Episode 1

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Episode 1 of 8

Duration: 30 minutes

Documentary series about the attempts of writer Adam Nicolson and his wife Sarah Raven to bring farming back into the heart of the estate and garden at Sissinghurst Castle in Kent, their historic home which is owned by the National Trust and was moulded into its present form by Nicolson's grandmother Vita Sackville-West and her husband Harold Nicolson back in the 1930s.

An important aspect of their plan is to enable the farm to provide fresh produce that will be served in the National Trust restaurant. Finally, after some 50 meetings, they get the green light, but for Sarah, acting as consultant on the restaurant, things don't go as smoothly as she'd hoped.

Adam is halfway through researching his latest book, a history of Sissinghurst. He introduces us to the rich cultural milieu of his grandmother who, aside from creating the most influential garden of the 20th century, had affairs with many other women.

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Credits

Participant
Adam Nicolson
Participant
Sarah Raven
Producer
Claire Whalley

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