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The Lost Gardens of Heligan (or Lowarth Helygen, in old Cornish) are a collection of lush botanical gardens located near Mevagissey in Cornwall and I could look at pictures of it for hours.
The gardens were created by members of the ancient Tremayne family starting from the mid-18th century and are typical of the romantic Gardenesque style. Successive descendants each made their mark on the gardens, including the ornamental plantings along the estate's Long Drive,
'The Jungle', flower and vegetable gardens, the hybridising of rhododendrons and their planting around Flora's Green, the creation of the Italian Garden, and latterly Europe's only remaining pineapple pit, warmed by rotting manure,
and two figures known as the Mud Maid and the Giant's Head. Tragically the First World War claimed the lives of 16 of the 22 full time Heligan gardeners. Somewhat neglected after the war they were sensitively restored in the 1990s to great acclaim.
Appropriate to its rich history and atmospheric scenery Heligan is said to be one of the most haunted gardens in the UK. Black shapes have been glimpsed dashing from tree to tree, and poltergeist activity is common.
Gardeners have reported feeling uneasy in certain areas of the garden, especially the rockery and fruit store, and have insisted on working in pairs in these areas.
After a ghostly encounter with a ‘grey lady’ who haunts the area near the wishing well, one gardener refused to return the next day.
The Lost Valley, home to ancient trees bearing giants knots and gnarled branches, has often been named as the site of unexplained occurrences. Eventually the area was investigated, revealing a pentangle marked out in the ground with deep wooden pegs.
This gave rise to the suspicion that this site may have been used for Satanic rituals. The team involved in the restoration during this excavation reported a sense of collective oppression, followed by a house fire in which the family of one of the worker’s all tragically died.
