Saxophone in the garden and all that jazz
Like gardens and music, and care about wildlife? Then the place to be is Restineas Cottage at Garker, St. Austell. On Sunday 14th May the garden opens its gates for Cornwall Wildlife Trust, and for an added attraction, owner Rob Strickland will be playing his saxophone.
Event details:
• Full title of event: Open Garden –Restineas Cottage
• Date and time of event: Sunday 14th May 2.00pm to 5.00pm
• Where to meet:Restineas Cottage, Garker, St. Austell, PL26 8YA
• Cost of event: adults £4 under 16s free
The garden will be open from 2.00pm to 5.00pm with Rob playing two sessions, one from 2.30pm to 3.00pm the second from 3.30pm to 4.00pm. Admission to the garden is £4 per adult, with under 16s free. Pasties, cream teas, and beverages will be provided by Crantock Bakery, Roddas and Cornish Coffee. Well behaved dogs on leads are welcome. There is limited access for wheelchairs.
Originally a farm labourer’s cottage, Restineas is on the site of an old mine, and next door to a rather large neighbour, the Eden project. Two and a half acres in size the garden has been developed over six years by Frances and Rob Strickland from what was essentially a meadow surrounded by mixed woodland trees into a garden designed to attract wildlife, as well as providing a great outdoor place for family and friends.
There is a goose orchard, wild flower meadow, some unusual trees, willow circle, a polytunnel with a grape vine, vegetable plot, chicken run, wildlife pond and mini woodland walks. Plus, a petanque pitch, so take your own balls and enjoy a game.
Wildlife is attracted to this delightful garden. There are various nesting boxes, bee houses, bug hotels and log piles. Visitors have included badgers, roe deer, foxes, moles, rabbits, pheasants, wild geese and ducks, herons, buzzards and a multitude of garden birds.
Chris Betty, Communications Officer for the Trust, says,
“We look forward to this garden to take in the beauty of the plants, enjoy a cream tea, all to the wafting sounds of a saxophone. Join us, and help us help the wildlife of Cornwall”.
This will be the sixth year the Trust has run their Open Gardens fundraising scheme which has grown year on year and provides much needed funds to protect the wild life and wild places of Cornwall. The event now has an overall sponsor with Cornwall tourism company Stayincornwall.co.uk
Other gardens opening for the Trust this year are: June 18th Lethytep, Penadlake, Lanreath, July 2nd Meadowside, Trevarth, Redruth, July 23rd Trenarth, High Cross, Constantine near Falmouth, August 20th Bolts Quarry Farm, at St. Breward near Bodmin, September 3rd Mazey Cottage, Tangies, Helston, and September 10th Tanglewood Wild Garden, Newbridge, Penzance
More details can be found on our Open Gardens page