Sissinghurst Castle - National Trust

Sissinghurst Castle - National Trust Historic, poetic, iconic: a refuge dedicated to beauty. Historic, poetic, iconic; a refuge dedicated to beauty. We welcome feedback – both positive and negative.

Vita Sackville-West and Harold Nicolson fell in love with Sissinghurst Castle and created a world renowned garden. House rules: ​

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What our visitors are saying about our wonderful volunteers.From welcoming visitors to sharing their knowledge and passi...
07/06/2026

What our visitors are saying about our wonderful volunteers.

From welcoming visitors to sharing their knowledge and passions, our volunteers play such a vital role in shaping every experience at Sissinghurst.

💬 “Excellent volunteers and the garden looked stunning.”
💬 “The volunteers were all very helpful and friendly and of course the site was fabulous!”
💬 “Excellent organisation. Fantastic people and the most wonderful volunteers. Lovely food, beautiful gardens and walks. We felt very looked after.”
💬 “All the volunteers we met were extremely helpful and so knowledgeable, they made our day out that much more enjoyable. Thank you!”

We’re so grateful for the care, generosity and enthusiasm our volunteers bring, and for everyone who’s taken the time to share their feedback.

© National Trust Images / Cassie Dickson

We’re delighted to announce the extension of the Delos garden is now open to the public, completing a vision that has be...
06/06/2026

We’re delighted to announce the extension of the Delos garden is now open to the public, completing a vision that has been nearly 100 years in the making.

This Greek-inspired garden realises a planting scheme first envisioned by Vita Sackville-West and Harold Nicolson in the 1930s. The extension leads visitors around the Priest’s House, through the Little North Garden and into the White Garden for the first time, creating a cohesive whole.

Filled with plants chosen for their ability to adapt to shade, ‘Delos’ offers not only beauty but resilience in an ever-changing climate.

On searching for planting additions, Head Gardener Troy Scott-Smith said “the team looked to plants found in the deep gorges and ravines of the Greek islands, as well as those found in the cool shade of their drystone walls and under tree canopies.”

The Delos garden was reimagined in collaboration with landscape designer Dan Pearson and was made possible through generous donations and the support of National Trust Patrons.

“This has not been a success so far, but perhaps some day it will come right” — Vita Sackville-West on the Delos garden, 1953

Photos 1, 2 and 4: Early morning light over the newly completed Delos garden

Photo 3: Senior Gardener and Delos lead Richard

Photo 5: Dan Pearson (left) and Troy Scott-Smith (right) during the planting of the Delos extension in 2025

© National Trust Images/James Dobson (photos 1-4), Cassie Dickson (photo 5)

Happy Friday! Welcome to a  . I'm Charlotte Hayden and I’m delighted to take over Sissinghurst’s Facebook account today ...
05/06/2026

Happy Friday! Welcome to a . I'm Charlotte Hayden and I’m delighted to take over Sissinghurst’s Facebook account today from Hidcote NT in Gloucestershire.

It is Volunteers’ Week, and I am fortunate to work alongside an incredible group of volunteers at both Sissinghurst and Stoneacre who generously share their knowledge, skills and enthusiasm. Although I have been working at another National Trust garden this week, it's evident that wherever you go, the work of volunteers is of immense value in ensuring the care of these special places. Thank you to all of you.

This week's itinerary has been packed with hands-on work in the garden: pruning, pot displays, propagation and planting, as well as time to observe Head Gardener Lottie, Assistant Head Gardener Sarah and Senior Gardeners for a snapshot of how this iconic Arts and Crafts garden is tended.

Hidcote was acquired by Major Lawrence Johnston in 1907, and starting closest to the house, he created a series of garden rooms to fill with a rich palette of plants - many of which he collected whilst travelling. The further out you explore, the 'wilder' the garden becomes, and it opens up with generous vistas such as the Long Walk and Heaven's Gate. In the evenings I explored, continuously drawn back time and time again to the abundance of planting in the Old Garden - a palette of cool shades and perfume from roses and Philadelphus.

During the week I worked alongside gardener Rose, pruning Schisandra, Holbeillia and Akebia. In the glasshouses, I learnt about the garden's propagation schedule and how plants for each part of the garden are organised for efficient collection by the team. I contributed to pot displays for the entrance Courtyard alongside gardener Mark - an opportunity to observe which plants are selected for visual impact and longevity throughout the season.

It was a pleasure to have spent this week working in a garden I have admired from a distance for a while now; being my first visit to Hidcote, it felt particularly special to have the chance to get my hands in the soil and learn from such a warm and welcoming team. Thank you for hosting me so generously!

Signing off for now,
Charlotte

A glimpse into life as a Sissinghurst volunteer.Our volunteers are at the heart of everything we do and we’re continuall...
04/06/2026

A glimpse into life as a Sissinghurst volunteer.

Our volunteers are at the heart of everything we do and we’re continually inspired by the skill, creativity and passion they bring.

🌼 “Connecting with people and seeing visitors enjoy their day, that’s what it’s all about. I love helping bring the past to life and showing why it still matters today.”
— Andrew, Volunteer (slide 2)

🌼 “What we love most is being involved in every aspect of Sissinghurst—getting creative, reusing materials and taking a truly holistic approach.”
— Garry & Graham, Volunteers (slide 4)

© National Trust Images / James Dobson / Cassie Dickson

Although the weather’s taken a turn, we’re remembering how beautiful the garden has been looking in the sunshine. Are yo...
03/06/2026

Although the weather’s taken a turn, we’re remembering how beautiful the garden has been looking in the sunshine.

Are you planning a visit to Sissinghurst soon? Let us know what you’re most looking forward to seeing.

© National Trust Images/Cassie Dickson

On this day in 1962, Vita Sackville-West passed away aged 70, leaving behind an unforgettable legacy that is still felt ...
02/06/2026

On this day in 1962, Vita Sackville-West passed away aged 70, leaving behind an unforgettable legacy that is still felt in every corner of Sissinghurst Castle Garden.

“How shall I sum up this garden, that has been made in so short a time, and yet looks so matured that it might have been here for as long ago as the old Tudor house round which it has been made? This may sound sentimental, but it is very true” - Vita writing in ‘House and Garden’, 1950

Photo: Vita in her tower Writing Room at Sissinghurst, 1932

It’s Volunteers’ Week! This week, we’re taking the time to celebrate the incredible work our volunteers do at Sissinghur...
01/06/2026

It’s Volunteers’ Week!

This week, we’re taking the time to celebrate the incredible work our volunteers do at Sissinghurst Castle Garden.

Every day, they give their time, care, love and enthusiasm to help make Sissinghurst the wonderful place that it is. We simply couldn’t do it without them.

So if you’re planning to visit us this week, do make sure to say hi to our volunteers and thank them for helping make every visit so special.

© National Trust Images / Hannah Rhodes

It’s Volunteers’ Week! This week, we’re taking the time to celebrate the incredible work our volunteers do at Sissinghur...
01/06/2026

It’s Volunteers’ Week!

This week, we’re taking the time to celebrate the incredible work our volunteers do at Sissinghurst Castle Garden.

Every day, they give their time, care, love and enthusiasm to help make Sissinghurst the wonderful place that it is. We simply couldn’t do it without them.

So if you're planning to visit us this week, do make sure to say hi to our volunteers and thank them for helping make every visit so special.

© National Trust Images / Hannah Rhodes

Outdoor theatre returns to Sissinghurst Castle 👇🎭Much Ado About Nothing There ain’t no party like a Shakespeare party… G...
31/05/2026

Outdoor theatre returns to Sissinghurst Castle 👇

🎭Much Ado About Nothing

There ain’t no party like a Shakespeare party… Glitz, glamour and scandal hit Messina in Changeling Theatre’s revival of Much Ado About Nothing.

Beatrice and Benedick swear they can’t stand each other. Hero and Claudio seem picture-perfect until a little drama crashes their party. Lurking behind the cocktails and confetti is one deliciously devious Don John stirring up trouble.

It’s sharp, it’s funny, it’s Shakespeare’s ultimate romcom with more twists, tunes and turns than you can shake a stick at.

Friday 7 August | 7pm - 9:30pm | From £15

🔗Visit nationaltrust.org.uk/sissinghurst to book your tickets

© National Trust Images/Andrew Butler, Changeling Theatre

Happy Friday! Welcome to a  . I'm Charlotte Hayden and I'm delighted to take over Sissinghurst’s Facebook account today ...
29/05/2026

Happy Friday! Welcome to a . I'm Charlotte Hayden and I'm delighted to take over Sissinghurst’s Facebook account today with another look back at my Giverny trip (pictured).

Time with the propagation team, east and west teams of Le Clos Normand, and evenings spent wandering the garden, studying planting combinations and, of course, accumulating a healthy collection of notes and sketches.

Claire Hélène Marron (head of Clos Normand Ouest) offered a very kind invitation to Fêtes du Plantes at La Roche Guyon over the bank holiday weekend. The castle overlooks the Seine, as well as its own vast potager walled garden, created in 1697 (see slides 11-13). The plant fair was a joyous event - local growers of roses, herbaceous perennials, pond plants, tools and local produce all enveloped within the incredible castle setting.

Back to work in Monet's Garden on Monday, and it was evident since I had arrived the week before, just how much the planting had subtly shifted within a week; bearded and dutch irises had begun to take precedent, clouds of Silene dioica and Hesperis matronalis had become staples, as well as alliums which were punctuations throughout, including architectural Allium siculum ("Sicilian Honey Garlic"), beloved by bees.

Alongside deadheading the last of the tulips, irises, camassias and bluebells, I weeded between Tropaeolum majus - known as la capucine in France - to ensure the young plants had space to breathe amongst the planting (slide 8). They will later form a trailing river throughout the Grand Allée in summer - worth another visit to see in person. Later on in the week, summer bulb planting began, with placement based on eventual height in the border. Bulbs included crocosmia, lilies and Tigridia to name a few.

Before my time concluded in Giverny, I was keen to witness the garden during the later hours as much as possible - it truly is a beautiful space when the sun begins to set. Monet was a master of expressing light and shadow in his paintings, and one can imagine he saw his garden as a living painting too.

Signing off for now,
Charlotte

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