Sandhill Farm House is the much loved home and teaching garden of Rosemary Alexander and is open regularly to visitors from all parts of the world

History and background

Built in 1680 as a simple farmhouse, over the past four decades the current house had previously been occupied by two main owners.  Having  been  tenant for 12 years of the 15 acre National Trust property at Stoneacre, Otham, Kent,  I was looking for something smaller where the garden could be managed with about two days maintenance per week (or so I hoped) and I therefore bought this one acre property in June 2000. The previous owner had been a keen and knowledgeable gardener, so there were some interesting plants.  I used the small vegetable area as a relocation area for these until I decided how I was going to lay out the new borders.  The soil was thin and sandy, with a fairly neutral pH, most plants requiring regular feeding to help them thrive, quite a contrast to the heavy clay in my previous National Trust property but easier and quicker to work.

Front and rear gardens broken up into garden rooms inc small kitchen garden. Front garden with small woodland area, planted with early spring flowering shrubs, ferns and bulbs. White and green garden, large leaf border and terraced area. Rear garden has rose borders, small decorative vegetable garden, red border and grasses border.

Sandhill Farm House is a very personal garden and the planting is constantly changing.  I cannot resist buying new plants but the garden is now quite over planted and it is difficult to find space for newcomers.  

The garden opens annually for the NGS and for private groups and Gardening Clubs.  Please contact Rosemary to arrange