Reviews of The Salutation – The Secret Gardens of Sandwich

Hsving read the latest review I arrived at The Secret Gardens with trepidation only to be greeted by a delightful member of staff in the new Visitors Centre who explained thoroughly the set up and made me feel very welcome. The garden was stunning (I had picked a beautiful day!) and immaculately kept, I saw no evidence of weeds and thistles just neat lines and hard working staff, who were only too happy to stop their work and chat to us about the plants on show. The Tea-Room was busy but we found a spot on the terrace where we enjoyed excellent tea, in elegant pots and silver strainers. We had a thoroughly good day out and I would heartily recommend it to both lovers and non-lovers of gardens as a delightful location supported by helpful and friendly staff!

(5.0/5)

We visited the Salutation Gardens in Sandwich yesterday. We have been before, raved about it to friends and thought it one of the best gardens in Kent. However, yesterday we really felt something was very wrong. Weeds all over the place - brambles,thistles seeding - starved bedding plants either planted out too late or still in cells waiting to be planted out. Something has happened and we don't know what. Such a great shame. The team of gardeners were so enthusiastic, especially Steve Edney who came and talked to our garden society a couple of years ago. Where are they all?

(2.0/5)

My wife and I visited these superb gardens, yesterday,30 June, on a beautiful sunny day, which showed the plantings to perfection. Garden staff were more than helpful, and very friendly. However, the on-site tea room was very overpriced and the pot of tea we had was revolting! It was actually undrinkable(something my wife has never had a problem with) and at £5.25 a pot , very expensive.It was brewed using the most enormous leaves, which actually clogged the spout of the pot. Enjoy the garden, but go somewhere else for your refreshment.

(5.0/5)

Yesterday I took my wife to visit the secret gardens, and we both thought it a beautiful place, and well worth a visit.

(4.0/5)

On entering the garden a huge carpet of buttery coloured walflowers ,planted as a swathe of ground cover gives you a hint of the imaginative planting schemes one will discover throughout the garden.
There is much evidence of a lot of restorative work that has been well executed over the last few years and a good balance of the naturalist style with the more manicured and managed. Maintenance was good.
I enjoyed the occasional lavish splashes of colour that has been used along the formal borders..on my visit Alliums were in fine form and tulips and Camassias concluding their performance.

(4.0/5)

The Salutation is fantastic and inspirational realative young garden but full of innovative and outstanding details. I think one of the best newer gardens in England!
Kristin Lammerting - Garden book author from Germany who visits gardens in the UK since 30 years

(5.0/5)

I took a party from our local hoticultural society in June and everyone in the party was full of praise for the gardens. My wife and I spent most of the day there because there is so much to see and the Head Gardener and his staff could not have been more welcoming and were only too pleased to stop and talk to those with questions.

(5.0/5)

It may be a beautiful garden but dont expect to be welcomed if you have any special needs. On driving into an empty car park with a friend who has M.S. and displaying her parking permit, which has never been refused before when I have tried to show her a little quality of life; Iwas pounced on before I'd barely managed to turn ignition off to be haughtily informed that "deliveries" could be made but I was expected to leave my friend unattended and go outside to find a parking space. I told her my friend was not a package and we would go somewhere else. Be warned. Only perfection welcomed!

(1.0/5)

This is a garden on the up. Dynamic young head gardener has renovated the avenue of Holm oaks to form striking pillars; grows all the salad for the restaurant; has planted an exotic border; created a white garden and a woodland grove which he filled with hanging candles for our visit. He also has great plans for a new Gertrude Jekyll border. The Lutyens house is a beautiful backdrop and there are plants for sale.

(4.0/5)