The question being put to everyone who loves Mount Edgcumbe

In 1683, Samuel Pepys called it “a most beautiful place as ever was seen”. More than three centuries on, the people looking after Mount Edgcumbe Country Park want to know what you think should happen to it next.

A short public survey is now open. It will feed into plans for how the historic estate is cared for over the coming decade and beyond.

A £65,000 grant to plan for the future

A £65,000 grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund is paying for the work. It will fund a Conservation Management Plan and a Business Plan for the park, setting out how the estate can be conserved, restored and managed sustainably.

Mount Edgcumbe is jointly owned by Cornwall Council and Plymouth City Council, and more than 250,000 people visit every year. The 350-hectare estate takes in historic landscapes and gardens, listed buildings and monuments, nationally important plant collections and protected wildlife habitats.

What the plan will look at

The Conservation Management Plan will assess the significance of the park’s landscapes, gardens, buildings, archaeology and biodiversity.

It will also pick out priorities for future investment. And it is expected to help the park deal with some big challenges: climate change, nature recovery, what visitors expect, organisational resilience and long-term financial sustainability.

Purcell, a heritage, architecture and conservation practice, has been appointed to prepare the plan. Specialist consultants in landscape archaeology, ecology and arboriculture will support the work.

The project runs until June 2027 and will include engagement with stakeholders, local communities and visitors.

“A quality that can only be described as sublime”

Cllr Loic Rich, Portfolio Holder for Environment and Climate Change at Cornwall Council, said:

“Mount Edgcumbe Country Park is Cornwall’s earliest designed landscape, described by Samuel Pepys in 1683 as ‘a most beautiful place as ever was seen’, and visited today by over 250,000 people each year. There is a quality to Mount Edgcumbe that can only be described as sublime. Set against the dramatic backdrop of the Tamar Valley, Plymouth Sound and the Rame Peninsula, the park combines grand views, historic character and natural beauty on an exceptional scale.

“This award from The National Lottery Heritage Fund is an important investment in the future of the park as the Conservation Management Plan will provide the strategic framework needed to care for the park’s exceptional heritage, support nature recovery, respond to the impacts of climate change and ensure the park remains a thriving destination for residents and visitors alike.

“We look forward to working with our communities, partners and stakeholders to help shape the next chapter in Mount Edgcumbe’s remarkable history.”

Cllr Chris Penberthy, Cabinet Member for Cooperative and Community Development at Plymouth City Council, first visited the park as a child.

“I have loved Mount Edgcumbe since first visiting as a small child. It is a truly special place, rich in history, culture and natural beauty, and enjoyed by hundreds of thousands of people every year. This Heritage Fund award gives us a fantastic opportunity to plan for the future, ensuring the estate remains a thriving and accessible destination for residents, visitors and future generations.

“The views of those who know and love Mount Edgcumbe will be an important part of that process, and I’d encourage everyone to take a few moments to share their thoughts through the consultation.”

A setting overlooking Plymouth Sound

Stuart McLeod, Director of England, London and South at The National Lottery Heritage Fund, said:

“Mount Edgcumbe Country Park is one of the South West’s most significant historic landscapes, with exceptional heritage, important habitats and a unique setting overlooking Plymouth Sound National Marine Park.

“Thanks to National Lottery players, this project will help create a long-term vision for the estate, supporting its conservation, resilience and sustainable future. It will help protect both the park’s heritage and its connection to this nationally important marine environment for generations to come.”

📷Credit: Cornwall Council

How to have your say

Residents, visitors and anyone with an interest in the park are being encouraged to fill in the Mount Edgcumbe Country Park public survey.

It stays open until Monday 14 December 2026.