Cornwall, in the south-west of England, is best known for its beaches, but it also has some beautiful gardens that you can visit. Here are details of just a few of them:
The Lost Gardens of Heligan (Pentewan, St.Austell, Cornwall)
The Lost Gardens of Heligan were developed between 1766 and 1914, but after World War I they fell into disrepair and became overgrown. They were rediscovered by Tim Smit (who was also responsible for setting up The Eden Project) and John Willis (a descendant of the Tremaynes, the family who originally owned Heligan) in 1990, and the gardens were cleared and restored.
There are a number of different areas for you to explore: the Northern Gardens, where you can see the Vegetable Garden, the Walled Flower Garden, the Melon Yard and the Pleasure Grounds; the Jungle, which is home to palm trees, banana plants and bamboo; Horsemoor Hide, the centrepiece of Heligan’s Wildlife Project, where you can see video footage of some of the estate’s wildlife; and the Wider Estate, which includes the Lost Valley and Heligan’s Ancient Woodlands.
The Lost Gardens of Heligan cover more than 200 acres of land, so you should set aside a whole day if you want to explore them properly. The site also has a tearoom, a bakery, a plant centre and a shop, where you can buy souvenirs, books and even seeds, so that you can grow your own fresh flowers at home.
The gardens are open daily between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. between the 1st of April and the 30th of September (last tickets available at 4.30 p.m.), and from 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. between the 1st of October and the 31st of March (last tickets available at 3.30 p.m.). Admission fees apply.
Trevarno Estate and Gardens (Crowntown, Near Helston, Cornwall)
The Trevarno Estate has more than 35 acres of gardens, which have been restored and were opened to the public in 1998. Highlights include the Italian Garden, the Bluebell Woods, the Bog Garden, the Grotto and Rockery, and the Walled Garden. The grounds also include Trevarno Lake, where you can see a Victorian boathouse.
If you visit the estate between January and May, you should also be able to see the daffodils in the National Daffodil Collection Showgarden in bloom. There are more than 2,500 varieties of daffodil within the collection.
Other attractions on the Trevarno Estate include the National Museum of Gardening, a Soap Museum and a Vintage Toy Collection. There is also a herd of reindeer on the estate.
Trebah Garden (Mawnan Smith, Near Falmouth, Cornwall)
Trebah Garden is a sub-tropical garden situated near Falmouth, on the banks of the Helford Estuary, on the south coast of Cornwall. Originally a 19th century pleasure garden, Trebah Garden fell into disrepair after World War II, but it was rediscovered by Tony and Eira Hibbert when they bought the house in 1981. They restored the garden and opened it to the public in 1987.
The ravine garden leads down to a private beach and is filled with plants and trees from around the world, including magnolias, camellias, bamboo and banana plants. There is a visitor centre on site, the Hibbert Centre, which houses a cafe, a gallery shop, and a garden shop.
Trebah Garden is open daily throughout the year between 10 a.m. and 6.30 p.m. (last entry is at 4.30 p.m.). Admission fees apply.
The Eden Project (Bodelva, St. Austell, Cornwall)
The Eden Project is Cornwall’s must-see attraction for gardeners or anyone interested in ecology or the natural world. Constructed in a disused china clay quarry just outside of St. Austell, The Eden Project is now one of the leading tourist attractions in the South-West of England.
It’s particularly famous for its giant greenhouses, or “biomes”, which are designed to replicate particular climates. The Rainforest Biome includes 20 displays, which together feature 1,129 different plant species from the main rainforest areas: South America; South East Asia; West Africa; and the tropical oceanic islands. The Mediterranean Biome includes 1,015 different species of plant which are native to some of the regions of the world with Mediterranean climates: the Mediterranean; South Africa; and California.
You can also explore The Core (The Eden Project’s education centre) and the Outdoor Biome (the gardens). The Outdoor Biome covers 13 hectares of land and contains 1,890 plant species. There are also regular special events held at the site.
The Eden Project is open daily (except for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day). Check the Eden Project website for opening hours. Admission fees apply.
Image: Stevekeiretsu
Tags: Cornwall, Gardens, Lost Gardens of Heligan, The Eden Project, Trebah Gardens, Trevarno Estate and Gardens, UK
