One of Britain's greatest gardens, Sissinghurst sits within the ruins of a great Elizabethan house, surrounded by beautiful Kentish countryside. Vita Sackville-West, the poet and writer, began transforming the site in the 1930s with her diplomat and author husband, Harold Nicolson. Harold's architectural planning of the garden rooms, and the colourful, abundant planting in the gardens by Vita, reflect the romance and intimacy of her poems and writings. Sissinghurst Castle Garden was the backdrop for a diverse history - from the astonishing time as a prison in the 1700s, to being a home to the women's land army. It was also a family home to some fascinating people who lived here or came to stay. This updated guidebook highlights the recent developments by Head Gardener Troy Scott Smith to restore the garden to its romantic splendour. AUTHOR: Adam Nicolson is the grandson of Vita Sackville-West and Harold Nicolson. He is a distinguished author and journalist, whose books include Power and Glory: Jacobean England and the Making of the King James Bible and Men of Honour: Trafalgar and the Making of the English Hero.