Enys Garden

Come and explore the rare and historic treasures of one the oldest gardens in Cornwall.

Tucked away in Penryn, Enys can often be overlooked en route to many of the more celebrated gardens near Falmouth and the Helford Estuary. But this really shouldn't be the case - stop at Enys and you will be enwrapped by the colourful mysteries of horticultural history.

Said to be one of the oldest gardens in Cornwall, Enys is a historical garden that deserves a visit by any garden connisseur with a passion for the past. Robert de Enys lived here during the reign of Edward I, and even as far back as 1709, Camden's Magna Britannia noted Enys for its fine gardens. But it was in 1833 that a London architect, Henry Harrison, produced the designs on which the garden is based to this day.

J D Enys sourced many of the species found in the formal gardens on his trips to New Zealand and Patagonia, and as a result the varieties are quite diverse. There is also a fine collection of rare bamboos, and the frost-free climate has enabled many tender plants and trees to flourish. One of the most important of these is the Peruvian Laurel - one of very few specimens that can be found growing in England today. There is also a striking Maiden Hair Fern tree, which is reputedly the tallest of its type to be found outside of Kew Gardens.

With so much to explore, from the water wheel and lakes in the lower valley, to the parkland of bluebells in spring, it comes as no surprise that the scenery here has been much photographed over the years. Enys makes a wonderful garden for walkers, and it's also dog friendly, so bring your four-legged friends and take some time to truly immerse yourselves in the landscape.