We assembled on the lawn in front of the Tudor house and were introduced to Pashley Manor Gardens by Mr James Sellick, the owner.

The tour took us via the new visitor centre into the garden where we were fortunate to see the sculptures  arranged around the garden for sculpture week which is running from the 16th to 28th May 2009. Some of the pictures we took are set out below:

We’ve been recommend in the guardian for a place to stay when visiting bedgebury

More ways to entice your kids outdoors

Little uns’ first adventure

Let your tinies follow the great explorers of yesteryear as they scour the land for exotic plants in the exotic setting of a Kent forest. Bedgebury’s wooded play trail includes a shipwreck, a climbing wall and giant spider web climbing frame for your budding Darwins to negotiate. They’ll just have to imagine the scurvy and boa constrictors.

• £7.50 per car; 01580 879820, tinyurl.com/dmg5wt. Stay at Bull Farm Oast, Cranbrook (01580 714140, bullfarmoast.co.uk) doubles from £67 (children’s beds can be added).

We went to Scotney today. This is the best time of the year to see the the Azelias so go now.