This tour from the Burford Bridge Hotel, located in the attractive setting just below Box Hill, contains a wealth of fantastic gardens. Starting with a lecture on the life and work of Gertrude Jekyll given by Jane Balfour whose knowledge and insight into one of England's great gardeners will enhance the following day's visits to Gertrude Jekyll's own garden at Munstead Wood and the magnificent garden at Loseley Park. Some of the greatest Sussex gardens are included - Borde Hill, Nymans and Wakehurst Place with the opportunity to visit the Millennium Seed-bank Project at Wakehurst - the largest international conservation initiative ever undertaken aiming to safeguard 24,000 plant species from around the globe. There is also a private visit to the attractive garden at Vale End

Monday 09 June: Arrive and check into the hotel before the evening lecture and dinner. Jane is a keen garden historian and lecturer, specialising in talks on great gardeners including Gertrude Jekyll, Harold Peto, and Vita Sackville-West, their characters and their gardens.

Tuesday 10 June: Depart by executive coach for Munstead Wood. Gertrude Jekyll began her own garden here in 1883 and lived in the house designed by Lutyens for more than thirty years. The carefully restoration by Sir Robert and Lady Clark over the last decade to Jekyll's original plans reveal her great genus for both planting and design. Continue to Loseley Park where there will be a guided tour of the remarkable Elizabethan Manor house and introduction by the Head Gardener to the vast walled garden which have been transformed into six gardens based on a Jekyll design, a vine walk, rose garden with over 1000 old-fashioned roses, white garden and herb garden form some of the superb horticultural delights within the walls. Lunch can be found in the small restaurant. Finally to Vale End in an idyllic setting this one-acre walled garden arranged on different levels is filled with old roses and herbaceous perennials. Return to the hotel.

Wednesday 11 June: Depart by coach for Borde Hill, one of Sussex's fine plant-hunter gardens representing the work of four generations of the Clarke family. Trees and shrubs collected from all over the world compliment the stunning rose, Italian and white garden surrounding the attractive 16thC house. The Head Gardener will conduct a tour of the gardens. You then continue to Wakehurst Place , these gardens managed by the Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew but originally the inspiration of Gerald Loder a passionate plantsman who spent thirty-three years developing the gardens. Renowned for its unique and unusual collection of trees and shrubs also plantation of Japanese irises and two walled gardens - Wakehurst is a delight for botanist, plantsman and garden lover. The futuristic appearance of the new Millennium Building houses the international seed bank where you can view the work being carried out to the ensure the future of virtually all of the UK's native flowering plants and plants from around the world. Lunch may be found in the restaurant. The final visit is to Nymans - one of the great gardens of the Sussex Weald, developed by three generations of the Messel family from 1890's until 1953 when it passed to the National Trust. This is a plantsman's garden, magnificent summer borders, the Wall Garden with many rare plants, Knot garden and pergola and the ruins of the old house wreathed with clematis, wisteria and roses - a romantic backdrop and part of the garden's charm. Return to the hotel for departure.

Price per person £385 Single Supplement £80 Non refundable deposit £100 - extra nights maybe available at the hotel - if required please enquire when booking.
Includes:

• 2 nights accommodation with full English breakfast and dinner
• Welcome reception and lecture
• All garden entries and tours
• Professional guide and executive coaching

Access to the hotel: Rail: Dorking Station 1 mile - local taxi rank Road: 4 miles J 9 of M25 (NB No coach access to Munstead Wood- 7 mins walk up lane)