The Wild Flowers & Gardens of the Isles of Scilly

Lying just 28 miles off the Cornish coast are the Isles of Scilly, which, due to their mild climate, are home to many rare and scarce native plants, as well as a large number of naturalised exotic species. During our 7-night stay we will explore the botanical ‘hotspots’ on five of the islands, travelling by boat, and on foot, from our base on the Island of St. Mary’s. On the subtropical island of Tresco, we will spend a full day at the Abbey Gardens, whose collection includes species from such diverse locations as Australia, New Zealand, Mexico, South Africa, and the Canaries.

We will be able to get to know some of the plants that have long been naturalised outside the gardens and which have now established themselves in the hedgerows and byways, including Chilean Myrtle (Luma apiculata), Honey Spurge (Euphorbia millifera), Madeira Stork’s-bill (Geranium maderense), Shrub Germander (Teucrium fruticans) and several of the New Zealand daisy-bushes (Oleareas). The mild climate also means that a variety of otherwise rare plants appear elsewhere in the archipelago and during the week we will spend time on St. Agnes, St. Mary’s, Bryher and St. Martin’s, as well as return to Tresco, to search for some of the special native plants, such as the various adder’s-tongue ferns (Ophioglossum sp), Dwarf Pansy (Viola kitaibeliana), the Orange Bird’s-foot (Ornithopus pinnatus), Western Ramping Fumitory (Fumaria occidentalis), St Martin’s Buttercup (Ranunculus marginatus) and a good number of clovers (Trifolium sp).