National Botanic Garden of Wales celebrates 25 years

South Wales Guardian

15-05-2025

Since opening its doors to the public on May 24, 2000, the garden has become a renowned centre for biodiversity, conservation, horticulture, education, and wellbeing.
To mark this milestone, a special garden party will be held over the late May bank holiday weekend, on Saturday, May 24, and Sunday, May 25.
The event will feature a programme of live entertainment, family-friendly activities, and a showcase of Welsh music and culture.
In a nod to its opening year, admission prices on Saturday will be rolled back to the year 2000 rates - £6.50 for adults and £3 for children.
The National Botanic Garden of Wales was established as a flagship Millennium project and was one of the first new botanical gardens to be created in the UK in over 200 years.
The garden gained international recognition for the innovative Norman Foster-designed Great Glasshouse, which was the world's largest single-span glasshouse in 2000.
(Image: Anthea Crowe) Among the garden's most notable contributions to science is the Welsh Flora DNA barcoding initiative, which made Wales the first country in the world to DNA barcode all native flowering plants and conifer species.
The resulting open-access database, covering more than 1,473 native plants, continues to support global research and conservation efforts.
In recent years, the garden has undergone an extensive landscape restoration, including a £6 million transformation of the original Regency landscape.
The project restored the lakes and waterfalls and introduced accessible trails, enhancing biodiversity and creating new ways for visitors to connect with nature and heritage.
Looking ahead, the garden is set to develop a living collection of Welsh flora, featuring plant species found only in Wales.
Dr Lucy Sutherland, director for the National Botanic Garden of Wales, said: "As we celebrate a quarter of a century of the National Botanic Garden of Wales, we reflect on a remarkable journey of conservation, education, and connection with the natural world around us.
"The gardens are a truly special place that Wales should be enormously proud of and this milestone is a tribute to the dedication of our staff, volunteers, visitors, and supporters who have helped make the garden a beacon of biodiversity and inspiration for so many.
"We're proud of what we've collectively nurtured together over the last 25 years, and even more excited for what lies ahead.
"Our garden party will be a fantastic opportunity to celebrate our first 25 years and for people to rediscover the garden, reflect on all that we've achieved so far, and look forward to what lies ahead."
Beyond its conservation work, the garden plays a vital role in supporting community wellbeing.
Collaborations with health boards have established therapeutic gardening programmes, offering inclusive spaces where individuals with learning disabilities, neurological conditions, or brain injuries can build confidence and wellbeing through nature-based activities.
Education is also central to the garden's mission, with more than 11,000 schoolchildren engaging with its programmes annually.
Following the May bank holiday celebrations, a full summer programme of events will continue to mark the anniversary, including the garden's flagship BioBlitz Festival in July, as well as a series of exhibitions, workshops, and performances throughout the year.