Summer at the Woodland Garden: 

A season of heat, colour, wildlife, stories — and a few unexpected surprises!

The Boat House at Antony Woodland Garden, viewed from across the Saltwater Ponds.

It has been a challenging summer for gardens across the country, and the Woodland Garden at Antony House is no exception. Heatwave after heatwave, followed by a hosepipe ban, has put our trees and plants under considerable stress — and in some corners of the garden, autumn has arrived rather earlier than any of us would have wished.

It is a visible reminder of just how much our historic landscapes are feeling the effects of a changing climate. Leaves have begun to turn, grasses have dried back and some plants have had to dig deep to cope with conditions that would once have been unusual for a Cornish summer.

Early autumn colour appearing in the garden after a long, dry summer.

But gardens are wonderfully good at surprising us. Even in a difficult season, there is always something to notice, something adapting, something quietly thriving — and this summer, nature gave us a particularly beautiful silver lining.

Butterflies in abundance

The hot, dry conditions have brought one remarkable reward: the butterflies this summer have been truly spectacular. We were delighted to take part in the Butterfly Conservation Big Butterfly Count, and the results reflected what our visitors have been enjoying all season — a garden alive with colour and wings.

From delicate skippers and day-flying moths to bright, jewel-like butterflies dancing between the grasses and flowers, there has been plenty to stop and look at. It is one of the joys of a woodland garden: you never quite know what might appear around the next corner.

A close encounter.

A Painted Lady enjoying the late-summer flowers.

A place to slow down

Away from the heat, our Woodland Kitchen has been a wonderful success, serving locally roasted coffee right in the heart of the garden — the perfect excuse to slow down, sit awhile and take it all in.

The Woodland Kitchen — a shady place to pause among the trees.

That same sense of welcome has been at the heart of our summer programme. Our Wednesday Woodland Stories sessions have brought families into the trees for tales, imagination and a little bit of woodland magic. And our Alice in Wonderland trail has encouraged visitors of all ages to explore the garden with fresh eyes — because a woodland is an excellent place to go looking for the unexpected.

Wednesday Woodland Stories: bringing stories to life beneath the trees.

Exploring the woodland on the Alice in Wonderland trail.

A growing community of volunteers

This year has also seen tremendous growth in our volunteer community. Each volunteer brings their own unique skills, knowledge and talents, and together they are forming a wonderful team — on hand to guide and support visitors on their journey through the garden.

It has been a real joy to watch this group come together. Their enthusiasm, generosity and willingness to get involved have been a genuine highlight of the season, and they are becoming an important part of the character of the Woodland Garden.

Wildlife around every corner

The garden’s water and woodland habitats have also continued to provide a home for an extraordinary range of wildlife. Our heron has been a particularly welcome visitor, while the flowering plants have continued to attract pollinators despite the difficult conditions.

A heron beside the woodland water.

Hydrangeas bringing cool blues and purples to the summer garden.

And one very important new arrival…

And finally, we are delighted to announce the arrival of our brand new composting loo — quite possibly the most talked-about addition to the garden this year. Eco-friendly, tucked into the woodland, and very much open for business.

We like to think even the trees approve.

Looking towards autumn

As summer begins to give way to autumn, the Woodland Garden is changing once again. Some of that change has arrived earlier than expected this year, but there is still plenty to discover: the shifting colours of the leaves, the softening light through the trees, wildlife preparing for the season ahead and the quiet beauty that comes when the garden begins to slow down.

Thank you to everyone who has visited, shared a story, stopped for a coffee, counted a butterfly, followed a trail, volunteered their time or simply paused beneath the trees this summer.

We look forward to welcoming you as the season turns.