A family estate held its first weekend festival this year with talks, stalls and activities centred on the beauty of nature and gardening.
The Argus was invited to attend the pioneering event at Borde Hill and learn more about the Haywards Heath estate’s natural paradise.
At the heart of it is a picturesque 16th century Elizabethan manor house where five generations of the Stephenson Clarke family, who manage the estate, have lived.
There were stalls scattered across the sprawling South Lawn behind the house with small businesses offering an array of plants, a unique selection of hand-crafted products and nature-focused artwork.
One stall that captured our attention was home to Vintage and Bespoke Diffusers, a family business led by a mother and daughter duo who sell upcycled flower diffusers. Stepping into their tent, we were overwhelmed by the delicate floral fragrances that filled the marquee.
Other small businesses included artist Rachel Dein, who creates plaster casts from flower impressions, and independent flower delivery service Freddie’s Flowers.
Following a relaxed stroll around the gardening and lifestyle stalls, we attended a talk by contemporary multi-disciplinary artist Claire Luxton, who is based in East Sussex.
Claire’s talk, The Nature Of Looking, was focused on the connections between art, nature and femininity with the aim of encouraging audiences to adopt “a different perspective on the way we perceive nature”.
Claire opened with a reflection on female artists in history, highlighting that the first female artists had limited access to studies, but had “nature and their own bodies” as inspiration.
She said: “That has always resonated very strongly with me. Nowadays, we take our access to nature for granted.
“As humans, we have this massive yearning to be within nature and wildlife. Through my work, I am basically taking nature back into urbanised spaces so people have the opportunity to interact with art and nature.”
Claire has created installations in public spaces, which she calls “gentle disruption”.
Her most recent installation, Field Of Dreams, was commissioned by Battersea Power Station and is currently hanging there.
It is made up of sculpture, sound, video art, portraiture and poetry and contains over 233m of fabric in 33 layers to explore the connection between mental health and nature.
At the talk, Claire exhibited her artwork, The Poet’s Wife, commissioned by Borde Hill. The piece blends painting and photography and was inspired by the history behind the gardens at Borde Hill.
There were also activities and fringe events such as flower arranging, wine tasting and panel discussions with individuals such as fashion designer Cath Kidston and garden designer Jo Thompson.
We chose to join a tour of the estate’s nine gardens, each encompassing a different theme and focus.
It started at Jay Robin’s rose garden, which contains more than 750 English roses.
The garden is a vibrant mix of colours, with a striking water fountain statue of Aphrodite at the centre.
The tour, led by gardener Matt Johnson, also visited the Italian Garden, containing a serene lily pool and Italian-style planting, the Paradise Walk, a tranquil path bordered by a range of colourful blooms, and the Old Rhododendron Garden.
Along the way, we also learnt about the estate’s Warren Wood, which contains 20 champion trees, designated so by the Royal Forestry Society for their size, age and rarity or historical significance.
Borde Hill also prides itself on its accessibility, with most paths made to be wheelchair-friendly.
The estate also offers tours to veterans, dementia sufferers and blind visitors, with a focus on the senses of touch and smell.
After the tour, we caught up with Borde Hill’s managing director Jay Goddard, who is bringing a new vision to the estate.
The festival was implemented by Jay for the first time this year in the hopes of bringing a younger and wider audience to the estate and gardening as a whole.
She said: “My focus is how do we stay relevant and make sure the important collection is here for another 130 years.
“With the changing climate and the new pressures that come with that, I think it’s really important to foster a younger generation to care about the world they’re in.
“The festival is about celebrating the credibility and heritage of the gardens, but also to inspire younger generations to talk about it themselves.”
The festival on Saturday and Sunday drew more than 1,000 visitors a day. Early bird tickets for next year's event, on June 21 and 22, are already available.
Borde Hill is also hosting a variety of events throughout the rest of the year, such as an open air cinema, a sunset concert and opera on the lawn.
The estate’s season has been extended and it will remain open until December.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here