Gardens Gardens Cottage, St Blazey

Gardens Cottage, near St Blazey, opens to raise funds for the National Garden Scheme Words by Laura Tucker

Nestled in rolling countryside and enjoying views of the surrounding landscape, Gardens Cottage occupies a beautiful position. When Roger and Sue Paine arrived in 2014, they set about the successful transformation of the adjacent meadow into a garden full of year-round interest. The existing 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 interesting features.

Visitors are greeted by a unique dry-stone sculpture incorporating a treble clef. A dry, sunny rockery slope is home to sun-loving tree lupins and verbena. The symmetrically designed formal garden is planted in 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.

A winter garden, close to the house, is certain to light up even the dullest day. Stems of coloured dogwoods and variegated evergreen foliage are punctuated by the white bark of 12 silver birch trees. Sue’s dad, Fred, was her teacher and inspiration. He was almost 102 when he died, and a special part of the garden is dedicated to his memory. Fred was an enthusiastic fruit grower, so following in his footsteps, Sue and Roger grow a wide range of berries in a fruit cage and stone fruit, apples and pears in the orchard. They are well rewarded with a generous harvest.

In all she does, Sue stresses the importance of biodiversity and seeks to live and work at peace with nature and wildlife (beehives are a recent addition). Gently curved mown paths meander along the herbaceous borders, which in late summer are buzzing with pollinators and ablaze with colour. The fiery asters, dahlias, cannas and grasses all joyously intermingle in a riotous cacophony.

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 to be the Kitchen Garden!” Sue grows a wide range of salads and vegetables in raised beds using ‘no-dig’ and rotational regimes. Her plants thrive in the homemade compost she has mastered making, and she gains such satisfaction from 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