National Garden Scheme gardens filled with bright yellow daffodils and whole host of other joyful spring bulbs and plants bring hope for brighter days ahead. Enjoy a gentle stroll around beautiful gardens filled with spring colour, enjoy home-made teas and support thousands of people who live with health conditions such as cancer or Parkinson’s this April.
With record donations in 2024 the power of gardens and garden visits for good causes is evident. 2024 was another landmark year for the National Garden Scheme with the charity donating a record £3,501,227 from the 2024 garden opening season. The impact of these donations to our major nursing and health beneficiaries means that thousands of people who live with health conditions such as cancer or Parkinson’s, who have poor mental health, or who struggle financially as unpaid carers, have been supported by our funding of the nurses, health professionals and case workers who support them. Our funding has also provided support to those in the Gardens and Health sector along with Community Gardens and supported gardeners through traineeships.
Nine beautiful West Sussex NGS gardens will be opening their gates for charity this April.
Peelers Retreat, Arundel
Saturday 5th, Tuesday 15th, Saturday 19th, Tuesday 29th April 2pm-5pm
This inspirational space is a delight with permanent gazebos and comfortable seating to sit and relax, enjoying delicious teas. When cold we light the fire for our guests. Interlocking beds packed with year-round colour and scent, shaded by specimen trees, inventive water features and a range of quirky woodland sculptures.
The Old Vicarage, Washington
Every Thursday in April 10am-4pm pre-booking essential. Monday 21st April 10am-4pm
Gardens of 3½ acres set around 1832 Regency house (not open). The front is formally laid out with topiary, wide lawn, mixed border and contemporary water sculpture. The rear features new and mature trees from C19, herbaceous borders, water garden and stunning uninterrupted views of the North Downs. The Japanese garden with waterfall and pond leads to a large copse, stream, treehouse and stumpery.
Rymans, Apuldram
Saturday 12th and Sunday 13th April 2pm-5pm
Walled and other gardens surrounding C15 stone house (not open). Featuring bulbs, flowering shrubs, roses, ponds, and potager, and many unusual and rare trees and shrubs. In late spring the wisterias are spectacular. Hybrid musk roses fill the walled garden in June and in late summer the garden is filled with dahlias, sedums, late roses, sages and Japanese anemones.
Sandhill Farm House, Rogate
Saturday 12th and Sunday 13th April 1pm-4pm
Front and rear gardens broken up into garden rooms inc small kitchen garden. Front garden with small woodland area, planted with early spring flowering shrubs, ferns and bulbs. White and green garden, large leaf border and terraced area. Rear garden has rose borders, small decorative vegetable garden, red border and grasses border.
Newtimber Place, Newtimber
Sunday 13th April 2pm-5.30pm
Beautiful C17 moated house (not open). Gardens and woods full of bulbs and wild flowers in spring. Herbaceous border and lawns. Moat flanked by water plants. Mature trees, wild garden, ducks, and fish.
Judy’s Cottage Garden, Worthing
Friday 18th April 10.30am-3.30pm
A beautiful medium sized cottage garden with something of interest all year-round. The garden has several mature trees creating a feeling of seclusion. The informal beds contain a mixture of shrubs, perennials, cottage garden plants and spring bulbs. There are little hidden areas to enjoy, a small fish pond and other water features. There is also a pretty log cabin overlooking the garden.
Fittleworth House
Wednesday 23rd and 30th April 2pm-5pm
3 acre tranquil, romantic, country garden with walled kitchen garden growing a wide range of fruit, vegetables and flowers inc a large collection of dahlias. Large glasshouse and old potting shed, mixed flower borders, roses, rhododendrons and lawns. Magnificent 115ft tall cedar overlooks wisteria covered Grade II listed Georgian house (not open). Wild garden, long grass areas and stream.
Denmans Garden, Fontwell
Sunday 27th April 11am-4pm pre-booking essential
Created by Joyce Robinson, a horticulturalist and pioneer in gravel gardening and former home of influential landscape designer, John Brookes MBE. Denmans is a Grade II registered post-war garden renowned for its curvilinear layout and complex plantings. Year-round colour, unusual plants, structure and fragrance in the gravel gardens, faux riverbeds, intimate walled garden, ponds and conservatory.
Manor of Dean, Tillington
Sunday 27th April 2pm-5pm
Approx 3 acres of traditional English garden with extensive views of the South Downs. Herbaceous borders, early spring bulbs, bluebell woodland walk, walled kitchen garden with fruit, vegetables and cutting flowers. NB under long term programme of restoration, some parts of the garden may be affected.
To find out more about the gardens, learn more about the National Garden Scheme or find out how to open your own garden, visit ngs.org.uk.
Click on this link to look at the interactive – National Garden Scheme 2025 Sussex Booklet
Image: Leigh Clapp
