Heligan, Cornwall For many years, hauntings terrified members of staff on a regular basis – I remember one gardener saying he simply refused to lock up the garden at night on his own. Finally, director Tim Smit alluded to the ghosts, and an attempted exorcism. A link is often made between the “atmosphere” of Heligan and the fact that so many staff were lost in the First World War. During the early days of the restoration, some staff were deeply disturbed and apparently beset by an enveloping black mood. The most haunted areas are the rockery, melon garden and fruit store, where some gardeners prefer to work in pairs. Visitors to the bothy have also reported a strange atmosphere and there have been tales of a malevolent sensation in the grotto area.