The Trust's gardens are set amongst the mature woodland of the Ness headland, providing a tranquil natural background for our animals. They are also a haven for local wildlife and we hope our newly-erected batboxes will be occupied over the next few months.

Within this wooded framework much work has been carried out in recent years to give a lush sub-tropical look to the gardens. The very mild climate locally means that in addition to "architectural" plants such as palms, fatsias and bamboos, we can also grow far more tender species. Cannas, gingers and bananas thrive alongside giant echiums from the Canary Islands, strelitzia and arum lilies from South Africa and pseudopanax from New Zealand, with its amazingly shaped leaves. Australian tree ferns grown alongside local Devon ferns, and before the sub-tropical look of Summer takes over, a Spring woodland garden flourishes. This includes various hellebores and cyclamen species from the Alps and southern Europe, Himalayan arisaemas and native wild garlic, followed by stunning oriental lilies with their superb fragrance.

Outside the entrance to the Trust and bordering the adjacent lane is the "Butterfly Garden". This is a fusion of a traditional cottage-garden, including wild flowers, mixed with architectural plants and tender shrubs and perennials, providing colour and wildlife-friendly flowers over a long season. The cottage-garden plants include Spring aquilegias, forget-me-knots and sweet Williams, through Summer lilies, buddleia and lupins, to Autumn asters, anemones and sedum. The tender plants begin flowering early in the year with the stunning scarlet clianthus (lobster claw) from New Zealand, followed by the beautiful blue spires of echium fastuosum (Pride of Madeira). These are followed in turn by white arum lilies and romneya (Californian Tree Poppy), the deep blue trumpets of ipomoea (the perennial Morning Glory), scarlet eythrina and several types of blue salvias, amongst many others. So no matter what time of year, garden-lovers will always find something of interest in our grounds.

The work we have already carried out in our extension has resulted in a richer ground flora and we intend to encourage wild flowers such as bluebells, foxgloves and wild garlic within this area. We have already planted an exterior hedge of native species including holly, hazel, field maple and wild cherry to provide shelter, flowers and fruits for the local wildlife. The extension will also include a pond to encourage native wildlife.