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Five places to see spring flowers this April, including Doddington Place, Great Comp Garden and Leeds Castle

If you want to see beautiful blossoms, towering trees and fabulous flowers, we’ve got five great places to check out spring plants…

Doddington Place is opening as part of the National Garden Scheme this month. Picture: Doddington Place/National Garden Scheme
Doddington Place is opening as part of the National Garden Scheme this month. Picture: Doddington Place/National Garden Scheme

Doddington Place Gardens, Sittingbourne

Explore the wonderful woodland and beautiful formal gardens of this Edwardian estate. The 10-acre woodland of Doddington Place is full of trees and shrubs, including camellias, rhododendrons and azaleas, herbaceous plants and magnolias, which are just right for springtime. There’s also the delightful formal gardens, the rock garden and pools, and large lawns framed by yew hedges and trees. With a majestic Victorian mansion overlooking the gardens, the scenery makes for a magnificent day out. Doddington Place Gardens will be open for the National Garden Scheme on Sunday, April 10 from 11am to 5pm. Book online here.

Faversham Horticultural Society Spring Show

This bustling spring show is the perfect place for green-fingered enthusiasts to get inspired. At the spring show, there will be a wide range of classes for you to enter and show off your skills, including flowers, fruits and vegetables, indoor plants and floral arrangements. There are even children’s classes for aspiring young gardeners to get involved in. If you’re looking for new ways to spruce up your garden, head to the stunning spring show to pick up top tips from the best in town. The Faversham Horticultural Society Spring Show takes place at the Alexander Centre on Saturday, April 9 from 12pm onwards. No pre-booking needed. Find more details here.

There are over 80 magnolia trees at Great Comp Garden. Picture: Vikki Rimmer
There are over 80 magnolia trees at Great Comp Garden. Picture: Vikki Rimmer

Great Comp Garden, Sevenoaks

Don’t miss this once-in-a-decade display as 80 magnolia trees bloom into life. The 50 different varieties, which were planted over half a decade ago, will shower a confetti of white, pink and pale yellow petals over the seven-acre garden - just in time for the Great Comp Spring Fling plant fair. The fair gives visitors the chance to get their hands on the very best plants from specialist and award-winning nurseries from across the south of England. Great Comp Garden is open daily from 10am to 5pm. The Spring Fling plant fair takes place on Sunday, April 10. Book online here.

Take a tour of the breathtaking gardens at Leeds Castle. Picture: Thomas Alexander
Take a tour of the breathtaking gardens at Leeds Castle. Picture: Thomas Alexander

Leeds Castle, Maidstone

The historical gardens and landscape tours return to the marvellous Leeds Castle grounds this month. Follow your expert guide on a fascinating walk through the varied gardens of Leeds Castle, such as the colourful Princess Alexandra Gardens and the sun-soaked Lady Baillie Mediterranean Garden Terraces. As you meander through the 500-acre land, you can discover the castle’s history and how these gardens were developed. Garden tours take place on select dates from Thursday, April 7 to Tuesday, April 26 from 10.30am to 12pm. Book online here.

View of a bed of bluebells in the Scotney Castle woodland Picture: ©National Trust Images/Stephen Robson
View of a bed of bluebells in the Scotney Castle woodland Picture: ©National Trust Images/Stephen Robson

Scotney Castle, Tunbridge Wells

You can once again capture the iconic view from Scotney Castle's quarry garden this spring. Reopening for the first time since 2020, the breathtaking garden boasts vivid azaleas and specimen trees for a truly picturesque outdoor scene. If you stroll through the castle grounds, you’re also likely to find cherry blossoms, daffodils and, if you time your visit just right with the weather, you might even spot bursts of bluebells in the woodlands. Scotney Castle is open daily from 10am to 5pm. Book online here.

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