We were busy Tree ‘popping’ with our LYRiC (Love your River Cole) trainees in the Parkland last week. It was both a training exercise showing them how the tool worked as well as what could be achieved with it, as well as a chance to do some much needed woodland work. I borrowed the Tree…
The perfect takeaway food for a socially distanced Garden experience… Last year’s popular Cream Tea in a carry out box is set to return to the Garden in the next week. Scrumptious locally made scones, oodles of proper Cornish cream and berry jams all ready for you to collect at our Orangery shop and take…
Dracunculus vulgaris: the Dragon lily It’s arrived! Also known as ‘snake lily’ and ‘devil’s tongue’ -we can see why. We’ve been lucky with warm springs of recent years and has given us quite a few years of spectacular moments. It grows wild in the eastern Mediterranean and the Balkans. The flower is also noted for…
We’ve some lovely night time footage of our resident hedgehogs (see the footage on previous blog posts). They’re free to roam across all of the different habitats in the Gardens – they like cover, but they also like a bit of mown grass… we have plenty of both. This week, with so few people in…
Just sharing another round up of great things for kids to do.. BBCs Newsround has always been good and our national public broadcaster is really working well in the current situation. Bug houses, Bee B&Bs, smile stones, birdfeeders and growing veg are all featured on the current Newsround page… all things our Unplug and Play…
Gardener’s Tips for May It is now time to give your borders some attention. All the sunshine and showers means the garden should now be at its vibrant best. Remove any faded spring bedding at the end of the month, it’s served you well but it’s time for a change and old bedding can be…
We know that, over the centuries, the Gardens were a place where much music was played and enjoyed. This May we had planned a 35th Anniversary celebratory romp through our history, this was to include some wonderful young musicians from Birmingham Conservatoire playing music from the times when the Gardens were at their peak in…
Half Term Family Friendly Activities in the Gardens Make the most of the warmer weather to get out and about in the open and discover nature. Self Guided Trails all week There’s a caterpillar flower trail for the littl’uns and for everyone, try our ‘invent a plant name‘ to stretch everyone’s creative powers. 3 days…
Spend the day under the blossom trees in the heritage orchards of the Historic Gardens. With apple and pear blossoms instead of the traditional Japanese plum, this version of Hanami still echoes the tradition of enjoying the beauty of the flowers this Spring. A picnic in the Gardens is always enjoyable, however, the orchards in…
Sometimes all you want on Sunday afternoon at this time of year is a bit of fresh air and a stretching of the legs. No kitting up for a long walk in the hills, just a stroll around a green and peaceful place… This winter we are having a series of special weekend openings at…