West Dean Gardens sit in the heart of the West Sussex countryside, just a few miles north of Chichester. Here you’ll find acres of beautifully maintained gardens and an arboretum to explore, but it’s the walled garden I wanted to see.

Inside those walls I lost track of time as I wandered around Victorian glasshouses and cold frames, kitchen gardens, cutting gardens and orchards. The incredibly friendly and well informed gardeners actively encourage you to enter and browse the glasshouses and were happy to chat and answer our questions.

The restaurant is nicely styled, comfortable and, most importantly, served excellent coffee and a lot of good cake. It was a happy spot to linger before we wandered into the shop to buy a couple of plants to take home with us.

You could spend an hour or a day here, it’s lovely – especially in early summer – when the wildflowers are in bloom and everything is verdant and green.

Images by Gillian Roe