Instead of taking the bus to the National Trust’s Woolbeding Gardens why not arrive on foot. This easy, mostly flat walk through Stedham Common and The Severals will see us arrive at the gardens just after 11. Everyone is then free to walk around at leisure taking in the many aspects of the garden, including the beautiful kinetic glasshouse. This unfolding structure provides the focal point to a new garden that reveals how much the ancient Silk Route has influenced English gardens of today. It features ten steel ‘sepals’ with glass and aluminium façade which take four minutes to open, creating an immense 141m2 space in the shape of a crown.

The glasshouse draws inspiration from the spirit of Victorian ornamental terrariums. It deploys cutting-edge engineering to provide a functional protective structure while at the same time offering a beguiling, decorative element to the new Silk Route Garden.

On warm days, the glasshouse opens its ‘sepals’ using a hydraulic mechanism to allow the plants access to direct sunshine and ventilation, while in colder weather the structure will remain closed, providing shelter to a collection of subtropical species.

Picnics can be enjoyed beside the William Pye fountain or Well Garden….. or perhaps you prefer to take advantage of the on site cafe – the choice is yours. After a few hours looking around the garden we will complete our loop back along the River Rother. The gardens are free to National Trust members or cost £11 for non-members (or a discounted £10.45 if we have 15 walkers or more). The Walking Festival will make the group booking. Payment is required at least one day before the visit.