The Cornwall Garden Society’s (CGS) Autumn Lecture Programme will be launched by Jonathon Jones OBE, managing director (trading) of the historic Tregothnan Estate at Tresillian.

‘The Teaman’, as he is known worldwide, will talk on the subject of Trees and Teas on Tuesday, October 8 at The Alverton in Truro and the following afternoon at Penventon Park Hotel in Redruth.

Eight miles from the coast and with the deep sea creek of the Fal Estuary running through it, Tregothnan is the largest, private botanical garden in Cornwall and has been nurturing and protecting rare species within its warm and humid micro-climate for 700 years.

Pioneering the introduction of the camellia into Great Britain more than two centuries ago, Tregothnan is now home to the Royal Horticultural Society’s National Collections of Camellia reticulata and Camellia sasanqua.

In the mid-1990s, Tregothnan’s gardeners suspected that Camellia sinensis - the tea variety – might be grown successfully. Following research including trips to in India and Japan to understand more about the processes and pitfalls of growing and harvesting tea, the first British tea bushes were planted there in 1999.

With 29 miles of tea planted in 25 years, Tregothnan’s thriving plantation has become the largest tea garden in Europe and its award-winning luxury brand can be enjoyed across the globe.

Jonathon, who was awarded an OBE for services to international trade and commerce in 2020, believes there are opportunities to do better business while benefitting the environment. His easy-to-use phone app – Tremap – has mapped over 15 million trees across the world to help amateurs, academics, private gardeners and professionals care for trees and manage green spaces.

The Cornwall Garden Society is a charity that exists to encourage and improve the science, art and practice of horticulture, and share knowledge about good gardening principles and Cornwall’s rich garden heritage.

The Alverton talk will commence at 7.30pm, immediately following the CGS AGM. The Redruth event will start at 2.30pm. Lectures are free for CGS members; non-members are also welcome and donations are gratefully received.

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