Heligan Wins European Garden Award!

On 5th September the European Garden Awards of the EGHN was awarded in Schloss Dyck for the fifth time since 2010. Simeon Graf Wolff Metternich, chairman of the foundation board of the Schloss Dyck Foundation, and the State Secretary Mr Michael von der Mühlen from the Ministry for Construction, Housing, Urban Development and Traffic of North Rhine-Westphalia, inaugurated the prestigious awards ceremony in the Great Hall of Schloss Dyck.

Nominations for the award ‘Restoration, enhancement or development of an historic park or garden’ were based on innovative implementation and management; urban development aspects; sustainability; good visitor services or voluntary work and on the high quality of restoration afforded to the site.

George Elworthy, Managing Director, Lost Gardens of Heligan accepted the award at the ceremony in Dusseldorf and commented: "We are delighted to receive the award from the European Heritage Garden Network. It is an honour to have been nominated and recognised by the European horticultural industry. We accepted the award in memory of John Nelson to pay tribute to the hard work and dedication he showed during the early years of the garden restoration. The restoration is ongoing, keeping alive the skills of horticulture both past and present."

Roswitha Arnold, Vice-Chairman of the European Garden Heritage Network (EGHN) said: “There is so much to discover, to learn, when you visit Heligan. Sustainability, wildlife interaction, protecting historical landscape features and preserving traditional techniques found together with modern education and innovative technologies. The Jury of the EGHN Garden Award was deeply impressed by the story of The Lost Gardens of Heligan and the great achievement of the people.”