The Lost Gardens of Heligan

Ancient pastures, woodland and wetland, as well as a wide network of watercourses, ponds and lakes are all sustainably managed to maximise the biodiversity of habitats and preserve their historic positions within the Heligan Estate.

Lost Valley & Ancient Woodlands

Within the 80 acres of ancient woodland at Heligan there are many intriguing sights to be seen.

The Giant’s Head, Mudmaid and Grey Lady wait to be discovered along Woodland Walk. This sheltered path comes to life as these woodland sculptures reveal themselves, emerging silently from the beautiful natural landscape.

Lost Valley is a peaceful home to ancient trees, a carpet of bluebells in spring and the traditional practice of charcoal burning.

Two tranquil lakes in Lost Valley, stocked with a healthy supply of sticklebacks and rudd, offer the perfect spot for the Heligan otter and over-wintering kingfishers. Whilst over 60 bat boxes can be spotted throughout the woodlands providing shelter to many resident species such as, greater and lesser horseshoe, pipistrelle and brown long-eared bats.

Local archaeologists have traced man’s woodland activities on the Heligan estate back to mediaeval times, and today we continue to work with the land through wildlife sensitive management and our sustainable Wood Project. 

Whole Tree Policy

Our Whole Tree Policy operates to ensure that every part of every tree felled is used in the most productive manner. While the smallest branches are processed into chippings for mulch, some of the dead wood is left in situ to rot down, resulting in a valuable wildlife habitat. The greater part of the tree is allocated to specific treatments on site with a view to the most suitable end product. Sustainable Heligan wood products are sold exclusively from the Heligan Shop and include Lost Valley Charcoal, a variety of hand turned items and unique pieces of indoor and outdoor furniture made in our on-site workshops. 

Pastures & Farming

Take a walk through the Wider Estate to appreciate the dramatic nature of a traditionally and sensitively nurtured landscape. Working with the Environmental Stewardship Scheme ensures that our practices are aimed to encourage biodiversity throughout the estate as well as protecting historical landscape features and preserving traditional techniques. 

Heligan’s herd of Dexter cattle roam the fields in rotation. Low intensity grazing of pasture and woodland promotes an increasing breadth of wild flora and fauna in both habitats, providing the opportunity to enjoy pastureland and hay fields typical of a bygone era. Our cattle are reared for meat, which is butchered by our neighbours at Lobb’s Farm Shop and served in the Heligan Tearoom.

The Poultry Orchard is home to traditional breeds of chicken, ducks and geese, free to roam beneath old varieties of Cornish apple trees. Designated field margins are left uncut to provide field vole habitat; the main diet of our resident barn owls. Whilst the wild birdseed plantation cultivates various seed and nectar crops, providing valuable cover and a food source over winter.

Our sensitive land management enables you to get up close to the land, encouraging the growth of a learning process about where our food comes from and how we work in harmony with natural habitats and native wildlife.