Discover the World of Trees and Tea at Upcoming Cornwall Garden Society Lectures

The Cornwall Garden Society (CGS) is set to launch its Autumn Lecture Programme with a fascinating talk by Jonathon Jones OBE, Managing Director, Trading, of the historic Tregothnan Estate. The estate, located in Tresillian near Truro, boasts the largest private botanical garden in Cornwall and has played a vital role in cultivating rare species for 700 years.

Cornwall’s Largest Tea Garden

Tregothnan is renowned for its pioneering introduction of the Camellia to Great Britain over 200 years ago. Today, it houses the Royal Horticultural Society’s National Collections® of Camellia reticulata and Camellia sasanqua. In the mid-1990s, Tregothnan’s gardeners began to explore the potential of growing Camellia sinensis, the tea variety, due to the estate’s unique micro-climate. Extensive research, including trips to tea regions in India and Japan, laid the foundation for Tregothnan’s tea plantation.

In 1999, the first British tea bushes were planted at Tregothnan. Since then, the estate’s tea garden has grown to cover 29 miles of plantation, becoming the largest tea garden in Europe. Tregothnan’s luxury tea brand is now recognised globally, with its teas being enjoyed as far as China, where Jonathon is known as “the Teaman.”

From Head Gardener to Innovator

Jonathon’s career began in Cornwall when he won The Ken Thomas travelling scholarship in 1993, allowing him to visit Japan. He later became Head Gardener at Tregothnan at just 25 and earned a Nuffield Scholarship for his work on tea growing. In 2020, he was awarded an OBE for his contributions to international trade and commerce.

Jonathon has also made waves in environmental innovation with the launch of Tremap, a global tree mapping app he developed after struggling to find a suitable one for Tregothnan’s collection of trees. Supported by the Smithsonian Institute and used by gardeners, farmers, and professionals across the globe, Tremap has already mapped over 15 million trees. Its headquarters are in Nanpean, Cornwall, highlighting the region’s role in environmental innovation.

Upcoming Lecture Dates

Jonathon will be sharing his insights on “Trees and Teas” at two lectures hosted by the Cornwall Garden Society:

• Tuesday, 8th October at 7:30pm at The Alverton in Truro, following the CGS AGM at 7:00pm.
• Wednesday, 9th October at 2:30pm at Penventon Park Hotel in Redruth.

These events are free for CGS members, while non-members are welcome to attend and make donations. For those interested in learning more about the CGS, membership details can be found here.

The Cornwall Garden Society is dedicated to advancing horticulture in Cornwall, preserving the region’s garden heritage, and promoting the study of its natural environment. You can follow the CGS on Instagram and Facebook for more updates.

If you’re looking to explore the unique intersection of tea and trees, Jonathon’s talks are a perfect opportunity to delve into Cornwall’s rich horticultural history.