THE Secret Garden at Trispen, near Truro, is opening to the public for charity as part of The National Garden Scheme on Saturday, July 12 and Sunday, July 13 from 12 noon to 5pm.
The garden is a biodiverse, 'Mini-Eden', bursting with colour and brimming with tropical plants and edibles.
However, only five short years ago things were very different, as this derelict walled garden had been used as fly-tipping dump for decades. It was the Lockdown Project of three like-minded friends and neighbours, who had the passion and determination to make a difference.
Juliet Coombes, the Visionary together with married couple Alan and Caz Rounsevell, the skilled plantsman and designer respectively, set about clearing the site and working the land with an idea to create a garden which looked like the shape of a flower from above.
What started small, soon began to gain momentum. As the rubbish was gradually removed and bulbs & seeds were planted, the trio were heartened by the signs of life returning to the previously dead area.
Water in the stream began to clear and flowers brought in pollinating insects, which in turn encouraged birds, small mammals and invertebrates, this was the start of the inexorable process of regeneration and increased biodiversity.
It soon became evident that the Secret Garden provided the source material for many 'Garden Art' inspired pieces. Instead of seeing much of the rubbish as items to be discarded, the friends repurposed and upcycled as much as they could giving rise to many inspirational pieces.
Old horseshoes were welded together to form arches and pergolas. Slate tiles have been used to define the rim of the amphitheatre. Pallets, sheds, chimney pots, drinking troughs have all been given a new lease of life and the trunk of old dead trees have been carved into sculptures.
Juliet explains, "What started as a Lockdown Project, has evolved into something much more profound. I discovered that we can all make a difference, one seed at a time.
“It's the realisation that the transformation from toxicity to a heathy environment is achievable in a short space of time, that the natural world is resilient, all it needs is the initial help in the right direction, thus providing the springboard for life to grow, thrive and blossom."
There are wide paths which are wheelchair friendly and there is a wheelchair accessible toilet. Refreshments will be served in the 'bistro kitchen' and dogs on leads are welcome. Some of Alan's beautiful plants will be for sale.
Comments
This article has no comments yet. Be the first to leave a comment.