This will be the sixth year the Trust has run their Open Gardens fundraising scheme which has grown year on year and now has an overall sponsor with Cornwall tourism company Stayincornwall.co.uk

Opening day at Coldrenick is Sunday May 8th from 2pm to 5pm, entrance adults £4 and under 16s free. There is good disabled access and dogs are welcomed on leads. Refreshments will include pasties and cream teas provided by event supporters Crantock Bakery and Roddas and these will be served indoors and outdoors depending on the weather.

Gardeners from Coldrenick House will be giving guided tours around this magnificent estate, and these will take place at 3pm and 4pm. There will also be a plant sale, and if you need more inspiration, a second hand gardening books sale.

As one of Cornwall’s premier estates, Coldrenick has a long history and dates back over 300 years although the garden has changed as new generations have taken it on since it was bought by Sir John Trelawny in 1591. As well as the gardens there is also an organic dairy farm which extends from Doddycross to the A39.

The original medieval house was replaced by a Georgian building, which was then demolished in 1966, and the present house was originally a racing stables. Today, there are the remains of the Georgian Mansion House, a Victorian Coach House and the Bake House from the original medieval building.

The old Stables, which are Grade 11 listed, are now the principal property, and are surrounded by the gardens which mix lawns, beds and shrubs, with ornamental trees. Magnolias, camellias and bamboos all do well here and a wooded area is filled with bluebells in spring.

Chris Betty, Communications Officer for the Trust, says,

“This estate has such an interesting history and the garden is stunning. This is a rare treat for gardeners and the fact that there will be guided tours around the estate makes it even more special. It is a brilliant start to our 2016 Open Gardens event which we hope will raise a record breaking amount towards the Trust’s ongoing work protecting Cornwall’s wildlife and wild places.”

Other gardens opening for the Trust in the year are: May 15th Trenarth, at Constantine near Falmouth, May 22nd 2 Trenance Cottages, at St. Newlyn East, June 5th Bolts Quarry Farm, at St. Breward near Bodmin, June 12th Wildflower Cottage, at Rose, near Perranporth, June 26th Lethytep, at Penadlake near Lanreath, July 3rd Trevoole Farm, at Praze-an-Beeble, July 24th Higher Trenedden, at Peakswater, near Pelynt, August 7th The Ranch House, at St. Issey, near Wadebridge, August 21st May Tree Garden, at St. Austell, October 2nd Garten Gardens, at Lower Treculliacks, Constantine, and October 9th Pedn Billy, at Helford Passage.

For further information about any of the Open Gardens events, please visit www.cornwallwildlifetrust.org.uk/opengardens