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About

Melissa Hardie-Budden

Founder of The Hypatia Trust, whose vision started the Gardeners' House.

Dr. Melissa Hardie-Budden MBE

(1939-2022)

The Gardeners’ House is dedicated to the incredible force of nature that was Melissa Hardie-Budden.

Melissa’s vision was not only about transforming a dilapidated stable block, but also creating a vibrant centre for discovery and learning, a place to be cherished by the whole community.

Her work, which focused on community voices, nature, history, and the stories in our landscape, continues to inspire us and celebrates the things she loved about West Cornwall.

A social historian, author, publisher, and the founder of The Hypatia Trust, she used a generous bequest from her friend Dr. Elspeth Pope (1926-2013) to fund the first stages of this ambitious project, which started in 2016. This contribution made the initial creation of the Gardeners’ House a reality.

She inspired a dedicated team of people to pursue and complete her vision.

More in About

  • Our Story

    From coach-house to community hub: the nine-year journey to restore the Gardeners' House.

  • Our Team

    The staff, trustees and specialists who bring the Gardeners' House to life.

  • Our Funders

    The funders who made the restoration and our first years possible.

  • Our Partners

    The community groups, services and environmental organisations we work with.