The Lost Gardens of Heligan

To make the most of the recent spell of warm weather and to enjoy the Summer Solstice, I took myself off to visit The Lost Gardens of Heligan.

As a Cornwall resident, I am eligible to buy a locals pass each year which enables me to visit any time I like. I love to see the gardens at different times of the year, to watch the changes in the seasons. 

The child in me has to walk across the rope bridge in the jungle every visit. I also call into the bird hide to watch the birds feeding. I was rewarded with a nuthatch this time, as well as a coal tit and the usual finches. 

The pigs and piglets had been moved on to the West Lawn and had hidden themselves away in the long grass, but it was lovely to see a couple of cute little goat kids with their mum.

At this time of the year, the kitchen garden has a lot of growing produce, all watched over by Diggory the scarecrow. The flower garden is also full of colour, as well as swallows and a humming bird hawk-moth, and the adjoining sundial garden is a favourite spot of mine to sit and admire the borders. 

On a warm dry day, Flora's Green is a lovely lawned area that is perfect for a rest after walking around the estate. There are plenty of benches to sit and eat a picnic or just enjoy the peace and quiet.

And no visit is complete without a visit to the shop. 2 jars of jam and a pineapple mint plant were purchased before returning to Bude after a lovely day out.