Stillingfleet Lodge Gardens — Attraction in Stillingfleet

Outstanding gardens, plural. I visited and took the tour given by Mrs. Cook. Some horticultural knowledge is helpful here as I know little Latin and Latin names are used throughout, with some common names added occasionally. It is windy hereabouts and although much planting has been done to create windbreaks it is not always easy to hear the lecture, especially if others are talking too. Started in 1975, I was astonished to see such mature trees in such a short time. As more space became available successive individual gardens were planted even during horticultural college studies. The whole is entirely self sufficient and no chemicals are used except for the gravel entrance. Hens keep the slugs down. I could not grasp all that was told so I plan another visit, or several ! It is straightforward to find from the A19 signposted Stillingfleet then follow the brown signs. Final access is along a short narrow track to the field parking. An illustrated map with highlights described, a list of courses and a questionnaire are provided. The tea room art work is gorgeous. Not an extensive menu but a good variety of teas and filter coffee, cakes and ice creams. The tour took just over an hour and many other visitors were much more knowledgeable than I. If you've any gardening interest at all then come here and be hooked. I found the place much better than any others I've visited over...

I took a disabled client, was spoken to extremely rudely by the lady in charge regarding disabled parking not been marked properly i missed were I should of gone, then was spoken to sharply when I asked how could I access the cafe with no ramp and I couldn't push the wheelchair around to the door way because there were benches in the way, I was TOLD to leave my client in the sun were there was no shade and sit there, which wasn't acceptable for my client, I asked staff if they thought the gardens was wheelchair friendly and staff did not want to comment, yet the ladys husband agreed it wasn't, we asked for a refund due to the way we had been spoken to and made to feel, when we was given the refund by a staff member the lady banged on the car window shouting for her receipt back which we had already handed in, I really couldn't believe how any human being could be so cold towards a person with a disability, To bang on a car window for a piece of paper were she could clearly see the client, was beyond belief, I have been a care giver over 30 years and I have never been spoken to and treated so horrendously ever, the self entitled lady should think her about manners towards paying customers lesser fortunate...

Unfortunately we didn't see the tiny signs saying it was closed, so we parked up in the open car park, and got out, walking along the drive through the open gate.. And the owner heard me asking the gentleman about opening times, marched out proceeded to be patronising and rude about us not seeing her (very small) closed signs. I apologised twice and explained I hadn't seen them and asked when she was open, when she told me for the third time about her 3 signs I stopped trying to be polite and walked back to my car. I notice from reviews other people have been spoken to very rudely by her AND have missed her '3 signs'. I suggest to the owner the solution is incredibly simple: put opening times and days on Google like every other business, and make your signs bigger and clearer, as they seem to not be visible for multiple people (drivers in particular I imagine). Simple solution to a repeated issue. Such a shame, we won't be bothering...