Spring is just the Best!

Written by Lisa Cadman, 25/04/2022

I absolutely adore Spring. It is without doubt my very favourite time of the year. After the cold of winter, our moods tend to lift as the buds all start to open.

Spring brings with it hope and warmth, and beautiful colours all around! Little yellow pops of daffodils everywhere, and the most gentle and beautiful of white and pink blossoms. Brightly coloured tulips and primroses, pretty azeleas and magnolias, and of course, the most stunning carpets of bluebells. What is not to love?!

Soul Space - Spring is just the Best! - photo 02

Personally, we’ve not had the easiest of months, with my daughter getting Covid after a week away with friends. We then had to cancel a much-needed Easter break (to visit a dear friend in Spain), as well as cancelling many clients. Then Molly’s laptop got broken, ending up in a very expensive credit card shop for a new one for her exams!

However…I have been lucky enough to grab many moments in the most beautiful of local gardens (and a few further away), which I have decided to share with you this month. I’ve just picked my favourite 5 photos that I took from each place, to give you a taste of what is there, and hopefully brighten up your day! I hope you enjoy them, and that it may encourage you to visit.

Kew Gardens

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After dropping Molly off to London in readiness for her trip away, I saw a sign for Kew Gardens on the way home, so I made un impromptu stop there, deciding to go for a lovely walk, rather than tackle the chores at home! I’m so happy I did. Not been for years, and although it wasn’t the brightest of days, there is so much to see there – you could definitely spend a whole day, and I will definitely go back. Stunning botanical gardens, the beautiful Arboretum, Japanese garden, rock garden, woodland walks and a wide range of places to eat and drink. For more information go to: www.kew.org

Soul Space - Spring is just the Best! - photo 03

Wakehurst Gardens

Another afternoon I took myself off to Wakehurst. This is free to National Trust members (you just pay for your parking). I joined the National Trust last August as a treat to myself for my 50th birthday, so I have been making good use of that! Wakehurst is a lovely wild botanical garden, with a stunning house, lovely lake and over 500 acres of the world’s plants. It is also home to the Millennium Seed Bank, which is really interesting and important. A beautiful place to spend half a day, just taking in all the beauty that is there. There is also a lovely café. For more information go to: www.kew.org/wakehurst

Standen House and Gardens

This place is free to National Trust members (including parking). This is an Arts and Crafts family home with Morris & Co. interiors, with a beautiful hillside garden, stunning views from the top, and a lovely selection of trees and plants to see, a pretty kitchen garden and the Barn Café for refreshments. For more information go to: www.nationaltrust.org and search for Standen House.

Ramster Gardens

Only 20 minutes from me, based in Chiddingfold, is the beautiful Ramster Gardens. I absolutely love this place and have an annual pass. It is always quiet and peaceful, and has the most lovely range of trees, plants and flowers to enjoy, as well as a Sculpture Trail at the moment, and other events throughout the year. It is a wonderful place to just wander round, take a book, and sit and read on many of the thoughtful benches placed around the gardens and lake. My favourite part is their ‘Acer Avenue’ with the most incredible path full of stunning Acers. There is a nice tea room behind the entrance too. A wonderful place for reflection. For more information go to: www.ramsterevents.com

Winkworth Arboretum

Free to National Trust members again (including parking), and only 15 minutes from me is Winkworth Arboretum. There are a variety of walks here for all levels of fitness, and the bluebells, azeleas and magnolias are just beautiful at the moment. There are lovely views over the lake (especially from the Boathouse) and a café at the entrance if you need refreshments. For more information go to: www.nationaltrust.org and search for Winkworth Arboretum.

Hever Castle

My absolute favourite place to visit in this country is Hever Castle. My lovely mum and dad buy me an annual pass to this magnificient place every year for Christmas, so that I can enjoy it all year round. A bit of a journey to get there, but so very worth it. The Italian-themed lake, fountain and gardens are just beautiful. The lake walk, the moat and the castle itself is wonderful too of course. There is an amazing variety of plants, flowers and trees, as well as two cafes to keep you going! Bit too early for the roses yet, but their rose garden is wonderful, and I love their ‘blue’ garden too, as well as the view from the staircase and so very much more. The gardeners here are just the best – I try to go once a month, and there is always something new and beautiful to see. They also have various events throughout the year, as well as an outside theatre. For more information go to: www.hevercastle.co.uk

Borde Hill Gardens

I visited here this weekend for the first time, on a recommendation from a lovely client. It is a beautiful garden, with a variety of different trees, plants and flowers to see, as they have many different soil conditions here - a real garden for all seasons, with many different areas to enjoy. Beautiful magnolias, rhododendrons, azaleas, and carpets of bluebells in the woodlands, along with a lovely Italian Garden too, and some wonderful bamboos. There is also a café for refreshments. For more information go to: www.bordehill.co.uk

Home!

We are very lucky in our rental home, to have a lovely back garden with beautiful wild bluebells, tulips, primroses and an apple blossom tree in Spring. So on all my working days, when I can’t get out to do a proper walk, I try to just grab half an hour with my book, and sit outside to get some fresh air (usually with Colin the Cat on my lap!).

So - I hope you are all able to enjoy some of what Spring has to offer. Getting outside and walking in pretty places and taking photos, gives me such peace and joy. It is so important for us all to get some fresh air each day, and we are very blessed in this area to have so many lovely places to walk and to visit. Bring on the summer!

If you would like to discuss any ways in which my treatments or products might be able to help you, please do not hesitate to contact me on: 07710 173354 or email me at: lisa@soulspace.biz. I would really love to hear from you.

With all my love and hugs. See you next month!

Lisa
xXx

Spring is just the Best!

Spring is just the Best!

Kew Gardens

Wakehurst Gardens

Standen House and Gardens

Ramster Gardens

Winkworth Arboretum

Hever Castle

Borde Hill Gardens

Home!

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