VibrantOasis: The Delightful Haven Filled with Rhododendrons and Azaleas Lying Beyond the M25
Nestled in the picturesque countryside of Sevenoaks, Kent, Great Comp Garden is a 7-acre haven that has been captivating visitors since it opened to the public in 1968[2]. This charming garden surrounds a 17th-century manor house and offers a rich blend of history, botanical diversity, and innovative planting schemes[1][5].
### A Garden Rooted in History
The garden was primarily developed in the 1950s by Eric and Joy Cameron, who took inspiration from various architectural styles, including the Roman Forum, Hidcote Manor, and Sissinghurst Castle[3]. The property was previously owned by Frances Maxwell, a notable suffragette and the first chairman of the English Women's Cricket Association[2][5]. This historical connection to early female sporting and social movements adds an interesting layer to the garden's heritage.
### A Garden of Colour and Variety
Great Comp Garden is renowned for its vibrant and diverse planting, offering interest throughout the year[1][5]. Visitors can marvel at blankets of meadow flowers, early purple orchids, and bulbs in the orchard, or take a walk through the Long Border, a spectacular feature with a mixture of climbers, annuals, perennials, and shrubs to create an "exuberant" combination of colours[1].
The exotic garden bursts with tropical colours and shapes, while the High Garden features oriental poppies, lupins, and vegetables interspersed among the borders[1]. The Italian garden showcases a collection of Mediterranean plants, including the largest collection of salvias in Europe, which flower throughout the summer[1][4]. Ornamental grasses are used to offset late autumn hues, adding year-round texture and interest[1].
### A Garden for All Seasons
Roderick Cameron, one of the garden's founders, aimed to create a garden that required minimal maintenance, using extensive woody plants and ground cover to suppress weeds[6]. He wanted all parts of the garden to be of interest at all times of the year, with conifers and massed plantings of heathers being the backbone of the garden in winter[7]. The 'Italian' garden, enclosed behind walls and hedges, provides shelter for rare and tender plants like cordylines[8].
### A Garden for Relaxation and Inspiration
Great Comp Garden offers several seating areas surrounded by perfumed flowers and shrubs, encouraging relaxation and contemplation[1]. The garden also hosts an annual Summer Show featuring talented artists and craftspeople, live jazz performances, and plant sales by award-winning nurseries[4].
### Visiting Great Comp Garden
Located on Comp Lane, St Mary's Platt, Sevenoaks, Kent TN15 8QS, Great Comp Garden is open daily from 10 am - 5 pm (last entry 4 pm) from March to October 31, with some openings in winter months[9]. The garden is now a RHS Partner Garden, maintained by William Dyson and a team of volunteers[10]. With its rich history, botanical diversity, and picturesque setting, Great Comp Garden is a must-visit destination for garden enthusiasts and history buffs alike.
References: [1] Great Comp Garden. (n.d.). Retrieved March 23, 2023, from https://www.greatcompgarden.co.uk/ [2] Great Comp Garden. (2020, March 13). Retrieved March 23, 2023, from https://www.rhs.org.uk/gardens/partner-gardens/great-comp-garden [3] Great Comp Garden. (n.d.). Retrieved March 23, 2023, from https://www.kentattractions.co.uk/attraction/great-comp-garden [4] Great Comp Garden. (2022, June 28). Retrieved March 23, 2023, from https://www.kentlive.news/whats-on/what-s-on-in-kent/great-comp-garden-summer-show-2022-2023001736 [5] Great Comp Garden. (n.d.). Retrieved March 23, 2023, from https://www.southern-england.com/attractions/great-comp-garden/ [6] Great Comp Garden. (n.d.). Retrieved March 23, 2023, from https://www.greatcompgarden.co.uk/history [7] Great Comp Garden. (n.d.). Retrieved March 23, 2023, from https://www.greatcompgarden.co.uk/the-garden [8] Great Comp Garden. (n.d.). Retrieved March 23, 2023, from https://www.greatcompgarden.co.uk/the-italian-garden [9] Great Comp Garden. (n.d.). Retrieved March 23, 2023, from https://www.greatcompgarden.co.uk/opening-times [10] Great Comp Garden. (2022, January 1). Retrieved March 23, 2023, from https://www.rhs.org.uk/gardens/partner-gardens/great-comp-garden/news/great-comp-garden-joins-rhs-partner-garden-programme-01012022
- Visitors to Great Comp Garden can appreciate the intersection of fashion and garden design, as the seasonal blooms and inherent beauty of the garden serve as a backdrop for garden-themed fashion-and-beauty events and exhibitions.
- After a day of exploring formal gardens and wandering through home-and-garden stores in Sevenoaks, Kent, one can return to a cottage or manor house, surrounded by the very plants and flowers that inspired a lifestyle of gardening and appreciation for the countryside.
