For decades, a metal grille created a dead end in Sissinghurst Castle’s White Garden and it stopped visitors walking into the Phlox Garden.

All that is about to change – the grille has been removed, steps reinstated and the Phlox Garden, created by the castle's former owners Vita Sackville-West and Harold Nicolson in 1932, will re-open next month.

Head gardener Troy Scott Smith and his team are now just finishing the paths in the garden which was created for late summer colour.

Troy, who has now been at Sissinghurst for four years, said: “Vita was one for having ‘single moments’ so she would have enjoyed having only phlox in that bed.

“The plants flower in August but our 200,000 visitors expect interest throughout the season so we will introduce a mixture of perennials, as well as plenty of phlox Hesperis,to create colour for spring and summer.”

Troy added: “The steps to the Phlox Garden were removed in 1969 so we have replaced them, using photos from our archive. It was a shame this part of garden had been closed for so many years because it was very much part of Vita’s garden.

“Our next part of this project will be to add a path from the steps to the boathouse.

“There’s lots to do to we’re also working on recreating Vita and Howard’s Delos Garden. It is north facing and has heavy clay so that will be a challenge but it should be ready for spring 2019.”

Next spring, more than 5,000 polyanthus will be blooming in the Nuttery.

"The Nuttery is one of the few parts of the garden that was already established before Vita and Harold arrived in the 1930s," said Troy.

"Vita planted polyanthus under the trees and we are planting 5,000 polyanthus for spring 2018. It should make a bright show but we need 15,000, so we will continue to grow more.”

Since Troy joined the garden in 2013 he has strived to bring out ‘the spirit and the right feeling’ back into the National Trust property near Cranbrook..

He said: “We have made lots of subtle changes. Our conservation and reimagining of Vita and Harold’s garden cannot be heavy handed or invasive. It’s about light touches such as replacing the rosemary plants which Vita loved and a series of interventions.

“The needs to retains its romance and our work has included 700 roses. Many of the roses in the garden are the original plants that Vita planted more than 80 years ago so they will not last forever.

“When I joined Sissinghurst I also wanted to make the whole entrance area more welcoming. It is looking good at the moment with a purple clematis - Plena Elegans - and lemon hollyhocks growing well against the mellow red brick walls.”

Since 2013, visitor numbers have grown from 170,000 to 200,000 in the last season but Troy says 2017 has seen plenty of challenges.

He added: "It’s been a tough season with two gardeners leaving – both have got new jobs at other gardens and another is going on a secondment. It is really good for them but we have fairly small team so this year everything has had to take its turn.”

The garden at Sissinghurst Castle is open daily from 11am to 5.30pm.

For details visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk/sissinghurst-castle