Bloom is back in Royal Tunbridge Wells with Open Gardens
Royal Tunbridge Wells Open Gardens is an annual community event organised by RTW in Bloom, raising funds for the Hospice in the Weald and the Bloom projects. Our previous Royal Tunbridge Wells Open Gardens tours were great – we have raised nearly £5000 for the Hospice so far. The Hospice is grateful to all the owners for their hard work and kindness in opening their gardens and to everyone who visits and supports the event. 90 pence of every £1 raised goes directly to patient care. This year there are nine gardens and grounds participating in the Royal Tunbridge Wells Open Gardens tour. Royal Tunbridge Wells. Open Gardens 2023
Admission is £10.00 – one ticket covers all
9 Royal Chase, Tunbridge Wells TN4 8AX
A comparatively small town garden
designed for all year round interest. A
North facing plot, it contains a wide
variety of plants, framed by thuya
hedges and York stone paths and steps.
Evergreen plants including senecio,
euonymus, bay, lavenders, pittosporum
etc. provide background structure and a
cottage style herbaceous border with
David Austin roses will be providing colour in June. This garden
will hopefully be of interest to gardeners faced with similar limited
space to fill. A long-standing entry in the Royal Tunbridge Wells in
Bloom competition awarded Gold in the Best Back Garden
category. On street parking in Royal Chase. Limited wheelchair
access.
18 Royal Chase, Tunbridge Wells TN4 8AY
Town Garden of a quarter of an acre on
sandy soil that was originally Common
and woodland. Lovely in late spring
with Camellias, Acers, Rhododendrons
and Alliums. A large lawn with island
beds planted with roses and herbaceous
perennials and a small pond with lilies
and goldfish. The owner is a florist
and has planted shrubs and annuals
specifically with flower arranging in
mind. Access to the back garden is through the right-hand side
gate. On street parking in Royal Chase. 2 x disabled parking spaces
available on drive.
10 Birch Close, Tunbridge Wells TN2 3TJ
Situated in a quiet cul-de-sac, a small
but beautifully and lovingly tended
front garden with an array of pots,
planters and baskets containing a wide
variety of annuals grown carefully from
the plugs: Petunia, Lobelia, Verbena,
Nicotiana. Geranium. Tall Gladiolus
and Lillies, Salix Flamingo shrub and
roses climbing on the pergola provide
structure to the garden. Gold award
winner of Best Planter/Tub/Container category in the Royal
Tunbridge Wells in Bloom competition 2018 and awarded Gold
for the last five years in both Best Basket and Best Planter/Tub/
Container categories. The garden achieved Champion of the
Champions award in 2019. Street parking is available in Birch
Close and on Birkin Road. Limited wheelchair access.
13 Culverden Park, Tunbridge Wells TN4 9QT
A spectacular south-facing terraced
garden, new to the tour. Each level
provides a distinct planting scheme
from mediterranean patio to colourful
herbaceous border to woodland trees
and shrubs. A Wollemi pine, magnolias,
acers and a secret garden door give
this garden special character. Limited
wheelchair access. Light refreshments
available. On street parking. No dogs allowed.
Halliwell, Kingswood Road, Tunbridge Wells TN2 4UN
Residents at The Halliwell enjoy
the beautifully landscaped grounds
adjoining Dunorlan Park. Whether it is
meandering along the many pathways
through the wisteria covered arbour,
relaxing in the rose garden or exploring
in the newly planted orchard, every
little area is utilised. In addition, they
have an enclosed courtyard brimming
with flowers and hanging baskets and
a plaza with a lovely water feature. An abundance of lavender
attracts many bees and butterflies. A long standing entry in the
Royal Tunbridge Wells in Bloom competition achieving Gold
awards in the Best Business Ground and Best Commercial Basket/
Planter categories. Car parking on site or in Nuffield Car Park
(next door). Cream teas to be served between 2.30 and 4pm.
Ivy Chimneys, 28 Mount Sion,
Tunbridge Wells TN1 1TW
The property Ivy Chimneys dates back
to the 1600’s. A large Town Centre
garden with herbaceous borders and
masses of roses set on 3 layers of lawns
enclosed in an old walled garden. This
property also boasts a large vegetable
garden with flowers for cutting. Winner
of the Best Back Garden in the Royal
Tunbridge Wells in Bloom competition
2017, awarded Gold in the Champions of Champions category in
2018 and Gold in Best Back Garden since 2019. Street parking in
Mount Sion and Warwick Park. Small pay & display car park in
Little Mount Sion. No wheelchair access.
Rusthall Lodge, Nellington Road, Rusthall TN4 8SJ
Celebrating over fifty years as an
independent care home, Rusthall Lodge
is proud of its gardening heritage.
Original Edwardian rose beds have
made way for a beautiful, functional
garden for our residents that is always
planted creatively and sympathetically.
Awarded Gold in the Royal Tunbridge
Wells in Bloom competition Best
Community Garden and Best Business Grounds categories. Visitor
parking on site. Wheelchair accessible.
Wildings, Pembury Road, Tunbridge Wells TN2 3QN
Wildings forms part of the coach
house and stabling accommodation
of Chilston House which had family
links to the former Dunorlan House.
The gardens are overlooked by a large
Indian Bean Tree (Catalpa) which is
covered in white flowers in late July.
There are other mature trees – oak,
hornbeam, magnolia and copper beech.
The gardens have several planted beds
and seating areas as well as rockeries and a small Japanese area
with a stone lantern. No parking on the private road. Closest
parking at Dunorlan Park car park off Pembury Road (2 minutes
walk). Refreshments available. Limited wheelchair access – ramp
can be provided over the entrance steps.
Willicombe Park, Tunbridge Wells TN2 3UU
Set in four acres of gardens in Royal
Tunbridge Wells is Audley Willicombe
Park retirement village with a collection
of mature trees in a historic landscape.
At the heart of the village is Willicombe
House, a refurbished Victorian villa
that was originally built by William
Willicombe in the 1870’s. The site was
formerly the St Christopher’s Nursery
Training College until it closed in
1976. There is a signposted walk around the site which includes
a woodland walk. Awarded Gold in the Royal Tunbridge Wells
in Bloom competition Best Business Grounds category. Visitor
parking on site, please follow the signs. Bar open for hot and cold
drinks, ice creams & light bites. Wheelchair accessible