Glendurgan (Cornwall, England)

Glendurgan shares many similarities with the previous garden, Trebah, so I'm going a bit out of sequence because we actually visited this garden on the following day.

This garden was created by Alfred and Sarah Fox in the 1820s (Alfred was the brother of Charles Fox, who lived at Trebah). At one time, they operated a schoolhouse on the premises.

Like Trebah, it is a sub-tropical paradise situated in a narrow ravine that leads down the the Helford River. 

The best-known feature of the garden is an elaborate maze made from cherry laurel. Their were twelve children in the Fox family and Alfred and Sarah devised the maze to keep them occupied.

Another notable feature is the 190-year old Tulip tree -

At the bottom of the trail is the Helford River and some cottages -

Climbing back up the hill requires stamina, but there are places to stop and admire the views. One spot is this unique boat seat -

On the way back, I noticed this Davidia involucrata (Handkerchief Tree) in full bloom -

(Visited May 17, 2025)

Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy