Seeking a Zen Garden

Near Newquay airport, in the tiny picturesque village of St Mawgan, is a lovely Japanese garden and former nursery.  It was built as a meditative garden and is a place of tranquillity and gentle wonder where you can relax and enjoy the peace.

Pathways wander through the shade and dappled sunlight and colourful maples catch the eye.

Japanese Maples

Shadows and patterns

Neatly clipped balls

Bamboos whisper in the breeze and blue damselflies hover over the pond full of golden Koi.

Various areas have been created where you can sit and listen to the birdsong. And at the far end of the garden lies the Zen Garden which is a small enclosed space with carefully composed arrangements of rocks, water features, moss, pruned trees and bushes, and uses gravel or sand that is raked to represent ripples in water. It is meant to be viewed whilst seated outside the garden and here there are several small stools either side of a Buddha statue.

Pops of colour from several flowers and shrubs brighten up the shady spots along with moss-covered sculptures and carved stone benches.

Bamboo

Maples

Candelabra Primula

Carved stone bench

Arum lily

Sweet viburnum

Coppery colours

The overwhelming feeling of the garden is one of peace and quiet harmony, dappled shade, shadows, cool greens and calming water features. This is a very different Cornish garden and one to visit in all seasons. Open from March to November every day of the week.

Bird bath

The Koi lake and Tea-House

Lion guards