Gardening Group Programs
CRAB & WINKLE GARDENING GROUP
Schedule of Events for 2026 - 3rd Thursday of the month
19th February
Group “brainstorming” meet up at Riverside Church Chestfield at 10.30 am.
19th March
Thompson’s Garden Centre Stone Street, Canterbury CT4 5PW – a family run Plant and Garden Centre specialising in supplying their own plants grown locally. Won a national award for the Best Plant Area 2025 for the third year in a row. There is a café on site called Poppies serving breakfast, lunch and dinner from locally sourced ingredients including homemade cakes and fresh scones + hot drinks.
16th April
The Knoll Farm Giggers Green Road, Aldington, Ashford TN25 7BY. Home of Lord and Lady Aldington. Avenue of 70 Hornbeams, 10 acres of woodland garden with over 130 camellias, lake and far reachingviews over Romney Marsh. The whole garden is on a slope. Entry is £10 – they take cards - no refreshments!! Will research local amenities. CONFIRMED
21st May
The Old Rectory Bunce Court Road, Faversham ME13 0BY. A tranquil four acre garden with a display of spring bulbs a formal rose garden, wildlife pond, topiary lawn and specimen trees. Entry is £10 to include tea, coffee and cake. CONFIRMED
18th June
Hole Park Benenden Road Rolvenden Cranbrook TN17 4JB. (COACH TRIP) A private little known large garden – well maintained which is a skillful mix of formal design and more naturalised plantings. There is colour throughout the seasons. Entry is £6.00 with the Gardeners World Magazine 2 for 1 tickets so we will need 8 copies of the Magazine to cover 16 of us. These tickets need to be booked in advance so will book once the 2 for 1 tickets are to hand. Currently we have 12 signed up to go at a cost of £25 for the coach + the £6.00 entry so £31 in total. Obviously we still have 4 seats to fill but will offer these out to all the members at the next meeting.
15th July WEDNESDAY
Godinton House & Gardens Godinton Lane, Ashford TN23 3BP. The 12 acres of tranquil gardens with seasonal planting across the formal, walled and wild gardens surrounded by ancient parkland studded with stately oaks and chestnuts. Tickets are booked in advance at a cost of £10.50 so will have to wait to confirm numbers before booking.
20th August
Doddington Place Church Lane Doddington Sittingbourne ME9 0BB. Woodland garden with herbaceous borders, flint/brick folly, rock garden, big clipped yews and a new Wobbly Tower!! Garden was featured in Gardens Illustrated magazine in 2025. Minimum number for a group visit is 12 - Entry is £12 to include tea, coffee and cake.
17th September
Restoration House 17-19 Crow Lane Rochester ME1 1RF. An unusually large walled garden of over ¾ of an acre which has survived since its creation in 1864 this is an unexpected haven just 100 yards off the Old High Street in Rochester. The garden is divided length wise by a central brick wall pierced with archways and a formal pond connecting the two parts. The south facing part is formal and productive with a large boxwood parterre flanked by an herbaceous border and a picturesque half sunk greenhouse roofed in glass scales and a long shrubbery. An upper lawn sweeps back towards the house with a mixed border of intricate planting beyond which the garden drops a level to a long Portland stone pond with a balustrade hung with fruiting quinces and an established Muscat vine. Nearer the house is a Yew topiary area with an arch through to a Mediterranean pot garden with giant Echiums and Citrus under swags of Wisteria. There is a tea shop serving sandwiches, cakes, tea, coffee and soft drinks. The garden is open from 10.00 am on Thursday (and Fridays) until 25 September - entry is £11.00 for Seniors but they take the Gardeners World 2 for 1 tickets.
15th October
Great Comp Garden Comp Lane, Platt, Sevenoaks TN15 8QS. A 7 acre garden home to the most diverse collection of Salvias in Europe looked after by William Dyson who shows these plants at Chelsea Flower Show. Formal borders feature the Salvias mixed with Penstemons, grasses, Red Hot Pokers and Dahlias. Entry for Groups is from £11 to £18 (I think this is for guided tours).
I’ve included this garden because it’s one of the only ones still open in October but having read more about it feel it may be an idea for our coach trip next year.
OPEN GARDEN DAYS – INFORMATION AWAITING
Sunday 10th May -Whitstable Joy Lane Gardens
Enjoy a day visiting a dozen or so eclectic gardens along Joy Lane a neighbourhood by the sea. From Arts & Crafts villas to mid century bungalows, some productive others wildlife friendly, largeor compact. Combined admission £7 with children free. Light refreshments are available.
Dates awaited Canterbury Cathedral Open Garden Tour
End May
Two opportunities – both Mondays - to explore the historic and beautiful private Cathedral gardens – this is a full day 10.15 am to 16.15 pm – hence the cost of £67 per person - see itinerary below
- Light breakfast
- Talk by the Head Gardener.
- Two course lunch
- Tour of Cathedral Gardens
- Tea and Coffee at The Lodge
7 June Herne & Broomfield Garden Safari:
Returns for 2026 - many private gardens will be open between 11.00 am and 17.00 pm. Including several new gardens for 2026. Entry to all gardens is by programme map costing £5 –accompanied under 16s go free - from The Herne Centre, School Lane, Herne CT6 7AP – tickets are available from 2nd June and on the day. There will be plants for sale at various places. Toilet facilities are available.
Sunday 24th May Tankerton Open Gardens:
Five gardens open between 10.00 and 5.00 pm – entry £7/children free
- open between 10.00 am and 17.00 pm:
61 Graystone Road
25 Oakwood Drive
50 Summerfield Avenue
2 Queens Road
` 96 Queens Road
Sunday 7th June Whitstable Town Gardens
Enjoy contemporary gardens, seaside gardens, rose gardens, gravel gardens, designers’ gardens and wildlife friendly plots both large and small. Open between 10.00 am and 17.00 pm under the National Garden Scheme "gardens open for charity". A café offering light refreshments at Whitstable Umbrella Centre in aid of Stream Walk Community Gardens. Tickets are £7 withchildren free.
Saturday 14th June Doddington Village Open Gardens
Open between 12 noon and 5 pm – an opportunity to explore private gardens. Entrance is by programme on the day from Doddington Village Hall - £5 per adult / Under 16s free. Light lunches and afternoon tea also available in the Village Hall. Funds go to the Church Funds. Parking available behind village hall ad other signed locations.Telephone 07971 072527 for further information.
Sunday 28th June Faversham Gardens Open Gardens and Market
Over 25 small and larger town gardens accompanied by a Garden Market selling plants and other gardenalia. Enjoy the contrasts between the gardens – open between 10.00 am and 5.00 pm with refreshments available from many of the gardens + cafes and pubs are open. The day is hosted by BBC Radio Kent Sunday Gardening. Admission is by ticket/handbook = £7.00 for adults and free for children available to buy or collect in Market Place.
AwaitingDates For 2026 Little Gardens of Sandwich:
8 "hidden" gardens in one of Kent's most charming medieval towns - see list below - will be open to the public between 2 and 5 pm on Sunday 7 June.
Manwood House Strand Street (entrance on Paradise Row)
Hidden House, Strand Street
The Long House, Strand Street
Canterbury House, Ash Road
Delf Stream House, The Butts
3 Paradise row
Cream teas will be served in the historic St. Mary's Arts Centre where there is also a chance to buy specimen plants and shrubs from a host of local nurseries and try your luck in a garden themed raffle. Tickets are available in advance from Sandwich Tourist Office or from any of the gardens on the day - are £7.50 which gives entry to all the gardens - children under 16 go free - Cream Teas are £3.50 each.
Awaiting St Margaret's Garden Safari
Details for 25 Open Gardens open in aid of The Pilgrims Hospice. £8 per adult – children under 16 2026 go free.
Organised by Jo Seller