Hidden Valley Gardens is a 3-acre garden nestled in a hidden valley designed to create an immense sense of calm amongst 26 beds/borders featuring a host of colourful herbaceous perennials, annuals, shrubs and bulbs. The hot border bursts with a riot of scorching colours, sizzling with sunflowers, red and orange dahlias and purple verbena. Raised beds have been crafted for plants that enjoy drier conditions including herbs and lavenders. There is an iris garden, fernery, Japanese garden, potager, primrose garden, herbaceous and cottage garden beds and a Mediterranean area. The pond area has innovative bog planting that encourages wildlife like toads, gravity-defying pond skaters and dancing butterflies. A shady gazebo provides views over the garden and across the Cornish countryside. There is a small orchard and soft fruit area for strawberries, raspberries, blackcurrants and tayberries. Bees love all the flowers to be found here and as well as bird-life including nuthatches, swallows and woodpeckers that fill the air with song.
If you’re feeling inspired and your green-fingers are twitching to create your own hidden garden at home, make sure you stop off at the impressive plant nursery. Here you’ll find traditional and more unusual plant species that are mostly propagated on-site and often from seeds in the garden. There is also self-service tea/coffee and some wonderful homemade cakes on offer if you’re feeling peckish.
Note: The garden’s opening dates are from 20 March to 15 October daily and then closed for the rest of the year except for snowdrop walks in February which is by appointment only.
