Kernow - the sub tropical land

A glance at the photographs might mislead many into believing they were taken in some sub tropical clime. In fact they are views of Trebah, in Cornish 'Tre Worabo' meaning Gorabo's farm. Yes, our language is all about us!

Correctly Trebah should be pronounced 'TREBB-a'.

Trebah is a 26-acre sub-tropical garden situated near Glendurgan Garden and above the Helford River in the parish of Mawnan, Cornwall.

The gardens are set within an area of the same name, which includes the small medieval settlements of Trebah Wartha and Trebah Woolas.

Ranked as one of the 80 most beautiful gardens in the whole world, Trebah is one of many such paradises in Cornwall.

In 1831 Trebah was acquired by the Fox family of Falmouth who built Glendurgan Garden. Trebah was first laid out as a pleasure garden by Charles Fox, a Quaker of enormous creative energy.

During the Second World War, Trebah was used for military purposes and the assault on Omaha Beach in Normandy was launched from Polgwidden Beach, at the foot of Trebah Garden.

One of the subsequent owners was Donald Healey, the Cornish motor car designer and racing car driver, who removed some of the concrete military structures and provided a boathouse on the beach.

The garden was opened to the public in 1987 and by 1989 visitor numbers had reached 36,000. The Hibbert family then gave the house, garden and cottages to the Trebah Garden Trust, a registered charity, to ensure that the garden could be preserved for future generations.

Article kindly provided by 'Kernow Matters', which is Cornwall's newest NGO. Formed during 2015 to proclaim and celebrate Cornish culture, history, language and music whilst speaking out unashamedly for the Cornish, our members are proud to be members of the Cornish National Minority.

Follow 'Kernow Matters' on twitter "@kernow_matters", on Facebook "@TheCornishareaNation", visit our website at kernowmatterstous.weebly.com