![Two visitors in a thatched hut in the centre of the maze at Glendurgan](http://nt.global.ssl.fastly.net/binaries/content/gallery/website/national/regions/cornwall/places/glendurgan-garden/library/summer/visitors-in-maze-glendurgan-cornwall-1402317.jpg?auto=webp&width=767&crop=16:9&dpr=2 2x)
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Discover what conservation work the garden team are taking to protect and preserve Glendurgan Garden in Cornwall.
For our Garden Team, summer arriving at Glendurgan means a start to meadow cutting and raking. We begin our first cut of the meadows from summer through to autumn, depending on how vigorous the grass is in the meadows. This cut halts the grass from seeding as much, while leaving enough time for the meadows plants to spread their own seed. We rake to remove the organic matter and to keep the quality of the soil poor. The poorer the soil, the better the meadow plants flourish and the less the grass takes over, outcompeting the biodiversity in the meadows. The raked cuttings are distributed like donuts around the trees and shrubs to improve the soil for their success.
Summer also means mowing and weeding are in full flow, with the few lawns on site requiring constant attention and the borders coming alive with weeds.
The Entrance Route and some of the other more herbaceous areas of the garden start to require some more attention as plants will need dead heading and tidying to encourage a longer season of interest. It is also a great time for us to enjoy our work and plan for the coming year to continually improve all the areas around the garden.
We have just cut the maze and it is now looking very neat and ready for a new flush of foliage to shoot throughout the coming season. This is usually an all day job for the whole team of staff and some very helpful volunteers, and can sometimes run over into the next day!
Other odd jobs can include a volunteer favourite, involving a machete, where we tidy the Gunnera leaves that have decided to call the pathways home and block the way for our visitors! But also, tidying of Tree Ferns and Bananas, a real jungle vibe as everything puts on exuberant lush growth.
While the majesty of spring has passed, summer still has a lot in store for you at Glendurgan, do enjoy!
With your ongoing support, we're able to continue our vital conservation work. Thank you for helping to protect these special places.
Everyone needs nature, now more than ever. Donate today and you could help people and nature to thrive at the places we care for.
Glendurgan is home to a beautiful mix of exotic and native plants, as well as peaceful orchards and a 19th-century maze that has puzzled visitors for decades.
Family fun has been at centre of Glendurgan since the 1820s when it was created by the Fox family, who developed an exotic garden and a mighty hedge maze for their 12 children to explore.
There’s a variety of volunteer roles at Glendurgan Garden, from gardening to helping in the Fish Cellar and assisting with family-friendly events. Find a volunteer role that’s right for you.
After exploring the garden, take a well-earned break at the Glendurgan Tea-House, tuck into an ice cream at the Durgan fish cellar, or find a good book at the second-hand bookshop.
We believe that nature, beauty and history are for everyone. That’s why we’re supporting wildlife, protecting historic sites and more. Find out about our work.
Read about our strategy 'For everyone, for ever' here at the National Trust, which will take the organisation through to 2025.