We look forward to welcoming you to experience an eclectic array of events this August – from flower art and plant propagation to a night walk with bats.
On Sunday 9 August at 2pm, florist, Joi Werndly will demonstrate how to create a corsage and a bowl arrangement, using seasonal flowers and foliage, for participants to take home and enjoy.
Joi began her floristry career working for Dutch flower grower and wholesaler, Zwetsloots in Bedfordshire, whose retail outlets she established and managed in various locations, from Charing Cross Hospital in North London to Nottinghamshire.
She then went on to run her own business, supplying floral arrangements for corporate clients, such as Alexandra Palace in London, Suzuki and Unilever, as well as bespoke flowers for weddings.
On relocating to Cornwall, Joi became Head Florist at a local nursery where she was asked to provide posies for the late Queen Elizabeth and the then Sophie, Duchess of Wessex, now Duchess of Edinburgh.
Joi now works as a Team Leader for the National Trust and is called upon to organise, help and arrange floral decorations for the estate house at Godolphin.
Tickets for this workshop are £25 (including garden entry) or £15 for season ticket holders and are available to purchase through Eventbrite.
On Saturday 15 August from 7.30pm to 9pm, visitors are invited to explore the estate’s evocative gardens from a bat’s eye view with ecologist, Ashley Dale.
With more than ten years’ experience of studying and conserving bats, including helping to set up two bat rescue organisations in Bristol and Wales, Ashley is passionate about changing people’s perceptions of these fascinating nocturnal creatures.
Using bat detectors kindly loaned by the Cornwall Bat Group, for which she is a volunteer, attendees will be able to listen to the ultrasonic calls of different species and, with a bit of luck, spot them flying overhead as they emerge to forage.
Along the way, Ashley will share insights about these extraordinary mammals, their ecology and the important role that bats play in our environment.
Tickets for this event are £15 and spaces are limited to 20 so early booking via Eventbrite is essential.
On Saturday 22 August at 2pm, Head Gardener at Trevince, Colin Skelly, will show how to propagate plants from semi-ripe cuttings during a one-hour workshop, which is included in the ticket price of £10 for general garden entry, available to purchase on arrival from the Cart Shed Café.
“Trevince not only offers an outdoor sanctuary to connect with nature and boost wellbeing, but also provides opportunities to learn from experts through our programme of talks, walks and workshops,” explains owner, Richard Stone. “We warmly welcome people from across Cornwall who are interested in the natural world to join us at these three distinctive events, as well as experience the colours, scents and sounds of our gardens as they change throughout the season.”
Trevince Gardens are open to plant lovers, curious souls and well-behaved dogs on leads on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and Bank Holiday Mondays until 27 September, from 10am to 4pm.
Garden entry tickets for adults are £10 per visit or £30 for the season, and £2 per visit for under 16s.
The Cart Shed Café offers tasty home-made treats, using abundant produce from the Walled Garden, in a warm and friendly setting.