Our work in the garden at Glendurgan

Glendurgan Garden’s unique layout combines subtropical planting, a laurel maze, and a productive orchard, creating a dynamic array of spaces with distinct horticultural demands. From the challenges of maintaining its sheltered valleys to conserving the historic maze, each area requires tailored gardening techniques and dedicated management. Discover more about how the gardening team cares for these spaces, preserves their historic character, and undertakes conservation efforts to ensure the garden thrives for future generations.

Hear from the Assistant Head Gardener, Tom Cutter

Winter work at Glendurgan usually consist of cutting and raking meadows, tree work, and a good old general weed and tidy, then the excitement of mulch in the last few weeks before we open!

As many will know, Storm Goretti passed through in January and this has paid slight havoc to our usual plans.

This winter we are working tirelessly on a large scale clear up operation of about 30 to 40 trees around the site. Mostly in windbreaks but also along Manderson's, our woodland path on the East side of the garden. Manderson's is likely to remain closed for the year while we work on rebuilding the path and making the area safe and enjoyable again.

This damage does leave us lots of exciting work to do in rebuilding our windbreaks and leaving a lasting legacy to protect the heart of the valley, and our incredible plant collection that calls it home. The team are having great conversations about ideas for the future and how we bounce back from this stronger than ever, it is admirable to see their determination and creativity.

Unfortunately, this work has taken up time that we would otherwise have mulched, so please bear with us when we reopen as things may not look the same as they usually do.

Fallen tree at Glendurgan, following Storm Goretti | © Tom Cutter

We also completed a large piece of tree work just before this storm came in, pruning a large Pinus radiata, Monterey Pine, back to a network of trunk and branches. After much consultation and assessment, it was determined that this tree had become unsafe in the Orchard. We took the decision to remove the crown and leave this network of standing dead wood. Removing the crown has removed the trees sail and ability to catch the wind, making it safe again. Leaving the standing dead wood is a brilliant resource for nature and will become a home to plenty of wildlife.

The meadow cutting and clearing is assisted now by our robotic mower which has a rough-cut deck to help clear these meadows. We also use battery blowers to aid in the raking and clearance of the material. These cuttings, we then place in “donuts” around the trees and shrubs in the meadow, to increase the soil fertility around them for their health but reduce the soil fertility of the meadow to increase the diversity of the sward.

We are looking forward to welcoming you back in February when we open.