With its 500 acres of magnificent grounds, it’s no wonder Leeds Castle is part of the Year of the English Garden celebrations.

With its maze, parkland, woodland and formal gardens, plus a stunning view of the castle and majestic moat, the scene is as picturesque, if not more so, than it was 900 years ago.

The Castle Island was created by one of the greatest garden designers of the 20th century, Russell Page, who also designed and planted the Culpeper Garden. This garden takes its name partly from Sir Thomas Culpeper, who bought the castle in 1632, and partly from Nicholas Culpeper, the 17th- century herbalist.

Originally a kitchen garden, it was transformed into a cottage garden in 1980 and is awash with vibrant orange rosehips, bright yellow bidens and wintery blue vernonias in late spring.

From there, visitors take some steps down to the Lady Baillie Mediterranean Garden Terraces, opened in 1999 by Princess Alexandra, patron of the Leeds Castle Foundation, the charity that manages the castle today.

Designed by landscape architect Christopher Carter, it was built on the site of Lady Baillie’s aviary and has a south-facing aspect with views across the Great Water. A beautiful sunny spot, keep your eyes open for the banana trees.

A short stroll away is the maze, designed by Randall Coate and Adrian Fisher and planted in 1987. It is set in a square and yet, when seen from the mound or the air, is circular, which makes it unique – and harder to solve!

On the other side of the estate is the Wood Garden, which has a carpet of spring colour and then azaleas and rhododendrons later in the year.

PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE

They may be steeped in history, but that doesn’t mean Leeds Castle’s gardens aren’t evolving in the 21st century. Leading the gardening team is Andrew McCoryn, the man responsible for many acres of picturesque planting.

He said: “The Lady Baillie Garden at Leeds is my top must-visit garden for visitors in 2016. Last year we introduced more palm trees and cacti and we invested a lot into our gardens across the estate, but primarily the Lady Baillie Garden. This was definitely the most successful project of 2015.

“The Lady Baillie Garden is the castle’s hidden gem and even on a busy day can be very quiet.”

This year there are also plans to develop the rockery, originally built 30ft high in the 1930s, next to the barbican mill area.

Andrew added: “We are going to rebuild the rockery to its 1978 design by placing all the stones back in their original locations and replanting around them. This will create dry conditions leading down to the water’s edge.”

He added that the Castle Island would be a focus for this year.

“The castle is at the heart and centre of the vast estate, but there is a lack of colour and planting surrounding the building.

“We are going to build a series of beds, which we are hoping to neutralise, whilst putting a planting scheme in place that is unique and unlike any of the other gardens on the estate.

“It will have a grand mix of colours, particularly silvers, whites and lime greens. But it won’t steal the thunder away from the castle, rather support it.”

LEEDS FACTFILE

The gardens at Leeds Castle, near Maidstone, are open all year round. Even in the winter, far from going into hibernation, they still provide plenty of colour and interest.

The grounds are open at 10am daily and the castle from 10.30am. Last admission is 4.30pm and gates close at 6pm

For admission prices and to book online with a 10% reduction, visit leeds-castle.com

A VERY SPECIAL YEAR

The Year of the English Garden celebrates the 300th anniversary of the birth of renowned English landscape architect Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown. The event puts the spotlight on some of the UK’s finest gardens.

In Kent, his designs were at Chilham Castle, Ingress Abbey at Greenhithe and Leeds Abbey, which no longer stands.

More details at www.visitbritain.org