Wendy R's Benenden Open Garden Walk, 8 miles circular, moderate

This beautiful walk in the Weald of Kent starts promptly at 10am from the village green. We'll head South through Iden Green Wood and Dingleden before stopping in Rolvenden for a short lunchbreak. Then it's onwards through Hole Park renowned for its spectacular bluebell woods before making our way to Little Wakehurst, an Open Garden in Benenden Village and the reason for this walk.
This rewilded 6 acre cottage style garden synonymous with the Hawkhurst Smugglers boasts a wildlife pond (formerly a bomb crater), an art studio which is open to the walkers, a 4.5 acre wildflower meadow and tea and cakes for a donation. Those of you who visited last year will also recall the somewhat understated 'Man Cave' and in order not to disappoint, Pete and Sara who own the property have been busy adding more memorabilia to entice you to visit.

Open Gardens is raising money for Hospice in the Weald who provide end of life care for Adults and Children with incurable illnesses. Hence a £5.00 entrance fee is required with all proceeds going towards this cause. Last years walk helped Sara and Pete raise over £2000 towards this cause so my thanks to all of you who attended. Hopefully this year they can raise even more.

A card reader is available at the entrance although cash donations for the tea and cakes would be appreciated.

Due to the potential for livestock I would politely request NO DOGS on this walk.

NB: There is a £2 payment required for non-Ramblers Assoc. members to help cover our Meetup costs. Please help the walk leader by bringing the exact change.
Ramblers members are welcome on any of our walks, but we would still encourage you to RSVP on Meetup. This will give our volunteer walk leaders an idea of how many are attending, and also keep the numbers manageable. If, on the day of the walk, you are still on the waiting list and a Ramblers member, you can attend - just let the walk leader know you are coming by adding a comment 'Coming as a Rambler'. You will find the start location via our website
Our Walks (westkentwalkinggroup.org.uk).