Sissinghurst Castle - National Trust

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Sissinghurst Castle - National Trust Historic, poetic, iconic: a refuge dedicated to beauty. Historic, poetic, iconic; a refuge dedicated to beauty. We welcome feedback – both positive and negative.

Vita Sackville-West and Harold Nicolson fell in love with Sissinghurst Castle and created a world renowned garden. House rules: ​

We want our page to be a place where people can share how they feel about the National Trust and talk about their experiences in a fun environment. It helps us to learn and grow. These house rules aim to ensure everyone can enjoy themselves while they’re here: ​

We ask you to be nice and polite to one another – you almost always are! - and respect each other’s views and comments. We ask all users to ensure your contributions are civil, polite, tasteful and suitable for all ages. We won't tolerate disruptive, offensive or abusive behaviour, unlawful or objectionable content. This includes any material which might be defamatory, offensive, infringing, obscene, lewd, pornographic, violent, abusive, insulting, threatening, harassing, discriminatory, blasphemous, indecent or otherwise unlawful or objectionable. It also includes any material which is aggressive, argumentative or likely to be construed as bullying, and it includes spamming or repetition - in particular the posting of off-topic material in subject-specific threads or areas. ​
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*Moderation policy* ​
In general, we don’t moderate posts, except on the rare occasions - for example where someone has posted offensive, threatening or libellous content about named or identifiable individuals on our page. We have a duty to protect our staff and volunteers, so while deleting comments is totally out of character for us, our position is that any post containing a libellous accusations, should be removed. We’ll also remove any posts that in any way target individual teams or members of staff. We will not comment on our staff and volunteers in this way in public forums. If any correspondent has feedback to share about any individual members of staff or teams in the organisation, please get in touch with us directly. If an individual continues to post offensive, threatening or libellous content then we’ll be forced to block that person from the page. Similarly, if any individual repeatedly posts contributions of the nature noted above in the 'material' list, we'll again be forced to block that individual from the page (in this scenario, we will have previously warned the individual about their content).​

We won’t tolerate postings, content, or links that are racist, sexist or homophobic. We also don’t permit linking to or posting any content which endorses illegal activity, or any activities against the values of the National Trust. ​
If you’re concerned that a posting or user content has broken any of our house rules or you’re worried about any comment or content then please send us an email to [generic email address] and let us know. ​

Finally, please note that the views on our page are created by our community and don’t necessarily represent the views or opinions of National Trust. ​

Over the past few months, there have been rare sightings of a leucistic House Sparrow at Sissinghurst. Leucism is an unu...
20/10/2026

Over the past few months, there have been rare sightings of a leucistic House Sparrow at Sissinghurst.

Leucism is an unusual condition in birds in which some or all of the feathers lack their normal pigmentation. Unlike albino birds, leucistic birds generally retain normally coloured eyes, beaks and legs.

On your next visit, test your birdwatching skills and spot our unusual little visitor!

© Alan Pavey

Bee conservation work at Sissinghurst. Next week will see our resident bees in the Library, Tower and the South Cottage ...
17/10/2026

Bee conservation work at Sissinghurst.

Next week will see our resident bees in the Library, Tower and the South Cottage safely removed and moved to an apiary.

In order for this work to be carried out safely, the Library will be closed all day on Tuesday 20 October and the Tower will be closed all day on Wednesday 21 October.

Temporary scaffolding will be erected in these areas and visitors can expect sections of pathways around the scaffolding to be roped off for their safety.

We want to thank our visitors for their understanding around the closures as we move our busy little friends to their new home.

© National Trust Images/Hugh Mothersole

Nothing says October like a good old fashioned pumpkin. Most of these pumpkins and squashes are heirloom varieties, bred...
16/10/2026

Nothing says October like a good old fashioned pumpkin.

Most of these pumpkins and squashes are heirloom varieties, bred for centuries to improve their flavour. After harvest, they are ‘cured’ for two weeks in a greenhouse which converts their starches into sugar, making them more tasty. It also improves their storage capacity.

The good news is that if you want to display or store them for the next few months, they will become even sweeter!

These pumpkins and squashes were harvested from our on-site organic Vegetable Garden and are on sale at our Plant Shop, alongside other harvested site produce.

© National Trust Images/Cassie Dickson

National Trust South East team

Half-Term Pumpkin Picking  📆27 & 28 October 🎟Limited availability remaining Get ready for the spooky season with pumpkin...
13/10/2026

Half-Term Pumpkin Picking
📆27 & 28 October
🎟Limited availability remaining

Get ready for the spooky season with pumpkin picking at Sissinghurst during October Half-Term.

For £5, pick the scariest looking pumpkin from our vegetable patch to take home with you.

For an additional £5, why not get creative and carve a spook-tacular design into your chosen pumpkin to scare your family and friends?

Multiple time slots available.
Visitors must pre-book to secure their place as pumpkin numbers are limited.

🔗To book tickets, visit our webpage

© National Trust Images/Eve Lynn Brogan

“The Castle, and the meadows, and the farm;” — Sissinghurst, Vita Sackville-WestWe’re pleased to share that we have secu...
09/10/2026

“The Castle, and the meadows, and the farm;” — Sissinghurst, Vita Sackville-West

We’re pleased to share that we have secured a grant from the High Weald National Landscape to enhance our species-rich hay meadow on the Plain and work has already begun to achieve this.

Our tenant farmer John first harrowed the field, exposing the soil. Our garden team then sowed new seeds which were sourced from species-rich meadows in the High Weald.

This transformation will offer visitors an immersive and rural first impression of the property, particularly from the top of the Tower, much like the views contemporary to Vita Sackville-West and Harold Nicolson.

It will also showcase the importance of nature restoration and maximising habitat creation to increase biodiversity.

To allow work to be carried out safely, this section of the Plain will be closed off during the winter period. Visitors will have access to the space again during the warmer months for our summer activities and events.

© National Trust Images/Saffron Prentis/Richard Gravett

National Trust South East team High Weald National Landscape National Trust

Here’s just a small selection of what’s being harvested from our organic Vegetable Garden right now. Produce harvested o...
05/10/2026

Here’s just a small selection of what’s being harvested from our organic Vegetable Garden right now.

Produce harvested on site is used in our Restaurant but is also available to buy in our Plant Shop.

If you’re looking for that missing ingredient for a perfect autumn stew, why not pop down and see what we have on offer?

© National Trust Images/Olivia Steed-Mundin

"Autumn's a preparation for renewal,Yet not entirely shornOf tardy beauty, last and saddest jewelBedizening where it may...
03/10/2026

"Autumn's a preparation for renewal,
Yet not entirely shorn
Of tardy beauty, last and saddest jewel
Bedizening where it may not adorn"

— The Garden, Vita Sackville-West

© National Trust Images/Megan Taylor

"How little did I or you realise when we said 'Till death do us part' on that October day at Knole that it would be so a...
01/10/2026

"How little did I or you realise when we said 'Till death do us part' on that October day at Knole that it would be so absolutely true" — Harold Nicolson to Vita Sackville-West, 1954

Their wedding took place on this day in 1913 was widely covered in the newspapers, making it a much-talked about event of the season.

Photo: Vita and Harold on their wedding day in the Knole - National Trust chapel

As autumnal colour emerges in the garden, so do the sharp angles of beautiful vistas. Photo: quince trees in the White G...
28/09/2026

As autumnal colour emerges in the garden, so do the sharp angles of beautiful vistas.

Photo: quince trees in the White Garden © National Trust Images/Megan Taylor

The sun setting over our bountiful harvest in the organic Vegetable Garden. Keep an eye out for a vibrant display of our...
24/09/2026

The sun setting over our bountiful harvest in the organic Vegetable Garden.

Keep an eye out for a vibrant display of our pumpkins at the Plant Shop or get ready for our Half-Term pumpkin picking event in late October.

More information can be found on our website.

© National Trust Images/Cassie Dickson

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Biddenden Road
Cranbrook
TN172AB

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