A typical Cornish spring day with a little sun, a cool breeze and occasional light drizzle saw 20 eager bamboo enthusiasts arrive at Lamorran House on the Roseland Penninsula. We were given an introduction to the garden by the head gardener, Mike Brent, who has almost single handedly built up this outstanding garden to its present mature splendour over the past 18 years or so.

The garden was bought by Mr and Mrs Dudley-Cooke in 1982 and was initially planted up with many Rhododendrons and set out in a Japanese style. However subsequently the garden has been designed along the lines of many of the Mediterranean gardens set out by the English.

The garden is set on a south facing 4 acre site sloping steeply away from the house towards the St Mawes Estuary and overlooking St Anthony’s Head. The garden benefits from a very favourable climate with very few annual frosts. Mike recalling only about two nights with temperatures as low as -4 o C over the past 17 years.

The garden contains the finest collection of palms on mainland UK. There are about 23 species in total, placed around the garden amongst many other mature shrubs and trees which help to form a shelter belt. Palms have been carefully used throughout and the garden and the narrow paths snake down the densely planted steep slope creating hidden corners and stunning vistas over the estuary.

There is a careful use of statues and hard landscaping and extensive use of water features to create an atmosphere that is strongly evocative of the Italian style. Trachycarpus fortunei is used throughout the garden but there are striking specimens of many other palms, most noteably Chamaerops humilis , Butia capitata , Jubaea chilensis and Phoenix canariensis . One specimen of the latter stands as a majestic backdrop to a tranquil pool, its 15 foot fronds arching majestically to the ground.

The garden, however, contains vast numbers of other plants with many specimens from the southern hemisphere including Callistemon, Fasticularia, Banksia, Grevillea, Cordyline, Eucalyptus, Melaleuca, Hibbertia, Hakea and Puya. There was a striking specimen of Metrosideros carminea in full flower - a tender New Zealand vine resplendent on the top of a stone arch – an extremely rare sight for the UK! A truly wonderful garden!  

We departed Lamorran for a brief lunch of pasties on the harbour side in the small village of St. Mawes. We then set off for the nearby Anglican parish church of St Just-in-Roseland and St Mawes. The church was founded in 550 AD and was consecrated in 1261, the chancel and the double piscina are from this date. As its name suggests, it is located on the Roseland Peninsula flanked on the south by St Mawes Creek and St Anthony’s Pool which separates it from St Anthony, and on the west by Falmouth harbour and the sea.

The picturesque church with its tower nestles in a dip on the creek side overlooking the water and is flanked on the landward side by steep slopes densly planted with mature trachycarpus and other exotic subtropical trees and shrubs. The palms are planted in abundance, many over 25 ft high, together with mature Rhododendrons, Azaleas, Camellias, Drimys, Magnolias, Fuscias and many other exotic species.

There were a number of bamboos including a most impressive expanse of Chimonobambusa quadrangularis . The white gravestones rise from the ferns and the flowers but in some cases are hidden in deeper foliage at the base of palms and other exotics. There was a noisy rookery in tall trees set back at the very top of the slope, the constant call of the birds added an extra dimension to the unique atmosphere.

We meandered up and down the slope in small goups and some of us entered the small church, its cool silent atmosphere broken only by the distant call of rookes – this was a place to remember!  

Our final stop of the day was another outstanding venue – the gem of old established Cornish gardens – Penjerrick! Penjerrick is a 10-acre jungle garden created by the 19th century Fox family. We parked our cars and set off for the small partially hidden and overgrown entrance. The garden is only open to the public for a few afternoons each week and the entrance fee is deposited in a small humble “honesty-box” – a far cry from the turnstiles of Trebah!

The garden, particularly the lower section, has become somewhat neglected over recent decades. However the non-commercial and overgrown nature of this jungle garden actually adds to its charm and mystery. We journeyed under towering lichen clad rhododendrons, tree ferns, magnolias and camellias. There were many exquisite rhododendrons and azaleas still in flower, the sweet scent drifting through the dense vegetation. There were towering mature trees, monkey puzzle, beech, magnolia and many other exotics, huge tree ferns, some well over 20 feet tall and originating from the first introductions.

There were many bamboos including impressive clumps of ‘Damarapa’ and a massive Phyllostachys pubescens with canes 3.5 inches in diameter rising from a clearing that had appeared after the fall of a great beech following one of the severe Atlantic storms of the late 1990’s.

The lower garden which is accessed over a wooden bridge is a subtropical valley with tree fern lined ponds, huge stands of Gunnera and expanses of Blechnum chilensis . Sasa palmata has become somewhat extensive in places!! The mix of bamboos, gunnera, ferns and running water creates a primeval setting that is unequalled elsewhere. We set off back to Carwinion, tired but, some of us at least, - happy!