Poldowrian Garden

Wander through a wild woodland garden boasting spectacular cliff-top views over Coverack Bay.

In the case of Poldowrian, small is beautiful, and its a beauty that has been created by Peter and Valerie Hadley over the last 35 years. In 1970 there was nothing here but bramble, gorse and a small stream that meandered its way to the sea. This is hard to imagine as you traverse paths that now follow vibrant shrubs and trees to a large pond, and explore the thicket of pines that emerge onto the South West Coast Path. Climb up to the cliff of this waterside garden and experience staggering views to the east and to the Lizard Peninsula. It's a dog friendly garden and it's certainly worth following the trails beyond its parameters into the surrounding coast and countryside.

Savour a bird's eye view of the garden from the peak of the eastern bank and in spring you will witness a sea of rhododendrons, azaleas, potentillas, ceanothus, osthamnus, viburnum and heavenly-blue lithospermum. Meander through the colourful 'compartments' of this wild garden, from the foxgloves and bluebells to the radiant roses flourishing across different beds. The woods are rife with camellias and by the stream you will find the likes of iris, flax, bamboo and banana plants. Closer to the house is a little bog garden with a lily pond surrounded by myrtles, a prunus, a copper beech and a large sycamore.

Although the gardens initially seem to have just a short past, Poldowrian is a historical garden that in fact leads back to pre-historic times. In 1965 a cliff fire revealed evidence of a pre-historic settlement here, and later a Bronze-age Round-house was discovered in the fields. Since then a team of archaeologists have found it to date back to 5500BC - making it the oldest site dated in all of Cornwall. These finds are now on display at the on-site Museum of Pre-history (open by request).

Whether you have an interest for pre-history or are just looking for a pretty little garden in which to look around, Poldowrian is a peaceful and beautiful spot to discover and connect with.

Garden open in aid of the Shelter Box charity.