Trebah

Trebah is a sub-tropical garden of 26 acres near the Helford River in Cornwall. It sits above the river within the parish of Mawnan, close to Glendurgan Garden. The site includes small medieval settlements called Trebah Wartha and Trebah Woolas. The garden was first laid out in the 19th century by Charles Fox, a Quaker with wide interests who chose every tree’s position carefully. His son-in-law, Edmund Backhouse, an MP, continued the work. Later owners included the Hext family, who inherited the garden in 1917. Trebah is worth visiting for its wartime role and later restoration. During the Second World War, the garden was used for military purposes and Polgwidden Beach at its foot became a launch point for the assault on Omaha Beach in Normandy. After the war, Donald Healey, the car designer, removed some military structures and added a boathouse. In 1981, Tony and Eira Hibbert bought Trebah for retirement and spent 25 years restoring it. By 1989 the garden attracted 36,000 visitors, and by 2000 over 105,000 came each year. Visitors find a garden with wide subtropical plantings and views over the Helford River. The Hibbert Centre welcomes guests and Alice Hext’s seat has been rebuilt. A nursery area and landscaped paths guide visitors through the grounds. The beach below offers a quiet spot beside the water. The Trebah Garden Trust now cares for the site as a registered charity.