South West News

Heligan visitors to pick their price

The Lost Gardens of Heligan will invite visitors to set their own admission price during January and February 2026 as part of its revolutionary new Free Range Pricing experiment.

Free Range Pricing will run every day from tomorrow (January 5) to February 28, including February half-term and the Global Pasty Championships.
 
On arrival, visitors will be asked to choose how much they would like to contribute to Heligan’s pioneering nature and learning programmes.
 
These include its beaver reintroduction, a successful programme that saw babies – or kits – born on the Heligan estate last year (2025). Also thriving thanks to Heligan reintroductions are water voles and glow worms.
 
Coming later this year is a new red squirrel habitat and breeding programme as well as tree-planting and outdoor education programmes promoting connection to nature for young people.
 
David Harland, chief executive of The Lost Gardens of Heligan, said: “We have seen big shifts in tourism habits as well as significant challenges across the sector, so we have decided to trial this model to test whether it could work for us and other tourism businesses.
 
“We are confident that we have a strong enough relationship with our audience and local community that they will recognise the value of the work we do and contribute generously.”
 
Ben Foster, interim head of marketing and communications at The Lost Gardens of Heligan, said: “Free Range Pricing is a radical departure for us and a way to open Heligan up to a new audience, deepen our links with our community and tell the stories of the incredible nature and learning work we’re doing here at Heligan.”
 
The Free Range Pricing window will include a February half-term programme themed around Heligan’s Home Farm, which will invite visitors behind the scenes for a series of exciting and immersive animal experiences.
 
The Global Pasty Championships, taking place on February 28, will be a celebration of the finest Cornish pasty bakers in the world and will feature a day of Cornish music and entertainment as well as pasty-themed workshops and activities.
 
Heligan members and local pass-holders who pay by Direct Debit will be gifted with additional months on their passes, depending on how many times they visit during the Free Range Pricing period. This offer is available for both existing passholders as well as those who choose to sign up for one during the period.
 
For more information or to book tickets, see www.heligan.com.