Visitors are being invited to explore the gardens at Trevince in Gwennap as the historic estate opens its grounds for the 2026 season.
The gardens will welcome plant lovers, curious visitors and dog walkers from Friday 27th March to Sunday 27th September, opening on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and Bank Holiday Mondays between 10am and 4pm.
Owned by Richard Stone and Trish Stone, the country estate sits in Cornwall’s historic mining district and has a lineage that can be traced back to medieval times. The family has shaped the gardens and landscape over many centuries, with the current generation focusing on gardening for food, enjoyment and the future.
Exploring the Gardens at Trevince
Visitors will be able to wander through several distinct areas of the estate, each offering something different through the seasons.
The 18th century Walled Garden is being used to grow perennial vegetables and fruits from around the world alongside more traditional crops.
Richard explained:
“In the 18th century Walled Garden, we are growing perennial vegetables and fruits, such as Mediterranean cardoons, Japanese wineberries, Chinese kumquats and Chilean guava alongside the traditional crops that you might expect to see.
This is not only to expand the range of crops we grow but also to assess how they might fare in Cornwall’s changing climate with its floods, droughts and gale-force winds.”
Elsewhere in the gardens, visitors can explore the 19th century Wilderness, which is home to mature oaks, large-leaved rhododendrons, azaleas and camellias. The Pond Garden provides a quieter spot for reflection, while the Orchard offers spring displays including English bluebells and apple blossom.
In the Shrubbery, the team is experimenting with planting new species from around the world.
Richard said:
“The 19th century Wilderness, which is rich with venerable oaks, large-leaved rhododendrons, azaleas and camellias, is a place to wander in the cool of the shade. The Pond Garden offers a reflective space in which to catch your breath. You can experience the joys of spring in the Orchard with its native English bluebells and abundant apple blossom, and in the Shrubbery, we are experimenting with our planting to find new species from around the world that will create a new kind of horticultural legacy.”
Looking to the Future
The estate is also involved in conservation work. Trevince is taking part in the International Conifer Conservation Programme, run by Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh. The programme focuses on growing threatened species to maturity and building a living seed bank for the future.
Other work across the gardens includes diversifying tree species to cope with climate change, pests and disease, and adapting planting to support a wider range of pollinating species.
Talks, Demonstrations and the Café
During opening days, visitors can also attend talks and demonstrations from horticultural experts, including Head Gardener Colin Skelly.
Richard said Trevince offers a different approach to what visitors might expect from a Cornish spring garden.
“At Trevince, we offer something a little bit different as we explore the boundaries of what a Cornish spring garden could evolve into for the future. We hope that garden lovers from across Cornwall will join us, take a stroll and just enjoy it be part of our unfolding story and share our vision for the future of this enduring place.”
Visitors can also stop by the Cart Shed Café, which serves home made treats in a warm and friendly setting.
More information about the gardens, café and upcoming events can be found on the Trevince website.
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