Karim

Karim

Karim

Karim

My family are largely Sussex people on both sides of my family. My maternal grandparents lived in Bury, by the river Arun, and we spent many summers there. Often went into Arundel, although it wasn't quite as smart then. On the other side family is from Thakeham and Storrington.

Thank you so much for your message

I must say that Sussex has been my destination of choice for the past few months starting Arundel, then Pashley Manor Gardens followed by Eastbourne's Magnificent Motors Classic Cars Show and finally Borde Hill Gardens

Wishing you a great day !

Karim

You will appreciate the Hilaire Belloc poem, then. It's not Baudelaire, no roiling passions - but worthy just the same.

This is beautiful

Thank you so much !

Karim

Good morning dear Friends

I hope that you are all very well.

We visited the enchanting Pashley Manor Gardens on 01/05, the first hottest day of the season with a staggering 29o celcius in the afternoon, "unseasonal" to say the very least for that time of the year in England.

We were incredibly lucky be able to enjoy the stunning display of Tulips still at their prime !

Their annual Tulip Festival features more than 40,000 tulips every Spring,

Every November and December, as soon as the flower beds are cleared, the ground is mulched with tons of manure and then prepared for the 40,000 tulip bulbs that are planted, late enough to prevent them sprouting too soon and early enough to beat any really hard weather, when the ground becomes unworkable.

Located on the border of Sussex & Kent, Pashley Manor Gardens features 11 acres of beautiful borders and vistas – the culmination of a lifetime of passion for gardening, an appetite for beauty and an admiration of the tradition of the English Country garden by the Sellick Family who purchased the property in 1981.

With the help of the eminent landscape architect, the late Anthony Du Gard Pasley, their labour of love was rewarded with the "Garden of the Year Award" in 1999.

The original house at Pashley was on the moated island and was probably a hunting lodge.

This house was owned at the outset of the Wars of the Roses by Sir Geoffrey Boleyn, Lord Mayor of London in 1457 and great-grandfather of Anne Boleyn.

His son, Sir William, and then William’s eldest son, Sir Thomas, who held court at Pashley in 1518, and eventually Sir Thomas’ brother, Sir James Boleyn – uncles to Anne Boleyn, each owned Pashley in turn.

In 1540 the estate was sold to Sir Thomas May, an affluent iron master, who moved the lodge from the moated island and built the house, which still stands today, on higher land just north of the original site.

Today the 1550 house retains its Tudor front and has a Georgian addition at the back, which acts as a backdrop to the gardens and is covered with a magnificent wisteria.

There is a sculpture of Anne Boleyn, by eminent Sussex sculptor Philip Jackson, situated on the moated island where the hunting lodge used to be.

The Gardens provide the perfect setting for sculpture. Each year the work of many eminent sculptors is displayed as well as work by local artists.

The sculpture ranges from abstract to engagingly figurative.

Many different styles and materials are employed to delight every taste. The exhibition changes each year and most pieces are for sale.

Among those who have exhibited at Pashley Manor Gardens are:

Bob Allen, Jo Ansell, Mary Cox, Kate Denton, Philip Jackson, Lou Johns, Ev Meynell, Jeremy Moulsdale, Guy Portelli, Tanya Russell, Helen Sinclair, Alex Smith, Emily Stone, Graham Thrussell, Joel Walker, Yvonne Wildi and Jenny Wynne-Jones.

The Star of the swimming pool picture is a cheerful & cheeky little Duck who spent most of the afternoon refreshing himself in the cool waters of the swimming pool right under a sign saying "No Swimming Please" !

The gardens are a haven for wildlife – bees, butterflies and small birds as well as moor hens, ducks and a black swan.

On the summer like day we visited the beautiful Pashley Manor Gardens, the sweet & delicious scent of the most magnificent & spectacular Wisteria in bloom I have ever seen was everywhere around the Manor,

With such a warm & sunny rather "unseasonal" Spring in England this year, I wasn't expecting to still find Bluebells on May 1st and yet the peaceful & refreshing woodland valley garden with its little stream known as the Bluebell Walk was carpeted with cheerful & delicate blue flowers that were a real joy to see.

So without further do, welcome to the beautiful Pashley Manor Gardens in bloom

Wishing you a lovely day !

Karim

Karim

Karim

Karim

Karim

Karim

Karim