (except assistance dogs) |
| Wheelchair accessible | No |
| Parking | On site |
Oldfield Road Garden
Sunday 13th August 11am – 4pm
23 Oldfield Road, Lower Willingdon, BN22 9QD
Medium-sized exotic/tropical garden with ‘hot beds’ of colour including Cannas, Bananas and Gingers. Mature palms with large leaf feature plants such as Tetrapanax Papyrifer and Gunnera. Collection of over 70 varieties of Aeonium, Aloes, Agave and other succulents.
| Refreshments | Yes |
| Stalls | No |
| Dogs allowed | No (except assistance dogs) |
| Wheelchair accessible | Yes |
| Parking | On street |
Knightsbridge House
Saturday 2nd September 11am – 4pm
Knightsbridge House, Grove Hill, Hellingly, BN27 4HH
A beautifully landscaped 5 acre garden with spectacular evolving herbaceous borders including a variety of ornamental grasses. In the centre, opposite the house is an amazing abstract sculpture by Ann Vrielinck. The house itself is partly covered by Wisteria, Boston Ivy and a Magnolia.
The ‘Ukeholics’ ukulele band will be providing entertainment on this date, from 2pm.
| Refreshments | Yes |
| Stalls | Yes |
| Dogs allowed | Yes (on short leads) |
| Wheelchair accessible | Yes |
| Parking | On site |
Our Open Gardens Annual Pass is a fantastic way to enjoy all our beautiful Sussex gardens, with great perks too. The Pass makes a lovely gift for a friend or family member, or a well-deserved treat for yourself! For a suggested minimum donation of just £40, you can gain entry to every one of our gorgeous gardens in 2023. There are details of all our gardens listed on our Open Gardens webpage.
Support St Wilfrid’s Hospice
Our Open Gardens season, starting in April 2023, raises vital funds every year to help St Wilfrid’s Hospice continue supporting local patients and their families. It costs just over £18,000 a day to run all of our services here at the hospice and out in our community.
Save Money
Our Open Gardens have a suggested donation of £5 entry per garden, so you only need to visit eight of the fourteen gardens open this year to start saving!
Free Hot Drink
Your card entitles you to a Free Hot Drink of your choice at each of our Gardens.
Physical Pass
Your annual pass will be sent to you in the post.
Open Gardens E-newsletter*
You will receive a monthly Open Gardens e-newsletter, with facts and information about the upcoming gardens, with offers and tips too!
Please note this newsletter is only available via email.
