About The Lost Gardens of Heligan

Heligan, seat of the Tremayne family for more than 400 years, is one of the most mysterious and romantic estates in England. A genuine secret garden, it was lost for decades; its history consigned to overgrowth.

The Lost Gardens of Heligan is a beautiful and historic garden located in the county of Cornwall, UK. The garden offers a wide range of activities and experiences for visitors of all ages to enjoy, including:

• Exploring the gardens: The gardens are home to a wide variety of plants, including rare and exotic species from around the world. Visitors can explore the different garden areas, such as the Jungle, the Italian Garden, and the Pleasure Grounds, and take in the sights and smells of the different plants and flowers.
• Guided tours and talks: The garden offers a number of guided tours and talks that provide an in-depth look at the history and horticulture of the garden. Visitors can learn about the restoration of the garden, the plants and wildlife that call it home, and the history of the Heligan estate.
• Family activities: The garden offers a wide range of activities for families to enjoy, including treasure hunts, den-building, and bug hunts. There are also a variety of workshops and events that take place throughout the year, such as gardening workshops, apple pressing, and pumpkin carving.
• Birdwatching: The garden is home to a wide variety of bird species, including woodpeckers, buzzards, and kingfishers. Visitors can take a walk along the many trails and paths that wind through the garden and keep an eye out for the different birds that call the garden home.
• The Farm: The garden also features a farm area where visitors can see the farm animals including pigs, cows, sheep and chickens.
• Heligan Tearoom: The Heligan Tearoom offers a great selection of delicious homemade food and drinks, including cream teas and light lunches.

In terms of plants, visitors can expect to see a wide variety of plants, such as exotic and tropical plants in the Jungle area, beautiful rhododendrons and camellias in the sub-tropical area, and a wide variety of flowers and shrubs in the other garden areas. The garden also features a beautiful collection of heritage and heirloom vegetables in the Kitchen Garden, and a range of different fruit trees in the orchards. Some of the notable plants that visitors can expect to see include:

• The Giant rhubarb: Heligan is famous for its giant rhubarb, which can grow up to 15ft tall.
• The Pineapple Pit: The garden features a restored Victorian pineapple pit, which was used to grow pineapples in the 19th century.
• The Heligan Blue Poppy: This is a rare and beautiful blue poppy that was discovered in the garden and is now found nowhere else in the world.
• The Heligan honeybee hives: Heligan has its own honeybee hives, visitors can watch the bees at work in the hives and taste the honey that they produce.
• The Walled Garden: This is a beautiful garden area that features a wide variety of flowers, fruits and vegetables grown in the traditional way.
• The Victorian Glasshouses: Visitors can walk through a variety of different glasshouses and see a wide variety of exotic plants from around the world.

Overall, The Lost Gardens of Heligan offers visitors a unique and immersive experience, with a wide range of activities, guided tours and talks, and beautiful plants and flowers to discover, making it a must-visit destination for anyone interested in gardening and horticulture.

Heligan is a garden for all seasons, so whether you plan to visit in the hazy buzz of mid-summer, or the tranquillity of winter, you are guaranteed a unique experience.

The Lost Gardens of Heligan is a member of The Great Gardens of Cornwall, a group of the finest Cornwall gardens on offer. Should you be planning to visit more than one Great Garden, make sure you pick up a Great Gardens leaflet to take advantage of the discounted entry offer.