Patagonia: Daffodils planted to mark Welsh settlers' anniversary
David Mardones, who helped to plant the bulbs, said it would help them to "reinforce Welsh culture" in the area.
The idea came from David's aunt Peca Jones, a relative of the first Welsh settlers to arrive.It was funded by Welsh artists, Wrexham supporters groups and previous visitors to the area.The daffodil field will be located in the Trevelin area on Route 17 near Nant y Fall.David said the project had only been possible thanks to "all the Welsh people who united" behind it.
It took two days for the three of them to plant the bulbs."We didn't have any sort of machines or anything," said David."Just a spade to dig these long trenches."The bulbs are set to bloom in October, at the start of the Argentinian spring.David has planned an official opening ceremony to commemorate the 160th anniversary with relatives of the Welsh settlers invited, along with the community and the local tourism secretary."It's going to be a big event to thank everyone for the love and support for the project," said David.He added there were plans to plant more bulbs next year."Hopefully we'll have a drilling machine by then because my back would thank me for it," he said.
It is also hoped that the project will attract visitors when the daffodils bloom in October.Gwion Elis-Williams, who moved to Patagonia from Wales in 2016, said: "Hotels are booked up for miles around."I'm sure we will see Welsh tourists visiting and coming to see the daffodils."Gwion and his partner Nia, who works at a local Welsh school, have seen the area grow dramatically over the years."It's an up-and-coming sort of destination in terms of attracting visitors," he said."Since we've been here, Trevelin has doubled in size in terms of population."Gwion said it was wonderful to meet people who are "enormously proud" of their Welsh heritage.Any bulbs not used were donated to Nia's school - Ysgol Y Com - where they will planted by the children.
The daffodils, a symbol of identity and rebirth in Wales, are part of an initiative to highlight the cultural connection between the two regions.Pete Howell, who organised the fundraiser, said it was "important" for people to understand the link."It's amazing to think the people went over all those years ago," he said.His job was to "get the ball rolling" to make sure they had enough bulbs."Some of the donations were amazing. We were getting money from all over the place," he added.
But the project would have gone nowhere without David's infection enthusiasm, according to Pete."He was so willing to get going," he said."If you get something in his head it's all systems go."Pete said he would love to go and visit the area in the future to witness the fruits of his labour."To see that field full of daffodils. What a story that would be.""I'll try and save some pennies for it."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Sun
a day ago
- The Sun
Cristiano Ronaldo showers Georgina Rodriguez with £270k worth of luxury engagement gifts including electric Porsche
CRISTIANO RONALDO showered Georgina Rodriguez with over a QUARTER-OF-A-MILLION pounds worth of gifts as part of their engagement, The Sun can reveal. The footie icon finally popped the question to his long-term girlfriend and mother of two of his five children after NINE years together. 7 7 7 7 And the Al-Nassr and Portugal star went big, spending a whopping £3.7MILLION on an incredible oval-cut diamond ring. But Ronaldo hasn't stopped there, with SunSport learning he's gifted his other half over £270,000 worth of gifts as part of their engagement. The priciest of Ronaldo's gifts to the Argentine model is a stunning white electric Porsche Taycan, which he spent £78,250 on. Ronaldo, 40, has also given Rodriguez a brand new Audemars Piguet watch worth £53,000. He also gifted her another stunning timepiece in the form of a £42,000 Patek Philippe. Ronaldo has also spent nearly £7,000 on new Christian Dior and Louis Vuitton handbags. And he completed the generous gift set with a variety of dresses and tops, which set him back an additional £18,700. A source close to the couple told SunSport: "He has been preparing this for a while now, and he wanted it to make it so special for his special one. "He knows that Georgina loves cars, and electric ones, and he got her one Porsche because she also loves the luxury ones! "He also got her many luxury presents, like watches, as she loves them too and she likes to add some more in her collection. Staggering cost of Georgina Rodriguez's 'extraordinary' engagement ring from Cristiano Ronaldo revealed "They both love super luxurious watches and he did spend some time looking for those and picking the Patek and the Audemars Piguet ones, to make her so happy. "He also got her many items, such as bag from Dior, but also some nice pieces of clothings, for their time travelling back to Europe mostly, and some very nice Louis Vuitton bags, as she loves that brand and she enjoys their new bag collection. "They are both very into those luxury brands, and he wanted her to make it special after getting her that multi-million dollars ring, with those diamonds and ask her hand, as he couldn't wait anymore to ask her to be his wife. "He made this moment very unique, and he is already working on the presents and the marriage that will most likely happen in 2026, after the World Cup. "They are working on this, and it will be a massive one. "They are both looking forward to it, and it will be a once-in-a-lifetime moment. "Cristiano always wanted to get married, and he is so excited about it. "He wants to make Georgina the happiest woman on earth, and the happiest mother for their kids." Rodriguez revealed her engagement to CR7 on Instagram earlier this week with a photo of her stunning diamond ring. Her accompanying caption read: "The model captioned her snap: "Yes I do. "In this and in all my lives."
BBC News
3 days ago
- BBC News
Argentina's wild new coastal escape
Argentina's newest park blends marine protection with local-led tourism, offering wild swims, eco-lodges and a thriving new future for a once-overlooked coastline. From my window seat on the three-hour flight from Buenos Aires to Comodoro Rivadavia, I watched the land shift from green to gold. Lush river delta gave way to straw-coloured steppe, eventually turning a vivid cobalt where high desert meets the sea. I was heading to Patagonia Azul, a newly declared provincial park on Argentina's South Atlantic coast. This is not the Patagonia of postcards. There are no snow-capped peaks, trout-filled lakes or gleaming glaciers. Instead, this protected territory stretches across more than three million hectares – nearly the size of Yosemite – where arid plains collapse into a rugged, wind-battered coast. Patagonia Azul is one of South America's most recent marine conservation efforts. More than 60 islands and islets rise from the Atlantic here, forming the most biodiverse stretch of Argentina's coastline. Long gravel roads cut through remote hills where guanacos graze and elusive pumas roam, while the sea harbours kelp forests, sea lion colonies, penguins, dolphins and four whale species. Just 200 nautical miles offshore lies the edge of Argentina's Exclusive Economic Zone, a boundary closely monitored but frequently breached by foreign industrial fishing fleets, drawn by the region's rich marine life. The designation of Patagonia Azul as a provincial park in April 2025, covering both land and sea, aims to spotlight this undervisited coast as a model for immersive, sustainable tourism and protection.
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Daily Mail
Cristiano Ronaldo's VERY extensive dating history as it's revealed he'll finally say 'I do with' Georgina Rodriguez - including Paris Hilton, two supermodels and a British reality star
Since he shot to fame at the age of 18, Cristiano Ronaldo has dated a selection of Hollywood It Girls, including Paris Hilton and Kim Kardashian. But it was Georgina Rodriguez from Buenos Aires, Argentina, who was recently made his fiancée, nine years after they famously met in a Gucci store, where she was working as a sales assistant. Confirming their engagement on Instagram with a photograph of a sizable diamond ring, the Argentine-Spanish model, 31, wrote: 'Yes I do. In this and in all my lives.' In a previous interview for her Netflix reality show, I Am Georgina, she told how she has been teased by friends over when she will get married. But the 40-year-old footballer said that he would pop the question when they 'get that click'. The couple has been in a relationship since 2016 and has two daughters together: Alana, seven, and Bella, two years old. She is also the stepmother of his other three children. Thanks to the couple's solid relationship over the years, it is easy to forget that Cristiano had a string of A-list girlfriends before her. Before his romance with Georgina, Cristiano dated celebrities from around the world, including former Hollyoaks actress and model Gemma Atkinson, Bollywood star Bipasha Basu, and Spanish model Desiree Cordero. As one of the most famous couples in the world prepares to tie the knot, we take a look at Cristiano's extensive dating history... Jordana Jardel 40-year-old Jordana was the first woman Cristiano was linked to when he hit the big time. The Brazilian model is thought to be the striker's first serious partner as a professional footballer. Cristiano was introduced to her by his Sporting Lisbon team-mate, Mario Jardel, who is the brother of Jordana. A rather fresh-faced 18-year-old Cristiano is seen in pictures wrapping his arms around Jordana and his mother at an event. And Jordana appeared to be just as much of a fan of football as her former partner, as she was seen cheering on a pitch in full kit and boots in snaps from 2003. The couple were linked in the early noughties, but didn't manage to go the full distance. Jordana is now married and has an eight-year-old daughter, often sharing snaps of her family life online. Merche Romero Cristiano's next partner of note was Portuguese model Merche, who he was linked to for more than a year between 2005 and 2006. The TV presenter was his most prominent girlfriend during his first stint at Manchester United during his glory days at Old Trafford. However, due to the fact that Merche was based in Portugal, the couple struggled to keep their romance going due to the long-distance. Imogen Thomas Following his split from Merche, Cristiano enjoyed a string of dates with reality star Imogen Thomas. The TV personality, who shot to stardom on Big Brother, was linked to the Al Nassr star in 2006. After their steamy tryst, they are said to have briefly given the romance another go in 2011. A spokesperson denied this but did claim he 'bombarded her' with calls. Soraia Chaves Portuguese star Soraria Chaves dated Cristiano before she soared to stardom with her acting career in her native country. The beauty dated Cristiano in 2006, just a year later she starred in the country's highest grossing film of the year, Call Girl. Gemma Atkinson Cristiano and Gemma Atkinson set tongues wagging when they stepped out together in 2007 during his time at the Manchester-based club. Gemma was a local IT girl and lived close by due to her role in northern soap, Hollyoaks, making them the talk of the town. The soap star, who is now married to Gorka Marquez, has a daughter named Mia, two, with the dancer and has another baby on the way. Gemma previously revealed during an interview how Cristiano attempted to win her over with tea and episodes of the classic British series Only Fools and Horses. Bipasha Basu In the same year, Cristiano was seen kissing Bollywood star Bipasha Basu, now 46. They met while presenting an award together in Lisbon and reportedly 'got physical' while out clubbing together late into the night. Following their meeting, Bipasha said the evening was a 'dream come true.' She said: 'After the event, we went out clubbing, and that was simply fantastic.' The duo, who are said to have formed a bond over their love of Bollywood films, remained close friends after meeting. Paris Hilton Following her split from Doug Reinhardt, it was reported that the socialite and the then-recently departed Manchester United star were enjoying the first flushes of romance. In 2009, the Portuguese winger celebrated the news that he has been snapped up by Real Madrid for the eye-watering sum of £80 million by hitting the town in Los Angeles with the American party queen. Ronaldo 'hung out' with the newly-single hotel heiress and her younger sister Nicky at the MyHouse nightclub in LA well into the early hours. The trio then carried on partying back at Nicky's plush home in West Hollywood. Several celebrity websites in America claimed that the pair were intimately kissing. One witness wrote: '[She was] hot and heavy, making out with Cristiano at his table.' Another reported: 'They were talking to one another and seemed extremely friendly.' However, their fledgling romance never went any further than a couple of nights out and a few kisses. Luana Belletti After receiving the brush off from Paris, Cristiano was set up with Luana Belletti by her brother, Chelsea star Juliano Belletti in 2009. Luana, who is a fashion designer and stylist, was spotted getting close to the star during a romantic date. Nereida Gallardo Nereida, whose name has come to light in recent days thanks to her comments about Ronaldo's girlfriend, enjoyed a few dates with Ronaldo. Nereida dated the football star for eight months in 2008 and now runs her own beauty salon in the Balearic Islands. Earlier this month, the small business owner used her ex-boyfriend's new partner as an example of a celebrity who could have gone under the knife - even though Georgina, has never publicly revealed if she has had a cosmetic procedure. Kim Kardashian In 2010, before she locked it down with her ex-husband Kanye West, Kim Kardashian was on Cristiano's radar. Cristiano, was caught kissing Kim, who was 29 at the time, during her low-key trip to Spain, according to sources. The pair were said to have enjoyed a romantic dinner together during her a three-day visit to Madrid. A source said at the time: 'She and Ronaldo were kissing and very affectionate. They looked to be getting on really well, laughing the whole time.' Another insider confirmed the sighting to celebrity blogger Perez Hilton. The reality TV star is also believed to have visited the football player at his luxury home in the Spanish capital. Irina Shayk Cristiano and Irina found love after modelling together on an Armani shoot in 2010. They dated for five years, but Russian beauty Irina and Cristiano shocked fans around the world when they decided to call time on their relationship. It was reported that Irina was left 'betrayed' by the heartthrob when she found out he'd been secretly messaging girls all over the world. The Sports Illustrated Swimsuit model has revealed how 'stupid' she felt when Cristiano confessed to her on New Year's Eve. According to The Sun, Irina told a source close to the pair: 'Now I know the truth and I feel completely betrayed. I trusted him and stuck up for him when there were rumours he had been with other women. I feel stupid that Cristiano has fooled me.' Irina went on to date Hollywood actor Bradley Cooper, who she shares daughter Lea De Seine, with. Lucia Villalon Following his split from Irina, Ronaldo was linked to Spanish TV host Lucia. Their romance didn't last long and her family came out and denied the fact they had ever enjoyed a romance. Desiree Cordero Just before finding love with Georgina, Cristiano dated Spanish star Desiree. Reports at the time claimed that he quickly ditched her after believing her to be 'fame hungry' and only with him for the limelight. She is now in a relationship with Lazio star Joaquin Correa.
