From grand historic estates to hidden valley retreats, Cornwall’s gardens are at their best this time of year. Whether you’re a keen gardener, a nature lover, or simply seeking a peaceful stroll surrounded by blossoms, here are some of the best gardens to explore this spring.
Spring is a special time at Glendurgan. Nestled in a sheltered valley above the Helford River, this peaceful garden comes to life with colour as the season unfolds. Swathes of bluebells carpet the woodland floor, while vibrant rhododendrons, camellias and azaleas light up the slopes.
Families can enjoy the fun of the 200 year-old cherry laurel maze, while quiet corners and winding paths invite slower moments of reflection. Every visit offers something different, as the garden changes week by week with the rhythm of spring.
Whether you’re visiting for the views, the flowers or a peaceful walk, Glendurgan is a garden to return to again and again. This spring, step into a place shaped by generations, where nature and history thrive side by side.
Photocredit: ©National Trust Images/Jason Ingram
Spring at Trebah is a particularly special time. Thanks to its unique micro-climate, 100-year-old rhododendrons, camellias and magnolias burst into bloom with colourful displays that cascade down the valley to a hidden beach, Polgwidden Cove.
Copper beeches line the route too, with their vibrant pinks and reds contrasting against the new fresh green foliage, and keep an eye out for the magnificent handkerchief tree, nestled in the colourful Chilean Coomb; a sheltered area where you can see flowers spanning every colour of the rainbow.
But as the leaves return to the trees, let’s not forget the native wildflowers. The banks throughout the garden are carpeted with an array of bluebells, wild garlic, primroses and campion, their scents drifting on the breeze.
Once spring reaches its peak, you can be sure it won’t be long before Trebah’s iconic hydrangeas come into flower. Two acres of pastel blues, purples, pinks and white and cloak the lower valley and are a sight not to be missed in summer.
This spring, the Eden Project is bursting with colour, offering one of its most vibrant seasonal displays in years. Thanks to record-breaking sunshine in March followed by April showers, the gardens have flourished, rewarding visitors with a stunning succession of blooms.
Carefully curated exhibits throughout the tantalising Mediterranean Biome, iconic Rainforest Biome, and flourishing Outdoor Gardens have burst into life. The combination of expert horticulture and the helping hand from the weather means that the next few weeks are some of the very best of the calendar year for visitors to experience everything Eden’s vast site has to offer.
Catherine Cutler, Eden’s Head of Horticulture, says: “Spring is a particularly special time to visit the Eden Project, with every corner of the site full of rich colours and amazing scents. The horticulture team have been working incredibly hard to curate displays that not only look wonderful but, most importantly help educate us all about the extraordinary diversity of plant life.”
With new plants coming into flower daily, now is the perfect time to explore the Eden Project. Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or simply looking for a refreshing day out, Eden offers a colourful, sensory experience this Spring
Spring is when Trengwainton’s historic rhododendron collection comes into its own, with towering trees giving vibrant bursts of colour throughout the garden and azaleas dazzle with their other-worldly hues. This is also the time when Trengwainton’s winding wooded paths are lined with a spread of bluebells beneath the trees.
Meanwhile, the stream garden also comes into its own with a frothy display of candelabra primulas, irises and other water-loving plants in shades of yellow, pink and purple. As the season progresses, it’s then the turn of the astilbes, crocosmia and ginger lilies to shine there. Keep an eye out too for the golden-ringed dragonflies that love to flit near the water.
Wander into Trengwainton’s walled orchard and you’ll be greeted by apple trees bursting with blossom – all essential food for the resident bees that live there in a restored Victorian bee house.
