Tropical Tresco Island and Abbey Garden
Tresco is a small, family-owned island that is only two and half miles by a mile wide in the Scilly Islands. This is one of five inhabited islands that lie 28 miles southwest of Land’s End. The amazing thing about this British Island is that it enjoys a year round mild climate with no frost.
The Duchy of Cornwall who leased to a Hertfordshire Squire named Augustus Smith originally owned the Island. He built his home in the ruins of an old priory and created the Tresco Abbey Garden that is now internationally renowned as one of the finest collections of sub-tropical flora and fauna to be found in the Northern Hemisphere.
The Abbey Garden is protected from salt spray and Atlantic winds so the mild climate allows all kinds of different plants to grow. This is because Augustus Smith built tall windbreaks and walled enclosures around the Priory ruins to protect the plants. He also constructed three terraces into which he carved a rocky south-facing slope. The top terraces show case African and Australian plant varieties and the lower down terraces favor plants from New Zealand and South America.
Even though the Cornish mainland is less than thirty miles away none of the plants would stand a chance. Over three hundred plants are still flowering at the time of the Winter equinox. In total the garden is home to species of flowers from over 300 plants in flower ranging from Brazil to New Zealand and Burma to South Africa.
The gardens are walled and you can walk through a network of paths to explore cactuses, palm trees and giant red flame trees. Many exotic flowers are found here including Echium, Furcraea and Pelargonium.
The island is also home to a collection of shipwrecked figureheads that are displayed at the Valhalla Museum. In this amazing place there are thirty figureheads, name boards and ship’s carving from the days of sail. Many date from the middle to the end of the 19th century.
The Islands also home to some very old cottages and Indians as well as some excellent restaurants including the Ruin Beach Café, the New Inn and the Abby Garden Café. Most accommodation and restaurants have an amazing view of the sea.
National Geographic magazine also named tis one of the top ten Islands to visit in the world. It came in ahead of such exotic destinations as Tahiti, Capri, the Canary Islands and Saba in the West Indies. This is due to the clear clean water that encourages swimming with seals, kayaking, diving and sailing.