The Lost Gardens of Heligan is a botanical garden that for 75 years had been forgotten after World War I. Situated in Cornwall, the garden was only rediscovered in the 1990s and has undergone a complete transformation that has made it a very popular garden today. Two sculptures made of rocks and plants were installed on the grounds while the property was undergoing restoration work. Created by local artists Pete and Sue Hill, who are brother and sister, these mud sculptures have become emblems of the park. Known as Mud Maid and The Giant’s Head, they were installed in 1997.

Local clay was mixed with water and spread over the mound to form the shape of the head. They used an invasive local weed to form the green “skin” of the giant. For the hair, they chose crocosmia, a kind of weed-like plant that blooms orange in July, turning it red for the summer.

Both sculptures are unique for their structure and their ability to change their appearance according to the light and the season. A symbol of the revival that has brought Lost Gardens of Heligan back to life, they are an attraction not to be missed.