The document provides a chronological history of Heligan Gardens from 1200 to 2009. It details the original construction of the gardens in the 13th century, major rebuilding efforts in the 16th-18th centuries, periods of decline in the 19th century, and the restoration of the gardens beginning in 1990 led by Tim Smit which has seen the gardens become a major tourist attraction in Cornwall.

1. Sausthava Malakar 5D

2. 1200: The lost gardens of Heligan was first built.
1569: Sampson Tremayne completed purchase of
Heligan.
1603: William Tremayne built Heligan house in
Jacobean style.
1692: Sir John Tremayne rebuilt house in William and
Mary style using Heligan bricks.

3. 1766-1829: Henry Hawkins constructed network of
rides around the Northern Gardens and throughout
the estate.
1829- 1851: Fully functioning Pineapple Pit, Heligan
competes for biggest pine against other local estates.
Bee Boles constructed. Home farm thriving.
1813: Married Caroline Matilda Lemon.
1832: The new Long Drive to Heligan House planted
with Bethamia fragifera.
1849: Cholera outbreak in Mevagissey.
1851: Hooker Collection of rhododendrons secured for
gardens.

4. 1851-1901: Development of planting of Northern
Gardens and Japanese Gardens using new, imported
exotic species.
1855: Paxton house built.
1890s: John‟s son John Claude built Ravine.
1896: Sundial Garden described as having, „‟The finest
herbaceous boarder in England.‟
1901-1914:Continuation of planting Japanese Garden.
1905-1907:Davidia involucrata planted in Sundial
Garden.
1906-1907-Italian Garden built.

5. 1914-1918-Shelterbelt trees cut for war effort.
August 1914:Staff signed signatures on the wall of
ThunderBox Room.
1916-1919:Heligan House used as Convalescence
Hospital for Officers.
1920s-1930s:House tenanted out.
1939-1945: American troops use Heligan House as
base.
1950s-1960s:House tenanted out.
1973-1974:House converted into flats and sold off.

6. 1990:Derelict gardens discovered by Tim Smit and John Willis (Tremayne descendant).
John Nelson begins clearance. Philip McMillan Browse, then County Horticultural
Advisor becomes involved in restoration. Clearance of Melon Yard. BTCV group
clears Eastern and Western Rides.
1991:Restoration of Italian Garden. BBC Gardeners' World broadcasts from Heligan.
Cornwall County Council planning permission given to open to the public. Grant
Aid from Countryside Commission.
"Task Force Trees."The Times quote "The garden restoration of the century".
1992:Lease signed between Tremayne Estate & Heligan Gardens Limited. Easter –
Garden open to public. Replanted garden shelter belts. Restored Northern
Summerhouse. Cleared overgrowth from Vegetable Garden.
1993:Clearance of Top Lake in Jungle & building of the boardwalk. Restored structures
in the Melon Yard.
1994:Five Great Gardens of Cornwall founder member. Restoration of Flower Garden.
First year's planting in Vegetable Garden and Melon Yard. Acquired pineapple
varieties for Pineapple Pit.
1995:Which? Magazine quote "Most recommended garden". Country Life award
"Gardener of the Year".

7. 1996:Restored herbaceous border in Sundial Garden. The Good Garden Guide award
"Outstanding Gardener of the Year".
1997:Opening of Lost Valley & charcoal burning began. 6 part Channel 4 TV
documentary, (later awarded Garden Programme of the Year). "The Lost Gardens
of Heligan" by Tim Smit published. Hosted Centenary Spring Flower Show of
Cornwall Garden Society. Eden project awarded Millennium funding at Heligan.
Private visit from HRH Prince Charles, Duke of Cornwall. First fruiting of
pineapples - One delivered to the Queen for her 50th Wedding Anniversary.
1998:Pencalenick Glasshouse acquired & restored. Gold Medal at Hampton Court
Palace Flower First fruits from new vines in vinery. Show. The Good Guide to
Britain award "Garden of the Year". Wildlife survey begins on Heligan Estate.
Heligan purchases Watering Lane Nursery for Eden Project. Ice sculpture
exhibition commemorating lost gardeners on 80th Anniversary of armistice.
1999:2nd Channel 4 TV series "Return to the Lost Gardens of Heligan", with book "The
Complete Works – Secrets Locked in Silence'. Partner in The Times "Grow Good
Food Campaign". Cornish hedges re-laid in Wider Estate. Total eclipse of the sun.
"Heligan Wild" book published.

8. 2000:Partner in The Times „Grow Good Food Campaign". The Which? Guide to Tourist
Attractions. "Best Outdoor Attractions" 5 star award winner. "The Heligan
Vegetable Bible" by Philip McMillan Browse published. Opening of Butler's Path.
Vegetable Garden cleared back to original size. First Heligan Harvest display.
2001:The Eden Project opened. Tremayne Estate extends lease. Horsemoor Hide
receives first "Live" images from bird boxes. Propagation from old camellias
started. Rebuilding of Ravine rockery. "Heligan – a Celebration" by Sue Lewington
published.
2002:Queen's Jubilee visit to Heligan stand at CGS Spring Flower Show at Trelissick.
First barn owl chicks viewed on camera from Horsemoor Hide. Wood Project
began. "A Taste of Heligan – vegetarian & fruit recipes" published. BBC Gardeners'
World vote Heligan "The Nation's Favourite Garden".
2003:"A taste of Heligan – best from the bakery" published. Propagation Unit opened.
Radio Times "Britain's finest garden". Heligan voted second only to Kew. Heligan
Harvest" – Sue Lewington. Sponsorship of local wildlife Pathologist. Lobbs Farm
Shop opens on site.
2004:Jungle boardwalk totally re-built and extended. Carved Tree Ferns donated from
Chelsea Flower Show for New Zealand garden. "A Taste of Heligan – meat, fish,
chicken & game" published. Wildlife Walks start. Heligan's first Bat Nights. First
"Big Draw" event at Heligan.

9. 2005:New look-out completed at top of Jungle. Entire refurbishment of Melon Yard.
"Heligan – Fruit, Flowers and Herbs" by Philip McMillan Browse published. 3
millionth visitor arrived. Heligan's first children's book "The Mud Maid' by Sandra
Horn & Karen Popham published. "Heligan Days" by Mally Francis published.
Heavy snow fall in November closes gardens for three days.
2006:Heligan Wild Land Management practices implemented. "The Kitchen Gardens at
Heligan – Lost Gardening Principles Rediscovered" published. "The Giant"
children‟s book by Sandra Horn and Karen Popham published. Heligan Wildlife
Project featured on BBC TV‟s Springwatch programme with Bill Oddie. New
Heligan website goes live.
2007:Thank You Cornwall offer brings 15,000 residents visiting Heligan for free over a
15 day period – initiative wins Cornwall Tourism Gold award. Creators of The
Mud Maid and The Giant, Sue and Pete Hill install a new woodland sculpture –
The Grey Lady – on the Woodland Walk. Access to a new section of the Georgian
Ride in the Wider Estate is opened. Hannibal the Heligan Barn Owl eats his
siblings alive on BBC Springwatch. Heligan features in Cbeebies Autumn watch.

10. 2008:Heligan is granted National Collection Holder Status by Plant Heritage for
collection: "Camellias and Rhododendrons Introduced to Heligan pre-1920". The
Heligan Tearoom wins silver Café of the Year at the Cornish Tourism Awards.
BBC Springwatch & Autumnwatch return for an update on Hannibal the Barn
Owl. Heligan Wildlife: On Film is released on DVD to accompany the Heligan
Wildlife guide. On-line travel site Trip Advisor votes Heligan in top ten gardens in
Britain. The Telegraph places Heligan at number four of the ten best "Mothers
Breaks". "Heligan History; Lost Gardens, Lost Gardeners" published.
2009:New wildlife website heliganwild.com launched, web cams updated every 10
seconds. Pineapple Pits produce first fruit in 3 years. BTCV celebrates their 50th
anniversary with a special event for volunteers and staff. Heligan History: Lost
Gardens, Lost Gardeners book wins Holyer An Gof award in “Publications about a
small area of Cornwall” category.
„X-ray art‟ studio set up, images on display at Horsemoor Hide. Heligan is awarded a
Gold Medal at the RHS Hampton Court Flower Show.
The Future…:If you would like to know more about the history, restoration and
current developments at Heligan, please visit out online shop for a list of Heligan
books and DVD‟s.