Cornwall is famed for its glorious gardens and sub-tropical climate. Many historic gardens developed from their owners having an interest in collecting exotic plants. Kresen Kernow holds the correspondence of John Hawkins of Trewithen, who travelled extensively collecting plant specimens for his garden. We also hold one of garden designer Humphrey Repton’s ‘red books’, showing proposed changes to the gardens at Trewarthenick. The scheme was carried out and many of Repton’s features survive today.