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The Lost Gardensof Heligan |
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The Lost Gardensof Heligan |
Background |
Pentewan
St. Austell.
The award winning Lost Gardens of Heligan extend to some eighty acres of superb pleasure grounds together with a magnificent complex of walled gardens and a huge, productive vegetable garden, all fast returning to their former glory. Lying at the heart of one of the most mysterious estates in England, the former seat of the Tremayne family is now the site of the largest garden restoration in Europe.
This extraordinary plant collection together with a range of exotic glasshouses, working buildings, romantic structures and designed landscapes reflects the past passions and interests of the family. The combination of these and the mild Cornish climate has resulted in a garden )or in truth a series of gardens within a garden) which is unique.
Lost for many years under mountains of bramble, ivy, rampant laurel and fallen timber, this was truly a 'Sleeping Beauty'. Anyone who was moved by the 'The Secret Garden' will love Heligan, the most secret garden of them all.
Rare and beautiful shrubs (including the amazing 'Hooker' collection of original Himalayan rhododendrons, and other exotics collected from around the world by the intrepid plant hunters of the last century,) provide the backcloth to numerous romantic structures around the Pleasure Grounds: the Fern Ravine, the Italian Garden, the Crystal Grotto (whose candlelit interior was used as a romantic backdrop on summer evenings), the Wishing Well ... and through the mass of luxuriant vegetation in New Zealand can be glimpsed the mysterious arched recesses of one of the finest Beebole walls in the country. Described as 'the finest herbaceous border in England,' the neglected Sundial Garden has been replanted with early Victorian varieties to offer an unusual and colourful display from January to December.
- the scene of an historic achievement in the autumn of 1997: the harvest
of ripe pineapples, grown by traditional methods, one of which was delivered
to Her Majesty the Queen in celebration of her Golden Wedding Anniversary.
Heligan is now perhaps most famous for being a 'Living Museum' of nineteenth
century horticulture. The celebration of the skills of the ordinary men and
women who made gardens such as these great, has been sadly neglected elsewhere.
But here, where time stood still for so long, the bones of a once famous
productive garden lay buried under mountains of debris, waiting to tell their
story. It is here that the Head Gardener reigned supreme, growing all the
fruit, vegetables, herbs, ornamental flowers and exotics for the Big House.
The heart of his kingdom comprised four walled gardens with associated pits,
frames, glasshouses and working buildings, a vegetable garden and various
orchards; the restoration of which is now complete.
More than 300 varieties of fruit and vegetable are being grown again by traditional methods, and more are being brought into production each year. In the Melon Garden one can marvel at the ingenuity of the country's only remaining manure-heated pineapple pits where, thanks to months of back-breaking labour and devotion, traditional varieties have now fruited again; whilst in the great walled Flower Garden, alongside the glasshouses of citrus, vine and peach, one can see the most comprehensive collection of Victorian cut flowers. Aside from the more glamorous end of production there are the working buildings: the boiler houses, tool and potting sheds, equipment store, fruit store, dark house, and the bothies which give a snapshot of the daily lives of those who once worked here.
The big house looks down the valley which eventually winds its way to the fishing village of Mevagissey. Here, the 'Jungle' was created as an horticultural playground for experimenting with the new passion for sub-tropical plants that swept the country one hundred and fifty years ago. Only in the frost-free valleys of Cornwall could this passion fulfil its promise, and the 'Jungle' is a breathtaking example of its kind. The steep-sided valley contains four ponds one above the other, nestling in some of the lushest vegetation in the country. It is home to the largest collection of tree ferns in Europe and is a sub-tropical paradise for palms, bamboos and exotic specimen trees. The boardwalks through this magnificent valley will take you on a journey far from our temperate shores.
Visitors may further extend their exploration of this native Cornish woodland
- a circular walk of an extra mile now incorporates the Medieval Sunken Lane
and additional sections of the original Georgian Ride.
With its history of charcoal burning and Georgian rides, its water meadow
and restored lakes, this rural landscape has all the potential for
re-colonization by native species of plants and animals. For all those with
a spirit of adventure this is an unique opportunity to see work in progress
and history in the making.
Open Every Day (except Christmas Eve and Christmas Day).
Main Season: 10.00 a.m. to 6.00 p.m. (Last tickets 4.30 p.m.)
Winter: 10.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. (Last tickets 3.30 p.m.)
Internationally celebrated tours are available (for groups of 20 or more) - please telephone to book a date and time. Schools and colleges are also welcome by prior arrangement.
A minimum of half a day is recommended. Stout footwear is advised for those planning to extend their visit to the 'Jungle' and 'Lost Valley'.
Free Parking for Coaches and Cars.
Toilet facilities:
Including disabled and baby changing.
Disabled:
Large areas of the gardens are suitable for the disabled. A small number of wheelchairs are available free of charge (on a first come first served basis).
Woodland Seating:
Plenty of room to enjoy your own picnic.
Tea Room:
Open throughout the day, serving a wide range of meals and refreshments, including home baked dishes and home grown produce.
Ice Cream:
Ice cream parlour serving delicious local ice cream.
Heligan Shop:
Offering an unusual selection of gifts.
Plant Sales:
Reflecting much of the plant stock of the garden.
Dogs are welcome on short leads.
Restricted Access:
Ongoing restoration work may result in temporary restrictions for safety reasons.
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