The Association of West Country Tourist Guides

AWCTG

Trewithen House and Gardens 19 May 2015

AWCTG members enjoyed a very informative and enjoyable tour of the colourful gardens with head gardener Gary Long, who imparted his extensive garden knowledge and anecdotes relating to its history with a twist of Cornish humour.

Trewithen House has many interesting artefacts and furniture, including paintings by Joshua Reynolds and more recent acquisitions by the family including a 'hippo table'. The Great Saloon or Dining Room is a wonderful example of the rococo design so popular in the 1750s and 1760s and is the house’s most impressive room, occupying the full length of the five bays of the south front, it looks out on to the spectacular South lawn which was flanked by colourful rhododendrons and camellias.

Since 2012 Trewithen has worked with the Cornwall Red Squirrel Project to reintroduce the native red squirrel to the county. Two females and a male are being monitored in an enclosure by the Walled Garden, nature would seem to taking its natural course as young have been reared.

The visit gave the tourist guides a wealth of information which will benefit their future visitors to the house and gardens and local area.