Tregothnan teaman to tell tales of teas and trees at CGS October lectures

The Cornwall Garden Society’s (CGS) Autumn Lecture Programme will be launched by Jonathon Jones OBE who is Managing Director, Trading of the historic Tregothnan Estate at Tresillian near Truro.

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 because of the success of ornamental Camellia, the tea variety – Camellia sinensis – might also grow successfully within the estate’s unique environment. Much research was undertaken including trips to tea regions in India and Japan to understand more about the processes and pitfalls of growing and harvesting the precious leaves, and in 1999, the very first British tea bushes were planted there.

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 – the most British tea in history – can be enjoyed across the globe. Even in China, Jonathon is known as ‘the Teaman’!

Awarded an OBE for services to international trade and commerce in 2020, Jonathon’s journey began in Cornwall when he was awarded The Ken Thomas travelling scholarship in 1993, which enabled him to visit Japan. He eventually returned home to take up the role of Head Gardener at Tregothnan at the age of 25, completed a Nuffield Scholarship on the subject of tea growing, and is now highly regarded as a pioneer, speaker, Country Life columnist, and champion for business and export.

In this latter context, Jonathon believes that there are huge opportunities to do better business whilst benefitting the environment.

Having scoured the market for an easy to use ‘phone app to map Tregothnan’s rare collection of trees and shrubs, he decided to create his own – Tremap – to map every tree on earth to help amateurs, academics, private gardeners and professionals care for trees and manage green spaces. 

Launched in 2021 and supported by the Smithsonian Institute in the USA as well as the space industry, Cornish hotels and gardens, and farmers in New England and New Zealand, Tremap promotes the UK’s pre-eminence in environmental innovation from its HQ in Nanpean, and this global database has already mapped a staggering 15,419,265 trees across the world.

Trees and Teas will be Jonathon’s subject on Tuesday October 8th at 7.30pm at The Alverton in Truro – immediately following the CGS AGM at 7pm – and on Wednesday 9th October at 2.30pm at Penventon Park Hotel in Redruth.

These lectures are free for CGS members. Non-members are welcome to attend to find out more about the Society and donations are gratefully received.

The Cornwall Garden Society is a charity that exists to encourage and improve the science art and practice of horticulture in all its branches; share knowledge about good gardening principles and Cornwall’s rich garden heritage, and promote, conserve, protect and study the natural environment, historic gardens, and designed landscapes in Cornwall. The Society is affiliated to The Royal Horticultural Society and The Gardens Trust.

To become a member of the CGS, please visit www.cornwallgardensociety.org.uk/join/

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