Visit Reports
Pashley Manor Gardens and Tulip Festival 1st May 2014
43 HEDFAS members went on this coach trip to Pashley Manor, Ticehurst, East Sussex. The journey took 1 hour 50 minutes and the weather was disappointingly cloudy and showery.
We had tea and coffee on arrival and then two optional introductory half hour talks. One was by the head gardener who left school at fifteen and has worked there ever since for twenty-one years! He answered many questions on growing tulips.
Mrs Sellick, the owner's wife, then gave a talk on the history of the manor, the front of which was built in the mid sixteenth century and the back in the eighteenth century.
Luckily the sun then came out and everyone spent three hours walking round the gardens (28,000 tulips growing) and eating - the food at Pashley Manor claims to be the best in Sussex.
/>Pashley is beautiful and maintained to the highest standards. As well as tulips, the terrace has a view of the most magnificent wisteria which was at its besst that day. There is a stream, fountains and a bridge where couples can be photographed on their wedding day (they do wedding receptions in a marquee on the front lawn). Many of the trees are four hundred years old. Pashley is situated on the High Weald and no other homes can be seen.
The journey back was horrific because of a breakdown in the Dartford tunnel and when we finally emerged from the tunnel torrential cloudbursts fell intermittently. However, everyone seemed very happy with our dramatic day's outing.
Patricia Lloyd (visits team), photographs by Richard Burn