Heligan Garden Cornwall

The Lost Gardens of Heligan 'rediscovered in 1990 after slumbering for over 70 years '.

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Lost Gardens of Heligan. Rediscovered in 1990 after slumbering for over 70 years, and over the last ten years restored to their former glory and now one of Cornwall's best gardens

The Sundial Garden were one of the last of the gardens to be restored. when rediscovered only a few trees was left. Since completely replanted and like all of the gardens a visual delight all year- especially the statue of 'Putto'.

The Jungle For the fit, and those wearing sensible footwear, reachable down a half mile long woodland walk is The Jungle containing many sub tropical plants -Tasmanian tree ferns, rhododendron, Chusan palms, bamboo too, Please keep to the boardwalk.

At the start of the Woodland Walk you may notice two sculptures by local Cornish sculptress Sue Hill. Mud man is actually concrete and mud, but now covered in lichen thanks to regular coatings of yoghurt to encourage its growth.

Within the Melon Yard are the pineapple pits, a fascination example of Victorian ingenuity and friendly rivalry between gardens all to grow a pineapple ripe for the Xmas table. The skills involved both in the restoration of the pits and in producing a ripe fruit had to be relearnt. Both the heat from rotting horse manure, and humidity, needs to be carefully controlled to ensure optimum growing conditions. Even so it still took the team over four years before the first fruit was produced. In the Potting Shed handtools seemingly as the day they were left decades ago.

Did you notice the beaver tail shaped glass to the Lights? Specially shaped to ensure rain water runs down the middle of each pane. In late Autumn the gourds from both the Melon yard and the adjacent vegetable garden are taken into storage making a most delightful spectacle.

Opening Times
Every Day except Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
Main Season - 10am - 6pm, last tickets at 4:30pm.
Winter - 10am - 5pm, last tickets at 3:30pm.
You should allow half a day for your visit.
Getting There Follow the brown tourists signs towards Mevagissey from the A390 at St Austell.

The Greenhouses