Open Days, Directions and Contact Details

2026 Opening Times

The garden will be open for charity through the NGS between 2pm and 6pm on selected Sundays in 2026, and the dates will appear here as soon as they are confirmed. 

Admission is £6.00 per adult and children under 16 are free. Children must be accompanied by an adult at all times. Sorry no dogs, and the garden is not suitable for wheelchairs or push chairs due to the narrow paths.

Payment is by cash on the gate, or by card in advance on the NGS website here: 

Pay By Card In Advance

If you can't make any of the NGS dates, you can visit the garden by arrangement between 9am and 11am on weekdays between 1st June and 1st August. Please click here to make a booking: Book A Weekday Morning Visit


Other Contacts

Angel sculpture in the rose garden is by Pete Moorhouse:

www.petemoorhouse.co.uk

 

Sculpture of Abigail the Irish Wolfhound is by Zenos Frudakis:

 www.zenosfrudakis.com


Metal delphinium supports throughout the garden are from:

www.plantsupports.co.uk

 

Contact

Carol Bruce

Old Bladbean Stud

Bladbean

Nr Elham

Canterbury

Kent CT4 6NA

carolhannahbruce@sky.com

 Bladbean is located in the Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and as such it falls under the protection of the AONB's work to preserve the authentic rural character of treasured landscapes in the UK. Please visit the Kent Downs AONB website for more information: http://www.kent-downs.org.uk

 The gardens are part of the Our Land scheme to promote environmentally responsible and landscape-sensitive activities for visitors to Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.  For more information about the Our Land scheme and to find other recommended places to visit in the Kent Downs AONB, please see the Our Land website: www.our-land.co.uk/holidays/kent-downs

Getting Here

Bladbean is a tiny hamlet in the heart of the Kent Downs AONB and is reached via beautiful but narrow country lanes from all directions. Recommended approach routes for garden visitors have been chosen as those least likely to meet on-coming traffic.

On NGS Open Days:

Follow the yellow NGS signs from Stone Street (B2068) through Stelling Minnis or from the Elham Valley road just north of Elham. There is signposted parking directly opposite the gardens.

For Private Group Visits:

Printed directions will be sent in advance by post.

CT4 6NA

 

Copyright Carol Bruce 2023