Gardens of Cornwall 1: Eden and Heligan

The Eden Project   Scaleable Map

This massive project to create huge geodesic domes (biomes) housing the plants of the world in a disused china clay pit at Bodelva Quarry, St. Blazey Gate near St.Austell is now open. With the help of over £70 million of Millennium Commission money the Eden Project has become a MAJOR tourist attraction and the concept has gone from strength to strength. Eden welcomed over TWO MILLION visitors in its first year.

Tim Smit's excellent hardback book is available from this site entitled simply Eden.

For more information including ticket prices please click on Eden opening and prices or contact Eden by telephone on (01726) 811911, Fax. (01726) 811912.

The Official website is at http://www.edenproject.com

The Lost Gardens of Heligan  Scaleable Map

Officially the county's most visited garden, prior to the opening of its near neighbour The Eden Project. Open every day, except Christmas Day, Heligan Gardens near Mevagissey, lay largely overgrown and forgotten until the early 1990's. In February 1990, Tim Smit had the vision with a group of like-minded volunteers to restore the gardens to their former glory. A chance meeting between entrepreneur Tim Smit, his business partner John Nelson and a descendant of the original landowners Mr John Willis led them to agree on the necessity of restoring the Gardens. The winter storms of 1990 had ripped through the former seat of the Tremayne family and all but obliterated the gardens from the map and people's consciousness.

An excellent companion book is the Lost Gardens of Heligan by Tim Smit.

How to get there: From St Austell take the road to Mevagissey (B3273) and follow the brown tourist signs to 'The Lost Gardens of Heligan'.

Other Cornish Gardens

Hardy Exotics Nursery    Trevena Cross Nurseries