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A disused stable block in Penzance’s historic Morrab Gardens has been transformed into The Gardeners' House after a nine-year journey. The hub includes a sensory garden, providing a tranquil space for people to reconnect with nature, particularly supporting older people and those living with dementia.
The Gardeners’ House was originally envisioned by the late Melissa Hardie-Budden, founder of Hypatia Trust. Part of the space includes a 'living archive' that was donated by the Hypatia Trust, showcasing 200 years of West Cornwall’s natural heritage. The living archive will continue to grow through experiences of people in the community, particularly in response to the climate crisis.
The building opened in June 2025 after a two-year restoration project that we supported with a £2.2million grant. The project continues for another two years through community engagement activities that continue to share the stories of West Cornwall's natural heritage.
Miki Ashton, Director of The Gardeners' House Penzance said: “This has been a long journey for us and we are incredibly excited to open our doors to the people of West Cornwall. We really want to create an open and welcoming space for local people to visit, and to feel a part of.
“Our work is all about celebrating the stories and the landscape of our very special part of Cornwall. We want to continue to hear and discover the stories our community can share with us and to share our beautiful building, and its little green space, with everyone.”
