Lower Penbothidnow
Gardens Cottage, near St Blazey, opens to raise funds for the National Garden Scheme Words by Laura Tucker
N
estled in rolling countryside and enjoying views of the
surrounding
Sue’s dad, Fred, was her teacher and inspiration. He was almost 102 when he died, and a special part of the garden is
landscape,
dedicated to his memory. Fred was an
Gardens Cottage occupies
enthusiastic fruit grower, so following
a beautiful position. When
in his footsteps, Sue and Roger grow a
Roger and Sue Paine arrived in 2014, they
wide range of berries in a fruit cage and
set about the successful transformation
stone fruit, apples and pears in the
of the adjacent meadow into a garden
orchard. They are well rewarded with a
full of year-round interest. The existing
generous harvest.
canopy of mature trees and part of an old walled garden formed a helpful skeleton, which has since been developed and enhanced with inspirational design and
In
all
she
does,
Sue
stresses
the
importance of biodiversity and seeks to live and work at peace with nature and
interesting features.
wildlife (beehives are a recent addition).
Visitors are greeted by a unique dry-stone
along the herbaceous borders, which in
sculpture incorporating a treble clef. A dry,
late summer are buzzing with pollinators
sunny rockery slope is home to sun-loving
and ablaze with colour. The fiery asters,
tree lupins and verbena. The symmetrically
dahlias, cannas and grasses all joyously
designed formal garden is planted in
intermingle in a riotous cacophony.
Gently curved mown paths meander
pastel shades. There is a private courtyard garden, a wildlife pond and a woodland area, complete with a vintage gypsy caravan, which has been lovingly restored by Roger.
Sue is also keen to promote the benefits of gardens for health and wellbeing. Asked whether she has a favourite part of the garden, she replies in a heartbeat: “If I was only allowed one part, it would have
A winter garden, close to the house,
to be the Kitchen Garden!” Sue grows a
is certain to light up even the dullest
wide range of salads and vegetables in
day.
dogwoods
raised beds using ‘no-dig’ and rotational
and variegated evergreen foliage are
regimes. Her plants thrive in the home-
punctuated by the white bark of 12 silver
made compost she has mastered making,
birch trees.
and she gains such satisfaction from
n 38 |
Stems
My
of
coloured
Issue 73 | August - September 2022
the whole process of sowing, growing and harvesting. Such a large, well-maintained garden doesn’t happen without a lot of work. Roger and Sue are ably assisted by staff from Folium Horticulture - a new enterprise born out of lockdown by Meg Lowman and Riyah Snow, former apprentices at the nearby Eden Project. Visitors to Gardens Cottage will be treated to delicious home-made cakes accompanied by tea served in quirky teapots. l Gardens Cottage, Prideaux, St Blazey PL24 2SS. Open on Wednesday, August 31 and Thursday, September 1 from 2-5pm. Admission £5 (children free). Home-made teas available. For full details, please visit ngs.org.uk/Cornwall
In Cornwall, 50 gardens are opening for the National Garden Scheme this year. Funds raised through entrance charges and sales of refreshments will support charities such as Macmillan, Marie Curie, Parkinson’s UK, Carers Trust, Hospice UK and The Queen’s Nursing Trust. ngs.org.uk/Cornwall G @CornwallNGS A @cornwall.ngs
