WELCOME TO THE LOST GARDENS OF HELIGAN NEWSLETTER

Wednesday 17th August 2011
BBC2 8pm 60 mins

After many months of hard work by Charlie Hamilton James, Halcyon Media and the Heligan team, 'Heligan; Secrets of the Lost Gardens’ is set to be aired on Wednesday 17th August at 8pm. This hour long Natural World special, narrated and produced by Phillipa Forrester, uncovers the secret lives of the wildlife the visitors rarely see.

Shot by award-winning cameraman Charlie Hamilton James, 'Heligan; Secrets of the Lost Gardens' uncovers the secret lives of the wildlife the visitors rarely see. We discover the family of fox cubs who play on the vast lawns, the toads having an orgy in the Italian garden, a rare green heron in the jungle and the badgers who clear up the tea rooms at night. We look behind the scenes of the restored gardens, from its enchanting history, since Tim Smit cut away the very first bramble 21 years ago, to the traditional and sustainable gardening techniques which enable the very best of British wildlife to flourish. This charming documentary reveals just how magical a garden can be when it is managed for the benefit of all living things.

The heavy downpours and thunder rumbles of yesterday have left us as quickly as they arrived. The skies are blue once again with clouds passing by quickly on the new, fresh summer breeze which is moving over the gardens.

Potatoes, peas and broad beans are all being harvested from the Vegetable Garden daily and the winter brassicas are being planted out. The onions and shallots are already drying, ready for stringing next month and the pumpkins are forming and swelling nicely in the pumpkin patch.

Down in the Melon Yard, the melons are growing quickly and the first of the cucumbers have been harvested. In the Pineapple Pits there are three plants that are showing the first signs of flowering, fingers crossed for some more delicious Heligan Pineapples next year.

The Flower Garden is showing off its summer magic with its beautiful annual display of Acidanthera, Scabiosa, Limonium, Echinacea, Statice, Cleome, Cosmos, Cornflower, Godetia and Dahlias. Butterflies and bees dance happily over the blooms and dragonflies dart across the Dipping Pool.

Work continues in the Scented Garden with the lawn areas now levelled out and ready for turfing. Plants are ready to go in so it’s just the labour intensive job of preparing all the beds. We can’t wait to see the finished effect; it’s going to be such a great compliment to the much-loved Sundial Garden.

Blue and white are the colours of the month down in the Jungle as the Agapanthus and Hydrangeas show off their summer blooms. Along the boardwalk, splashes of orange are provided by the Montbretia and Crocosmia.
There is a feeling of abundance throughout the gardens and estate, not least in the fields where this year the Heligan herd of Dexter Cattle has grown to 53. This summer has seen the arrival of 14 new calves with two or three still to arrive.

There are some great events still to look forward to this summer so please keep reading for all the latest news.

Lorna & James

So we are now into August and have eagerly watched the Barn Owls grow from when the first egg was laid back in April. All three owlets have survived; two have started exploring the barn and surrounding area and the youngest is still waiting in anticipation for every meal that the parents bring it throughout the night. I am sure that it will fledge in the next few days, although all three of them will continue to return to the nest site until they are confident to fend for themselves.

Soon we will be saying goodbye to the Swallows, even though a few are still busy rearing a final brood before their long trip back to Africa; one of which can be viewed live in Horsemoor Hide.

This year we have called in the expertise of wildlife consultant and ground beetle specialist; John Walters, to carry out an insect survey throughout the estate. This will enable us to gain a good understanding of the wide variety of insects to be found here and will also help us to create more insect friendly areas. Due to our extensive habitat management, such as leaving plenty of dead wood lying around, we already have a fantastic population of insects, including a nationally scarce beetle, the Golden-haired Longhorn Beetle (Leptura aurulenta). A very impressive beetle that lays its eggs in rotting timber.

Our wildlife photography competition is proving very popular with plenty of fantastic photos being entered each month. You can view the monthly winners on www.heliganwild.com

The Wildlife Team are busy planning new displays and interpretation for Horsemoor Hide and we will keep you updated on its progression.

18th August, 1st, 15th & 21st September

Join Estate Warden Graham Bugg on this informative insight into Heligan’s butterfly population with this butterfly identification tour.
Meet at Horsemoor Hide at 2pm (Free to garden visitors)

Discover the secrets of the Lost Valley with ‘The Woodsman’, 17th & 24th August.
Embark on an exciting journey back in time to meet ‘The Woodsman’ who will lead you through Heligan’s ancient broad-leaved woodland revealing the practices and woodland magic of old.
These tours are set to be a real addition to your Heligan experience; unveiling sides of Heligan’s historic landscape that you may not otherwise of enjoyed.
Departing from Hide Park Corner at 11am, 1pm & 3pm
(Free to Garden Visitors)

You can see a video of the woodsman at The Lost Gardens earlier this year by clicking here.

Wednesday 17th August

Gates open 6:30pm – performance starts 7:30pm

During the last Outdoor Summer Theatre performance of 2011, discover another of Shakespeare’s classics, within the dramatic and magical atmosphere of The Lost Gardens by night. Allow the acclaimed Theatre Set-Up to take you into the world of Shakespeare, with the classic comedy Much Ado About Nothing, brought to life with Elizabethan costumes and beautiful psaltery accompaniment.
Adult £12, Concession £10, Child £6

Tickets available from Heligan Reception (01726 845100) and Hall for Cornwall (01872 262465 or click here to purchase online.)

A Lost Summer’s Night
Thursday 25th August  6:30pm – 10:30pm
The Lost Gardens of Heligan presents A Lost Summer’s Night, an enchanting evening to indulge in lively Gypsy Jazz style music from Gadjo Guitares, a delicious outdoor Heligan Hog Roast* and the magical atmosphere of a lantern-lit Lost Gardens by night.

Feast your taste buds, tempt your toes, and nourish your senses.

*An al fresco Heligan Hog Roast provided by Lobb’s Farm Shop served in freshly baked rolls from the
Heligan Bakery with home-made sauce and a salad garnish. Vegetarian option available.

A bar will be located on Flora’s Green

Tickets £15 – Includes garden entry, music and Heligan Hog Roast.
Pre-booking essential. Event continues in all weathers - no refunds.
Tickets now on sale from the Heligan Reception 01726 845100.

Laurren completed an honours degree in Environmental Biology at the University of Plymouth in 2008. By then her experience was in bumblebee ecology, which she studied for her dissertation, as well as sharks (of all things!), she studied in the Bahamas. Laurren joined the Heligan Productive Gardening team as a volunteer in the summer of 2009. It wasn't long, though, before she was made a full time member of staff.

Laurren is in charge of our famous traditionally grown pineapples and is proud to announce that we currently have three in flower which will mean three pineapples next season! Her other duties include planting, sowing, pruning, harvesting and best of all sampling many different varieties of Heligan heritage fruit and vegetables.

From time to time Laurren gives advice to gardeners all over the country by answering questions in such magazines as 'Grow Your Own' and 'The Lady'.

"My favourite part of working at The Lost Gardens, as well as working outside in the sunshine, is bringing all kinds of unusual fruit and veg home, and trying lots of interesting recipes."
You can join Laurren on a tour of Heligan bees this September, during the Heligan Gardening Celebration.

We hope you have enjoyed our newsletter.

If you have any comments please get in touch via our website contact page.