Welcome to the jungle... in Cornwall

If ever there was a real-life case of not being able to see the wood for the trees, this is it.

Gardeners carrying out a routine excavation of a neglected corner of the 26-acre Trebah Gardens, a Victorian pleasure garden on the south Cornish coast, were startled to come across a jungle that has not been seen for more than a century. Cutting back shrubs and overgrown bushes, they discovered an extraordinary assortment of exotic plants not normally found outside Asia. Peeling back the undergrowth, they unveiled chusan palm trees from China, cordylines, giant ferns, and a 25ft tree. Other exotic species included the Chinese evergreen shrub Dichroa febrifuga and Canary Island date palm trees.

The unlikely arrangement is thought to be the creation of the Quaker landowner and conservationist who once owned the estate. Charles Fox collected seeds and plants from around the world in the early- to mid- 19th century. The nearby port of Falmouth was a hub of global trade and would have let Fox, from a prominent local shipping family, bring in his green curios.

The Trebah Garden Trust now supervises the maintenance of the grounds. Head gardener Darren Dickey, who made the discovery on a routine tour of the estate, said: "I was cutting back some bushes when I saw the most amazing jungle scene like nothing I'd ever seen before.

"I've been head gardener here for 18 years and didn't know a thing about it. It's like something out of a children's novel. You could be in the middle of a Brazilian jungle.

"This particular slot was a bit tucked away. We could see the top of a palm tree but there are few exotic plants here so we assumed it was on its own. It was only when I looked over from the other side of the valley that I could see more. Charles Fox must have planted these rare species as an exotic garden." Sadly, Mr Fox would never have seen his tropical zone in such a mature state.

The jungle is on a steep valley, hidden by rhododendrons. It took staff over two weeks to reveal it using a JCB digger. "Over the years it was hidden by indigenous plants but it thrived," said Mr Dickey.

Claire Vickers, spokeswoman for Trebah Gardens, added: "The magnificent scene had always been there. You just couldn't see it."

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