CORNWALL The Eden Project
St Austell, Cornwall www.edenproject.com Telephone 01726 811911 The world’s largest greenhouse containing plants from all over the world. In the Humid Tropics Biome you experience the sights, smells and sheer scale of the rainforest. In the warm Temperate Biome you walk amongst citrus fruit trees, olive groves and grape vines, while the Roofless Biome (which is over 30 acres of outdoors) educates you on plants that have changed the world and which could change your future. The Eden Project has been created to tell the fascinating story of man’s relationship with plants. A great day out. Trebah Gardens
Falmouth, Cornwall www.trebahgarden.co.uk Telephone 01326 250448 Listed by the Good Gardens Guide as one of 80 finest gardens in the world. The first plantings took place in 1820 and the extensive collection of rare trees and shrubs includes glades of huge sub tropical tree ferns and palms, giant gunnera and echiums. Trebah is best known for its spring flowering rhododenrons, camellias, magnolias, pieris, azaleas and primulas. Carp is a colourful feature of the water gardens – a series of ponds and waterfalls. The private beach is open for visitors to the gardens and there is a children's play area. The Lost Gardens of Heligan
St Austell, Cornwall www.heligan.com Telephone 01726 845100 ‘Asleep’ for over 70 years, now the largest garden restoration project in Europe. Beginning in 1991, the work has taken the form of two and a half miles of footpaths, an Elizabethan mount, rockeries, summer houses, a crystal grotto, an Italian garden, a set of bee holes, a wishing well and a walled garden. Remarkably, much of the original planting has survived, some have reached record sizes. A sub tropical valley overlooks the charming harbour of Mevagissey. The ‘lost valley’ section comprises eighty acres of pleasure grounds plus a complex of walled gardens. Heligan is one of the most visited private gardens in Britain. SOMERSET Hestercombe Gardens
Taunton, Somerset www.hestercombegardens.com Telephone 01823 413923 Step back in time as you savour the delights of these unique gardens. Enjoy them as they were designed to be enjoyed – as living works of art. The Georgian Landscape, Victorian Terrace and the formal Edwardian Gardens combine to create one of Britain’s premier garden sites widely recognised as being of international importance. Dunster Castle
Minehead, Somerset www.nationaltrust.org Telephone 01643 821314 Dunster Castle was home of the Luttrell family for 600 years and the gardens are famous for lemon trees, Arbutus, Camellias, Mimosa and Sequoia. A fine border of rare shrubs surrounds the lawn nearest the keep, while along the river thrives a good variety of sub-tropical plants. Spring offers snowdrops and daffodils in a glorious parkland setting of 28 acres. The small village of Dunster is fascinating to visit – with a multitude of medieval buildings around the High Street and its celebrated Yarn Market. WILTSHIRE Stourhead House and Garden
Stourton, Warminster www.nationaltrust.org Telephone 01747 841152
This National Trust property is well known as a much celebrated 18th-century landscape garden and Palladian Mansion. The spectacular gardens include enchanting temples, monuments and rare planting around a tranquil lake. Walk amongst the mature woodlands with their collection of exotic trees. The mansion house is filled with all kinds of Georgian treasures, Chippendale furniture and fine paintings. There are stunning views from the top of Alfred’s Tower, (almost 50m high) one of the Trust’s finest follies. DEVON Royal Horticultural Society Garden, Rosemoor
Great Torrington, North Devon www.rhs.org Telephone 01805 624067 Rosemoor is a wonderful place for gardeners to visit and is often featured on TV. Its 40 acres are designed to delight both the novice and professional. Enjoy a walk around the lake and through the arboretum and visit the fruit and vegetable gardens. There are well over 2000 roses of 200 different varieties and collections of some 3500 plants from all over the world. A truly memorable place. Escot Country Park, Fantasy Gardens, Maze and Woodlands
Fairmile, Devon www.escot-devon.co.uk Telephone 01404 822188 The original gardens, set out by Capability Brown, have now been magically brought to life by the skill and imagination of ‘land artist’ and television gardener Ivan Hicks. Enjoy the natural historical gardens and fantasy woodland which surrounds the ancestral home of the Kennaway family. The paths, trails and quiet places to picnic are enchanting and everywhere there are beautiful flowers and shrubs. Here are the beginnings of an international Tree Foundation Family Wood; a 4,000 Beech-Tree Maze with five hedge-leaping bridges; birds of prey; otters and an award- winning collection of tropical fish! Hartland Abbey
Bideford, Devon www.hartlandabbey.com Telephone 01404 822188 The beautiful gardens lead to a rocky cove via a woodland walk which is carpeted with bluebells, primroses and many wildflowers in Spring. This popular walk leads to some of the most spectacular cliff scenery in the British Isles and the cliff flowers in April/May/June are beautiful and diverse. You’ll find peacocks and bantams along the way whilst donkeys and Black Welsh Mountain sheep graze in the Old Deer Park. Small winding paths in the woodland gardens are fun to explore with lots of space for youngsters to run about and feel free. As you enjoy the Abbey, children can take part in the quiz designed to be both educational and fun. (Everyone receives a prize!)
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