Cornwall all set for busy garden and events calendar

From charity open days to RHS lectures and outdoor theatre events, Cornwall has an exciting calendar of events for late Spring into Summer 2018.

Of course, May is Chelsea Flower Show month and to celebrate the start of the world-famous show and in partnership with the Chelsea Fringe Festival, Pentillie Castle (pictured above) and Gardens will stage a floral demonstration of ‘A Summer Table’ with artisan florist Miranda Hackett (below right) on Tuesday 22nd May. The demonstration will use seasonal British flowers and foliage arrange in an eclectic mix of pewter, tin, brass and ceramic containers. A traditional afternoon tea will then be served in the Castle dining room. For further information and to book a place please visit: https://www.pentillie.co.uk/events-at-pentillie-castle/floral-demonstration-with-miranda-hackett-afternoon-tea.   

Award-winning Burncoose Nursery will be at RHS Chelsea with their theme, ‘Burncoose Nurseries in a Cornish Landscape‘ showcasing how gardens in Cornwall are shaped by the landscape and history. The display will also include a decorative fused glass panel from Cornish artist, Alison Gibson – Off the Wall Glass. Alison will produce three panels for Burncoose to use at the show and commented that she was: “Absolutely thrilled to have been asked to make three Cornish seascape panels. It has been great to collaborate with the Burncoose Chelsea team to agree a design that will complement, and hopefully enhance, the Cornwall theme of the Burncoose stand.” The glass panels will reflect the rolling hills, valleys, creeks, rivers and awe-inspiring seascapes and they will certainly be something special to look out for if you are visiting the show. (RHS Chelsea Flower Show, 22nd to 26th May 2018).

Burncoose will also be at the Royal Cornwall Show (7th to 9th June).

As June arrives, Feast Nights will be back on the menu at the Heligan Kitchen as the Heligan gardeners and chefs have united to grow and create some unique dishes which will travel just 157 years from soil to plate. The June Feast Night takes place on 1st June with diners treated to live 1940s style music.

The produce will be coming from both Heligan and Watering Lane Nursery, which is run by the charity People and Gardens, a charity set up to provide opportunities for people with learning disabilities or emotional impairments. A percentage of the profits from this event will go towards the Charity. Tickets are £18pp for 3 course meal with doors opening at 6:00pm.  For more details, please visit: http://heligan.com/events/heligan-events/

The RHS Lecture at Caerhays on 14th June will be by Charles Williams who will talk on Styrax – Hardy Flowering ‘Snowbell Trees’. Caerhays is a stunning castle set in 140 acres of superb gardens overlooking Porthluney Bay.

On 17th June, an open-air performance Doctor Dolittle with Illyria Theatre will be performed at Pentillie Castle at 5pm. Details/tickets: https://www.pentillie.co.uk/events-at-pentillie-castle/outdoor-theatre-dr-dolittle/

On 22nd June, a Repton-inspired Floral Workshop with Miranda Hackett and lunch at Pentillie will be run during British Flowers Week. The gardens at Pentillie were designed by Repton and as part of the floral workshop guests can take a guided walk through the gardens with Pentillie’s Ted Coryton. Guests will also enjoy a delicious two-course lunch in the Castle’s dining room. There will also be an opportunity to see Pentillie’s Repton Red Book. For information/tickets visit: https://www.pentillie.co.uk/events-at-pentillie-castle/repton-inspired-floral-workshop-with-miranda-hackett/

As July arrives Pentillie Castle will stage another open-air performance – Shakespeare’s spellbinding masterpiece, The Tempest on 25th July. The Tempest, performed by Equity theatre company, The Lord Chamberlain’s Men, will commence at 7.30pm. Details: https://www.pentillie.co.uk/events-at-pentillie-castle/outdoor-theatre-the-tempest/

100:UnEarth – Outdoor Theatre with WildWorks will also run from 3rd to 22nd July at Heligan as part of the UK’s arts programme for the WWI Centenary. Details: http://heligan.com/events/heligan-events/100-unearth.-war.-love.-loss.-hope/