This week we hear from guest writer Anna Pappachan Kakkassery about her visit to a hidden garden just beyond the Croydon border, opened to visitors through the National Garden Scheme. If you haven’t heard of it, the scheme gives public access to thousands of private gardens across the country each year, raising money for nursing and health charities. Over to Anna…

Here’s your chance to uncover some of the city’s lesser-known horticultural highlights, among hidden squares, rooftop spaces, community gardens and re-wilded areas that aren’t usually open to the public.

One afternoon last month, we visited one such beautiful private garden – 57 Westhall Road, Warlingham – through the National Garden Scheme. We travelled there from Purley, and the journey itself felt peaceful. If you’d like to experience something similar, you can search for nearby open gardens by entering your postcode on the National Garden Scheme website.

I went there with my husband and our two-year-old, and all three of us enjoyed every moment.

What made this experience extra special for me was knowing that there’s such a meaningful cause behind it. The entry fee, along with the tea and cakes served there, goes towards charities and non-profit organisations like Macmillan and hospice care support. That made the whole visit feel much more wholesome and heartwarming.

This particular garden was beautifully set behind the house in three levels, almost like climbing through little peaceful worlds. From the very top, we could see stunning views of Whyteleafe and Caterham. Everywhere around us were flowers, greenery, little seating corners and warm conversations with like-minded people who simply came together to enjoy nature and support a good cause.

Towards the end of our visit, my two-year-old and I went to the tea corner where they served homemade cakes and tea. We had a cup of tea and the most delicious chocolate cake. The lady coordinating the event spoke to me so kindly. She asked how I found the garden, whether I enjoy gardening, and we ended up chatting for a while. I told her how I searched nearby gardens using my postcode on the website, and she welcomed us with such warmth and a lovely smile. They were especially kind to my baby too.

To be honest, before going there, I felt a little hesitant. We were the only Indian family I noticed there, and somewhere inside me there was that tiny bit of self-doubt – wondering whether we would feel out of place. But the way everyone treated us was so warm, welcoming and genuine. It never once felt uncomfortable. Instead, it felt like belonging.

And somehow, this whole experience made me realise something else too… Back home, I spent most of my life trying to escape the heat. I never knew there would come a time when I would crave sunshine this much. But here in the UK, especially as a postpartum mother going through long winter days, I found myself quietly waiting for summer. Waiting for sunlight. Waiting for days like this.

The visit felt soft, peaceful and healing in a way I cannot fully explain.

I later read more about this tradition and realised that opening private gardens during summer has been part of British culture for decades – bringing communities together through nature, conversations, tea, kindness and charity.

If you’re living in the UK, I genuinely think this is something you should experience at least once. It’s not just about visiting a garden – it’s about slowing down, connecting with people, supporting a good cause and soaking in the little joys of summer.

Thank you to Anna for letting us know something new. We’ll be searching for other gardens nearby over the summer. You can search for gardens on the National Garden Scheme website here.

Posted by guest writer Anna Pappachan Kakkassery 

Photos courtesy of Anna

Anna is a Malayali from Kerala, India, living in Croydon since 2021. A working mother of a two-year-old, she runs a small home decor business on Instagram. She writes occasionally on her personal blog and also creates travel videos for her YouTube channel.