08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- South Wales Guardian
Children invited to create their dream garden in art competition
The initiative is part of a creative competition launched by Aberglasney Gardens in Carmarthenshire to celebrate the start of internationally renowned painter Andrew Douglas-Forbes' residency.
The competition is open to children up to the age of 16.
They are encouraged to create an A4 design of their dream garden, making it as colourful as the flowers around Aberglasney Gardens.
This can be done using pens, paint, crayons, or colouring pencils.
A poem about their dream garden can be submitted can also be submitted in addition or instead of a design.
The winning child will be able to bring a group of friends or family, or classmates if it is a school entry, for a bilingual and informative guided tour of Aberglasney by the Gardens' director, Helen Scutt.
The group will also be treated to lunch, prepared by the Tearooms.
Eleanor Keatley, acting chairman of Aberglasney's board of trustees, said: "The competition is a fitting tribute to the start of the residency of one of Aberglasney Gardens' long-standing supporters, Andrew Douglas-Forbes, who kindly agreed to judge last year's children's art competition which was part of our 25th anniversary celebrations."
Andrew Douglas-Forbes, who lives in Llandeilo, is a scholar of the Royal Academy of Music and a professional tenor.
He has a deep connection with Aberglasney, having been associated with the gardens since the 1990s.
He said: "I am very humbled and proud to accept the appointment of artist in residence at Aberglasney.
"I have long been associated with the gardens and have recently taken up space to create a large studio on the second floor of the mansion."
The competition closes at 4pm on Friday, June 20, 2025 and the winner will be announced the following week.
All entries will then be on display for visitors to enjoy.
Each entry, whether it is a piece of art or a poem, must have the name and age of the child, an email address of an adult that can be contacted on behalf of the child, and the name and contact details of the school (if entering via school) written on the back.
Entries can be posted or hand delivered to the Dream Garden Design competition at Aberglasney Gardens.
