St Austell Travel Recommendations for 2024 (Updated in Jul)

Exotic and Mysterious England

For several centuries, indefatigable British travelers brought strange fruits and seeds of exotic plants from India, China, Japan, Africa and the Middle East. Some exotics have taken root only in greenhouses, but some, for example, magnolias and rhododendrons, feel great in the mild and humid English climate. One of the most unusual gardens in Britain is located in the south-west of the country, in the county of Cornwall, on the shores of the Atlantic Ocean. These are the Lost Gardens of Heligan. Heligan is not the last name of the owner, but the name of the estate. Translated from Cornish, it means "willow tree". The Tremaine family has lived here since the 13th century. Only five centuries later, in 1766, by order of Sir Henry Hawkins Tremayne, a garden in the fashionable "gardenesque" style was laid out on the estate. It was divided into several thematic areas: a walking area, a rainforest, a garden of fruit trees, etc. Today as in the XVIII century, the park is divided into several zones. There is a Jungle with lush subtropical vegetation, a Lost valley with century-old hornbeams and beeches, a Northern garden with fruit trees, vegetable beds and alpine slides. The gardens are intersected by many walking paths, including hanging trails. In secluded corners there are benches for relaxation, grottos overgrown with greenery and three unusual art objects: sculptures "Grey Lady" (Grey Lady), The Giant's Head (The Giant) and "Sleeping Girl" (Mud Maid) made of earth, stone and living plants. They were invented and created by British sculptors Sue and Pete Hills. In 2008, the Lost Gardens of Heligan received the status of Curators of the National Plant Collection. There are 70 elderly camellias and 350 rhododendrons, the oldest of which was planted in 1850. In their work, gardeners use only technologies and fertilizers that were used in England at the end of the XIX century. The vegetables and fruits grown here are considered environmentally friendly. You can buy them at a local store or try dishes made from them in a tea shop. #flowerlover #garden #trip