National Dahlia Collection has a new home at Kehelland Trust
Open Wednesdays 5pm until 8pm & Saturdays 10am until 4pm.
£5 per car.
TR14 0DD
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Kehelland Trust and the National Dahlia collection are excited to announce a new horticultural chapter for Cornwall.
The National Dahlia Collection has been an integral part of Cornwall’s horticultural history since its conception in the early nineties when Dahlia aficionado David Brown worked hard to create and expand the collection at Duchy College Rosewarne. The National Dahlia Collection was relocated to Varfell Farm near Longrock where it enjoyed a long and successful growing period of over 20 years under the management of Mike Mann with the help of Dahlia breeder Mark Twyning.
The next chapter in the collection’s story is a relocation to the Kehelland Trust near Treswithian Downs, Camborne.
Kehelland Trust is a registered charity operating within a long-term lease from Cornwall Council and it extends to 16 acres. The Charity’s mission statement is ‘The provision of a rural, horticultural setting for the support of young people and adults with learning and/ or physical disabilities. Developing personal and social skills, individual opportunities and active participation in the local community’
The Trust is particularly excited about the opportunities that will be afforded by the National Dahlia Collection to meet its mission statement even more fully in the coming months and we are both working closely with Cornwall Council’s estates team to ensure the appropriate lease arrangements are put in place.
Louise Danks manager of the National Dahlia Collection explains;
‘I’m incredibly passionate about the NDC, I was the production manager for a time and absolutely fell in love with these incredible plants. I’m so excited to be working with Kehelland and the Dahlias and hope that I can continue to spread the love of Dahlias to anyone else who enjoys growing them.’
“Kehelland Trust have been celebrating different plant specialisms for many years; initiating one of the first Apple Days in the County in 2004 and taking on Giant Vegetable Competition and, more recently ChilliFest. These have all been opportunities to showcase diversity within plant families” says Sally Pyner, Horticultural Coordinator at Kehelland.
“We are honoured to have been asked if we can house the collection and the opportunities this brings for our learners and trainees to be a part of something really special and treasured. It is also a real bonus that dahlia season happens to coincide with apple season and the height of our harvests. The fit could not be better in terms of visitor enjoyment across site and we cannot wait to be able to plan some wonderful events in the near future”
Volunteer Days are Wednesdays 4.30pm until 7.30pm. If you would like to be part of the team creating the new Dahlia garden and being part of the NDC’s future, please contact Louise 07753 959856
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For more information about Kehelland:
Facebook: Kehelland Trust
Instagram: Kehelland.Trust
Sally Pyner, Horticultural Coordinator: hort@kehellandtrust.org.uk
For more information about the Nation Dahlia Collection:
Louise Danks 07753959856 louise@nationaldahliacollection.org.uk and on Facebook and Instagram
Hello,
Can you tell me if the Dahlia National Collection is open to view this year please?
Hello Sue
At the moment the site is only open to the public at weekends but it won’t be long until it’s all opened up all week. The dahlias are growing fast and it’s going to be stunning.
There are volunteering opportunities on Wednesdays 4.30-7.30 if you’d like to get involved. Just give Louise a ring (her number is on the original post).
We look forward to seeing you soon.
Best wishes
Sally Pyner (Horticultural Coordinator)
The collection will be opening to the public any day now. There will be notices up on our web page and the National Dahlia Collection Instagram and Facebook pages, so watch this space! It’s wonderful how quickly they are all coming up and into flower.
Oh wow – I am Thrilled to hear this & wish you every success!!
Thank you. We are so excited and the dahlias are growing up so fast!
will I be able to buy dahlia tubers/plants from yourselves?
This year tubers will be available directly from the dahlia collection site only, or by contacting the collection owner, Louise on 07753 959856. This may change in the coming year as we start to create a business model for the collection. Watch this space and we will announce any changes here or on the National Dahlia Collection site or social media platforms. Thanks for getting in touch.
Can you tell me if the Dahlia collection is open now
Hello Beverley, the Dahlia Collection is currently open on Wednesdays 5pm until 8pm and on Saturdays 10am until 4pm. We hope to see you there soon. Best wishes, the Kehelland and National Dahlia Collection Teams.
Good morning
Could you give me the post code for the National Dahlia Collection please? I would like to visit, next week if they’d possible. Do I need to make an appointment and are there COVID restrictions?
Hello Margaret. No appointments needed you can just turn up and you will be charged £5 per car to visit. The postcode is TR14 0DD. Look for the big double green metal gates as you drive down through Kehelland Village on the left hand side. If you pull in there you will see where to park. There are no covid restrictions as it is all outdoors. Best wishes Sally Pyner (Horticultural Coordinator – Kehelland Trust)
I was so pleased to read that you have now got the National Dahlia Collection. I purchased several dahlia plants from the previous owners, and was very disappointed when I found they had closed it. I purchased dahlia plant cuttings and was thoroughly happy with the quality and results. I read that you are only selling the tubers at present and hope to commence the cuttings when possible. i look forward to that, and I wish you the very best of success for the future…..
Many thanks. All up and coming sales and events will be advertised on Instagram and Facebook on both the National Dahlia Collection and Kehelland Trust pages. We hope to see you soon. Best wishes Sally Pyner (Horticultural Coordinator – Kehelland Trust)
Is the national dahlia collection going be available to purchase cuttings and tubers online in future?
This is certainly hoped to be what will happen. Louise will arrange some flowering tuber sales in the coming weeks, so please watch the instagram and facebook pages of the National Dahlia Collection and Kehelland Trust and we will keep these updated with all the latest news. Best wishes Sally Pyner (Horticultural Coordinator, Kehelland Trust)
Can I still order rooted dahlia cuttings from you …for spring availability?
I particularly want Magenta Star
Thanks
Hello Chris, for the time being we are not doing any cuttings but are establishing the collection in the ground along with all the mother stock. We hope that by next Spring we will be able to offer rooted cuttings and some more flowering tubers will be available in the coming months. Please watch the instagram and facebook pages for both the National Dahlia Collection and Kehelland Trust and we will share what’s coming up. I will let Louise know you are after Magenta Star in case she has tubers available now. Best wishes, Sally (Horticultural Coordinator – Kehelland Trust)
Thanks.
Did Louise have any Magenta Star ?
I am local and can collect at any time
Chris
Hi Chris, I have just messaged her. I thought I had already done so but it’s possible I didn’t! She will be at the collection tomorrow 10-4 so you could always just pop across and see her there. If not, I promise i’ll reply as soon as I hear. Sally
Hiya Sally
I couldn’t make a visit to the collection but did you find out if you have dahlia Magenta Star?
Thanks
Chris
Hi Chris, sadly no magenta star, but there is mother stock which Louise plans to regenerate so please keep in touch. Best wishes, Sally
Glad to see you’re getting things organised. I look forward to seeing details of cuttings and tubers for sale in due course.
Will you take over the very useful online catalogue, even if you can’t yet supply all the different varieties just being able to identify different dahlias was very useful.
Good luck with your operation I wish I lived nearer and could volunteer.
Anne
Louise will be in touch with you directly, Best wishes Sally (Horticultural Coordinator Kehelland Trust
Hi Sally thank you for a wonderful visit yesterday evening, you have created something amazing – saved and nurtured a beautiful collection and shared your knowledge. I am still looking for the illusive NZ dahlia but now I realise what I’m looking for! I forgot to ask – what is the name of number 2766?
I will forward your enquiry on to Louise directly and hopefully she will be able to help.
So glad you enjoyed your visit.
Sally (Horticultural Coordinator- Kehelland Trust)
I will forward your enquiry on to Louise directly and hopefully she will be able to help.
So glad you enjoyed your visit.
Sally (Horticultural Coordinator- Kehelland Trust)
So pleased to hear in the Plant Heritage journal that the collection has been saved. It’s long been a wish to see it and I have always loved the displays at Chelsea. It’s a long way from East Anglia but we won’t miss out again. We wish you all the best and thank you so much.
Thank you. We look forward to welcoming you when you are able to get to Cornwall!
Just read the messages so please advise on how to get cuttings in the spring by mail or email or phone..
Best to contact Louise directly on her mobile number.
Morning,
Are you open this Saturday (6/11) and if so are there many dahlias still on bloom?
Many thanks,
Richard.
Hi Richard. Yes, open this Saturday 10-4.
Best wishes
The Kehelland Team
Would love to hear how you are getting on with the collection.
Dear Anne The best way to keep up to date with the dahlias is via the National Dahlia Collection Social Media pages on Instagram and Facebook.
We try to update our own website with their news when we can, but generally we are looking to have a National Dahlia Collection ‘button’ on our website at some point that takes you straight through to their own website.
The site is looking very neatly put to bed for winter, all mulched and looked after. They will be having a hedge-laying day at the end of February (26th) if you wanted to look at that.
Best wishes
Sally