Sissinghurst and Biddenden

Spring is sprung the grass is riz and the rest is always a parody but this weekend, the last of March I thought that I would capture the freshness of new daffodils and emerging magnolias at Sissinghurst and afterwards make a quick visit to Biddenden. The day was cold with sunshine that warmed us up a little and the walk around the gardens was pleasant. Daffodils and forsythia were in abundance and it was a pleasure to see the gardens so new and raw.




Sissinghurst always has something new to offer although the gardens remain the same in layout and location. The bare early spring reveals the bones, the skeleton on which the gardens will grow during the summer and autumn and this is a pleasure that I have missed in previous years.


Which whenever I have approached the garden tucked away beside the White Rose garden I have always just missed the display of helibores and bulbs. Well this year I did not.

The magnolias were about to bloom and as you can see the shrubs are so far devoid of leaves yet they are beginning to bud. Peonie plants are appearing and that means timing a trip to Penshurst for their peonie display. In the emantime the garden at Sissinghurst is new and tender and beautiful.

The nuttery for example with bare branches and emerging leaves, cropped as if coppiced reveals the delicate flowers below exposing them to the view and giving that touch of fresheness I remarked on earlier. Like spring lambs gambolling in the paddocks the bulbs and other small plants dance in the light airs of the new season and reduce me to a poetical view.

Seeing the gardens so open was a terat as when the summer arrives I will apreciate the verdant and colorful coverage all the more. Pity about the poplars being cut but I understand that there will be replacements. But this day it was the turn of the daffodils and I thought of Willy Wordsworth and saw what he saw in the 'host of waving daffodils' - an army or a pleasing angelic crowd worshipping God or maybe greeting the sun.

On the way back I stopped for tea at Biddenden intending to snack at the Red Lion only to learn that Sunday is no day for food. Instead I went across the road to the tea shop and ate there. I have fond memories of stopping in the village for ice cream when we were children and have the image in my mind of fresh ice cream made in the shop. I may be wrong but it was a long time ago, the 1950's and a quieter more liesurely time. Instead I saw a tea room that was also a gift shop from wher I purchased a book, ate some dainty toasted sandwiches and an excellent cup of coffee. Downside: I had the impression the staff were not that happy. Still, recession hits everybody and running a tea shop is a dodgy enterprise anyway, the quality was high and the snack hit the spot which for anybody on a Sunday visit is nice to know.

Biddenden All Saints church is a dominating feature in the village but as probably one of the most photographed places in Kent the village street is worth a look.

However, the place is on what I would call 'good stropping roads' for motorcyclists and the tourist trade will no doubt block the place up in the summer. There is parking for the visitor but I should rely on looking for alternatives if yuo wish to stay for a while. The story was that sometime ago there were two sisters conjoined and believed to have lived as such for many years. The story is no doubt told in the books on sale at the tea rooms and gift shop, and I dare say the tale can be gleaned from any resident if asked. Looking back to the years when I was a child I remember being told the story every time was stopped there but mostly the attraction was the ice cream.

I think that later we might pay a visit and explore but before that we might have to think about finding another way of stopping at the village as it might be too crowded in the summer.