WELCOME TO THE LOST GARDENS OF HELIGAN NEWSLETTER

Left - Heligan Produce in the Melon Yard

On my first e-newsletter outing, I ventured out to a very misty Northern Gardens to chat with Carly and Nicola to see what the gardeners have been up to.

With the last few sub-zero weeks, the gardening teams preparations for the spring have been delayed. The ground has been frozen for weeks so the scheduled double-digging of the Productive Gardens has been impossible. The last week has finally seen a thaw, but with the thaw brings lots of water, so the ground is now too wet to work with.

However, undeterred by the winter weather, the team have still been busy. They have been redesigning the Scented Garden with a new bird bath feature as well as working in the Sundial Garden which has now been dug over to be completely replanted in the spring.
Other members of the team have been in the glasshouses: removing pests, cleaning up the pots, replacing labels and general cleaning.

The last of the parsnips and winter roots have now been cropped. Leeks, kale, brussel sprouts and beetroot are still being harvested and delivered daily to the Heligan Tearooms for incorporation into the tasty lunchtime menu.

A welcome flash of early colour provided by the St Piran and De Caen Anemones in the Flower Garden.

The team hope for a mild January so that they can get back on track with pruning and ground preparation for the spring.

Left Heligan Shop – New additions

The shop are proud to introduce you to two new lines. We have some stunning unique glass pieces from The Glasshouse at St Just, Cornwall. The Glasshouse make a variety of different items such as, coasters, light catchers, framed pictures and many other pieces combining aspects from nature and landscape alongside traditional design.

We also have a selection of local Stoneware pottery made within a mile of the Heligan Estate.
Philip Gardiner's pottery is both strong and beautifully decorative. Made just down the road in Mevagissey, you can't get much more local.

We all understand the concept of 'Food Miles' and the impact that our buying habits has on the planet, Philip Gardiner also asks us to consider 'Craft Miles' when buying functional and decorative items for home or a souvenir.

Unfortunately after two months in the gardens the Green Heron is nowhere to be seen. Where it has gone nobody knows.

The Wildlife Team are currently doing anything and everything to the Heligan bird boxes. They are removing last years nesting materials, washing them out with washing up liquid and removing any eggs that may have been left, ready for fresh nest builders in 2011.

Four Kestrel boxes have been made on site, each complete with a camera so we can monitor what is happening in them.The wider estate team are currently putting these up on pine trees around the estate. The boxes must be a minimum of 25 foot off the ground, face South Easterly away from prevailing wind and be placed over open fields in order to attract Kestrels.

Wildlife to be seen around the estate currently includes, Starlings, Field Fare and Red Wings who are all currently making the most of the fallen apples in the Heligan Orchards.

A curlew was spotted in the Poultry Orchard last week, unfortunately the chickens scared it off before Rich had the chance to take a photo!

Left: Cindy Maddison amongst the Heligan Bamboo

As a youngster from nearby Mevagissey, Cindy would come up to the then undiscovered Heligan, and camp in amongst the tree ferns. Little did she know that later in life she would be looking after those tree ferns as part of the Heligan Jungle team.

Cindy had previously worked as a painter and decorator with gardening a keen hobby in her spare time. In 2002 after some time abroad, Cindy joined the Heligan team in The Willows Tearooms as a member of seasonal staff. There she was offered a chance to attend one day a week at Rosemoor Duchy College which she accepted and has never looked back. Cindy has achieved her RHS level one in gardening and worked her way up to become Heligan Jungle supervisor.

Cindy and her team look after the Jungle as well as the Stewardry Gardens. At this time in the year the team focus on cutting back bamboo and brambles as well as general tidying throughout the Jungle.

Cindy's favourite part of working in the Jungle is being involved in projects from start to finish. Taking an area of brambles, making plans, clearing the area, sourcing plants, replanting and really watching the area develop into something special.

We hope you have enjoyed our newsletter.

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