About Tresco
The island of Tresco and the island of Bryher are two of five inhabited islands of the Isles of Scilly, found 29 miles south west of Lands End, Cornwall, UK.
Due to the prevailing effects of the Gulf Stream, climate is mild, with sunshine hours generally greater than the UK average, rainfall less, and winter frost and snow unexpected.
A wealthy merchant banker, Augustus Smith purchased the Isles from the Duchy of Cornwall in the mid-1830’s. The other islands have subsequently been ceded back to the Duchy, but Tresco island remains in the ownership of the family, with the present owners being Robert and Lucy Dorrien-Smith, and the business is known as Tresco Estate.
Augustus Smith was a plant collector and botanist, who recognised the climatic advantages of the islands, and began the creation of now world-famous Tresco Abbey Garden, based on sub-tropical and temperate climate plants collected from around the world. Subsequent generations have continued the development of the Abbey Garden, which is today a major attraction when coming to the island hotel Tresco for a holiday.
Tresco island has evolved as a small community of just over 150 residents, who largely work for the hotel and holiday industry, either for the Island Hotel, New Inn, or Tresco Holiday Cottages. This is based on the natural beauty of the islands, supported by the Abbey Garden, the farm and woodlands.
In November 1999, Robert Dorrien-Smith purchased the Hell Bay on Bryher, to complement the Estate on Tresco.
Supporting islanders and island visitors alike, Tresco Stores provides everyday needs and much more, and Gallery Tresco is a showplace mainly for Scillonian art as well as art from Cornwall.
Once each year the island hosts the Tresco Marathon in aid of the Cystic Fibrosis Trust, run on the same date as the London Marathon, and particularly each spring and autumn, the island is a bird-watchers mecca, when migration is active.