You know when you’ve wanted to do something for ages and then you finally manage it, and it doesn’t disappoint. That’s just what happened for the wellies and me this week.
Bold pink camellias and bulbous magnolia dripping from the trees; a beautiful Edwardian summerhouse; flora and fauna from around the globe. Aside from private tours, the arboretum at Tregothnan is only opened to the public once a year for a weekend in aid of Cancer Research UK. Billed as the UK’s largest charity garden open weekend, the gates are flung open and local choirs, vintage car enthusiasts and horticulture lovers descend for cream teas, sedate walks and the chance to see the oft hidden treasures of this garden gem.
I’ve been meaning to go for years but I somehow keep missing the event or being out of the county. Not this time. Thanks Twitter.
The experience was made even better by the fact it meant visiting the home of the most British example of my very favourite drink… tea!
Historic seat of the Boscawen family, Tregothnan’s gardens combine deep-sea creek conditions and estate soils that are perfect for tea bushes. You’ll find their very English tea sold in Fortnum & Mason, Waitrose and lots of Cornish delis.
Visiting the Himlayan Valley to see more than 20 varieties of tea used on the company’s plantations is just one of many treats I find in store.
My personal highlights.
The Wardian case. The world’s only surviving travelling Edwardian greenhouse, used by the plant hunters of the past to bring specimens back across the oceans.
Carpets of primroses. I have rarely seen so many in one place ‑ they strike you even on the drive in where the banks of the tiny, winding road are bursting with them.
Drinking in the views. The undulating topography of the gardens makes for some truly striking vistas.
Getting lost. The circular camellia maze is the largest of it’s kind in the world and was open for the first time this year. Navigate the winding labyrinth is made more exciting by the bright blooms and I’m still wondering how they got the cow in the middle!
Trachycarpus Ride. A walk through asian trachycarpus palm trees. To be fair this is not the most beautiful part of the garden, but the name alone makes it well worth the visit.
Tall trees. The garden is an official site for keeping rare and endangered species and even has some Red Book trees from across the world which are larger than any that remain in the wild.
Beautiful blooms. The opportunity to get up close and personal and see some truly stunning flowers.
Want to visit yourself? I’m afraid you’ll have to wait for Spring 2016. Or arrange a private tour (including a Tregothnan cream tea served from the tea bar with rare Kea plum jam… the Kea plums are unique to Cornwall and grow on just 20 acres of land down by the Fal river).
Visit the website at tregothnan.co.uk for more information or call 01872 520000.
Adventures in Cornwall 