Trewithen

What does the future hold for Trewithen?

Plans are well underway to establish a Pinetum - the transformation of 10 acres of open farmland into naturalised evergreen woodland which, when the plans reach fruition, will mean visitors can walk around a world of conifers.

Head Gardener, Gary Long, has consulted colleagues at Kew and together they have drawn up plans that will provide a breathtaking year-round attraction where colour and texture will reflect the changing seasons. Kew specialists have even offered to provide some of the specimens for this highly unusual venture.

 

Plans show an avenue of giant California Redwood trees acting as a spine for the garden to take shape around. Branching off that spine will be glades of trees from around the world including forrestii and Abies delavavi from Asia, both named after plant collectors, Monkey puzzle trees from the Americas, Dacrydium and Popocarpus from the southern hemisphere and Larch and Scots Pine from Europe. These are just a few examples of the scores of different conifer varieties that will be grown in the Pinetum.

 

The layout will be quite wild and free to create the perfect woodland environment. Gary intends to allow early visitors to become path pioneers - creating their own routes though the trees before later cutting them so they become recognised grassy paths for everyone to follow.

 

It will take many years for the whole Pinetum to reach full maturity, a legacy for grandchildren and great-grandchildren, but as many conifers are quick-growing it will provide a spectacular display within a relatively short space of time, providing another dimension of pleasure for Trewithen.