AFTER one of the best growing seasons in more than a decade, National Trust staff, volunteers and members of the public at Cotehele have started the meticulous process of creating the longest Christmas garland at any trust property in the country.

Head gardener at Cotehele Dave Bouch said this year had been 'fantastic' for flowers.

'We have a record-breaking 40,000 flowers to use compared with 22,000 flowers in 2012 and 32,000 in 2011,' said Dave.

'We actually have enough flowers to make a garland 50% longer this year but as we can't quite stretch the length of the Great Hall we display the garland in, for the first time ever we will be making the most of the display around one of the magnificent doorways.

'We had so many flowers we had to stop picking in mid-August for the first time in at least ten years.

'With so many I'm really looking forward to what the final garland will look like.'

The flowers were picked and dried in the garden at Cotehele and each flower will now be added one by one to create a stunning 60ft garland, which forms an integral part of the Christmas display at the property.

Every November, the historic house opens to the public so visitors can watch staff and volunteers putting the garland together from flowers such as Ornamental Grasses, Everlasting Sand Flower, Straw Flower, Paper Daisy, Paper rose, Statice and new this year, they have added a garden thrift. Visitors are also invited to climb the scaffold and poke in a few flowers if they'd like.

Dave said: 'Each year the garland is different, depending on which of the specially grown flowers have done well and we're encouraging members of the public to help us create this magnificent garland, but with such a record number of flowers the garland is guaranteed to be one of the very best.'