Sissinghurst - Episode 8

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. Fiona Reynolds, director-general of the National Trust, comes to Sissinghurst to respond to Adam's concerns about the future of the farm project. Sarah's menu pleases the punters in the restaurant, but head chef Steve is still reluctant to give her credit. Adam and his sister Juliet relive Vita's last days as she contracted cancer and died, leaving husband Harold devastated. The garden closes for the winter and Adam surprises Sarah with a trip in a hot air balloon. They look down on Sissinghurst and wonder if the changes they envisaged have been achieved and whether they can continue to live at Sissinghurst. Whatever the outcome and whatever the upheavals, the beauties of Sissinghurst will continue to delight visitors for years to come.