ANNUAL U3A GARDEN HOLIDAY ‘08

The venue for this year’s Gardens Holiday was Cornwall, staying for 4 nights in the Queen’s Hotel in Penzance, followed by an overnight stop at The Jury Inn, Plymouth.

Our first visit was to Trebah, near Falmouth.  The gardens are wild and wooded.  A steep path descends to a private secluded beach on the Helford River.  Donald Healy, the rally and racing driver was in residence here from 1961 -1971 during which time he carried out restoration work on the beach and built the boat house. Troops embarked from Trebah beach in June 1944 for the D-day landings in Normandy.  Glades of ferns and palms lead down to a waterfall which cascades into a pond containing Koi carp.  Trebah is a most beautiful garden, one not to be missed on any visit to Cornwall; I loved it.

The following day was spent at The Lost Gardens of Heligan, near Pentewan and Mevagissey.  Approximately 200 acres, they consist of; Northern Gardens, A Wildlife Project,The Jungle and a beautiful Woodland Walk.  An Italian Garden is situated in the Northern Garden together with a melon yard and a vegetable garden.  A boarded path helped negotiate The Jungle to overcome the steep, slippery climbs through subtropical foliage. We all enjoyed the challenge of seeing these gardens, especially the steep climbs in The Jungle, going home tired after a very rewarding day.

On day 3 of our holiday we visited 2 gardens; Trengwainton (National Trust) in the morning followed by an afternoon visit to Trevarno, near Helston.  The walled garden, woodland walks and views over Mount’s Bay towards the Lizard were of the greatest interest at Trengwainton Trevarno gardens were enchanting, another garden not to be missed on any Cornish visit.  After a very warm welcome by the Head Gardener, a sunny  afternoon was spent viewing the woodland areas, bluebell valley, ornamental lake, a pet cemetery, sunken Italian Garden, and many more, all seen by following a well sign-posted route using a series of alphabetical letters.  Tea in The Fountain Garden Conservatory was followed by a visit to the National Museum of Gardening. 

Finally a whole day visit to The Eden Project – the global garden nestling in an old china clay pit.  The Mediterranean and The Rainforest biomes were both very interesting to explore despite proving to be very exhausting!  As a break on our long journey home we visited Stourhead, a National Trust House and Gardens in Wiltshire.  Photographs; left to right:-  Woodland, Trevano;  Trebah; Lost Gardens of Heligan; Italian Garden, Trevano. 

Kate Harrison