In spring every garden is special – a time of hope, renewal and excitement, and Pashley is no exception.

The gardens burgeon with the delicate tints of early spring as snowdrops and creamy white and yellow daffodils line the driveway to the Tudor front of the house.

Each year, more bulbs and special shrubs are added.

The peaceful water comes into its own surrounded by the fresh new greenery of the trees, and the weeping willow dips the tips of its branches into the water of the top pond.

A sure sign that hibernation is over is the magnolia coming into flower with its huge rosy buds developing into cream and pink flowers.

In mid to late April the fragrant bluebell walk awakens, enticing the visitor to stroll down the valley by the little stream edged with vibrant blue.

At the same time the magnificent display of tulips begins with the spring highlight being our Tulip Festival.

With the passing of the spring into early summer, the tulips fade and the roses and summer flowering shrubs quickly take over.

An annual sensation is the magnificent Wisteria whose soft purple pendant flower almost completely masks the Georgian brickwork of the South West Front.

The roses, at their best for our Special Rose Weekend, are colour themed throughout the garden.

They are interplanted with cream foxgloves, lilies, lavenders and other complementary plants. Delphiniums are plentiful and new specimens are regularly introduced.

At this time of year the views across the Sussex countryside are particularly delightful and uplifting.

In high summer the ancient Kitchen Garden, now laid out as a potager, hidden within its soft pink brick walls, is full of fresh produce and flowers that supply the café and feed the house.

Many different types of lettuce and salad jostle for space with parsley, chives, coriander and other herbs, while courgettes, peas, beans, cabbage, carrots and radish cohabit with soft fruit which make visitors gasp with envy.

French globe artichokes grow under a vigorous eucalyptus tree that dapples the bench below with summer light; scented and colourful sweet peas grown on tall bamboo pyramids, flourish at each corner of the garden.

Pashley is blessed with many large, old trees, including the fine Scots pine by the moat; the light leaved Aspen poplars on the island, and several very old English oak and beech trees.

In late summer and autumn Pashley maintains its riot of colour mixed with the careful composed shape and form of the trees and shrubs.

Winter is a very busy time of year in the Pashley Gardens.

The nominal peace achieved by the now, sadly rare, snowfalls is very deceptive. Masses of reconstruction and repair work goes on. Paths, fences, lawns, edges and hedges are renovated.

In the woodland garden and walks skilful tree reshaping and pruning is done.

Major replanting and new planning schemes are carried out.