Gardens to Visit The National Trust’s offerings

April may still feel frosty, but before too long, blossom and blooms start making an appearance, creating feasts of colour and fragrance that never fail to lift the spirits.

From new displays across the garden at Ightham Mote, to the showstopping swathes of bluebells at Emmetts Garden, National Trust gardens across the region are crammed with breathtaking beauty and colour this season.

Blossom is one of the most exquisite delights of an English spring. Fountains of white, cream and pink seem to appear almost overnight at Chartwell, Scotney Castle and Sissinghurst Castle gardens, accompanied by their delicate fragrances.

In Japan, “Hanami” or flower-viewing is all about enjoying the fleeting beauty of blossom trees as they come into bloom. Here in the UK, everyone can join in our very own celebration of blossom in the run-up to the National Trust’s BlossomWatch day on April 23.

So, as the days grow longer, and hopefully warmer, take a stroll and savour the sights of the season in some of the most beautiful National Trust gardens in the county.

The National Trust is a conservation charity founded in 1895. It cares for more than 250,000 hectares of countryside, 780 miles of coastland and 500 historic properties, gardens and nature reserves across England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Membership of the National Trust allows free entry to over 500 locations with other benefits. To join, go to

With traditional beds and borders, the formal gardens of Scotney Castle have been likened to a landscape painting. Capture the stunning vista of the old castle glimpsed through a swathe of newly-landscaped rhododendrons and azaleas, creating an almost fairytale feel.

The castle is clothed in climbing wisteria, and old English roses adorn the sandstone walls, while clouds of cherry and amelanchier blossom guard the entrance to the Quarry Garden, which re-opens this spring for the first time since 2020.

Fruit trees are covered with delicate blossom in the Walled Garden and daffodils run rampant across the site, including Narcissus Eystetterisis, an ancient variety dating back to the 1600s.

From early March, the Scotney gardeners offer free guided walks, sharing the season’s highlights and history. Lasting about 45 minutes, the walks run on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 11am and 2.30pm

An Edwardian estate standing on one of the highest points in Kent, Emmetts Garden offers panoramic views across the Weald and contains many exotic and rare trees and shrubs from across the world.

The rhododendrons and azaleas are unmissable, with over 130 varieties providing ongoing interest and colour throughout the season. Almost 50 cherry trees are in blossom next to the wildflower meadow, surrounded by a sea of pink, red and black tulips that make for a spectacular display.

More unique specimens to be found are the Handkerchief tree and the Wedding Cake tree, both distinct and unusual trees that look wonderful at this time of year. But without doubt, the “wow” moment at Emmetts is always the English bluebells, with the entire woodland completely transformed. www.nationaltrust.org.uk/emmetts-garden