Horticulture expert and TV presenter Alan Titchmarsh is planning to make an appearance at Perch Hill this autumn for a special occasion.
The renowned writer and broadcaster will team up with writer and grower Sarah Raven in East Sussex on September 22 for an event comprising a presentation and a home-cooked meal.
Mr Titchmarsh will give a presentation titled Why I Garden, recounting personal anecdotes and insights drawn from his career in horticulture, authorship and broadcasting.
He will also field questions from attendees during a question-and-answer segment.
Sarah Raven expressed her pleasure at welcoming Alan to Perch Hill, noting his remarkable talent for making gardening feel both enjoyable and accessible, as well as his skill as a narrator. She said she was looking forward to hearing about what continues to inspire his passion for horticulture and the tales behind his television projects and publications.
Throughout the day, Ms Raven will be on hand to respond to visitors’ horticultural queries as they wander around Perch Hill’s grounds.
Attendees will also enjoy a two-course lunch prepared at home and served in her greenhouse, featuring recipes from her cookbooks alongside produce harvested from the property.
Ms Raven noted that the garden is presently in one of its most flourishing periods, with tomatoes yielding exceptionally well in the warm conditions and dahlias and zinnias blooming prolifically. She pointed out that late summer represents one of the most plentiful times at Perch Hill and was delighted that visitors could experience it firsthand.
Perch Hill is also opening its gates to visitors on six remaining late-summer days: August 28 and 29, and September 10, 11, 16, and 17.
The garden welcomes the public only on certain dates throughout the year.
Visitors can wander through the cutting gardens, dahlia and annual trial sections, vegetable plots and the Oast Garden, which showcases an array of salvias, cardoons, artichokes, dahlias, zinnias and gladioli.
Morning sessions run from 9.45am until 12.45pm, with afternoon slots from 1pm to 4pm.
Guests may purchase tickets for garden access alone or opt to include lunch alongside Ms Raven’s 10am presentation.
The Barn Café and Perch Hill shop will stay open until 4pm on each open day.