The Lost Gardensof Heligan

Lost, found and growing again

A garden restoration that is still alive

Heligan was shaped over centuries by the Tremayne family and generations of gardeners. Much of the estate fell into neglect after the First World War. The restoration began in 1990, with the story of the working gardeners placed at its heart.

Today the gardens are not a frozen recreation. The Productive Gardens, Pleasure Grounds, Jungle, wider estate and Home Farm continue to change with the seasons. Allow enough time to choose a route that suits the weather, terrain and the people in your group.

Heligan covers around 200 acres, from the walled Productive Gardens and the Pleasure Grounds to the Jungle, the Lost Valley and Home Farm. Each area has its own character and its own terrain, from level gravel paths to steep, stepped valleys, so the estate rewards a little planning rather than a single lap.

The restoration that began in 1990 is itself part of the story. Tim Smit and John Willis led the project, and the discovery of the gardeners’ room, with its messages still scratched on the wall, became a symbol of the men who left for the First World War and never returned.

Wildlife is part of the visit too: the estate’s woodlands, meadows and ponds support birds, insects and rare breeds on the farm. Families tend to gravitate to the Jungle boardwalks and the farm animals, while gardeners head for the glasshouses and the productive beds.

Allow at least half a day, and a full day if the Jungle and Home Farm are on your list. The official site sets out opening times, tickets and the current access map, including the step-free routes that cover a good part of the garden.