Our first garden is King John’s Hunting Lodge, Odiham, an 18th century folly made famous by designer Nicky Haslam. Next, we visit Chawton House, Chawton altered in 18th century by Jane Austen’s rich brother, with extensive gardens and parkland. It is now a literary research centre. We spend the afternoon at Binsted Place, Alton, a charming 17th century farmhouse built of stone surrounded by a series of garden rooms divided by   formal yew hedging and ornamented by topiary.