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Wales Online
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Wales Online
A huge orb has appeared in a Welsh garden and this is why
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info It's not every day you hear about a giant sun sculpture landing in a garden outside of Cardiff, but it's pretty cool that you can go from walking through city streets to standing in front of a seven-metre-wide sculpture of the sun in the space of half an hour if you visit Dyffryn Gardens right now. The installation is called Helios, and it's the latest work by Luke Jerram, who is the artist behind those touring pieces of the moon and Earth you might have seen on Instagram. Now, he's turned his attention to the sun, and for a limited time (May 22-26 and May 21 - June 1), Dyffryn Gardens is the only place in Wales where you can see it. It's all included in the usual entry (£13 per adult and £6.50 per child) and it's free if you're a National Trust member. From superstar gigs to cosy pubs, find out What's On in Wales by signing up to our newsletter here I wasn't sure what to expect. I'd never seen a giant orb like this before, but it had a really interesting effect on people. It floats gently above the South Lawn with a bright orange colour, positioned to make the most of the beautiful backdrop which looks incredible during the golden hour as you lead up to sunset. (Image: Aled Llywelyn) It's covered in insanely detailed solar imagery and the closer you get, you can notice all of the swirling sunspots, flares, textures - what felt extra magical was seeing children looking up at it in admiration and families being able to enjoy the space so freely and engage with such a unique piece of art. It's scaled so that every centimetre represents 2,000 kilometres of the real sun's surface, which is kind of mind-bending - and a little way down the path through the gardens is a miniature version of the Earth which looks tiny in comparison. There's also a soundtrack, made from actual NASA recordings of the sun's activity which hums softly in the background which definitely adds to the mood and adds a gorgeous layer to the experience that feels totally immersive. (Image: Aled Llywelyn) It's just a sculpture, but it definitely manages to stir something as you can experience a bit of a moment of existential reflection - in a good way. Or you could just chill on the beanbags below it while the kids play on the grass nearby. It also draws lots of attention to the scenery so you can properly appreciate Dyffryn Gardens itself. Normally, I go to places like this for a nice walk or a picnic or am just chatting away for the whole time to whoever I'm with but this made me stop and be a bit more still. (Image: Aled Llywelyn) Lizzie Smith Jones, General Manager, South East Wales Portfolio, National Trust Cymru said: 'We're beyond thrilled to welcome Helios to Dyffryn Gardens. 'This stunning installation is not only a unique and surreal experience, but also a testament to the National Trust's ongoing commitment to offering extraordinary cultural experiences in Wales and across the UK. 'While Wales may get its fair share of rain, this May the sun is guaranteed to shine on Dyffryn Gardens! 'Our staff and volunteers are excited to share this awe-inspiring artwork with all our visitors. We hope it's going to be a truly memorable experience for everyone.' Honestly, it's a rare thing to go see a big piece of public art and come away feeling a bit more connected to nature and the fact we're tiny specs floating around a giant burning star. And to do it all in a leafy garden just outside Cardiff? Perfection. Visitors can also explore a sun trail through the gardens, be encouraged to create their own work of art with free-to-borrow creative kits, take part in solar-themed crafts and try on space-themed costumes. For more information and to plan a visit, you can head to the National Trust website here.
Wales Online
04-05-2025
- Sport
- Wales Online
Huge crowd, broad appeal and Super Bowl vibes - What Welsh rugby can learn from Cardiff experiment
Huge crowd, broad appeal and Super Bowl vibes - What Welsh rugby can learn from Cardiff experiment The Gallagher Premiership heads to Wales next weekend Bristol Bears will take on Bath at the Principality Stadium (Image: Aled Llywelyn/Huw Evans Agency ) Next Saturday the Principality Stadium will enter unchartered territory as it hosts its first ever Gallagher Premiership fixture. A fortnight ago a crowd of 28,328 were in attendance for Judgement Day but Bristol Bears' "Big Day Out" against Bath has already bettered that with over 50,000 expected for one of English rugby's flagship events in Cardiff. Welsh rugby fans have not had much to cheer about in recent times but Bristol's decision to play one of the biggest Premiership fixtures of the season in Cardiff seems to have resonated with supporters in Wales. "We have targeted a crowd of around 50,000," Bristol Bears' Tom Tainton told WalesOnline. "At the moment we are around the 15% mark for Welsh supporters and we'd expect that to continue to grow. "Certainly there'll be a significant proportion of people in that stadium from a Welsh background which is great because we know how passionate Welsh supporters are about rugby. "We also know they appreciate high quality rugby and when you look at the way Bath have gone this season and what we can look like at our free-flowing best then it should be a great occasion. "I can talk transparently that we haven't explicitly looked at it as going after the Welsh market. I think it's more we want to put on a flagship event and if it appeals to Welsh rugby fans then great. Article continues below "It's an occasion to celebrate rugby that happens to be in Cardiff because of our proximity to Wales and the size of the stadium. "It goes without saying Welsh rugby supporters are incredibly intelligent and well-connected rugby supporters. If they buy into the project and enjoy the game then the more the merrier." This event seems to have captured the imagination of many Welsh supporters who have always found the English Premiership an appealing prospect. Sign up to Inside Welsh rugby on Substack to get exclusive news stories and insight from behind the scenes in Welsh rugby. The quality of rugby will not be in question with table-topping Bath and their outrageously gifted Scottish playmaker Finn Russell going head-to-head with arch rivals Bristol, who are in fourth position and are chasing a play-off place. All four of Wales' professional clubs - Cardiff, Dragons, Ospreys and Scarlets - will be on tour in South Africa next weekend while this fixture will also provide much needed revenue for the Welsh game. And Bristol are planning to turn their visit to Cardiff into an annual event. "The plan is to do it again next season," said Tainton. "We will be playing a double-header with Bears women next season. "Certainly based on this season and the success we've had so far, this is something we'd absolutely be looking at as a long-term view. "There's a big game strategy within the Premiership. We've seen Harlequins do it successfully at Twickenham and we've seen Saracens do it successfully with the "Showdown" at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium." Bristol's "Big Day Out" will have Super Bowl vibes with dance groups on show, rock band Maxïmo Park performing at half-time, an in-bowl TMO and fan cams. Almost 30 years on from the dawn of professionalism it is only in recent years rugby has begun to think outside the box. The Bears are very fortunate to have a committed owner like Steve Lansdown but are also a club who think outside of the box. Join WalesOnline Rugby's WhatsApp Channel here to get the breaking news sent straight to your phone for free "I think it's something that is a necessity for rugby to not just sustain itself but thrive because it's a very different audience which we are trying to appeal to," said Tainton. "If you look at our games at Ashton Gate and the demographic of supporters we are going against the grain in that we have a younger audience, we have a great diversity in terms of our demographic with men and women and age range. "So, we know we have to bring more to the table than just a game of rugby. We've got to bring something that is compelling for families but equally it goes without saying the product on the pitch will always be the thing that's paramount. "Credit to Pat (Lam) and the team, they do play a brand of rugby which is engaging and entertaining to the neutral supporter. "But gone are the days where you can capture the imagination of the supporter by what is happening over 80 minutes on the grass. We have to think outside the box and try to appeal to different audiences. "That's about bringing everything together, so from arrival and the full event from that experience and the whole family. That it's safe and inclusive but also very entertaining. "We are very fortunate here that we have the players and the owners that buy into that vision." Wales' four professional clubs could do a lot worse than take note of Bristol's strategy. Cardiff have bucked the trend when it comes to big crowds and even had an attendance of over 11,000 for the victory over Munster last week. But certainly as far as the other three clubs are concerned attendances are not where they need to be in recent years which is in large parts down to a lack of funding and on field success. But Bristol opened their doors to WalesOnline last week in a way the Welsh club's would do well to take notice of. At a time when rugby needs as many eyeballs on it as possible, Bristol understands how to grow their brand off the field, combining savvy marketing ploys with a vibrant and expansive brand of rugby on the field. But things weren't always rosy for Bristol who were only promoted back to the Premiership in 2018 but a rebrand along with the move to Ashton Gate has pushed them to new levels. Get the latest breaking Welsh rugby news stories sent straight to your inbox with our FREE daily newsletter. Sign up here. "I've been here for 14 years now and I remember the games in the Championship really well," Tainton tells WalesOnline. "We were stuck in a bit of a time warp back in 2015-16 and we didn't necessarily have the direction or the clarity of vision of where wanted to go. "I think the rebrand probably served as a bit of a catalyst for a starting point. We have treated it as a bit of a start up model where we've taken a very fresh and different approach to how we do things whether that's data led recruitment, whether that's how we play on the pitch, whether that's how Will and his team do off field from a media and comms standpoint. "But don't get me wrong there are other club's in the Premiership who are doing some really fantastic stuff. "I think the secret to our success is that everyone is onboard with a shared vision, everyone has absolute clarity on where we want to go and the buy-in has come from the very top. "We've been afforded that licence to think outside the box and be a bit maverick with our approach. Hopefully our game at the Principality Stadium will embody all of that and showcase what is great about the club." Article continues below Bristol's Cardiff showcase is a fresh reminder of what's possible—and a model Welsh clubs might draw inspiration from.
Yahoo
16-03-2025
- Yahoo
National Trust Cymru launches Easter trails - here's where to find them
National Trust Cymru is offering Easter trails across Wales, each ending with a chocolate egg. The activities, celebrating nature, history, and beauty, will take place at various sites including Erddig, Bodnant Garden, Tredegar House, and Dyffryn Gardens. The trails will be open from April 7 to April 22. Each trail costs £3.50 per child, plus the usual National Trust admission fee. Admission is free for National Trust members and guests of National Trust holidays. The chocolate eggs, made in the UK using cocoa from Rainforest Alliance Certified farms, come in vegan and Free From options as well. Tredegar House in Newport offers a trail taking families back to 1929, where they can engage in traditional garden fete games in the Stable Courtyard. Visitors can also explore the 90 acres of gardens and parkland, and the late 17th-century house, where they can play with ready-made puppets or dress up in traditional outfits. Dyffryn Gardens in Cardiff, an Edwardian garden spanning 55 acres, will host 10 different Easter activities. Dyffryn Gardens in Cardiff is hosting an Easter trail (Image: ©National Trust Images/James Dob) These include an egg run through musical obstacles, chicken croquet on the lawn, an egg and spoon race, and a carrot-throwing game into the mouth of a giant wooden rabbit. There are also two log stack play areas for children to enjoy, featuring enormous trees to balance on, stepping-stones made of logs, and hand-carved picnic stumps for a family meal. Visitors can also explore the garden itself, capturing photos at the famous Kennel Bank, or visiting the arboretum or Pompeiian Garden. At Erddig, visitors can take part in a storybook quest, while Bodnant Garden will host nature-inspired games. The National Trust is reminding visitors that opening times vary at each property, so they should check individual websites for details. There will be lots of Easter activities on all sites for the whole family (Image: Aled Llywelyn) The Easter trails provide a fun-filled day out for families, combining history, nature, and adventure, with the added bonus of a chocolate egg at the end. They also offer a unique way to explore some of Wales' most beautiful sites, from the peaceful Dyffryn Gardens to the bustling Tredegar House, and you can visit the websites for both to find out more. The Easter trails offer a chance to make lasting memories, enjoy the great outdoors, and perhaps even learn a little about Wales' rich history and heritage. For more information on the trails, including how to find your nearest one, visit the National Trust Cymru website.
