TO CELEBRATE 30 years since Sir Tim Smit first discovered The Lost Gardens of Heligan, and the reason for the discovery, the Gardens are hosting a 'Rare Breed Pig Weekend'.
30 years ago, not long after Sir Tim and his family had relocated to Cornwall, the family’s first trip to the county’s Royal Cornwall Show turned into a pivotal moment.
They spent most of the day captivated by the rare breeds tent and its inhabitants, and not long after that they rehomed two pot-bellied pigs, Horace and Doris. It was the start of a lifelong love affair of rare breed pigs for Tim and inspired him to create a rare breeds farm in Cornwall.
Whilst searching for land to home his vision, Tim came across the gardens and estate at Heligan.
The discovery of the gardeners’ names on the wall of the Thunderbox Room along with the date 1914 changed the course of travel and Tim was fired by a passion to restore the gardens. The Lost Gardens of Heligan has gone on to become Europe’s largest garden restoration, as well as the ‘Nation’s Favourite Garden’.
To coincide with National Pig Day, Heligan will be welcoming a large variety of pig breeds to their second annual Rare Breed Pig Weekend between Saturday February 29 and Sunday March 1.
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