Otford Court, Sevenoaks, England

A few camellias flower in the one remaining glasshouse where a deep water tank still exists (now derelict). A circular railed pond is the central feature of this productive garden and the beds and paths are easily identified, although today the area is all laid to grass. A few old apple trees remain and the odd fig clings to the walls. A rather unusual semi-circular compost pit lies to the north, near the stables.

The parkland today retains many fine trees, both singly and in groups, with notable copper beeches, horse chestnuts, cedars and beech. Most of the trees are small for their age, because they are growing on this thin, chalky scarp slope. Nearer the house many exotic conifers crowd together jostling with diverse deciduous trees nearby. They form a rich mass of colour and texture throughout the seasons. There are some fine sequoias.

On the hillside to the east is the Warren, an area of grassland wonderfully rich with wild flowers and rabbit burrows. There are also many orchids. Again some fine trees stand alone and in clumps, and woodland surrounds the whole. Hedgerow shrubs such as viburnum and dogwood abound, all characteristic of the chalky downland.

In 1990 it was decided to clear the grounds back to their original, more open plan layout of the last century, and to create vast new sports fields and tennis courts. Massed bulb planting and avenues were proposed, but these, as yet (in 1992) have not been carried out.

The grounds are very beautiful and peaceful. There are still many Victorian touches at Otford Court, including the kitchen garden, the Pulhamite rockwork, the trees and fine period buildings.