Emus Queenie and Edmund have been rehomed at Heligan gardens in Cornwall.

A century after emus left Cornish gardens, exotic birds are back

More than 100 years ago, emus roamed botanical gardens in Cornwall, the result of a family's fascination with exotic plants and pets.

Now, a century after they disappeared from the Lost Gardens of Heligan, the emus have returned.

Queenie and Edmund have been rehomed there by the Wingz Bird and Animal Sanctuary.

“We are delighted to have found such a great new home for our emus Queenie and Edmund,” said Grenville Allen, from Wingz Bird and Animal Sanctuary.

"When re-homing our animals we want the best for them, somewhere they will be cared for, appreciated and loved and we are delighted to have found that at The Lost Gardens. It’s also great that they have such historical relevance to Heligan too.”

Site managers at Heligan are currently preparing the site for a a performance by Wildworks Theatre commemorating the outbreak of World War One on August 3.

“We have been researching the livestock and practices that took place at Heligan a hundred years ago,” said Michael Hart, Heligan Stock Manager.

“In their Victorian heyday the Heligan landowners, the Tremayne family, had a fascination with exotic plants and pets, and archive images reveal a number of emus roaming the estate.”

The West Lawn has been ploughed and planted with poppy seeds that, once in flower, will stretch into the distance towards Mevagissey.

Funding for the initiative is to be sourced from an innovative crowd-funding campaign, looking to raise £7,500 to help pay for the poppy seeds, performers, costumes and event materials.

To welcome the new emu couple into their new home a new Emu Trail has been designed to celebrate their arrival and will be part of family entertainment at Heligan this Easter.

Image courtesy of the Lost Gardens of Heligan