Mid Sussex MP opens Borde Hill Garden’s new fountain

Mims Davies joined Andrewjohn Stephenson Clarke, one of the owners of Borde Hill, to open the new Sculpture Fountain in the Rose Garden last Thursday.

Mims said: “A tremendous morning to be in Borde Hill to open the new Rose garden Fountain.

“This is such a beautiful new piece to view on a wonderful walk around these stunning gardens and I was honoured to be invited to cut the ribbon.

“It was brilliant to see the car park so busy as we arrived, showing that this special place to visit in Mid Sussex is rightly drawing visitors to this lovely local attraction.

“The team have done an excellent job in getting the gardens set up with Covid-19 safety features so that families can enjoy the amazing blooms.

“The work that has gone into the gardens is clear for all to see and the recent dry spell has been managed so well.

“This attraction definitely provides the opportunity for people both locally and from further afield to enjoy the fresh air and scenery that after lockdown we all crave.

“I know many people will have been keen to get out and about recently and Borde Hill is one of many excellent local attractions waiting to welcome us all back as we move further into recovery and look to do more.

“They do special entry for NHS workers and they always have events and new things happening.”

The fountain was made by the figurative sculptor Brendon Murless, who has exhibited before at Borde Hill and won last year’s competition to provide an unusual and elegant piece for the centre of the stunning Rose Garden, with the sculpture funded by an anonymous donor.

Borde Hill Garden is set as distinct garden ‘rooms,’ the most popular being Jay Robin’s Rose Garden with 750 David Austin Roses, the Italian Garden and the subtropical Dells.

Borde Hill is a picturesque backdrop for many artists to show their talents by exhibiting in different areas, from intimate rooms to expansive spaces.

This year in the Artists’ Garden Exhibition, sponsored by 1st Central Insurance, 40 pieces are on display.

The Specialist Plant Fair is returning on Sunday, with many local plant nurseries attending.

Garden lovers will be able to select a range of plants from nurseries including Cotswold Garden Flowers, which has one of the largest collections of plants in Europe, and Copton Ash Nursery, an alpine specialist which also offers Mediterranean, umbellifer and woodland plants.

The plant fair will be open from 11am to 3pm.

Entry to the plant fair costs £8 per person, and is free to Friends of Borde Hill.

RHS, BBC Gardeners’ World and HHA members will be required to pay full price.

To find out more, visit www.plant-fairs.co.uk.

The Garden is open until Sunday, November 1, every day from 10am to 5pm.

Pre-booking is essential for anyone who wants to visit the gardens.

To book, visit www.bordehill.co.uk/bookyourvisit.