“As a professional horticulturist with over four decades of experience, both in the commercial sector and as an avid home gardener, I’ve been fortunate to explore numerous gardens worldwide. But Tresco Abbey Garden holds a special place in my heart. For the past 15 years, my annual visits to this piece of paradise have been a source of inspiration and rejuvenation.
Tresco, the second-largest island in the Isles of Scilly, lies approximately 28 miles south west of Cornwall. Unlike its neighbouring isles, Tresco is privately leased and has been under the stewardship of the Dorrien Smith family since 1834. The island’s unique position, warmed by the Gulf Stream, bestows it with a mild climate, allowing for the cultivation of a diverse range of plant species.
The inception of Tresco Abbey Garden is credited to Augustus Smith, who, in 1834, took a 99-year lease on the Isles of Scilly from the Duchy of Cornwall. A visionary with a passion for botany, Smith established the garden around the remnants of a Benedictine abbey. Recognising the island’s potential, he constructed granite walls to provide shelter from the prevailing Atlantic winds and planted quick-growing, salt tolerant
species such as Monterey pines and cypresses. These efforts created a microclimate conducive to the growth of exotic plants from around the world.
The garden has faced and overcome significant challenges over the years. The great storm of 1987 and hurricane-force winds in 1990 caused extensive damage, including the loss of vital shelterbelts. However, under the stewardship of Robert and Lucy Dorrien Smith, both the garden and its protective belts have been meticulously restored. Today, the garden is more resplendent than ever, with its collections continually expanding and its global reputation growing.
The Diverse Plant Collection
One of its most captivating aspects is the ability to house plants from various Mediterranean climate zones. My favourite thing to do is wander around when the garden is quiet (usually early in the morning), finding new, different and special plants, in many cases ones I have never seen up close before. Depending
on the time of year you visit, there are always numerous plants looking their best. Here are a few of my favourites:
Agapanthus
With their striking blue or white flower clusters, agapanthus thrive in the garden’s mild climate, adding vibrant colour during the summer months. They have naturalised en masse in some of the most remote, sandy areas!
Phoenix canariensis
The majestic Canary Island date palm brings an exotic flair to the garden, its feathery fronds swaying gracefully in the breeze. There are numerous ‘whoppers’ in the garden that are maintained perfectly with
beautifully manicured trunks.
Metrosideros excelsa
The New Zealand Christmas tree bursts into vibrant red blooms during the summer, creating a spectacular display near the garden’s entrance. These kings of the garden dominate the view you take in as you enter the garden.
Strelitzia reginae
The bird of paradise, with its striking orange and blue flowers, is so named as it resembles a bird in flight. It’s a plant that certainly adds an exotic touch to the garden’s collection. A houseplant anywhere else in the UK, these not only overwinter outdoors in Tresco, but they flower too – honestly!
Other planting highlights of the garden include the California fan palm Washingtonia filifera, Aeonium arboreum, Protea cynaroides, Callistemon citrinus, Aloe striatula and Echium pininana, which is a favourite with pollinators and visitors alike. The volume of the buzzing sound you hear from an echium
being farmed for its pollen and nectar is something else!
The Stewards Of Today
The enduring beauty and vitality of Tresco Abbey Garden are a testament to the dedication of its current custodians. Curator Mike Nelhams, who has been associated with the garden for approaching 50 years, brings a wealth of knowledge and passion to his role. Under his guidance, the garden continues to thrive, adapting to challenges and embracing new opportunities.
Mike arrived in Tresco as a student in 1976 for the year, returned as head gardener in 1983 and has been its curator pretty much ever since!
And finally – one quirky annual event is the ‘flower count’ that takes place across the Abbey Garden on New Year’s Day each year. Incredibly, the 2024 flower count saw 287 different species of exotic plants in bloom!
The flower count this year was completed by Abbey gardener Brett Haythorpe, along with students Harriet Bradnock, Hannah Moore and Phoebe Jayes – just some of the new generation of Tresco talent that will ensure it grows and thrives long into the future!”
