Over Pinetum Gardens
45 jaar passie voor planten
About theGarden
Pinetum Gardens is a place of tranquillity, peace, and spectacular garden scenery. The largest modern garden created in Cornwall, and family-owned, we offer an intimate experience with a personal touch rarely found in our busy world.
Lovingly created over the past half century, our idyllic 30-acre gardens are home to one of the largest collections in the county, spread over Ten individually themed garden rooms within a breathtaking landscape. We are also home to some of the country's most spectacular trees.
We are as much a delight for garden lovers as we are a wonderful retreat for romantic scenery seekers throughout all seasons.
Explore our garden map to plan your visit, or stay updated with garden news and events.
The People Behind theGardens
Sir Alan Dalton
Chairman
Chairman of English China Clay and a much-loved figure in the business and public life of his adopted county of Cornwall.
Ray and Shirley Clemo
Garden Creators
The principal creators of the gardens. Shirley, an expert plantswoman, was awarded the MBE in 2011 for this garden.
"Diary of a Plantswoman in Cornwall"
The inspiring story of Shirley Clemo, MBE by Rachel Waters.
The DesignEthics
We believe that with a small garden, "still view" is most important to be picturesque, but for a large garden, the "moving view" is more important. The transition from one to the next, how the next gardens were discovered, to one's surprise. A journey of discovery, like music with a rhythm.
Done by using light and shade, hide and open, winding and straight, frame and glimpse, to be surprisingly beautiful and beautifully surprising.
We adopt a more naturalistic approach, letting plants seed, seeing what popped up where and deciding then whether to leave or edit.