General Managers' visit to Cornwall (part 2), July 2014

Day 2 was a trip to Eden Project. 

I last went in 2007 for my 40th birthday and today they were gearing up for an Elbow concert. We had a tour around the Rain Forest dome and I learnt that the biggest herb in the world is in fact the banana, which isn't a palm tree at all! Who knew? I hope that comes up in a pub quiz....what are the chances!

In the afternoon we went onto the Lost Gardens of Heligan. This was Tim Scmitt's project before Eden Project and I must say that they were simply stunning. The views across rolling wild flower meadows:

...jungle walk in a valley:

....and some stunning walled gardens:

...with brilliant costal views:

It genuinely was a lost garden and has been thoughtfully restored into an amazing place. We loved it and will definitely be making a return trip!

General Managers' trip to Cornwall (part 1), July 2014

One of the really, really, really good things our group of General Managers (GMs) do a couple of times a year, is get together to see other properties in other regions of National Trust. This time around it was a trip to Cornwall with the GMs from the Outdoors group (we are large visitor attractions - outdoors includes White Cliffs, Sheffield Park, Stowe, Isle of Wight etc). Useful chaps to know if we ever need to build a yurt (.... that joke wasn't that funny there either).

After a stop at Jamaica Inn on the way down to watch Germany win the World Cup Final, we arrived at Premiere Inn, Bodmin.

First up was Lanhydrock, where we had a tour around the new cycle routes...a lot easier cycling down than up! They've done so well with this and it was great to see young and old out on bikes in an area of woodland on the property. I was less than impressive in the skills area!

From there we went onto the Lizard and Lizard point, which is the most southerly point of the UK. Some stunning views:

The National Trust have been acquiring land to create a really good conservation opportunity, linking wildlife corridors, putting conservation at the heart of farming and creating wildlife habitats that were being eroded. It's a really encouraging case study.

We had supper at Lizard Point, where 2 pairs of Chuffs did a little flying display. There are only 16 breeding pairs of this bird in Cornwall and they had left until 2007, so it's great that they are back now.

A lovely end to a hectic day, but yet again, I was glad to see the National Trust protecting our special places....and Choughs!