WELCOME TO THE LOST GARDENS OF HELIGAN NEWSLETTER

As many of you will know The Lost Gardens look stunning in the spring and this year’s blooms are proving no exception, with a stunning array of rhododendrons, camellias and magnolias taking centre stage at the moment. Flora’s Green in particular has been set ablaze with a fabulous display of red, pink and cerise blooms upon the Hooker rhododendrons; creating a 20ft high ‘wall’ of intense colour that circles the lawn and almost completely conceals the dark green foliage of these incredible 150-year-old shrubs.

In the Jungle more rhododendrons, camellias and magnolias combine to create a colourful background in our sub-tropically planted garden. The raised boardwalk takes you past lush tree ferns, bamboo plantations and the Gunnera which is starting to unfurl its large, spiky, rhubarb like leaves. Skunk cabbage is flowering in the Jungle ponds too, providing much needed cover for the moorhens and their chicks.

Other areas which are looking particularly spring-like at the moment include the Stewards House Garden, which is currently full of magnolia and tulip blooms, whilst signs are beginning to show that the stunning annual blue bell display is only days away in the Lost Valley and down the Woodland Walk.

Magnificent displays of stunning de Jager bulbs will be on show throughout the Northern Gardens, bringing new swaths of spring colour across the Victorian Productive Gardens and Pleasure Grounds. Bulb experts from de Jager will be manning the ‘Tulip Mania’ marquee on Flora’s Green, offering flower arranging demonstrations and answers to all your tulip questions.

Entrance to the Tulip Mania marquee and displays, free to garden visitors.

For further information about all this event visit: www.heligan.com

Our annual Spring Celebration event welcomes the arrival of a season of abundance, growth and new beginnings. With an array of artistic workshops, wildlife activities, captivating demonstrations and lively music there will be something for everyone to enjoy during this family friendly event.

Live jazz will be playing on Flora’s Green throughout the day to accompany delicious home-made cream teas, face painting and paper bunting making. Willow Weaving can also be experienced on Flora’s Green, try your hand at weaving a dragonfly or fish during these fun and creative workshops, accessible to all ages, and take home your endeavours as a personalised memento of the day.

Flora’s Green will be the departure point for traditional Horse Carriage Rides into the estate and two Productive Gardens Walk & Talks with Heligan’s own gardeners. In the Wider Estate fascinating demonstrations of woodturning, hazel weaving, flock care and charcoal burning will be taking place. Throw yourself into our traditional games of ring and hoop or join the Smite tournament to discover what makes this fast paced Cornish skittles game so much fun for all the family.

All Spring Celebration activities are included in the normal garden admission charge except face painting and willow weaving. Some activities are provided on a first-come, first-served basis.

For further information about this event visit: www.heligan.com

An award-winning display about our National Collection of ‘Camellias and rhododendrons introduced to Heligan pre-1920’ will be erected undercover on Flora’s Green for garden visitors to enjoy throughout the week. Discover the fascinating stories behind Heligan’s amazing collection of historic rhododendrons and camellias as they bloom majestically across the gardens and estate.

The display details the adventures of significant Victorian Plant Hunters, reveals fascinating stories of individual plants from Heligan’s collection and describes how the micro-propagation project at Duchy College is helping to conserve the future of some of Heligan’s horticultural treasures. In 2009 the display was awarded a Gold medal at the RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show.

Entrance to National Collection Display, free to garden visitors.

For further information about this event visit: www.heligan.com
 

At this time of year we always keep a special eye out for the sight of returning barn owls. The purpose built nest boxes, which are sighted near Horsemoor Hide, are fitted with special cameras allowing us to keep a close eye on any prospective tenants for the season. This year we were very excited to see a pair roosting together in one of the boxes and had our fingers crossed that the traditional pre-mating behaviour we had witnessed would result in the pair nesting.

However, it appears that a pair of jackdaws also had their eye on the box. After a rather amusing few days, which saw the barn owls roosting and leaving pellets in the box over night and the jackdaws coming to clear out the barn owls mess in the daytime, the jackdaws finally won the battle for the box!

The pair have now built a substantial nest of twigs, which at one point completely covered the camera. The camera has now been repositioned and is currently offering a clear view of the female sitting on her four eggs. The view also shows how the jackdaws have completed their very cosy looking nest with a wool and hair lining. The wool has come from our flock of self-moulting Wiltshire Horn sheep and the hair from our Dexter Cattle.

Thanks to the Friends of Nature forum, who have started up a thread dedicated to the Heligan Jackdaws, we know the dates of egg laying have been as follows: 15th April: 1st egg laid, 16th April: 2nd egg laid, 17th April: 3rd egg laid, 18th April: 4th egg laid. The female is expected to sit on the eggs for around 17 days before any signs of hatching so keep an eye on the cameras around 2nd May to witness the emergence of the first Heligan Jackdaws caught on camera!

If you would like to take a look Heligan’s wildlife webcams visit: www.heliganwild.com
 

Bee Robson, former Heligan plant curator and expert on Heligan’s National Collection of “Camellias and Rhododendrons introduced to Heligan pre-1920” has recently published a new book about these historic and unique plants.

The Lost Gardens of Heligan, Camellias and Rhododendrons National Plant Heritage Collection is an informative and beautifully illustrated book, bringing the fascinating stories of Heligan’s ancient plant collection to life. Looking at the issues threatening their survival, it concludes with a description of the ground-breaking programme, which is helping to ensure the conservation of this historically significant National Collection. Bee will be at Heligan during the opening days of our National Collection Display event: Tuesday 4th and Wednesday 5th May. From 10am to 12pm on each of these days Bee will be at the display to answer your questions and from 2pm to 3pm she will be available in the Heligan Shop to sign copies of her new book.

If you would like to order a copy of the book or see what other products are on offer from the Heligan Shop please visit: www.heliganshop.com
 

The Productive Gardens blog is updated every week by Annie, who works in the Vegetable Garden at Heligan. The blog offers information about what crops are being sown, planted and harvested, and allows you to discover how to bring traditional practices into your own gardens as the growing season unfolds.

Gardeners in the Productive Gardens take images throughout the week of activities taking place in the Vegetable Garden, Melon Yard and Flower Garden. Annie then posts these images on the blog, accompanied by interesting and often humorous gardener’s notes!

“I really enjoy doing the blog as it gives people a chance to get closer to the real experience of working in a productive garden. It is also a great way of keeping a special connection with people across the world, which we find very exciting.” Annie Carr

Annie has worked at Heligan for 8 years and began working in the Wider Estate. After working in the Jungle for a while she then moved to the Vegetable Garden where she has been for the last 6 years. “It is great to have a job where you don’t dread getting up in the mornings!” Annie Carr

To take a look at our blog please visit: www.lostgardensofheligan.blogspot.com
 

We hope you have enjoyed out first e-newsletter. If you have any comments please get in touch via our website contact page.