Great Dixter

Home to gardening guru Christopher Lloyd, Great Dixter at Northiam, East Sussex is a grand old timber framed manor house dating back to the 15th century with some stunning later additions. Now managed by the Great Dixter Charitable Trust, it's a refreshing change to visit a property not owned by the National Trust or English Heritage – no corporate feel or image here.

In April of 2008, I took advantage of the Trust's generous offer of allowing Northiam residents to visit for free. With camera batteries charged I envisaged a riot of springs' reds, yellows and blues. Unbelievably, a cold, wet, white out made for dramatic scenes but not the carpet of colour I had hoped for. So much for April showers. 

The much improved website is: Great Dixter House and Gardens