Introduction To Pinetum – Cornwall’s Secret Garden

Introduction Pinetum is Cornwall’s new secret garden, a botanical paradise nestled on the South coast. Home to a wide variety of plants set across 30 acres, Pinetum offers a haven of tranquillity in contrast with the fast pace of modern life. Pinetum has been lovingly created over the last four decades, and now houses one of the largest plant collections in Cornwall as well as an impressive array of champion trees, 67 of which are champions at county level, and 10 at national. With a wonderful Garden Café serving breakfast, lunch and Afternoon Tea, plus an array of trails and ways for children to discover nature, it’s the perfect place to visit with friends, family, or simply for some ‘me-time’. Situated in impressive parkland Pinetum features ten individual garden areas, each celebrating a different array of plants and gardening styles. Reflecting the seasons, cultures of the world, and the local flora and fauna within these areas you are sure to find something that stirs the soul… Aboretum The Aboretum is an area of peace and tranquillity surrounded by trees and Rhododendrons. There are benches to sit and enjoy the quiet, while you can watch the perimeter explode in a parade of colour during the Autumn when the Acers and Parrotia go out in blazing shades of red, orange and yellow. Cornish Cottage Garden Colour plays an important part in the Cornish Cottage Garden, with the beds designed with this in mind. Shrub-backed perennials sit with a true cottage-style collection of herbaceous plants, bulbs, shrubs, trees, ferns and climbers.  Statues and water features complete the feel, with rare newts to be spotted amongst the foliage. Japanese Garden The Japanese Garden is truly authentic, inspired by those honed over centuries in Kyoto. The plants were first seeded from gifts given to the owners by an English-speaking gardener working in the city. Every year this continues, with seeds coming from the East. The Japanese summer house is based on an original design from the 17th century. Courtyard Garden Designed with colour in mind, the courtyard is a more formal garden with a statue at its centre. The three borders feature grasses which flower in the spectrum of the rainbow. Camellias, Magnolias and Rhododendrons complete the ambience. You can also relax on picnic tables scattered amongst profusions of flowers. Wild Flower Meadow and Lake The perfect place to relax, enjoy a picnic and reconnect with your inner-calm. Head down to the Wildflower Meadow and take in the peaceful ambience of the lake whilst admiring the miles of views looking over the Cornish countryside. The Pinetum A four-acre area of the gardens designed in the style of an amphitheatre with the tallest trees at its edge, The Pinetum is impressive in every way from the moment you enter. Created 29 years ago with a variety of trees including the Giant Redwood. Some featured have been grown at Pinetum from seeds obtained through our seed hunting expeditions. Old Garden One of the first gardens you encounter on arrival, the Old garden features at its centre a statue of a horse backed by two Tetrapanax which will one day tower over him. The old garden is also home to a bridge intertwined with white scented wisteria stretching across water which cascades down granite boulders from Luxulyan. Water Garden The Water Garden is a magnet for the wildlife that love to visit Pinetum. Deer, heron, badgers and foxes are all spotted here while newts frogs and toads come to spawn every year. Built on a slope, the Water Garden also features a regal purple beech which reflects majestically in the water. This area is incredibly peaceful and contains seating where visitors can relax and reflect. Winter Garden Cornwall’s largest dedicated winter garden, this area was designed to showcase the very best of the plants and greenery that thrive in the colder months. Paths spiral from the centre like a rose, with winter flowers, beautiful barks and colourful foliage all displayed at their very best. Woodland Garden This area truly celebrates Great British Woodland. Encompassing the drive on the way towards the main gates, the woodland features Snowdrops, Bluebells and Wood Anemones amongst much more. Two thousand native trees were planted 25 years ago and an Acer glade dazzles with seasonal colour. To read more about the individual areas of Pinetum you can take a look here.

Discover the ‘hidden gardeners’ of Pinetum

Have you met our  ‘Hidden Gardeners’ & the sculptor behind them?

Sculpter Nigel Wills.

Here his wife Lyn tells us about her husband Nigel Wills, a Cornishman who, over the last 7 years, has begun to fulfil his lifelong dream – creating exquisite sculptures of fish, shells, birds and insects.

When approached by an old friend, Mike Thomas, to create a child friendly interactive sculpture trail at Pinetum Gardens, themed around resident insects, to say that Nigel was pulled out of his comfort zone, would be an understatement!

The aim, was to visualise these ‘Hidden Gardeners’ in steel, which would patina and age, merging into their surroundings, making these tiny creatures even more elusive, secretive and harder to find.

To counter them disappearing completely into the background, they were to be ten times their normal size.

Characteristically, Nigel rose to the challenge, choosing to start this unusual series of sculptures with the Common Ground Beetle.

Common Ground Beetle

Starting by sketching and researching the scale of such a tiny subject, Nigel began by making individual body templates of the beetle’s body and legs. The ground beetle’s wings were fused together to create a unique set of armour to protect them. Did you know? This species of beetle communicates with others by scraping mouth parts together to create noise or they drum their legs on dead wood.

The Bumble Bee

I unearthed an interesting fact while I was researching this tiny master of the garden.They leave oily footprints on the flowers that they visit and have quite smelly feet! In construction, the three main elements to the body of this sculpture, head, thorax and abdomen were all shaped separately. The wings are solid sheet steel and the facial features have eyes formed from a metal mesh to highlight the bee’s amazing sculptural eyes. The body and legs are covered in small welds to imitate the texture of the hair found there and the bee’s wings are veined using welds to imitate this.

The Dragonfly

The challenge with this sculpture was principally to try and replicate the beautiful purple and blue hues in the wings of these most enchanting of insects. These hues are achieved from the welding torch; the sheet steel Nigel used reacts to heat by blooming into a range of colours varying from dark gold to rich dark purple. The skill is to control the colours as they form, once overheated there’s no going back. You will find this sculpture at the edge of the lake near the bottom of the garden where these reclusive insects make their homes.

Daubentons Bat

A particularly elusive resident of the gardens, a colony of this rare and tiny bat use the lake as part of their feeding grounds. Catching insects on the wing just centimetres from the surface of the water, these skilful flyers use echolocation to identify friends and food alike. A nocturnal resident, it is only a privileged few visitors who have seen these shy creatures but they certainly have a big effect on the ecosystem, eating up to 600 bugs an hour, they are voracious feeders and keep the insect pests at bay in order for the gardens to flourish.

Garden Snail

This slimy customer was the most challenging to make, its body although streamlined is mainly featureless. Nigel used a slow build-up of welds, ground off, then welded again to create its leathery body, however the shell was a different story, Made from flat steel it is created in six sections which were formed and shaped to fit each other perfectly. The rich colourful hues on the shell are reflected again in the body of this huge mollusc which measures almost a metre long.

Incy Wincy Spider

The scale of this piece is striking. Half a metre wide and hanging in a web some two metres around, poised to attack an unsuspecting victim, this huge sculpture needed to be very carefully sited. Nigel walked the gardens several times before choosing a large gap in the hedge between the Winter Garden and the Pinetum. Carefully he measured and constructed the web so that it fit this space perfectly. The web was transported to the gardens from his workshop several times, before going off to be galvanised. This process not only protects the web but leaves a silver grey hue on the metal, which catches the light, just like a real web.  ‘Incy Wincy’ is welded into the web with her lunch, a juicy fly, not far away. This piece has proved a magnet especially for the younger children who visit the gardens. Far from being frightened of the massive arachnid, they want to get up close and personal with her. So much so, that the gardens have had to protect her with a ‘No climbing into the web sign!!’

‘March of the Leaf Cutter Ants’

These tiny fellows move in formation whenever they travel. These worker ants were very complicated to make. With three main parts to their bodies similar to the beetle and bee, these guy’s heads were so much smaller than the other sculptures in the series and needed to feature strong jaws to carry their leaves in. In the photographs you can see the size of the ants head in comparison to a small bolt which should give you an idea of just how difficult it was to represent such a complicated creature in a resistant material such as sheet steel.

Stick Insect

When the gardeners discovered a colony of these enchanting insects in the gardens last year, owner and custodian, Chang Li asked Nigel to add them into his collection of hidden gardener sculptures.  They are the perfect addition, camouflage and disguise are watchwords of this insect’s survival, as they are the favourite meal of many animals, birds, bats and lizards, not to mention frogs and toads.

Giving such a slight and delicate subject character in steel was a challenge. Nigel chose to arch the back of the insect sculpture guiding the stick insect to raise its head inquisitively reaching upwards, carefully feeling its way out of the safety of a bough of leaves. Look very carefully as you approach the garden entrance. He is the very first insect on the trail that you may be able to discover, leading into the magical world of the Hidden Gardeners Nature Trail.

Come and discover the magic of Pinetum Gardens & seek out our 8 ‘Hidden Gardeners’, can you discover them all?

The Victorian Gardener

The British are known for their love of cultivating beautiful gardens – a passion which goes back to the Middle Ages. In those days, the gardens were useful and well-ordered, providing fruit and vegetables and also herbs to make medicines. However, the luxury of having a well-stocked garden was reserved only for the upper classes and for the monasteries, with fruit orchards and rectangular beds of produce providing fresh food.

Many ordinary people lived an impoverished lifestyle and it wasn’t until the Victorian era that the middle classes in suburban areas began to take an interest in gardening. The British public became fascinated with the new plants that were being shipped in from all over the world.

As a result, a more formal style of garden became the norm, displaying the latest species brought back to England by the explorers of the era. Today’s gardens remain influenced by the Victorian style – in particular those belonging to large country estates and stately homes.

In recent years, a resurgence of interest has led to new gardens being created in the Victorian style. They have been a popular feature of the Chelsea Flower Show in the 21st century.

Victorian boom

In the Victorian era, from 1837 to 1901, gardening became a pastime that could be enjoyed by the masses. An increase in population led to more middle-class families moving to the suburbs, while new technology made gardening easier, and more diverse plants boosted interest. Gardening became a status symbol of the industrial revolution.

When Edwin Budding of Thrupp, Gloucestershire, invented the lawnmower in 1830, it made garden maintenance much easier. Prior to this, the scythe had been the main means of cutting back a garden. By the 1860s, lawn mowers were being mass produced.

Experiments to create hybrid plants had begun in the 1830s. Many took place at the laboratory garden at Down House, in Kent, where the legendary naturalist, biologist and geologist Charles Darwin learned how to adapt orchids for fertilisation.

In addition, the development of sheet glass in 1847 meant larger greenhouses could be built more cheaply, while the invention of asphalt in the 1860s led to the introduction of more garden paths.

Main garden features

Finely-manicured lawns became a feature of the Victorian garden. For wealthy families with a large lawn, it became an outdoor “parlour”, with traditional garden furniture, such as ornate chairs and a table. The lawn needed constant attention to keep it in tip-top shape.

Trees were also a popular feature, providing shade when sitting outdoors. Trees with bright leaves, or “weeping” species, were often planted. For the wealthier families, more exotic trees could be cultivated in the conservatory or greenhouse.

Larger collections of trees were displayed in arboretums, while shrubs were a common means of defining property lines, marking paths and hiding fences. Mixed species of shrubs would also frame doorways and bay windows.

Rhododendron

Among the most popular species of plants were the rhododendron, camellia and magnolia. Each has its own fascinating history.

The 19th century English botanist, Sir William Jackson Hooker (who had helped populate Kew Gardens) was fascinated by the rhododendron. He said the rhododendron genus “excited interest” across Europe when he exhibited coloured lithographic drawings of 26 new species that his son, Joseph, had discovered in the Kingdom of Sikkim, in the eastern Himalayan mountains, between Bhutan and Nepal.

The detailed botanical drawings had been created by Walter Fitch, based on Joseph’s sketches that he had made while in Sikkim. They were made into a widely-read book, Rhododendrons of the Sikkim Himalayas.

The colourful drawings of the exotic plants, with their bright red and white flowers and six-inch trumpets, were produced in a pre-photography era. They were totally different from the more delicate rhododendrons that had been introduced into Britain from Asia Minor and North America prior to 1850.

Despite the incredible beauty of the drawings, they were later described as an “understatement” when compared with the magnificent real plants. When the new species of rhododendron were brought back to Britain, they became the “aristocrats” of the plant world.

Camellia

The camellia has also entranced gardeners since Victorian times. The exotic plant blooms quite early in the year, producing stunningly beautiful flowers. Camellias had been popular in China and Japan for centuries, but they didn’t appear in Britain until the early 19th century.

By 1850, the camellia was a much-prized ornamental shrub. The formality of the blooms and the elegant evergreen foliage made it particularly popular.

Interest in the camellia waned in the early 20th century, but it became popular again in the 1950s, when new varieties and species were introduced. The camellia has remained on trend, thanks to its ability to bloom early in spring, with the most famous variety being C Japonica.

This species blooms from late January until April or May. When there’s a mild start to the New Year, it flourishes and the flowers bloom early. However, if snow and ice then return and the air is particularly damp, this doesn’t suit the camellia.

Magnolia

The magnolia was named after the 17th-century French botanist Pierre Magnol, who invented the concept of plant families, based on their morphological characters. He recognised the evergreen American species, which became known as Magnolia Virginiana.

The plant was first grown in Europe in the 18th century and Swedish botanist Carl Linnaeus named it “magnolia” in 1737.

Despite the magnolia being “discovered” in the 17th century, it is one of the most primitive plants in evolutionary history. Fossils have been unearthed showing that it existed in North America, Asia and Europe more than 100 million years ago.

In Victorian times, when small, ornamental gardens became popular, evergreen magnolias were a common choice, even in the gardens of smaller houses. There are around 80 species in existence today and about 50% of them are tropical.

Victorian legacy

Without the inquisitive nature and the artistry of our Victorian ancestors, the British landscape would look very different today – we have a lot to thank them for!

Adorned with a wonderful assortment of mature trees and more than 6,000 plant species, Pinetum Gardens is a 30-acre estate that is brimming with exquisite botanical examples. Come and see us soon!

The Bullfinch: A Brief History

The bullfinch is known for its distinctive appearance, as it has a stocky body and chunky head with a black cap. It’s front-heavy appearance and thick neck is similar to that of a bull, thus the name “bullfinch”.

With a bright, pinky-red breast, the male bird is easily recognisable when he visits your garden. The female’s breast is a more muted, neutral, buff shade, but both males and females have a grey back, white rump and black tail.

The bullfinch is a member of the passerine family of birds – also known as perching birds or songbirds. It was kept as a pet in bygone times, due to its beautiful and melodic singing voice. Today, quite rightly, it’s more likely to be found flying free in the wild, rather than in a cage entertaining visitors in someone’s parlour!

When was the bullfinch discovered?

Although the first official mention of the bullfinch was made in a European nature book in the 18th century, the bird’s ancestors date back around 12,000 years to Portugal, according to a recent scientific find.

An international team of researchers exploring the island of Graciosa, in the Atlantic Ocean’s Azores archipelago off the coast of Portugal, have discovered the remains of an extinct species of bullfinch called Pyrrhula Crassa.

Its bones were found in a cavity inside a volcano through which lava once flowed. The bird was still in existence up to a few hundred years ago, but died out due to people colonising the islands and introducing invasive wildlife species.

The bullfinch was officially recognised for the first time by the Swedish zoologist Carl Linnaeus in his 1758 book, Systema Naturae. As one of his major works, the book launched the practice of scientifically naming animals.

British academic William Burley Lockwood studied the etymology of bird names and published a factual book, The Oxford Dictionary of British Bird Names, in 1984. He said the bullfinch was named in the same way as the “bullfrog” and “bulldog” in recognition of its “literally bull-headed” build. He noted the bird’s “neckless rotundity”.

Also known as the Pyrrhula Pyrrhula, the bullfinch lives across the UK today. Its Latin name comes from the Greek word “purrhoulas”, which means “worm eating bird”. The species has spread across large areas, stretching from Ireland to northern Europe and beyond, as far as Japan.

When can you see the bullfinch?

The bullfinch is around in the UK all year round. An unobtrusive and quiet species, which congregates in small, loose flocks or in pairs, it can also be seen on its own foraging for food. It is often overlooked in summer, when our gardens are busy with other birds.

The bullfinch is not a regular garden visitor as a rule. It inhabits agricultural farmland, woodland areas, coniferous forests and parks, and can live in blackthorn and hawthorn hedges, or in fruit orchards. Being a shy species, it is seldom found in areas of open space and rarely ventures into gardens.

According to the Birdwatch study, run by the British Trust for Ornithology, only 10% of people taking part reported seeing a bullfinch in their own garden. In summer, as natural food supplies increase, they are less likely to be found venturing into gardens.

It may be more easily spotted during the winter months, when small flocks of bullfinch will arrive at feeding sites, often travelling in smaller family groups.

During the spring, the bullfinch likes to feed on the buds of fruiting trees and is sometimes considered to be a pest, as it damages the crop. With a diet that consists of mostly seeds and plants, such as nettles, ash and elm, it will also eat fruit from trees and bushes. In particular, it enjoys fleshy fruits, such as raspberries and strawberries.

When it forages for worms or insects, this is mainly to feed fledglings. If you’re hoping to attract the elusive bullfinch to a garden feeding table, sunflower seeds and raisins are among their favourite foods.

Making a nest from twigs, moss and lichens, the bullfinch normally mates for life. A bonded pair will lay up to five eggs at a time, on at least two occasions, during the breeding season from April to August.

Is the bullfinch an endangered species?

The bullfinch suffered a population decline in the latter part of the 20th century, but it is gradually making a comeback. However, its population remains 36% lower than it was in 1967, according to the Beyond the Maps research programme, organised by the British Trust for Ornithology.

The study cites the fact that the bullfinch has lost much of its habitat to agricultural growth. Today, it is listed as an “amber” status species – its population has suffered a decline, but numbers are now starting to recover, although it is still not classed as safe.

Primarily, population increases have occurred in some parts of Scotland, on the Inner Hebrides islands and in western Ireland.

In an idyllic countryside setting, surrounded by trees, Pinetum Gardens is the perfect place to visit this spring and summer if you want to experience some of the many wonders of nature – including the bullfinch!

Insect Decline: The Effects on Nature

Insects are everywhere – and with more than 1.5 million species, they are the most common living creature on Earth. Despite many people thinking they’re nothing but a pest, they have evolved in their millions for a very good reason.

Insects play a crucial role in our ecosystem – so the news that their population is dwindling dramatically has sparked fears that our entire ecosystem is set to change. The widespread loss of insects would have serious repercussions, as agriculture would suffer and other species would disappear.

According to new research, around 40% of insect species are now in decline. While many people might feel this isn’t important, on the contrary, it will have lasting effects on our planet’s future. Entire ecosystems would collapse without insects and this, in turn, would have detrimental effects on the human race.

Latest research

A leading researcher has warned that if the decline of many species of insects isn’t stopped, it will have major repercussions. Francisco Sánchez-Bayo led a study at the University of Sydney in Australia, which was published in the Biological Conservation journal.

The report sent shockwaves through the scientific community when it revealed 40% of our insect species are disappearing. Sánchez-Bayo has warned that if we don’t stop the trend, many of our ecosystems will collapse.

Previous studies have focused on specific areas, but the research carried out in Sydney is the first to tackle the problem on a global level. According to a study by European researchers in 2017, the number of insects in 63 protected areas in Germany has declined by more than 75% since 1990.

Further studies carried out in 2018 by researchers at the National Academy of Sciences revealed that insects and arthropods, such as spiders, had declined by up to 60% in the rainforests of Puerto Rico since the 1970s.

Why is this happening?

One of the main causes is habitat change, caused by human activities. These include the conversion of natural habitats into farmland, the draining of wetlands and swamps and increasing deforestation.

Across Europe and North America, small family farms used to play an important role in supporting insects. Their open pastures, hedgerows and places where wildflowers grew were important to the insect population. Now, the agricultural sector increasingly uses chemicals, including pesticides, herbicides and fungicides. Unfortunately, they can kill even the insect species that aren’t being targeted. For example, the insecticide, neonicotinoid, has been blamed in particular for killing bees.

Conservationists say there are between 80 million and 100 million domesticated bee hives worldwide, each containing 10,000 to 60,000 bees, but numbers are dwindling significantly. In August 2018, it was reported one-third of the UK’s bee population had disappeared since 2008.

Research showed 24% of bees across Europe were threatened with extinction. In the United States, the situation is even more serious, with claims that some beekeepers have lost 50% of their hives. This was said to be due to a phenomenon known as Colony Collapse Disorder – most of the worker bees have disappeared, leaving the queen behind.

The scientific community has been unable to pinpoint the cause. A number of reasons have been suggested, such as the presence of Varroa mites, various disease-causing pathogens, loss of habitat and the presence of neonicotinoids.

Bees pollinate around one-third of food crops and 90% of wild plants, providing food for livestock, so the implications of their loss are extremely serious. The effects on biodiversity, the food chain and ultimately the food that reaches our table could be disastrous.

Climate change also plays a role in insect decline, particularly weather extremes that are causing droughts. Other causes include parasites and invasive species.

Insects most at risk

As well as bees, some insects are being affected more than others. These include butterflies, moths and other pollinators and insects such as dung beetles, which carry out the crucial task of decomposing waste matter, such as faeces.

Around half of the species of moths and butterflies are in decline and one-third are threatened with extinction. When it comes to beetles and ants, 50% of the species are dwindling

The caddisfly is one insect that’s seriously at risk, with 63% of its species in danger. Researchers say they are particularly vulnerable to pollution, as they lay their eggs in water.

A total of 58 species of insect have been declared extinct in recent years, according to a report compiled by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature in July 2016. These included the Saint Helena earwig, two species of mayfly, Ridley’s stick insect and species of locust and grasshopper. The report also suggested a further 46 insect species were “probably extinct”.

Importance of insects

Insects are crucial to the survival of our planet. They are at the bottom of the food chain and are eaten by birds, small mammals and fish. If their numbers decline, there will be no food supply for other creatures, whose numbers will decrease too. This will continue up the food chain and will lead to food shortages for people in the future.

If insects that take care of waste disposal (such as dung beetles) disappear, animal and plant waste won’t be broken down naturally, leading to “unpleasant results”, scientists warn. Without insects, we would also no longer have some of the products they provide, such as honey, beeswax and silk.

Scientists say more research is needed on a global scale into the disappearance of insects, warning that species can vanish very quickly, so we must take action to prevent this before it’s too late.

How can people help?

We can protect insects in our own garden by following a number of simple steps. Most importantly, never use chemical insecticides and pesticides, which can have a devastating effect even on the insects you don’t wish to target.

Have a diverse selection of plants in your garden to attract bees and other pollinators, turning it into a mini-meadow. Flowers rich in nectar, such as red clover, bird’s foot trefoil and greater knapweed, are ideal for attracting bees, wasps, moths and butterflies.

For more advice, join a group that promotes environmentally-friendly gardening such as UK charity, Garden Organic. Also, sign up for Buglife’s Get Britain Buzzing campaign, that offers useful advice on wildlife gardening and how to protect our insects.

Check with local retailers on whether their plants are chemically-treated, ask for organic pesticides and always check the labels on products for garden use. By starting small in our own gardens, people’s combined efforts could help reverse the trend and save our insects.

If you enjoy beautiful ornamental gardens, filled with a diverse selection of trees and more than 6,000 plant species, visit Pinetum Gardens.  Follow the Insect Explorer Trail, and marvel the open parkland and tranquil gardens in our 30-acre estate – it’s a wonderful day out for all the family, including the dogs!

The Red Squirrel

The red squirrel used to be a familiar sight for UK residents in bygone days, but today there are only around 140,000 of our native species still in existence – while the number of non-native grey squirrels has rocketed to 2.5 million!

Urgent conservation efforts are underway to protect Britain’s much-loved red squirrel, which has existed here for thousands of years, but numbers have declined gradually over the past 140 years, with the introduction of the grey squirrel during the Victorian era being cited as a prime factor.

The exact origins of the red squirrel are unknown, although scientists believe they may have existed in Europe during the middle of the Pleistocene period, between 120,000 and 780,000 years ago, after fossilised remains were found in Hungary.

After definitive evidence was uncovered at Binnel Point on the Isle of Wight, the earliest confirmed remains of the species in Britain date back around 4,500 years. However, the general consensus in the scientific world is that they have been in the region for around 10,000 years, since the end of the last Ice Age.

Distinctive features

The scientific name for the red squirrel is Sciurus Vulgaris. With a combined length of its head and body being between 19cm and 23cm, and its tail between 15cm and 20cm long, an adult squirrel weighs 250g to 340g – males and females are the same size.

The red squirrel has a long tail to help it balance and steer, as it jumps from tree to tree and runs along the branches. The tail can also wrap around the animal’s body to keep it warm while asleep.

Sharp, curved claws help it to ascend and descend trunks and branches – it can even climb walls as a result of its claws. The species has strong hind legs that help it to leap between trees and it can even swim.

Depending on its location and the time of year, the red squirrel’s fur can vary in colour, from bright red to a very deep shade that can look almost black – although bright red coats are most common in Britain. Its underside is always cream-coloured. Shedding its coat twice annually, it switches to a lighter, thinner summer coat. When it reaches adulthood, it has quite large ear tufts.

The main difference between a red and grey squirrel is the size. The much larger eastern grey squirrel has a combined head and body length of between 25cm and 30cm and can weigh up to 800g. Predominantly grey, this can sometimes look like a brownish colour. With a large, very bushy tail, both male and female grey squirrels are the same size and have the same colouring.

Habitat

The red squirrel is seldom seen in British gardens today. They were a more common sight up until the Victorians introduced the grey squirrel from North America. The first report of grey squirrels escaping and establishing themselves in the wild in Britain dates from 1876. They had been brought into the UK as a seemingly lovely addition to Victorian gardens. Prior to this, red squirrels could be found in just about every area of the UK.

Now, they tend to live in woodland areas, preferring coniferous woods and Scots pine. The best time to spot red squirrels is when there are fewer leaves on the trees in autumn and winter. This is the time of year when they are also more likely to be out and about gathering food for the winter.

There is a population of red squirrels remaining in Grasmere in the Lake District, where they can be seen on walking trails and clustering round lawns. The Grasmere Red Squirrel Group leads conservation work to protect the species.

Population decline

Across the UK, the red squirrel population has been in decline since the late 1800s. Conservationists say this is due to a combination of factors, including the prevalence of grey squirrels, disease and a loss of habitat.

If both grey and red squirrels live in the same area, the greys tend to monopolise any food supply. A virus called squirrelpox can be carried by greys, who can live with it, but it can kill red squirrels, whose population has fallen 25 times faster in areas where the disease exists.

Red squirrels used to be actively hunted in the New Forest in Hampshire during the late 19th century. In 1889, it was reported almost 2,300 had been shot there because they were believed to have a detrimental effect on the timber industry.

According to James Richie, the former assistant keeper of the Royal Museum of Scotland, red squirrels were “persecuted to a startling level” in forests across Scotland in the 1800s. In 1903, a conservation group, The Highland Squirrel Club, was launched to counter the “devastation” brought to the populations in the woods of east Ross Shire and Inverness. The group logged the number of red squirrels being killed and reported that between 1903 and the end of 1917, more than 60,400 squirrels had been killed in the region.

Today, rather than reds being deliberately killed by people, the main cause of their demise is their grey counterpart. Our native reds are mainly found in remote, wilder locations.

In 1945, a conservation survey showed red squirrels could be found all over Britain, while greys existed mainly in southern England. By 2010, when a similar study was carried out, the map had changed considerably. Reds could be found only in small pockets of the British Isles, while the greys had almost completely taken over most of the country.

Unfortunately, conservationists say that without proper management, our red squirrels could be wiped out in England in just 10 years, so time is running out. They say it is apparent that the red and grey squirrels can’t live in the same areas, or the reds will suffer.

Royal support

Red squirrels have a royal supporter in Prince Charles, the Duke of Cornwall. He is protector of the reds living on Balmoral Estate and is said to “adore” them. Red Squirrels Northern England, a conservation charity, was created at the invitation of Prince Charles in 2011. It supports various initiatives to protect red squirrels, using strategic and targeted action.

The Duke of Cornwall was pictured in the national press in November 2018 to celebrate his 70th birthday, when it was revealed he even allowed squirrels from the estate into his home! He said he took great delight in watching them playing, running round and chasing each other. They are regular visitors to his house at Birkhall.

In an interview, he revealed he would sit quietly, so that the squirrels could play unhindered. He leaves jackets on a chair, putting nuts in the pockets, to attract the squirrels. He watches them with only their tails sticking out of the pockets as they gather the nuts. He calls them “incredibly special creatures”.

As patron of the Red Squirrel Survival Trust, which protects the endangered species, he is said to be “completely infatuated” with them – and even recognises the ones on the Balmoral Estate as individuals, giving them names. He is a lifelong supporter of saving the environment and promoting green initiatives.

National charity, the Red Squirrel Survival Trust, is fighting to Save Our Squirrels. So is the Wildlife Trust, which is working to increase public awareness, provide better education and lead scientific monitoring and habitat management.

It is a sobering thought that if conservation efforts don’t succeed, we may no longer see red squirrels at all by the end of the 2020s if their numbers continue to fall at their current rate.

Nature at its best!

If you enjoy seeing wildlife in its natural habitat, visit Pinetum Gardens – it’s a truly special day out for all the family!

Our magnificent 30-acre estate, in the heart of St Austell, has more than 6,000 types of plants in open parkland. In a traditional English landscape style, mature oaks and a lake create a wonderful visitor attraction.

Come and see us soon!

It’s a Duck’s Life

A well-maintained pond adds a beautiful touch to any garden. Not only does it create a focal point, adding interest to the landscape, it also attracts wildlife and can be beneficial to the environment.

Water conservation

Did you know that while you’re relaxing, your pond can benefit water conservation? It will re-fill naturally with rainwater, so the surrounding plants will virtually water themselves.

A pond is self-sustaining, so you rarely need to top up the water level. Hydration in the surrounding area can keep your greenery alive and you will seldom have to get out the hosepipe or watering can.

Pond plants

There are many pretty plants that will grow well in or around your pond. These include Creeping Jenny, which fares very well around the water. It grows to about two inches tall and is a great filler, softening the appearance of the rocks, thanks to its bright leaves and yellow flowers. It will bloom throughout the summer.

Cardinal flowers, with their distinctive deep red blooms, can be planted around the shallow edges of your pond. The burgundy foliage complements the red flowers and the leaves will grow to around eight inches long, while the plant can grow up to three feet tall.

Water lettuce will grow in the middle of your pond and produces lime-green, circular clusters of leaves that resemble small, floating heads of lettuce. They are easy to cultivate. All you have to do is allow the plant to float on the pond’s surface, with its roots dangling in the water below.  This hardy species produces smaller plants during the summer months.

Wildlife haven

One of the main benefits of having a pond is that it attracts and supports wildlife. Your pond can be a man-made haven for beautiful fish, such as goldfish and Koi carp, but it will also attract local wildlife, which can be entertaining to watch. It will support the wild creatures in their natural environment.

Dragonflies might arrive at this time of year. According to the British Dragonfly Society, the insect is losing much of its natural habitat, as it spends most of its life in water as larvae, but over the past century, an estimated one million ponds have been filled in. Yet they are essential to the dragonfly’s life cycle, so building a pond will help the species to survive.

Frogs and toads

A pond can be a breeding place for frogs and toads. Baby frogs, known as tadpoles, are a useful inhabitant of your garden pond, as they will eat algae and prevent the water from going green. Adult toads, in particular, have a diet of insects and are useful for controlling them around the water.

Newts are another familiar pond resident. According to the Amphibian and Reptile Conservation Trust, newts tend to breed in ponds that contain plants where they can wrap up their eggs.

They are good for keeping down the excess insect population, as their staple diet includes pond-dwelling species such as water lice, water fleas (known as daphnia), worms, mayfly nymphs and leeches. They will also eat insects that fall into the water such as mosquitoes, beetles, sawflies and ants.

Birdlife

Many species of birdlife are attracted to ponds. If you’re lucky and your pond is large enough, you may find ducks in residence. They will provide hours of entertainment, especially if they have young. In fact, many people choose to keep ducks in their back garden.

Popular breeds include Campbell’s ducks, runner ducks and Aylesbury ducks. These species won’t fly off and won’t try to escape, while they have an almost melodic quack! They are as easy to look after as chickens.

A pond can be a real draw for plenty of birds. Many of the small species that visit our garden, such as sparrows and starlings, will drink and bathe in a small pond that’s not too deep. A larger pond might attract waterfowl or wetland birds.

If you’re trying to attract birds, make sure the pond area is safe. Add plants with low-hanging branches, introduce shallow platforms or logs around the pond where the birds can stop to drink or bathe safely and have sloping sides, so they can scramble out easily. There will be plenty of natural food there for any birds that eat insects.

Educate children

Having a pond can create environmental awareness for the kids. If their interest is grabbed early in life, it will hopefully continue through to adulthood.

Letting children help to plan, build and maintain a garden pond can teach them a sense of responsibility and how a natural ecosystem works. It can help to instil the responsibility we all have to care for our planet.

Kids can find out how a complete, natural ecosystem works, igniting their interest in creating a better future for all Earth’s residents.

When you visit beautiful Pinetum Gardens in St Austell, immerse yourself in a haven of tranquillity and remarkable scenery. Take a stroll in the scenic water garden, where colourful, flowering, giant Gunnera plants abound.

Founded in 1989, the water garden was first planted with vegetables and later, the pond was created solely for the wildlife. It attracts deer, heron, foxes, badgers, rabbits and insects such as dragonflies. Every year, toads, frogs and newts arrive to spawn.

Sitting quietly and reflecting in a water garden is always a soothing and peaceful activity, especially in the warming sunshine, with the bright blue Cornish sky above reflecting in the still water, and the purple beech creating an eye-catching focal point and a splash of colour.

There’s plenty of seating in Pinetum’s water garden, where magnolias and brightly coloured herbaceous plants combine with different species of grass, ferns and bamboo to create a wonderful backdrop.

Stroll around Pinetum’s beautiful grounds, where you’ll find everything from ponds to lakes amid the fragrant gardens and woods. The 30-acre gardens are home to one of the UK’s largest plant collections.

Fly like a Butterfly

Butterflies are beautiful creatures which typify summer. Enhancing our garden with a splash of colour, many butterflies are commonly seen across Britain – others are a little rarer and you’ll be lucky to spot one.

This year has been great for butterflies, with indications suggesting it has been the best summer in a decade, in terms of the number of butterflies and the variety of species that have been spotted.

The British public has been taking part in the Big Butterfly Count, organised by the charity, Butterfly Conservation, to see whether it has truly been a record-breaking year. People have been asked to submit online how many butterflies they have seen in a sunny spot in any 15-minute period.

The survey ran for three weeks, ending on 11th August. The results are currently being collated and will be revealed shortly. So, how do you know if you’ve been lucky enough to see a rare species? Read on!

Red Admiral

One of the most common species in Britain, the Red Admiral is black, with red fringes on the rear wings, red stripes on the front wings and white markings towards the tips of the wings.

Widespread across the UK in the summer months, the majority of Red Admirals migrate here from central Europe and can often found in our gardens. The caterpillars eat mainly nettles, forming a protective cocoon from folded nettle leaves. Adult butterflies feast on flowers, including bramble, buddleia and ivy. They enjoy a diet of nectar and will also eat sticky fruits.

Peacock

Not as prominent as the Red Admiral, Peacock butterflies are also commonly found in Britain – they have spread to the far north of Scotland. Featuring reddish-purple wings, with a spotted pattern that resembles eyes, they have quite a dramatic appearance.

Their pattern has a purpose: the butterfly scares off predators, including birds, by flashing its wings open to reveal the eye-like markings. It can also hiss to deter predators, including bats and mice.

The caterpillars feed off nettles, while the adult butterflies eat garden plants such as buddleia. They tend to be found feeding more in late summer, as they build up their fat reserves ready for their winter hibernation.

Brimstone

You’re lucky if you spot a Brimstone, as the male is the only big yellow butterfly in Britain. The female is slightly less colourful, as she is more of a cream colour. She can be confused with the more common large white butterfly.

The Brimstone can be found in parts of England and Wales, but is rarely seen in Scotland and Northern Ireland. Relatively long-lived, the species will survive for around a year. They hibernate amid plant cover such as ivy, as their wings resemble leaves and provide great camouflage.

The caterpillars feed on buckthorn and alder buckthorn leaves, while the butterflies particularly enjoy the purple flowers of thistles.

Holly blue

The Holly blue looks similar to the common blue, although it doesn’t have any orange dots on its wings – the distinguishing feature of the common blue. The Holly blue is widespread in the south of England and has gradually begun to spread northwards. A colony has recently been found as far north as Edinburgh, in Scotland. It is seldom seen in Northern Ireland, except in the east.

It frequents woodlands and gardens, where the caterpillars feed on flower buds and the berries from ivy, holly, dogwood and spindle. The butterflies mainly feed on honeydew, which is a liquid secreted on to plants by aphids.

The population can be severely affected by the parasitic wasp, which grows inside the caterpillars and pupae, causing them to die.

Butterflies and the weather

Butterflies are affected by the weather and are vulnerable to climate change. Highly sensitive, they depend on environmental traits, such as the temperature, to trigger vital functions including reproduction, hibernation and migration.

According to Butterfly Conservation, extreme weather conditions can have a detrimental effect on the butterfly population. In 2016, a study by scientists from the University of East Anglia investigated how extreme climatic events impacted on our butterflies.

Collected over 37 years, they studied data on the prevalence of butterflies from more than 1,800 UK sites to ascertain whether extreme weather events, such as rain, drought, heat or cold, had affected the population.

It was found that heavy rain was most damaging to butterflies in the pupal life stage, with more than one-quarter of them being detrimentally affected.

Extreme heat

Extreme heat was most dangerous to adult butterflies, affecting more than 50% of them, partly due to the fact it increased diseases.

In 1976, the long, exceptionally hot summer was a disaster for butterflies, as plants withered due to the hot conditions and lack of water, which left the butterflies short of food.

Unseasonal temperatures in the spring are a cue for butterflies to come out of winter hibernation early. Then, when a cold snap sets in, they can die.

Sir David Attenborough has publicly supported the Big Butterfly Count, explaining that the majority of butterfly species have been gradually declining over the past four decades. The ideal weather conditions are a cold winter, followed by a late spring and settled weather in the summer.

Aimed at contributing to our conservation knowledge, the Big Butterfly Count is also backed by mental health charity Mind, as research has shown that spending time surrounded by nature can help with problems such as anxiety and depression.

If you love seeing butterflies and other wildlife in their natural habitat, visit picturesque Pinetum Gardens, in St Austell, Cornwall.

The stunning 30-acre estate features beautiful ornamental gardens and open parkland, where more than 6,000 species of plants and mature trees will surely have you feeling at one with nature.

Top 5 picnic spots at Pinetum Gardens

It’s ‘National Picnic Week’, an event recognises the simple joys of the quintessential English experience. So, what better place to indulge than the ‘English Country Garden’ that is the Pinetum Gardens in St Austell, Cornwall?

Grab your hamper, shake off the blanket, pull your teddy bear out of hiding (we won’t tell anyone) and check out what we believe are among the five top picnic spots going:

On lakeside benches

Those who love their wildlife as much as picnics should head to the water’s edge, to get up close and personal with an array of bird and insect life

Up high above the meadow and lake

Pitch up at what is arguably the attraction’s best vantage point. Then there’s no excuse not to walk around the lake at the end to burn off the biccies

The Courtyard

A crafty escape for picnic lovers who don’t want to get covered in grass. The courtyard comes complete with sturdy benches and a cobbled floor.

On the grass in the Cottage Garden

Those who like a softer landing should crash down on grass, surrounded by beautiful coloured plants in the heart of the Pinetum – Franklin D Roosevelt said trees and forests are “the lungs of our land, purifying the air and giving fresh strength to our people. ” Reap the benefits while enjoying a cup of tea.

Do you have a favourite picnic spot at Pinetum Gardens? Let us know by joining us on FacebookTwitter or Instagram.

Cornish Garden Celebrates Trade and Cultural Links with China

Chang Li owns the site of Pinetum Gardens in St Austell – which accommodates the former home of Sir Alan Dalton – ex Chairman of the English China Clays Group (ECC).

Sir Alan is credited with delivering a 20-fold increase in exports during his tenure due to globalisation – which included forging strong links with mainland China. He was a much-loved figure in the business and public life of his adopted county of Cornwall.

Chang Li said: “Sir Alan Dalton’s home is situated right next to our courtyard and tea rooms, and we saw people passing it every day – unaware of its significance for the local china clay industry and landscape. We felt it was important to bring that story to life.”

Further, the alternative name for China clay, kaolin, came from the Chinese province of Gaoling. The material was first used in China many centuries ago to make fine porcelain. William Cookworthy spotted a gap in the market – and a mere 250 years ago found an alternative source of the material in Cornwall, and started the china clay industry.

Now Mr Li has invited a team of dedicated volunteers from the local China Clay History Society, comprising scores of former staff from ECC, to take time out from supporting Wheal Martyn China Clay Museum, and help him to research the Cornwall/China exhibition.

In the coming weeks, the team will unveil an exhibition giving an overview of the china clay industry in Cornwall through the years; as well as accounts of the life and work of local people. The material will go on display in the courtyard, which is free to enter

Mr Li added: “Cornwall and China may be on opposite sides of the world, but the people share many qualities – such as being hard-working, enterprising and innovative.  We are proud to play a small part in bringing these connections to life.”