Cornwall, the Home Estate
Tregothnan has lands across both Cornwall and Kent, with the Home Estate being located in Cornwall just a few miles outside the historic Cathedral town of Truro. Cornwall is also home to Tregothnan’s extensive botanical gardens, the largest historic gardens in Cornwall. As a private botanic garden and arboretum, Tregothnan is unequalled, offering a diversity of plants and trees, rare collections, sweeping vistas and peaceful secluded groves.
Tregothnan is an official 'safe site' for the keeping of rare or endangered trees from all over the world. The garden holds some 'Red Book' endangered plants and trees which are larger than any remaining in the wild. Plants from trips to Japan and South America in 2007 add excitement to the garden. Tregothnan is home to the world’s only surviving travelling greenhouse, an original Wardian Case, testament to the family’s long botanical traditions.
The garden is home to the fascinating Wollemi pine or ‘Dinosaur tree’ - a prehistoric species thought to be extinct until 1994 when a handful of trees were discovered in a remote Australian valley. A prized specimen now sits proudly in the garden overlooking the Southern Hemisphere Collection and the colourful Camellia maze. We were the first place to acquire and cultivate the endangered species and now offer these incredible trees as fascinating alternatives to the standard Christmas tree.
Cornwall is also the home of Tregothnan’s main commercial activities. Our English tea is grown and produced here, as are our herbal infusions, Kea Plum jam, biscuits and estate honeys. Our seasonal British flowers business, which supplies stunningly beautiful English blooms and foliage to the floristry industry as well as direct to the public, also operates from Cornwall. The beautiful scenery which surrounds us in this unspoilt part of the westcountry inspires us every day.
Whilst the estate is not normally open to the public, we do allow a limited number of visitors to experience the gardens at first-hand with a Private Garden Visit led by our Qualified Blue Badge Tour Guide Alison Cameron. Click to find out more about this exclusive garden tour >
The garden is open to the public once a year for our annual charity garden open weekend. Held annually in April, the event attracts thousands of visitors who come to explore 40 hectares of magnificent gardens and see the collections of Magnolias, Camellias and Rhododendrons. Learn more about our annual charity garden opening here >
