Press Release: 28/7/08

'David Chapman at Trebah - an exhibition of wildlife photography'

From Saturday 6th September to Sunday 12th October, Trebah Garden will be hosting an exhibition of wildlife photography by the acclaimed writer and photographer David Chapman. David has lived in Cornwall since 1992. Initially he came to Cornwall to teach Mathematics but during his time in the county he has combined his love for nature and his knowledge of photography to develop a career as a nature photographer. As well as showing the finer details of the natural world, David also likes to portray his subjects in an artistic manner using light and composition to reveal their true beauty. There is no need to travel for inspiration, David specialises in local subjects and can't ever imaging a day when ideas become exhausted.

David's photographic exhibition at Trebah Garden will focus on the Wildlife of Cornwall. In all there will be 20 photographs on display covering a range of those special natural history subjects that can be found in the county. David has a great deal of new work so there will be plenty of images never before seen in public including dragonflies, birds, mammals, flowers and more.

David says: "I am very excited about being able to exhibit my work at Trebah Garden. As well as being attractive to people the garden is also appealing to wildlife, so it seems appropriate that we should celebrate Cornwall's natural history in such a beautiful setting".

David will also be holding a free Lunchtime Lecture at Trebah Garden on Saturday 27th September at 11.30am, there are limited places available so please phone in advance to book.

Press Release: 21/4/08

'Trebah Celebrates its 21st Birthday with Music, Acrobatics, Sunshine and Smiles'!

On Sunday 20th April, Trebah Garden opened its doors to the public and celebrated its 21 years of being a popular garden attraction in Cornwall. This 26 acre, beautiful ravine garden which descends down to its own private beach has over the years built a fantastic reputation not just for its horticultural credentials but also for its family friendly approach to welcoming visitors to this magical garden by the sea.

To celebrate this occasion Trebah decided to create a Carnival atmosphere, putting on entertainment throughout the day, encouraging visitors to stay, eat, relax and enjoy this very special birthday. Swamp Circus performed amazing stilt walking acts up and down the ravine paths of the garden, even daring to enter the Visitor Centre. One of the highlights of the day was their incredible aerial dance, which was performed from one of the tallest trees in the garden. Viewed from the Lawn Path, onlookers stared unbelievably at the beauty, grace and courage of the aerial dancer and the routine she performed using red silk ribbons hung from a branch.

Hammered Steel Band were also on hand to add a carribean dimension to the day, around 15 of the young players performed in a marquee at the top of the garden, by the house, where the sound of steel drums echoed down throughout the valley garden, delighting one and all. From face painting, making musical shakers and birthday hats in the workshops to a BBQ and games on the beach, there was a wonderful feeling of goodwill throughout the day.

Nigel Burnett, Director of Trebah Garden said: "It was a throughly enjoyable day for all, our entertainment programme drew big crowds and helped create a wonderful carnival atmosphere. As the weather warmed up and the sound of the Hammered Steel Band could be heard, our spirits rose".

In all around 750 people came to the day, double the normal number of visitors for this time of year.

ENDS

Notes for Editors:

For further information please contact: Claire Vickers, Marketing & PR Manager on: 01326 250448 or email: Claire@trebah-garden.co.uk

Press Release: 21/4/08

'Moments of Time - an exhibition of Penn Boylan Ceramics'

Trebah Garden will be showcasing the work of Penn Boylan, a Marazion based sculptor and craftswoman in an exhibition entitled 'Moments of Time' from Friday 25 April to Friday 23 May 2008. Struggling with dyslexia as a schoolgirl in the early 1970's, Penn found her self-expression was best approached through the medium of clay. Encouraged by her father, a master craftsman in his own right, she studied ceramic sculptire at Burnley School of Art and Design.

Penn moved to Cornwall when she was 19 and it is here that her career began, working with her father - a fibrous plasterer, modeling both traditional and original masters for the projects that they undertook, many of which are in some of Cornwall's great houses and estates. Penn admits a fascination with clay and finds delight in "taking a shapeless piece of earth and turning it into objects that people can recognise and enjoy". Human emotion is at the heart of Penn's work "capturing not the beauty of a mother nor the innocence of the child, but the moment of love that they share".

Trebah Garden will not only be featuring a display of around 20 individual pieces but there will continue to be a small selection of work available to buy from The Gallery Shop.

ENDS

Notes for Editors:

For further information please contact: Claire Vickers, Marketing & PR Manager on: 01326 250448 or email: Claire@trebah-garden.co.uk

Press Release: 23/1/08

‘Trebah Celebrates the Chinese New Year’

From the 4th to the 17th February, Trebah Garden will be celebrating the start of the Chinese New Year by offering a variety of Eastern Delights.  Chinese New Year falls on the 7th February and this is the Year of the Rat.  Legends and mythology are a big part of Chinese culture, especially in relation to the Chinese Zodiac.  The 12 animals that appear on the Chinese Zodiac calendar include the rat, ox, tiger, dragon, snake, horse, goat, monkey, rooster, dog and pig.  People born in the Year of the Rat are noted for their ambition, are hard working, easily angered and love to gossip.

Throughout the main foyer of the Visitor Centre and in Planters Café, lanterns, firecrackers, red and gold cloth and bamboo from the garden will be on display.  Trebah is home to many plants that originate from China including camellias, rhododendrons, bamboos and acers.  There will be a small display explaining the history and connection to China and the horticultural links with Trebah.  The garden itself will be waking from its winter sleep and there will be plenty of colour, heralding the beginning of spring and the start of the New Year.

Planters, our award-winning café will reflect the oriental mood with a special two course lunch menu for just £8.95.  Be surprised and delighted by what is on offer, fortune cookies will be available with each Chinese meal, try authentic Chinese beer and even enter a competition and win a beautiful camellia plant.

Half Term Events

Trebah will be offering children and families the opportunity to take part in a special trail around the garden to learn about the Chinese New Year festival. The trail is £1 per child, which includes an ‘oriental-themed’ prize, and is every day from 10.30am to 4.30pm.

During half term week, Trebah will also be hosting two ‘drop-in’ workshops. On Tuesday 12 February from 11.30am to 1.30pm in the Vinery, make your favourite wild animals in clay and on Thursday 14 February from 11.30am to 1.30pm in the Vinery, there will be a clay dragons workshop.  Each ‘drop-in’ workshop is £2 per child and includes all material and something really special to take home.  No booking required, just come along and enjoy.  Normal entry rates apply.

ENDS

Notes for Editors:

For further information please contact: Claire Vickers, Marketing & PR Manager on: 01326 250448 or email: Claire@trebah-garden.co.uk

Press Release: 10/12/07

‘There’s a Rumble in the Jungle’

The Garden Team at Trebah have been out with their machetes, it is the time of year where the giant Brazilian rhubarb – Gunnera manicata is cut down, almost resembling a scene from one of the Indiana Jones’ films.  The Gunnera Passage is one of the most memorable parts of the garden and in particular it is an area where children love to run under the cover of the giant leaves and pretend they are in an underwater world.

At this time of year the Gunnera is beginning to die back for the winter and it is important for the gardeners to cut it back, lifting the giant leaves and creating a ‘hat’ over the roots of the plant, protecting it from the cold of the winter months.  Using large machetes, the garden team have to expertly hack their way through the foliage and the sound of the large stems cracking and the rustle of the leaves as they fall echo across the valley.

This is part of an ongoing calendar of seasonal maintenance that the team at Trebah do on a daily basis.  There are four gardeners at Trebah, covering all 25 acres of the garden – a huge challenge, but very rewarding to all involved. Head Gardener, Darren Dickey says:  “This is one of the busiest times of the year for our team, the amount of physical clearing and preparation required for the coming year is a constant reminder of how the garden changes every day, every month and throughout the year.  The cutting of the Gunneras is almost a symbolic marking of the beginning of the winter months and it is a reminder of what has grown and what will grow again”.

The garden is open every day of the year, a reminder to all our visitors that the garden is a living space, a place for continual reflection and renewal of life.

ENDS

Notes for Editors:

For further information please contact: Claire Vickers, Marketing & PR Manager on: 01326 250448 or email: Claire@trebah-garden.co.uk

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