Latest news with #Heligan
BBC News
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Photographer captures array of wildlife in Cornish gardens
Andy Wilson has worked at the Lost Gardens of Heligan in Cornwall for 11 years and as well as his role as head of restoration he is a talented wildlife stunning photography at the Cornish estate is the focus of a new exhibition at the gardens - showcasing the site's foxes to owls, pheasants to woodpeckers, Mr Wilson has captured an array of wildlife - using hides he built himself to get the spends hours waiting to catch creatures on camera but said he was pleased to have his work recognised. Mr Wilson said: "I'm chuffed to have my pictures exhibited at Heligan, photography is something I do because I love it but it's great to have this recognition of my work."Unless they're very lucky, Heligan visitors don't often get to see wildlife on the estate so this is a fantastic way for them to see the biodiversity of the site without having to wait patiently for hours in hides."The exhibition, called 200 Acres, is in an outdoor space on Heligan's west lawn. During his time working at the gardens, Mr Wilson has built up an "incredible knowledge" of the estate and its ecosystem, a spokesperson monitors wildlife movements using static, motion-activated cameras which alert him when wildlife is nearby – and then spends time outside his working day in hides to capture the shots, they Wilson has travelled all over the world photographing wildlife - including brown bears in said his favourite animal to photograph at Heligan was the fox.
The Sun
06-05-2025
- The Sun
Exotic English gardens lost for centuries is named one of the best in the UK
THE Lost Gardens of Heligan in Cornwall has been named one of the best in the UK. The gardens after 'lost' as a result of World War I - but has just won a King's Award. 5 5 The Lost Gardens of Heligan was first developed in the mid-18th century and were cultivated by the Tremayne family, with the creation of rides for horses, walled flower gardens, and a melon yard. It was thriving up until World War I, when the Heligan gardens were left to ruin. The 'lost years' were between 1914 and 1990 when they were rediscovered and the restoration project became one of the biggest garden transformations in Europe. The year 1991 marked the restoration of the Italian Garden, and the Lost Gardens of Heligan officially opened to the public on Good Friday in 1992. In 1994, the Flower Garden was restored and in 2024, The Lost Gardens of Heligan welcomed its eight millionth visitor. The Lost Gardens of Heligan is split into three parts and is home to the UK's only outdoor jungle which has exotic plants. In the jungle are four ponds, giant rhubarb, banana plantations, bamboo forests and avenues of palm trees. The jungle has a microclimate which is at least five degrees warmer than gardens in the north of the UK . It's where you'll also find one of the longest Burmese Rope Bridges in Britain, stretching 100 feet above ancient tree ferns. The Pleasure Grounds were first laid out 200 years ago - they have historic pathways and plants. The seaside town of Newlyn in Cornwall has been dubbed as one of the 'coolest' places to relocate 5 5 Some plantings are over 150 years old, and are home to the national collection of camellias and rhododendrons which were introduced to Heligan pre-1920. Like many gardens in Cornwall, Heligan reaps the benefits from a mild climate. The Productive Garden has 300 varieties of fruit, vegetables, salad and herbs which supply the on-site kitchen and are incorporated within the daily lunch menu. The Lost Gardens of Heligan is now one of the best gardens in the UK and in May 2025 was honoured with a King's Award for Enterprise. Laura Smit-Chesterfield, managing director of The Lost Gardens of Heligan, said: "The team at The Lost Gardens of Heligan are delighted, honoured, and proud to receive a King's Award for Enterprise." That's not the only award it has won - over the years, The Lost Gardens of Heligan has been named Britain's Finest Garden and the Best Garden in the UK. Tickets for The Lost Gardens of Heligan for adults are £28, children between 5 and 17 are £12.50, and children under five go free. Here's another pretty 'secret' garden in England that is more like going to China and Egypt. And six exotic UK gardens you can visit year round where it feels like the Caribbean - even in winter.
BBC News
29-04-2025
- Automotive
- BBC News
Cornish businesses clash over 'unnecessary' car park plans
Plans to build a new car park are at the centre of a row between a farm shop business and one of Cornwall's most popular gardens. Earlier this month The Lost Gardens of Heligan near Mevagissey revealed it had applied for planning permission to create a 241 space car park on a field within its plans were submitted after the nearby Lobbs Family Farm Shop said it would start charging Heligan customers who use its field car park as overflow, citing "a lack of maintenance" by Heligan over the course of a now expired 25-year Lobb family called the plans "unnecessary" and highlighted the new car park would be built on Island Field, in an area of outstanding natural beauty (AONB). Both parties told the Local Democracy Reporting Service there have been unsuccessful negotiations between them to come to an agreement about the parking situation.A spokesperson for The Lost Gardens of Heligan said: "Their plan to introduce payment machines has led us to investigate increasing and improved Heligan managed parking capacity, including EV charging."The Lobb family has criticised Heligan's planning application, and said: "The car park agreement that was initiated over 25 years ago expired in 2023."A lack of maintenance in the field car park during the last 20 years of the lease with Heligan has led us to instigate changes."Ample, discreet parking with safe level access to the gardens already exists outside the AONB and this has served visitors for years."The new fees are due to be introduced on Tuesday 6 May, with the first hour's parking will be £2.50 for over an hour to two hours, £3.50 all day until 18:30 and £2.50 in the evening from 15:30 - 23:00.
