Tresco, Isles of Scilly, U.K.
We started our day passing the lighthouse at Bishop Rock on the way to the picturesque Island of Tresco. The island is home to 160 permanent residents, but tops over 1,000 people with the arrival of annual holiday makers. There is so much to love here. The narrow roads that shuttle visitors with tractor pulled carts seemed more ideal for an afternoon stroll or bike ride around the island. Not far from our landing spot we were met by an incoming helicopter, a common way to arrive on the inland, in addition to the local ferry.
Just beyond the landing pad we find ourselves at the Tresco Abbey Gardens. Owned by Robert Dorian Smith, these gardens were started in 1834 and include around 17 acres filled with over 4,500 species of plants. It plays home to plants from all over the world including South Africa, New Zealand, South America, Mexico, California and the Mediterranean Basin. Claiming to be ‘the most tender’ garden in the U.K., the 7 gardeners neither protect nor water the garden and leave all but the most rare plants to their own devices and simply see how they fair. In the last 24 years two major natural disasters have devastated the gardens. First, a five day snow in 1987 killed nearly 90% of the plants. Still recovering from this, a hurricane in 1990 destroyed 80% of what was left. Over 600 huge Monterey Cypress fell in less than five minutes. The wood from this event can be seen in the benches all over the gardens and blue bridge near the entrance. Just 300 meters from the ocean, the gardens’ largest challenge is the wind. The entire garden is riddled with notably high hedges to combat these salty sea breezes.
While many guests returned to the ship for lunch, others found the New Inn in the little town of New Grimsby. There was an occasional squeal as blackbirds dove for French fries with practiced skill. The food was delicious and the generous sun was a much visited topic of conversation.
Strolling around the island in the afternoon brought many pleasures. Bird watchers enjoyed Mute Swans, Swallows, Blackbirds and Robins. Ring Necked and Golden Pheasants are also numerous on the island, and while introduced they are still very impressive. Along the northern coast hikers explored Cromwell’s and King Charles’ Castles. In their own time, each actually served as artillery forts. King Charles’ Castle is now in ruins as its defenders blew it up before it was taken by Parliamentary Soldiers in 1651. It was then replaced by the Cromwell Castle, built lower on the hill where its guns were better placed to protect the channel into New Grimsby harbor.
