The Lost Gardens of Heligan
"The Gardens that time forgot"
The Lost Gardens of Heligan is the largest garden restoration in
Europe, and has now become one of the fastest growing visitor attractions
in the West.
The gardens are situated in close proximity to the
picturesque fishing village of Mevagissey, and are regarded as a
monument to three generations of the Tremayne family. Covering 57
acres and a further 100 acres of ornamental woodland, there is an
impressive range of plant breeds and features, including, an Italian
garden, a crystal grotto, summerhouses and the Flora Green Lawn
surrounded by giant rhododendrons.
Originally dating back to 1780, the gardens fell 'asleep' throughout
the two World Wars when little time was allowed for the pleasures
of gardening. In 1991, a restoration team ploughed through the mountains
of bramble and creeping ivy to discover the forgotten orchid houses,
vineries, peach houses and even a pineapple pit. The range of horticultural
buildings also discovered, allowed the story of the 19th Century
gardening to be exposed.
The gardens have now been remodelled in a Victorian
tradition with special emphasis on the walled kitchen garden, which
has now become the only working 19th Century garden in Britain,
producing peaches, melons and even pineapples.
A visit to Heligan could take 2 hours or more, and still offer new
and exciting features and plants each time it is visited. There
is also the chance for visitors to purchase some of the plants seen
within the gardens at the plant sales area, to act as a souvenir
of your visit.
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