The Carbis Bay Hotel. Luxury hotel near St.Ives, Cornwall

Cornwall Gardens Holiday

Enjoy a relaxing luxury holiday at the award winning Carbis Bay Hotel, while visiting some of Cornwalls most enchanting gardens with experienced Garden's host Martin G Catford, M.I.Hart.,F.I.L.A.M.,D.H.W.(Hons).

The Nursery is part of the original Duchy of Cornwall Estate. It is situated across the valley from Restormel Castle, the home of the first Duke of Cornwall. Originally a slate quarry, the site was used as for forest tree production in the late 1960's. They started to sell plants to the public in 1974 and since have gone on to become one of the largest and most well-respected nurseries in the south-west.

As a traditional nursery, they pride themselves in the range and quality of plants they produce, as well as the friendly, expert advice offered by their staff.

Every year sees changes in the plant range with many new introductions and re-introductions of garden-worthy plants. The main categories covered are: Flowering and Foliage Shrubs, Ornamental Trees, Herbaceous Perennials, Alpines, Climbers, Fruit, Conifers, Roses, Ferns, Grasses and Conservatory Plants. Specialities are Conifers, Fuchsias, Magnolias, Bamboos, Camellias and Rhododendrons. This list is ever increasing!

They are very pleased to be the world's first stockist of the newly launched Duchy Originals Tool Range, Made to the same uncompromisingly high standards that people have come to associate with Duchy Originals food and toiletries, these are tools to last a lifetime or two. Available in the online shop as well as at the nursery.

A catastrophic fire burnt the shop to the ground in about 2005, and plans have been worked out on how to proceed from the ashes. It's been a long time coming and it hasn't happened yet, but they are going to rebuild the shop. After the fire they de-camped to the building that had served as a machinery shed. It has kept them going until now, but was never intended to be a permanent solution, being even smaller than the previous shop.

Finance has now been secured and they are currently working out the details of a new building. The intention is to rebuild the shop and to replace the very old sales greenhouse. This will be by far the biggest investment ever made at the nursery and reflects a commitment by the Duchy to continue tp supply a unique range of plants and other products from an equally unique site.

There will be a little time (and coach space) for a few purchases!