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We can help you book your perfect break to Tresco. We all live here, so it's our specialist subject!

Call us on +44 (0)1720 422 849 or email us.

By Helicopter - Direct to Tresco

By Helicopter - Direct to Tresco

Fly direct to Tresco with Penzance Helicopters - making the flight to the Isles of Scilly as memorable as the destination

Before you Arrive

Before you Arrive

Our pre-arrival checklist - from letting us know your travel plans to ordering your wine and groceries

Tresco Islandshare

Tresco Islandshare

Own a piece of this unique island, with 40 years of holidays on Tresco as more than just a visitor. Discover Islandshares for sale...

Tresco Offers & Breaks

Tresco Offers & Breaks

From seasonal escapes to wellness and creative breaks and last-minute offers, discover our latest offers & breaks on Tresco Island

Eating

Eating

From beachfront dining to our cosy inn, get a taste for island-inspired dining with a Tresco twist

Grocery

Grocery

Place a pre-arrival grocery order and we'll deliver to your accommodation on your arrival

Events & Experiences

Events & Experiences

From the Low Tide Event to live music, Abbey Garden Theatre and more, discover extraordinary events on the Isles of Scilly

Day Trips to Tresco

Day Trips to Tresco

Whether you're coming from elsewhere on Scilly, or further afield in Devon or Cornwall, a day trip to Tresco is the perfect day out

Brenda Bracken’s Abbey Garden Blog…seeds and seagulls

For this month’s blog I thought it would be interesting to give you an idea of what it’s like to work in Tresco Abbey Garden, so I’m documenting a day in the life of Dave Inch, the propagator in the garden.

Dave has worked in Tresco Abbey Garden for the last 25 years, 13 of which he has been the propagator.

Every morning, the gardeners congregate at 7.55 or thereabouts, in the shed, where the day’s work is agreed upon and meted out, any issues are discussed, and the odd bit of gossip is imparted. The day that I chose for the purpose of this blog, provided a very interesting morning meeting … Dave Hamilton, the vegetable gardener had been, of late, having problems with a seagull who was stealing the duck eggs from the chicken run, and in an effort to eradicate the problem he asked us for any suggestions that we might have to help him do so. One suggestion was that Dave dress up as a giant seagull in an effort to catch the culprit, to which Dave replied that it would be better for him to dress up as a giant egg, and catch the seagull as he tried to pounce on him!

Anyhow, getting back from this amusing little digression, after the morning meeting Dave Inch usually heads off to the nursery where he opens up the glasshouses and cold frames, weather permitting, to allow some air circulation for the plants therein. As he goes around opening the various glasshouses, he casts his eyes over the plants, and especially the plugs – tiny units of compost – and seed trays, to see if any of them require water; at the same time he is checking for anything that needs more care than others and if anything needs attention. He then waters the plants as needed.

Today, having carried out these daily duties, Dave potted on Lampranthus from plugs to larger pots. For this he used a mixture of potting compost and grit for drainage. The Lampranthus had been taken as cuttings from the garden in January/February. These plants will be taken to the Garden Visitor Centre for sale.

Dave’s next task was to take cuttings from Aeonium decorum. These Aeonium had been grown from seed and were in pots. They are quite small, the rosettes not growing much bigger than three inches across. The cuttings will used for planting around the garden and also for plant sales.

Next he took cuttings of Aeonium manriqueorum, which is the largest of the shrub Aeonium. Its rosettes can grow up to twelve inches across. These were placed into a mix of fine compost with gravel, and will be put in the Garden Visitor Centre for sale.

In the afternoon, a consignment of plants in plugs arrived at the nursery, and Dave unpacked these in the Sales glasshouse and watered them in.

Stay on Tresco

Winter and Festive breaks are not always available to book online - for cottage stays or New Inn breaks over the winter months please go to Winter on Tresco or call 01720 422849.

Or call +44 (0)1720 422 849