It’s time to find your horticultural hat and prepare for glorious views, plants galore, a cream tea or a piece of cake. The hugely popular Open Gardens scheme, run by Cornwall Wildlife Trust and its volunteers, gets underway this April, with old favourites and some exciting new venues.

Ten of Cornwall’s spectacular and varied wildlife-friendly gardens will be opening to the public throughout the spring and summer on selected Sundays, starting with a gorgeous hillside garden in the village of Constantine, between Falmouth and Helston.

As well as habitats to explore, from wildflower meadows and woodland trails to ponds, terraces and walled gardens, visitors can be inspired by the wide range of plants that grow in Cornwall’s maritime climate, offering food and shelter for wildlife as well as inspiration for gardeners.

At each garden, expect to find delicious home-baked cakes and home-grown plants to buy, all donated by volunteers. The scheme is also supported by local companies: Cornico Coffee from St Issey near Wadebridge are donating everything needed to provide visitors with sustaining hot drinks. Daymer Bay Drinks are providing all the refreshing soft drinks for the season. Traditional Cornish clotted cream is being kindly donated by Rodda’s.

Marte Martin, Community Fundraising & Events Manager at Cornwall Wildlife Trust, said: “We’re back, and so excited about the 2023 Open Gardens season. Our ten wonderful garden visits include three new ones, and an evening opening, too.

“Come and speak to the team about wildlife gardening, including peat-free growing and how to help hedgehogs. Listen, too, for live music from The Garker Street Band at some of the events.

Marte added: “The Open Gardens events wouldn’t happen without our team of dedicated volunteers, who work tirelessly to deliver this wonderful programme. Our success depends above all on our visitors, and we look forward to welcoming all those who fancy spending a relaxing Sunday out among the flowers and the trees.”

Last year the Open Gardens scheme, celebrating 60 years of Cornwall Wildlife Trust, attracted 3,000 visitors and raised a record-breaking £30,000 – its most successful year ever. The total raised for wildlife over a decade of the Open Gardens scheme now stands at over £130,000 so far, with funds always needed for ambitious projects to support and restore wildlife and wild places.

The charity hopes that 2023 will prove to be another popular year for Cornwall’s wild, wonderful and unique open gardens.

Visit www.cornwallwildlifetrust.org.uk/open-gardens for more information, including entry and access details for each garden.

Open Gardens 2023 

Cornwall Wildlife Trust Open Gardens 2023

1. Lower Penbothidno, Constantine, 23 April: a hillside with woodland groves, herbaceous areas, wildflowers, a formal garden and sunny courtyard, sculpture, pottery, and exotic plants.
2. Trenarth, Constantine, 14 May: gardens around a 17th century farmhouse with an ancient courtyard, water and bog features, children’s garden trail, woodland bluebell walk, and a new veg and flower garden.
3. 2 Trenance Cottages, Newquay, 21 May: family garden with landscaped lawns, shrubberies, fruit, veg, and an orchard adjoining a paddock and woodland.
4. Lethytep, Lanreath, 4 June: glorious sheltered wildlife haven in a valley, with woodland, wildflower meadows and extensive ponds bordered by flowers.
5. Duloe Manor, Liskeard, 25 June: beautifully maintained gardens, parkland, rose garden, and ancient woodland, with the remains of an 18th century landscape.
6. Bolts Quarry Farm, St Breward, 9 July: an evolving project with a pond and bog garden, quarry and rock gardens, woodland walk and wildflower meadow. Live music.
7. Goenrounsen, Summercourt, 6 August: former working farm returned to nature with a lake and island, flower meadow, a deep lane, ancient oaks and orchard. Aston Martin club vintage car display and live band.
8. Lavethan Manor, Bodmin, 20 August: ancient house and courtyard overlooking a quiet wooded valley and stream. Former walled kitchen garden and Victorian era gardens with springs and pond.
9. South Bosent, Liskeard, 3 September: old farmhouse planted to encourage wildlife over the last 12 years, with fruit trees, woodland, wildflower meadow and ponds. 
10. Pedn Billy, Mawnan Smith, 17 September: picturesque garden with beautiful specimen trees, flowery terraced borders and ancient woodland, and stunning views over the Helford River.