Teignmouth’s own Garden of Eden has been undergoing a makeover before it opens on Tuesday April 1 thanks to the efforts of volunteers from the Friends of Teignmouth Orangery and Teignmouth Gardening Club.

Volunteers have rolled up their sleeves to prepare the walls of the Grade II listed Teignmouth Orangery for repainting and have been busy replanting the beds inside and outside.

Teignmouth Orangery, which is located in Bitton Park, is believed to have been built in 1842 but fell into disrepair and was threatened with demolition in 1979 before it was restored in 1985.

Friends of Teignmouth Orangery volunteers have also taken on the care and upkeep of the decorative beds outside Bitton House. ‘We have cleared and dug over the beds and are now planting them up with perennials that will tolerate low water requirements,’ explained Friends of Teignmouth Orangery chair Stewart Henchie.

Volunteers are always welcome to come along to gardening sessions at the Orangery, which take place every Friday between around 10am and 12 noon with a break halfway through for tea or coffee and biscuits.

Teignmouth Orangery houses a range of plants from different climate zones including Brugmansia, which is native to sub-tropical regions of South America and is famous for its yellow trumpet-like flowers known as Angels Trumpets. Another South American native, bougainvillea, thrives in the warm conditions along with gloriosa and strelitzia. Meanwhile, plants from cooler climates also grow happily with the Orangery hosting ferns, hibiscus, clematis and other smaller plants.

The Orangery is open from 2pm until 4pm on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sunday between April 1 and September. Entry is free and visitors are welcome chat to the volunteers about the building and the plants or simply enjoy the peace and tranquillity.