TREBAH UNVEILS THEIR NEW COURT GARDEN

The Trebah Garden Trust are delighted to unveil their beautiful new Court Garden, a unique walled garden.

Constructed on the site of a former tennis court, hence the choice of name, the project is the culmination of many years of planning and whilst delayed due to the impacts of the Covid Pandemic, is now back on course.

Speaking about the project, Robert Dudley-Cooke, Trebah’s chairman commented “When I first came to Trebah over 40 years ago, I was struck by the absence of a walled garden or remnants thereof. The opportunity came some 12 years ago to consider a major project for the garden and I was delighted when the trustees approved the creation of a traditional walled garden, open to all but with particular emphasis on our less mobile visitors. We hope all will take advantage of this significant new facility”

The  first phase was to utilise the area to install a ground source heating system, with a series of boreholes on the footprint of the walled garden; this helps generate hot water and heating for the Visitor Centre in a sustainable way.

With this completed and operational, construction of The Court Garden could commence.

Over the summer and winter of 2022/23, the builders were hard at work completing the walls, raised beds and covered structures along with the installation of a central  granite cyder press water feature.

The garden will be fully accessible, with seats and benches, level pathways and a covered section for shelter on sunny ( or rainy!) days. There will be various seated areas so visitors will be able to relax and take in the wonderful scents and beautiful planting all around.

 Trebah Garden Trust was formed in 1990 taking guardianship of the house and garden to help safeguard it for future generations. 

Speaking about the project, Nigel Burnett Trebah’s Director, who is managing the project day to day, explains that this is the latest of a series of projects we have undertaken in the past decade which help fulfil the charity’s objective “ to preserve, enhance and recreate for the enjoyment of the public--- the gardens of Trebah”. He comments “the addition of the Court Garden will really help to extend the amenities and enjoyment for a wide range of our visitors."

Head Gardener, Darren Dickey, working closely with the Trust’s Garden Committee was keen to include plants that not only encourage pollinators but also engage with the senses.

The planting will include traditional herbaceous beds with a mix of shrubs for structure and seasonal planting to extend flowering throughout the year. Climbers will also add extra interest helping to soften the walls and create that extra touch.

The planting though will have additional touches of the exotic including more tender plants that would struggle to grow outside of Cornwall.

Large, planted terracotta pots will also add extra appeal helping to soften the corners of the beds.

There has been a desire to have significant local content to the project. The main garden designer Richard Sneesby, CMLI Chartered Landscape Architect lives in the area.

The main contractors are Marnick Builders who are Falmouth based. The stone for the walling was sourced from Trebarwith Quarry in N. Cornwall.The main entrance gates are being made by Kevin Geary, a local blacksmith

The Walled Garden will be launched with a formal opening on 10th May to invited guests and will open to the public the following day

Notes to Editor

Trebah is a sub-tropical paradise with a stunning coastal backdrop. The result of 180 years of inspired and dedicated creation. Over the years Trebah has established itself as a garden of international repute and a highly regarded and award winning tourist attraction.

Discover the magic of this beautiful valley garden, explore under canopies bursting with exotic blooms and follow vibrant tunnels of colour that cascade down to our very own secluded beach on the Helford River. Trebah offers visitors a year round experience. In spring, Trebah comes alive with a colourful array of 100-year-old rhododendrons, magnolias and camellias; in summer, the giant gunnera plantation is a must see for young and old. The autumn showcases our two acres of powder blue hydrangeas, that encircle Mallard Pond at the bottom of the valley

Trebah was created by Charles Fox, part of the Fox Family of Falmouth – a quaker family of great horticultural zeal, whose influence on Cornish gardens is well documented.

During the second world war, Trebah’s beach was an embarkation point for the 29th US Infantry Division destined for the assault landing on Omaha beach. Between 1961 and 1971 Trebah was owned by the racing driver and car designer Donald Healey who removed most of the concrete from the beach, built the boathouse and restored the ponds. In 1981, Trebah was bought by Major Hibbert and his wife Eira, who continued a programme of restoration and in 1990 the Hibberts donated the house and garden to the Trebah Garden Trust, a registered charity.

www.trebah.co.uk

style="color: #333333; font-family: sans-serif, Arial, Verdana, "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;">