The Lost Gardens Of Heligan

Tonight I will be joining the rest of 100:UnEarth audience to see the show of the summer... I photographed these toy soldiers as part of the set within the gardens earlier in the week, I'm looking forward to seeing how they fit into the show!

The goats just love basking in the Cornish sun! "This chap has been my favourite animal to photograph this week", Barney.

Hi, my name is Barney- I will be taking over The Lost Gardens of Heligan's social media for the weekend! This week I have been on my Year 10 work experience with the Heligan Marketing Team. Here are the highlights of my week and the gardens through my eyes. I hope you enjoy!

"among the idyll of Heligan, moments that will touch you and make you think about your own loved ones" Lee Trewhela. The mind blowing 100:UnEarth only until Sunday!! https://www.hallforcornwall.co.uk
Photo: WildWorks / Steve Tanner

There are a couple of ginormous pumpkins on the grow in the Kitchen Garden. If they are this big now, imagine how big they will be come harvest time!

We’re sad to report that there are only four more performances of 100: UnEarth. If you haven’t booked your tickets yet, we’ll let Lee Trewhela from Cornwall Live give you a few reasons to book now!
https://www.cornwalllive.com/…/cornwall -you-only-few-days-1…

The electric blue of the cornflowers are lighting up the annual bed of the Flower Garden. They make great cut flowers and butterflies and bees adore them!

"Nature does a lot of work: the Lost Gardens are stunning, especially on the East Lawn sloping down to the village of Mevagissey, with the sea visible and a few poppies sprouting up." The Stage. Theatre and landscape working hand in hand... Tickets via: https://www.hallforcornwall.co.uk
Photo: WildWorks / Steve Tanner

This week on your visit you may have spotted Izzy hard at work moving some heavy logs around the Estate!

Only 5 performances left. Come and see the gardens as you have never seen them before... 100:UnEarth! https://www.hallforcornwall.co.uk
Photo: WildWorks / Steve Tanner

If you peak through the glass and doorways of the Vinery at the moment you will see our ever growing heritage tomatoes and grapes!

It’s the final week of 100:UnEarth… if you have already experienced this incredible immersive theatre performance, how would you sum up 100:UnEarth in a few words? https://www.hallforcornwall.co.uk Photo: WildWorks / Steve Tanner

We are delighted to say that ‘A Song for Will and the Lost Gardeners of Heligan’ won two awards at the Holyer an Gof book awards last week! This is a fantastic joint achievement for Author Hilary Robinson, Illustrator Martin Impey and the team here at Heligan, we are all incredibly proud!

If you go down to the woods tonight, you just might happen upon the underworld! 100:UnEarth- only a week left to catch the show of the summer https://www.hallforcornwall.co.uk/Online Photo: WildWorks / Steve Tanner

For the first time in many years the banana bed in the Jungle has undergone some fresh planting and is looking 'totally tropical' in the summer sunshine!

Is Love stronger than Death? If you vote Love, Orpheus needs you... 100:UnEarth: https://www.hallforcornwall.co.uk Photo: WildWorks / Steve Tanner

We have some rather delightful new arrivals... These Aylesbury ducklings are making their way to the poultry orchard to splash in the pond to their hearts content!

Have you visited the Department of Lost Gardeners yet? This emotive scene set in the Melon Yard shows current members of the Heligan Team acting as The Lost Gardeners of Heligan, a tribute to those who were lost and those who lived... There are only 8 more shows left of 100:Unearth: https://www.hallforcornwall.co.uk

The scorching sunshine of late has helped the butterflies and a lot of different species can be seen around the gardens. Including the beautiful peacock butterfly.

War. Love. Loss. Hope... 100:UnEarth- WildWorks Theatre
Tickets via Hall for Cornwall

����������Entering the world of The Lost Gardens of Heligan was like walking into the universes most authentically charming fairytale. It’s so wonderfully wild and whimsical with so many beautiful scenes to surrender to. Never have I ever felt more at home in its absolute serendipity and splendour. Thank you, thank you, thank you.�����������

Would like to say a huge thank you to all the staff that helped my elderly grandma today, thank you so much. We look forward to coming back and being able to view the gardens some more.

What an amazing place loved it all wild the jungle and rope bridge so much fun had a wonderful lunch there lots of fresh lovely salads to choose a well stocked gift shop and the staff are so helped wanted to come here for so many year so glad I did.

We visited heligan on Saturday 29th June. Unfortunately I had a fall the staff went out of their way too help us, they even came and picked us up in one of their buggies so I did not have to walk. The two young men that seen to me could not of been more helpful. They also gave us complimentary tea and coffee. Absolutely excellent service.

We often visit the gardens and just love them. We always enjoy a drink and food in the garden cafe or stewards house.

I just wanted to say how wonderful the current 'Scarecrows' Wedding' event was. I love the detail of the activities and the create planning and thought that goes into these events. The wedding treasure trail fitted so well with Easter and seeing all the little ones running around so excited to find the treasures was just lovely.

Thank you again for a great day. We will see you again very soon �

We have had the most amazing half term fun today - it felt like we were at a festival! 3 children, 20 months, 4 and 11 all had a wonderful time and got so much out of it!! Might just be our new favourite place to visit in Cornwall! Well done to all the team for putting on an incredible array of children’s activities, we need to come back to see more of the gardens!

We came for the first time ever today as a large family of 5 adults, 2 teenagers, a 4 yr old and a baby (plus 2 dogs) and we all had an amazing time. The Scarecrows Wedding hunt/trail was brilliant and so were the activities afterwards. We made a mini scarecrow for our sunflowers and the staff were so helpful and kind. We did a hobbyhorse race and threw hats on Scarecrows (and more) and even dressed up for the Scarecrows Wedding. The rest of the gardens were also fantastic and we loved the rope bridge and the Mud Maid. Will definitely be returning xx

Today we came with 7 children! We read the story of The Scarecrows Wedding on the way over, and we honestly had the best day! It has been very well done by your team, plenty of games for all the children to be doing, without queues, activities and crafts all included in the entrance price and so much to do and see! We went down to the hide today and they all loved that too! Well done, we loved it!!

Loved loved loved this place!! Not only is it gorgeous, magical and full of fabulous plants but they catered really well for our gluten/dairy allergies! Better than National Trust definitely! They had a lovely organic dairy free ice cream and several biscuits/cakes that were both gluten and dairy free! Highly recommended!

Just enjoyed another day at Heligan. It has the most wonderful atmosphere and plenty to see. we recently enjoyed our day there with bumblebee people trying to see which species were at Heligan. In our own garden we have at least two separate speies and I would love to know what they found at Heligan.

Fantastic family day out, Lots to see and do love the free events, a variety of activities and facilities for the whole family, clean and tidy, baby changing areas and staff are really friendly , was nice to see that dogs are allowed. Now that we have our locals pass we will be making more visits . Also we seen Santa today.... wonderful and truely magical thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to go to heligan (hes definatly the real santa) Thank you everyone at Heligan.

3 years in a row we have visited in wild week. The kids love it. It's very similar every year but the assault course is worth it. Sadly this year the rope swing was lower than in previous years, disappointed my eldest as he remembered, but meant the littlest could swing without being scared (or needing much help). This is the first time we've managed to see the actual gardens as previously we've headed straight to the jungle bridge and the wild week field. My one and only gripe is the lack of facilities for filling water bottles, I do wish there were more/some somewhere. However I loved the water in a box they did sell, an actual alternative to plastic water bottles! Good on you (and, yes, I am that old that I think water in a box is something to put in a review!)

We absolutely loved the scarecrows wedding trail, so much effort and thought gone into it and all the games at the end and was all very well organised. The jungle area, rope bridge and play parks were brilliant too. Had a very enjoyable day. Only reason for not giving 5 stars was the lack of choice for food. Wasn't much on offer and the pasties we did buy weren't very nice. However, will probably return again but with a picnic!!

Great place.. lots of routes to go off walking.. enjoyed the kids easter activities planting the sunflower seeds and making scarecrows etc.. only thing was the food... 5 of us couldnt find anything we liked on the menu (2 adults and 3 children) and we are not that fussy!! Not many childrens options for food.

We have been twice on locals passes, Mother's Day and one day in Oct. Both days were extremely busy. (Halloween craft was an unpleasant experience) We like the place a lot but have found that it's been over marketed and unlike the Eden project, there isn't enough to do for the amount of footfall arranged. Big queues, far too many people take away from the experience. Won't be buying passes again as too far to go and when events are put on, it's too much like a cattle market. Heads up to car park staff who were amazing, two women physically pushing cars out of the mud! Food was lovely and restaurant okay. We got reduced food as it was later in the day. Didn't fancy it earlier when it was rammed. Will stick with Eden passes, much better value for money with regard to experience.

Very pretty place but we found there wasn’t much to do . We walked and walked and it felt like we was walking in a random field somewhere . Also very expensive.

The cafe was also very expensive . Lower the cafe prices as you pay enough for the entry fee .

The gardens were beautiful and we had a great time. However, I didn't think much of the ice creams that were charged at £2.50 for a 'scoop'. There was barely a dessertspoon shoved in at the top of a cone. It cost me £15 for six ice creams and I felt cheated. Heligan Gardens you should look at this.

Completely inadequate parking provision. Upon arrival we were asked if we were visiting the gardens, and upon confirming we were directed up a rough unmade track away from the overflow car park. After a while we were then directed into a muddy, waterlogged field where my small, fully loaded, front wheel drive hatchback got stuck repeatedly. After putting a fair amount of stress on my clutch and getting my car covered in mud we were eventually able to park. Luckily I brought my hiking boots but my boyfriend wrecked his shoes going through the mud. The gardens were heaving, unsurprisingly given the time of year in all fairness. There were also no signs identifying the plants. Had a tea and cake in the cafe which was locally sourced and good quality. Then had to struggle out of the ‘car park’ again! Stewards completely incompetent. I would suggest to the management that a policy is put into place which, on particularly busy days, waits until the overflow car park is 3/4 full, and then starts directing 4x4s into the field, leaving the overflow car park for vehicles which are simply not equipped for off road driving. Saw plenty of Range Rovers happily parked in the car park! Really should be common sense. We are both locals and certainly won’t be recommending.

Where to begin? Since your "contact us page" hasn't yielded results.



Visit date 22nd June 18



One. Parking. We have a large car - our fault yes, but do your staff realise a large car needs, I don't know, turning space? Without having "Where are you going" yelled at us.



Two. The food. People who buy from you evidently have more money than sense. Also maybe amend your opening hours on the website. We went at 3pm and was offered a single, manky, germ ridden, lukewarm (you do have hygiene certificates right? Well not for long...) pasty. Between two people. Needless to say we didn't take you up on discounted food poisoning.



Three. The attraction. After the statues and the jungle area (which we did before point #2) we couldn't be bothered with the other side. We had a look but for the love of all that is holy, call it an allotment. Instant boredom at that point and not worth my stumpy legs venturing to look at someone's garden.



Four. Staff. Now I don't know if it's because I have body mods or an outsider, but are you trained to be so rude? I'll let you into a secret, I paid just as much as anyone else.



Basically if you want a good day out, go to Eden Project.



As stated earlier, I was more than happy to bring these points up and attempted to - with a lot less sarcasm also - privately.