CORNWALL GARDENS TRUST

NEWSLETTER

Winter 2011 / Spring 2012

Editor DFJ Pearce Registered Charity Number 800887

 

Message from the Chairman

 

Last year it was unseasonably cold and this year it has been much warmer but somewhat confusing with spring flowers coming up early and last season’s flowers still blooming. I hope members will join us at Tregoose, Grampound, for our Snowdrop Morning. This event on February 8th is earlier in the year than our usual visits but the display of snowdrops is always impressive. This year’s garden visits are a mixture of old established gardens and more modern ones and will provide both interest and inspiration, especially those which are being restored or created from scratch. Our visit to Endsleigh in October should be a highlight of the season and apart from a beautiful position, the garden still retains many elements that were originally designed by Humphrey Repton for the Duchess of Bedford (see page 4 for details).

 

We were very pleased to be able to grant four bursaries to students at Duchy College. The students, all of whom must live in Cornwall, are put forward by tutors at the college and we ask them to submit an application form detailing their experience and their aspirations. Their ages varied between 17 and 26 so obviously their experience is limited though their aspirations are not! ‘Permaculture’, which I gather means the application of science to gardening, seems to be the latest branch of horticulture that the students wish to learn. I was impressed by how some of the applicants hope to volunteer locally where they can be helped and inspired by the staff at well known gardens or horticultural businesses. Cornwall needs a ready supply of well trained gardeners and we hope that this year’s contingent will do well in their studies.

 

Wishing all members a very happy New Year,

Angela Stubbs.

 

 

Two dates to make a note of -

Thursday 27^th September and Thursday 18^th October

See page 4 for details

 

CGT 2012 Programme of garden visits

 

Wednesday February 8^th 11.00am

Tregoose, Grampound, Truro TR2 4DB

A 2-acre garden round an old farmhouse with an outstanding collection of species snowdrops together with early flowering shrubs and bulbs planted throughout the woodland area. This will be a very cheering sight in mid-winter. Price includes tea and biscuits. Dogs allowed, but on leads please.

Thursday March 29^th 10.30am

Penwarne, Mawnan Smith, Falmouth TR11 5PH

A large and varied garden planted with interesting and colourful species trees and shrubs - such as a magnificent Magnolia Campbellii - in the late 19^th century and 20th centuries. The extensive woodland garden has ponds, a leat and even a cascade so waterproof footwear is recommended. There is also a walled garden, once the site of a medieval chapel, a fruit garden and a duck pond complete with ducks. Price includes coffee and biscuits. Dogs allowed, but on leads please.

Tuesday April 24^th 2.30pm

Estray Park, Budock, Falmouth TR11 5EE

This is a 3-acre spring garden in the process of being restored. There is a very colourful display of camellias, rhododendrons and azaleas planted on the lawns and around the stream. The site is historically interesting as the beautifully situated house was once lived in by the Bailiff of Kerrier and stray animals were impounded here, hence the name. Price includes a cup of tea. Sorry – no dogs in this garden.

 

Members may like to take the opportunity to visit neighbouring Penjerrick Gardens always at their best at this time of year. The owner Rachel Morin, recommends this season to CGT members - particularly in the morning. There is ample parking and picnicking space. Entry is £3.00 via an honesty box within the garden.

Thursday May 10^th 2.30pm

Carclew House, Perranarworthal TR3 7PB

The new owners are restoring and replanting this historic Grade II listed garden which had become overgrown and neglected but which was once a feature c.1750 of William Lemon’s Carclew estate. There are acer and fern gardens, and many original and recently sourced specimen trees and shrubs to discover. Tea will be taken on the terrace overlooking the garden. Price includes cream tea. Dogs allowed, but on leads please.

Thursday May 17^th 1.30 for 2.00pm

AGM, Ladock Village Hall, Ladock TR2 4PL

Please make every effort to attend this important meeting.

Following the AGM, tea will be available from 3.30 onwards at Ladock House at the invitation of the Holborow family. The 4-acre gardens round this Georgian Rectory should be at their best and Mr Geoffrey Holborow will lead the tour. Price includes tea. Dogs allowed, but on leads please.

Thursday May 24^th 2.30pm

Lamorran House Gardens, Upper Castle Road, St Mawes TR2 5 BZ

A stunning terraced garden laid out in Mediterranean style overlooking Falmouth Bay complete with water features and temples. There is a large collection of tender plants – including palms, Dicksonias and spring shrubs – to be enjoyed and the tour will be led by Mr Dudley Cooke or the Head Gardener. Price includes cream tea. Sorry - no dogs.

Wednesday June 13^th 10.30am

Long Hay, Treligga, Delabole PL 33 9EE

This is a plant lover’s garden belonging to CGT members, Bett & Mick Hartley. This colourful cottage garden set on the North Coast is, despite the harsh environment, enhanced by its sea views. There are also other features to discover such as vegetable plots, a copse and a wild-flower meadow. Price includes refreshments. Sorry, no dogs.

Tuesday June 26^th 2.30pm

Higher Truscott, St Stephens, Launceston PL15 8LA

A plantsman’s garden extending to one acre situated in an elevated position providing fine views. This is mainly a woodland garden, under-planted with masses of hellebores but also with a freshly restored rock garden, and alpines in moraine and troughs. Price includes refreshments. Sorry, no dogs.

 

Saturday July 7^th 2.00pm

Trelawne Manor and Trelawne Barton, Looe PL13 2NA

Carole Vivian, the owner of Trelawne Barton built c.1690 by Bishop Trelawney, and the expert on the Trelawney family, will a conduct a tour tracing the outlines of the once flourishing and extensive gardens of the Manor c.1450, now a holiday park. We will return to Carole’s productive and colourful garden at the Barton for tea. Price includes a cream tea. Dogs allowed but on leads please.

Tuesday July 24^th 2.30pm

Hidden Valley Gardens, Treesmill, Par PL24 2TU

An opportunity to have a private tour with owner, Tricia Howard, of these very colourful gardens set in a secluded valley, and which have an exceptional collection of late flowering herbaceous perennials including crocosmia, dahlias and agapanthus. Visit Cornwall has recently given the gardens a Silver Award in the ‘Small Attractions’ category. Price includes tea and cake. Dogs allowed but on leads please.

Wednesday August 8^th 2.30pm

Tregarthen Vean, Mylor Downs, Falmouth TR11 5UL

A large and beautifully landscaped garden developed 20 years ago on the site of a market garden. The borders, planted in the mid-nineties, have a prolific and varied collection of late summer flowering plants and colourful perennials and are set amongst unusual trees and shrubs. This is an inspirational plantsman’s garden. Dogs allowed but on leads please. No teas available.

Please use the separate booking form to reserve your place on these visits

Please make a note of these two dates

 

On Thursday 27^th September at 2-30pm John Lanyon, Head Gardener for the National Trust at Trelissick and Glendurgan will give the annual lecture to CGT members at Ladock Village Hall. It is entitled Yesterday and Today and will look at historical photos of National Trust Gardens and comparing them with the same views today. John will also discuss the approach to managing these spaces.

 

The coach trip to Endsleigh Gardens on the edge of Dartmoor will be on Thursday 18^th October. A three course lunch and a conducted tour of the grounds have been arranged. Olga Polizzi purchased Endsleigh and opened it as a private hotel in 2005. The garden surrounding the house was designed by Humphrey Repton – reputed to be one of his last and one of his favourite projects. The garden, which has a terrace overlooking the upper reach of the Tamar is being restored and we are given the opportunity to observe the progress.

 

Full details and a booking form will be sent with the next mail-out. It would greatly help to have an idea of numbers now so please contact the CGT Secretary on 01326 372293 or by e-mail [email protected] if you are interested. Remember, the more that book on the coach the cheaper it will be!

 

 

Take a look at this new website - www.gardenhistorymatters.com - this has just been set up by Toby Musgrave who lectures on Garden History in Bristol as a non-profit making venture.

 

Have you visited the Cornwall Gardens Trust website? If you have, you will see the website now has a page for News Items, so if anyone has any bits they wish to advertise before, or in addition to, the regular Newsletter, (seen in colour on the website), please send you contribution to:

the CGT Secretary - [email protected]

 

Start Brownian Thinking for 2016!

2016 will see widespread celebrations of the birth of world–renowned landscape architect Capability Brown. His Tercentenary presents a marvellous opportunity for us all to engage more people countrywide in the legacy of Brown’s designs, by learning to read the landscape and enjoy his grammar in their local historic parks. The first meeting of interested parties was held on 22nd November at the Garden Museum. Steffie Shields represented AGT, others included representatives of English Heritage, National Trust, Historic Houses Association, the Garden History Society, Garden Museum, Landscape Design Trust, Landscape Institute, ICOMOS, Tate Britain, Financial Times, Visit England and Visit Britain. As a member of the Cornwall Gardens Trust, would you like to start thinking about your local CGT ‘capabilities’?

 

And finally…….

David Pearce, Cornwall Gardens Trust Newsletter editor, is happy to receive short articles of information from members for publication in future Newsletters. These may be on any garden related topic, technical, personal experiences, humorous moments, cartoons etc. Please send articles to Sweet Thymes, Rose, Truro TR4 9PQ either by snail-mail or preferably by e-mail to: [email protected]