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Garden Owners,
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Armchair Travel Co Ltd
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Garden Name: Goodnestone Park
Last Modified: 10/02/2010
Garden ID: 0043

pic: 0043_goodnestone.jpg

Owner: Lady FitzWalter
Address:
Goodnestone
Canterbury

Postcode: CT3 1PL
County: Kent

tel: 01304 840107
fax: 
website: www.goodnestoneparkgardens.co.uk
email: enquiries {at} goodnestoneparkgardens.co.uk

Features: 


English Heritage Grade:
II*

Opening Times:
Sundays 14th, 21st & 28th February and 7th, 14th & 21st March; 12noon - 4pm, for early spring bulbs and shrubs. 
23rd Mar - 1st Oct; Tues - Fri; 11am - 5pm; Sun, 12 noon - 5pm. Open BHs.
Nursery open at same times as garden.

Best Times of Year to Visit: 


To see: 
Snowdrops
Hellebores

National Collection: 


National Garden Scheme days: Yes
Comments: 7th Mar
12th Sept

Parties / Coaches: Yes 
Comments: 

Viewing by Appointment: Yes
Comments:  

House Open for Viewing: Yes
Comments: by appointment only, for parties of 20 or more @£3.50 pp

Admission Prices:
Adult £ 5; Child (6-16) £1; Students £3; Over 60s £4.50; Family (2 adults + 2 Children) £10, Season £20; Disabled in wheelchairs £1
Parties 20+ £4.50pp; Parties 20+ guided tour £6.50pp. Parties outside opening hours £6.50pp

Parking: Yes
Lavatories: Yes
Disabled Access: Yes
Shop: No
Plants for Sale: Yes
Lunches: Yes
Teas: Yes
Refreshments: No
Picnics: Yes
Dogs allowed: No
Only on Lead: No
Events: Yes

Other Facilities:
Pre-booked Lunches only.
Many special events throughout the season, see own website


Designer: 
Description of Garden:
The garden covers approximately 14 acres. The formal area lies around the house with fine specimen trees; and now a parterre planted for the millennium. This leads through a small arboretum to the woodland area, with a 1920's rockery and pond, rhododendrons, magnolias, camellias, cornus and a large collection of hellebores.
Finally, visit the walled garden with some of its walls dating back to the 17th century, as this area has been redesigned and planted during the last 30 years and is filled with clematis, old red roses and many other herbaceous plants - it is of interest all the year round.


History: 
The house was built in 1700 by Brook Bridges and enlarged by his great-grandson, whose daughter married Jane Austen's brother, prompting many references to the house in her letters. The garden nearest the house dates from the sixteenth century, with 17th century additions and 18th century parkland. The woodland was laid out in the 1920's.

Local Inns: 
Griffins Head, Chillenden

Accomodation: 
Magnolia House, Canterbury

Restaurants: 
Griffins Head, Chillenden

Village/Town/Sightseeing: 
Canterbury
Wingham
Sandwich