Bluebell Walk at Hole Park Gardens – Cranbrook

Often described as one of the best places to see bluebells in the country, Hole Park Gardens in Rolvenden, Kent, is also renowned for its mature rhododendrons and magnificent standard wisterias.

Visitors to the gardens in late April and early May will be captivated by the spectacular displays of bluebells which can be seen in the gardens and woodland. The seating on the circular bluebell walk offers visitors a quiet time to reflect and enjoy the intense carpet of blue. The recently restored Ice House can also be discovered on the bluebell walk. Visitors at this time of year can also enjoying walking through the swathes of daffodil and narcissi and the wild flower meadows with primroses and fritillaries and later wild orchids.

In summer visitors can look forward to the scented roses and colourful herbaceous borders and later see the exotic border with its vivid colours and exotic blooms.

Hole Park is a family owned estate which has been in the Barham family for the past four generations. Formalised gardens combine with natural woodland and cover some 15 acres. These extensive gardens were developed, laid out and planted by Colonel Barham, the great-grandfather of the present owners in the years between the two World Wars. The present owners Edward and Clare Barham have created new features around the gardens including an exotic border for late summer and early autumn interest. The sundial garden was renovated in 2013 and has been planted for a long flowering season. Borders filled with alliums have been added to the camellia walk.

Light lunches and delicious homemade cakes are available in the coach house, where apple juice, beer brewed on the farm and homemade jam and honey produced from the fruit and bees on the Hole Park Estate can be purchased.