New Cornish Gem Opens for Charity Garden Day

A stunning Cornish garden created over twenty years out of disused arable land near Mylor is among the horticultural treasures open to the public for The National Gardens Scheme charity day on Sunday 7 August.

Tregarthen Vean, near Mylor, is the on-going vision of John and Julie Williams who began planting and designing long before they built their home on the site in the late 90’s

“This really is a long-term labour of love which has certainly kept my retirement fit and active,” says John, 75, who spent his working life involved in his family wholesale distribution firm now known as Westcountry Fruit Sales. “Julie has more of an eye for colour and design so she tells me what to do, including excavating around two hundred tonnes of clay-soil and spar stone to create an ornamental lake!”

From the lake twelve acres of land fan out on which John has planted woodlands, now well established, as well as many varieties of rhododendron, camellia and azalea. His current project is turning an old quarry into an exotic rock garden, full of acers, yucca, tree ferns and palms.

Tregarthen Vean will be welcoming the public through the NGS “Gardens open For Charity” day on Sunday, between 11am and 5pm and John will be happy to show visitors around. Admission is £3.50 with free entry for children and all proceeds go to the NGS supported charities including Macmillan Cancer Support whose volunteers will be offering cream teas on the day.