Gardens in this region are situated in sheltered places that enjoy a mild, frost-free climate, often with a maritime influence.

Many exotics are grown, giving a celebrated sub-tropical feel. The local climate is particularly appealing to insects, notably migrant insects, and also to migrant birds.

We know relatively little about the wildlife in many gardens in Cornwall and Devon. If you spot something that you want to tell us about, email: gardenswildlifesurvey@nationaltrust.org.uk with details of what,where and when...

• Glendurgan
• Trelissick
• Greenway
• Coleton Fishacre
• Killerton
• Knightshayes
• Hit list

Here is a taster of what you might expect to spot:

Glendurgan

© NTPL / Jerry Harpur

Meadows:

• Impressive display of orchids in the Wildlife Meadow, including Southern Marsh and Heath Spotted Orchids and Common Twayblade. Best in early summer. Also Lousewort and violets in spring, and Common Knapweed (which attracts many insects) in high summer.

Pond:

• Royal Fern has been planted by the pond and the rare Killarney Fern on damp rocks at the head of the valley.
• Common West Country dragonflies can be seen over the ponds and garden, including the spectacular Gold-ringed Dragonfly.

Woodland:

• Good spring woodland flora, including drifts of Bluebell, plus Wood Anemone, Sanicle and Ransoms. In late summer, Cornish Moneywort, a rare plant, flowers in damp shady places.

Trelissick

© NTPL / Andrea Jones

Flora:

• Rare native plants include Birds-nest Orchid under trees in late spring, and Nit Grass on top of a wall near the exit (late June – July).
• Southern Marsh Orchids flower in the orchard during June.
• The ha-ha wall supports ferns such as Maidenhair Spleenwort, some Polypodies and also several mosses.

Fauna

• All three species of woodpecker are recorded, including the scarce Lesser Spotted.
• A good variety of insects occur.

Greenway

© NTPL / Stephen Robson

Woodland and meadows:

• Good displays of native spring woodland plants – Primrose, Bluebell and Yellow Pimpernel.
• Open wild flower areas have Betony in July, and ant hills made by the Yellow Meadow Ant.

Insects:

• Insects include the Silver-washed Fritillary butterfly, in July, and spectacular day-flying Jersey Tiger moth, during August.
• Other scarce moths have been recorded (Agatha Christie’s son-in-law collected butterflies and moths), along with Long-winged Conehead (a cricket), rare soldier flies and hoverflies (notably Cheilosia soror), and a rare long-horn beetle, Leptura aurulenta which breeds in old oaks.
• There are also special mining bees in the lawns (look for little spoil heaps and flight holes).

Birds:

• Birds include Spotted Flycatcher, Green Woodpecker and Stock Dove. Little Egret and Kingfisher are regularly seen along the estuary ane and there is a heronry in the south-west part of the woods, near the estuary.

Lichens

• Rare lichens occur on trunks of gnarled oaks along the estuary, notably Rinodinia isidioides, and on trunks of lime trees between the house and quay.

Bats:

• Greater and Lesser Horseshoe and Whiskered bats roost in some of the outbuildings, especially the boathouse, and are carefully looked after.

Coleton Fishacre

© NTPL / Stephen Robson

A delightful valley garden leading down to a secret cove.

Insects and spiders:

• An excellent place for insects, especially migrant butterflies and moths.
• Clouded Yellow butterflies and Hummingbird Hawk moths are regularly seen in high and late summer.
• Monarchs are very occasionally recorded.
• Drifts of Perennial Sweat Pea on the cove slopes are worth checking for the very rare Long-tailed Blue in August.
• Jersey Tiger moth is regularly seen in August.
• Other insects include Great Green Bush Cricket, Long-winged Conehead, Gold-ringed Dragonfly and several scarce species of cranefly along the stream, various scarce moths (e.g. Cloaked Carpet) and hoverflies (e.g. Arctophila superbiens = fulva). Even the rare Hornet Robberfly has been recorded.
• The local orb web spider Zilla diodia occurs.

Reptiles:

• Palmate newts breed in the ponds.
• Grass-snake and the occasional Adder occur.

Birds:

• Cirl Bunting visits regularly, especially in winter, and sometimes breeds in the garden.
• The garden is regularly used by wintering Firecrest and occasionally by Black Redstart.

Killerton

© NTPL / Stephen Robson

Meadows:

• Wonderful displays of meadow flowers on the banks in early summer, including myriad Ox Eye Daisies and large hybrid purple orchids.
• Some wax cap fungi occur in the autumn but these have not yet been surveyed.

Insects:

• The day-flying Jersey Tiger moth occurs during August
• Marbled White butterflies during July.
• Other butterflies wander into the garden from the nearby woods, notably Silver-washed Fritillary during July and August.
• Look out for Hummingbird Hawkmoths on buddleias and other flowers during August.

Mosses:

• The rare Thatch Moss grows on the roof of the Bear Hut, along with other (more obvious) mosses.

Reptiles:

• Common Lizard, Grass-snake and Adder all occur in the rockery behind the Bear Hut.

Bats and birds:

• Lesser Horseshoe bats roost in the cellar of Killerton House and hunt across the garden and beyond.
• Buzzards are regularly seen overhead.

Knightshayes

© NTPL / Paul Harris

Woodland:

• The spring woodland walk is great for spring flowers, butterflies (like Speckled Wood and Orange Tip) and hoverflies, and some interesting fungi occur there in the autumn (associated with both dead wood and open grassland).

Insects:

• The steep south-facing bank in front of the house is good for mining bees in spring (look out for little spoil heaps and flight holes).
• The sunny sections of the walled garden walls are good for Mason Bees, nesting harmlessly in small holes.
• Extensive areas of mown acid grassland support butterflies such as Brown Argus, Common Blue and Marbled White, grasshoppers and bees.

• Migrant butterflies and moths are frequent in late summer and autumn.
• Two scarce flies have been recorded in the walled garden: the hoverfly Chrysotoxum festivum and the bee-killing fly Conops strigatus.

Birds:

• Buzzards are regularly seen overhead, and nest in the nearby woods.

Hit list:

We are particularly interested in discovering more about the following gardens:

Antony, Cotehele, Lanhydrock, St Michael's Mount, Trelissick,Trerice, A La Ronde, Arlington and Buckland