Penwith in bloom

Basking in the warmth of the Gulf Stream, the Penwith peninsula is home to a wealth of gorgeous and glorious gardens, all just waiting to be explored.

Whether you’re a green-fi ngered god of the garden, or you simply enjoy immersing yourself in nature, the Penwith landscape is awash with colour, making for a fascinating journey of horticultural discovery. Explore untamed and wild, dog-friendly gardens; discover magnifi cent, manicured rows containing plants of world renown. Seek inspiration for your own garden, and marvel at the sheer variety of sub-tropical ȵ ora that positively ȵ ourishes here, even in the most unlikely places. As beautiful as they are diverse, if you love the natural world, a wander around some of Penwith’s glorious gardens is an absolute must.

Trewidden Garden Although less well known than other Cornish gardens, Trewidden is one of the Great Gardens of Cornwall. With  acres of historic woodland garden, including free children’s trails, a ‘Whales Tail’ pond sculpture, and ten magnifi cent champion trees with the champion Magnolias out in all their glory from January to April, a trip to Trewidden should most certainly be on your itinerary. That’s not to mention the gardens’ 5hododendron Kurume Azalea Wilson  collection, its tree ferns that grow in abundance, a collection of over  camellias, or the cream teas and delicious home-cooked food available in the tearoom www.trewidden.co.uk

Tanglewood Wild Garden A natural garden and woodland where the grass is never cut closer than four inches and there is no shortage of bramble, gorse and thistles, founded on the belief that to encourage wildlife some areas have to be left wild and untouched. The dog-friendly gardens are spread across nine acres and feature four ponds, providing a great place for a family picnic. The garden has evolved over the years and has become a secluded, quiet and unique garden where you can just be. www.tanglewoodmaycontainnuts.co.uk

St Michael’s Mount You may be surprised to learn that the other side of St Michael’s Mount – the one hidden from view on the mainland – is home to a verdant garden paradise. The Gulf Stream here tempers the climate, making frosts a rarity, and the rock acts as a gigantic radiator, absorbing heat by day and releasing it by night. The result a micro-climate in which all kinds of unlikely plants ȵ ourish.

5earing out of the bedrock are Puya, Agave and Aloe; Agapanthus wave their heavy heads, while binding threads of rosemary, lavender and Coronilla tumble down the terraces. Awash with colour and with the most incredible views out across the Atlantic, life beyond the castle walls on St Michael’s Mount is well worth experiencing. www.stmichaelsmount.co.uk

„ St Michael's Mount

EXPERIENCE

VISIT

These are just three of the many gorgeous gardens around the Penwith peninsula. If you’re keen to discover more, be sure to pay these a visit:

Trengwainton Garden nationaltrust.org.uk/ trengwainton-garden

Trereife trereife.co.uk

Morrab Gardens (page 17) morrabgardens.org

Tremenheere Sculpture Gardens (page 17) tremenheere.co.uk

Barbara Hepworth Museum and Sculpture Garden www.tate.org.uk/visit/tatest-ives/

„ Tanglewood Wild Gardens

AMAZING BIRD SHOWS and see adorable Red Pandas

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PENWITH GUIDE

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