grow, cook, eat, arrange with Sarah Raven & friends
Adam Nicolson: The secret history of Sissinghurst - Episode 272
Apr 30, 2026
Episode 272
Sarah Raven
Sissinghurst is one of the country’s crowning gems of National Trust gardens, and a place in which Adam was brought up, around the beauty curated by his grandparents.
This week on ‘grow, cook, eat, arrange’, we’re delving into the centuries of legacy which led to a spot perfect for Vita Sackville-West and Harold Nicolson to create the poetic space we know and adore today, and how their vision is being revived today for generations to come.
In this episode, discover:
- The remarkable story of how Vita Sackville-West turned a ruined Elizabethan courtyard house into one of the world’s most celebrated gardens
- How Sissinghurst evolved through centuries – from Renaissance palace to poetic family home and garden, and all in between
- The creative partnership between Vita and Harold Nicolson
- What makes the white garden so magical, from its glowing night-time palette to its scented, moth-pollinated plants
- How the newly reimagined Delos garden brings a Greek hillside to Kent, blending historical inspiration with modern design
Products mentioned:
Ammi majus:
sarahraven.com/products/ammi-majus
Ammi visnaga:
sarahraven.com/products/ammi-visnaga
Agrostemma githago 'Milas Snow Queen':
sarahraven.com/products/agrostemma-githago-milas-snow-queen
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