Sissinghurst

Beautifully filmed documentary series on the history of Sissinghurst Castle and garden. Tedious accompanying storyline about Natural Trust managers having no understanding of the essence of Sissinghurst or the Nicholson's vision of rescuing it from increasing mediocrity. The altercations with the provincial cook and the dullards from the the Natural Trust, all of which looked like they needed anti depressants, brought nothing to the programme. Worst of all an appalling choice of commentator - totally unsuitable for the subject. Fascinating interviews with the Nicholson family made the programme highly watchable and had the series concentrated on the Sackville's, the Nicholson's and the history of Sissinghurst it would have been excellent.

Charming 8 episode series about a famous garden. At its simplest, that is what it is. But the garden in question is Sissinghurst in south east England, one of the most famous gardens in the country. Its fame does not so much come from its beauty as its connection to twentieth century literary history. It was owned by Vita Sackville-West and her husband Harold Nicolson, who built the gardens in the 1930s, but also has connections to Virginia Woolf. Wolf was Sackville-West's lesbian lover, one of many one of many. The show is focused on Adam Nicolson and his wife. Adam is the grandson of Vita and Harold, who is trying to change Sissinghurst. Adam is trying to reconnect Sissinghurst to Vita's time and to reconnect the estate to the surrounding land. Much of the series up until episode 6 focuses on the problems that Adam and his wife have in trying to get their ideas accepted by the public body that now runs Sissinghurst. Things start to change in episode 6.

If nothing else you get to see a wonderful garden which is well worth visiting, particularly in May-June when it and most English gardens are at their peak. Not too far from Scotney Castle or Exbury, also worth a visit. Castles and famous houses abound in south east England.