A life inspired by a unique climate and pure beauty.

Mike Nelhams and Tresco Abbey Garden are truly synonymous, and as we delve into this lasting love affair as horticuturalist and curator for more than 40 years, we discover his favourite island hangouts, what a typical day might look like as head gardener and why he will always call Tresco home.

How does living on the Isles of Scilly and your surroundings inspire you?

It really is not very difficult to be inspired by Scilly and it doesn’t matter which island you live on or which direction you are facing...the views are spectacular and everyone you meet is having a good time. You cannot put your finger on it but there is something really special about the islands and the people that live here. From my professional point of view as a gardener we have an almost unique climate which enables us to grow the widest range of tender plants in Britain…working with our living collections means we hopefully never run out of new ideas.  

What do you like most about your job and what would a typical day look like?

On Scilly and Tresco particularly there seems to be no such thing as a typical day…it could start early in the morning standing on Carn Near Quay at low tide meeting in visiting Cruise ship passengers who are eager for a garden tour. Introducing new plant species into our collections with regular planting sessions, these take place almost through every week of the year somewhere in the garden.

Regular visits from both horticultural and travel journalists often mean a pleasant garden stroll followed by a sunny beachside lunch at the Ruin Beach Cafe…not a hardship in anyone’s book.   

We have a great team of permanent gardeners who work very closely with our horticultural students and they in turn on a day-to-day basis keep us on our toes with inquiring and piercing questions. Nothing like being asked the name of a plant you have forgotten to make sure you keep on top of your game!  

The thing I like most about my job…walking into the middle of the Abbey Garden, looking through giant Palm trees up to the top of Neptune steps and still getting a tingle of excitement after nearly forty years…if that feeling ever leaves me I know it will be time to go!!  

What have you done to make a difference since you started?

Not so much a difference but extremely fortunate to be involved in the Abbey Garden at such an interesting time. Links made with gardens across the globe through technology have brought many tangible benefits such as bringing in international garden students alongside the Botanic seed exchange programme which allows us to introduce new species to our collections and taking the Abbey Garden name further afield with gardens far and wide. The garden is ever changing, and we adapt and change with it, always hoping to improve. Working alongside the island boatmen and the Duchy harbour team to help grow the Scilly Cruise ship trade has also been crucial to the Abbey gardens survival financially. From our experience it introduces new visitors to the islands that we know come back and stay for longer periods…a win, win for Scilly.

Can visitors expect anything new this year or in the future?

In the Abbey garden we will be replanting a complete avenue that traditionally has long been known as the Aloe Walk. Everything was cleared this winter and it will now be planted with the iconic and architectural tree, Araucaria excelsa…better known to non-gardeners as the Norfolk Island Pine. It is native to an island nearly a thousand miles off the coast of Australia. They will then be surrounded by mass plantings of Canary Island Echium, honey scented Canary island spurge …Euphorbia mellifera, “Daisy bush” Argyranthemum, “Cape Wattle” Albizia lophantha and all topped off by South African Belladonna lilies. Certainly, worth a look if you are visiting Tresco this season. 

There will certainly be some new happenings across Tresco Island.  “The Flying Boat Club” on the waters edge in New Grimsby will be adjusting itself to deliver delicious breakfasts, fresh bakery delights and delicious coffee. In addition, there will be exotic picnics to takeaway for that special day out. If that doesn’t grab, you can always pop upstairs for a relaxing (or not!) Yoga session.

The New Inn, our award-winning island pub will also be having a complete makeover after the summer break with room remodelling and a new dining experience…watch this space.  

Describe to us your perfect day on Scilly

It’s no contest. An early morning boat trip down from Tresco with friends to St. Marys for 18 holes on the Isles of Scilly Golf course. Having exhausted ourselves we would take in the view over the harbour with a spot of lunch at Juliet’s, devouring a fresh crab sandwich before dawdling back home up the channel. The afternoon devoted to pottering about in the boat on a flat sunny typical Scillonian day is extremely hard to beat. Probably out to the Eastern Isles with my wife and daughters to see the seals. To top it off, a two-minute stroll in the evening to Appletree Bay to see the sun go down behind Bryher. Why would we live anywhere else?