A HORTICULTURAL expert has been announced as the guest lecturer for the Cornwall Garden Society's February talk.

The Cornwall Garden Society’s (CGS) February lectures will be given by Gary Long who is Head of Gardens and Parks at Trewithen, which is one of the largest privately-owned estates in Cornwall.

With a horticultural career spanning National Trust Trelissick, a private hotel garden and Tregothnan, where he studied for an RHS Diploma and helped to establish the UK’s first tea plantation, Gary became Assistant Head Gardener at Trewithen in 2002 and Head Gardener in 2004.

In 2007 and 2012, Gary studied species camellias in their native habitat in China, following George Forrest’s route through Yunnan province.

There, he accepted the International Camellia Society’s Garden of Excellence Award on behalf of Trewithen.

In 2017, Sam and Kitty Galsworthy inherited the estate. Using ‘A Plan of the Barton House Plantations and Gardens at Trewithen’, which was published in 1747, as inspiration and guidance, Gary is now working alongside the owners and landscape architects to draw up a master plan for this historic site.

Trewithen: Past, Present and Future will be his subject on Tuesday, February 14 at 7.30pm at the Mylor Building, Truro College whilst In the Footsteps of the Plant Hunters will be his topic on Wednesday, February 15 at 2.30pm at Launceston Town Hall.

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 by the CGS.

The CGS is a charity that exists to encourage and improve the science, art and practice of horticulture in all its branches; share knowledge about gardening and Cornwall’s rich garden heritage, and conserve the county’s natural environment.

The Society is affiliated to the RHS and has enjoyed the patronage of HRH The former Prince of Wales.