Latest news with #NationalBotanicGardenofWales
Wales Online
24-05-2025
- Wales Online
Stunning Welsh gardens with world's largest glasshouse, birds of a prey and Gruffalo trail set in 568 acres of countryside
Stunning Welsh gardens with world's largest glasshouse, birds of a prey and Gruffalo trail set in 568 acres of countryside The attraction first opened to visitors a quarter of a century ago, and while it's had its fair share of problems in that time, it now stands as a popular and extremely important beacon of Welsh culture and science The National Botanic Garden of Wales is celebrating its 25th anniversary this weekend (Image: The National Botanic Garden of Wales ) As you walk around this vast landscape it's incredible to think that this place, this majestic garden, so rural, so beautiful, offering such escapism, sits a mile from the endless slew of traffic on the A48 that connects this part of west Wales with the M4. There's a spot here at the National Botanic Garden of Wales, located between Llanarthne and Porthyrhyd in Carmarthenshire, which makes you feel like you're a million miles from anywhere, where the only things you can see are green hills and blue skies, disturbed only by Paxton's Tower, which adds an iconic and Gothic touch to the panorama. As impressive as the beauty on display is the sheer scale of this attraction: 568 acres, impossible to explore completely in several visits, filled with fields, paths, lakes, water features, ancient walls, beautiful buildings and incredible structures, all surrounded entirely by nature. It's an enormous piece of land which one could easily get lost in given its sprawling design. Stay informed on Carms news by signing up to our newsletter here . This weekend the National Botanic Garden of Wales is celebrating its 25th anniversary. They say time flies when you're having fun, and it scarcely seems believable that a quarter of a century has passed since Prince Charles (as he was then) officially opened this marvellous landmark. The Great Glasshouse at the National Botanic Garden of Wales under construction in the late 1990s (Image: Media Wales ) The first visitors through the gates arrived on May 24, 2000, and despite some ups and downs in the intervening years the Garden has grown into a globally recognised centre for biodiversity, conservation, horticulture, education and wellbeing. Article continues below It's also a fabulous place to bring a family, to have a spot of lunch or a pot of tea, or to just wander around and breathe it all in. It's hard to believe that, in the 1990s, this site was not filled with everything we see today - excited school children on trips learning about the world around them, families enjoying the sun, people sat on benches listening to birdsong - but instead it was known as Middleton Hall estate, home to a mansion built in the 17th century and later bought by Sir William Paxton in 1789. By the 20th century the mansion had been gutted by a fire and the site fell into decline. Interest in reviving the land began as far back as the 1970s, but in the mid-1990s a plan was formed and work began on creating a national botanic garden for Wales which cost more than £43m to build, with around half of that provided by the Millennium Commission from lottery funding. Prince Charles at the Garden in the summer of 2000 (Image: The National Botanic Garden of Wales ) But just four years after opening the attraction came within a day of closing its gates for good as it struggled to stay afloat financially, with a rescue package from the Welsh Assembly (as it was known then), the Millennium Commission and Carmarthenshire Council helping to stave off disaster for what was a fairly new, multi-million pound project meant to represent a major boost for the economy in this part of west Wales. 'We had 233,000 visitors in the first year,' said Gary Davies, chair of trustees at the National Botanic Garden of Wales. 'But then projections for the second and third year could not be met and visitor numbers dropped. It came within hours of closing but the Welsh Assembly came to the rescue with a loan which has now been repaid. 'In those early years the Western Mail had a front page about the Millennium Dome, which itself had run into difficulty. It read 'Wales shows how it should be dome'. A number of high profile Millennium projects had flopped so it was a difficult time. Mistakes were made but the Garden pulled through.' Chair of trustees at the National Botanic Garden of Wales, Gary Davies (Image: WalesOnline/Rob Browne ) Since pulling through, it has thrived. By 2017 visitor numbers soared by around 45% thanks to a number of new attractions, while in recent years the Garden won an international award for a £7m project - the largest of its kind undertaken in Wales - which saw the creation of two new lakes, bridges, dams, cascades, a waterfall, and a new network of paths to explore set in acres of ancient woodland. The reference to the Millennium Dome made by Mr Davies is of course connected to the Garden's own multi-million pound dome - the Great Glasshouse, the largest single-span glasshouse in the world. It was designed by world-renowned architects Foster and Partners and cost more than £20m to construct - around half the overall cost of the Garden as a whole. Inside the Great Glasshouse (Image: Media Wales ) Entering the huge structure, the heat, sights and sounds that welcome you make you feel like you're somewhere else entirely, not five miles from Cross Hands. One of the great things about the Great Glasshouse is that on one hand it dominates the Garden and yet at the same time it effortlessly blends in with the rest of the landscape. It doesn't look out of place, and yet as you get nearer, its design and scale makes you stop in your tracks; it looks like something you'd expect to see making an appearance in the final third of a James Bond film. It's a modern wonder, built into the hills directly opposite another Carmarthenshire icon. 'As someone once told me, it's as if the glasshouse and Paxton's Tower are winking at each other across the valley,' said Mr Davies. Paxton's Tower in the distance (Image: WalesOnline/Rob Browne ) This place is more than just an array of beautiful scenery to enjoy, however. Much more. Its mission is to 'advance and share knowledge in the science of plants and inspire people's appreciation of flora, Welsh culture and heritage to enrich lives'. It has tackled and wants to continue tackling big issues faced by society through science, horticulture and education. It has a Science Centre which houses a molecular lab, dedicated to DNA barcoding and conservation genetics research, as well as a national seed bank. 'At the end of the day this is your (the public's) Botanic Garden and that's something that we need to celebrate - we're not very good at celebrating success stories,' said Donald Murray, the Garden's head of horticulture, learning and nature. 'We have all sorts of relationships with different people and organisations and we're all trying to make Wales a better place. When it comes to biodiversity that's something that we need to work harder on across Wales. 'This is about our future, this is about the future of Wales. We need to think about what we do in the short, medium and long term. Having our finger on the pulse is very important, and we need to have fun as well. "When you come to work here, whether you're a volunteer, a trustee or a student, it's important to remember that this is a fun place. It's a special place.' Don Murray, the Garden's head of horticulture, learning and nature (Image: WalesOnline/Rob Browne ) Another person who certainly thinks it's a special place is Sarah Williams, the Garden's corporate and education service co-ordinator. She's been a visitor, a volunteer beekeeper and a member of staff across the last 25 years. 'My husband and I got married in 2000 and were given a membership as a wedding present, so talk about it being our happy place!' she laughed. 'Our two sons have also been coming here for years and have both worked here, so it's been a massive part of our lives. I'm very, very proud to have an association with this place and to have it on our doorstep. "I bring everybody here, and they're always amazed at the size of it and its rural nature. People imagine a Botanic Garden being very formal, but when they get here that can't get over the scale of it. 'When I show people around, I don't tend to stay within the 100-acre 'formal' part of it, I tend to take them out into the meadows and it's not what people expect from a Botanic Garden. There's a very relaxing feel around here, there's always somewhere peaceful you can find - you can always find somewhere to just sit in the sun.' Sarah Williams, corporate and education service co-ordinator (Image: WalesOnline/Rob Browne ) Although the National Botanic Garden is a charity, it relies on its commercial activities to sustain itself. Up to 80% of the money it generates is made from admissions, sales and other income streams, with around 20% of the annual budget subsidised by the Welsh Government. With that in mind, getting people through the gates is imperative with regards to safeguarding the attraction's future, to keep it accessible to all and to fund the vital research that takes place here every day of the year. To celebrate the 25th anniversary, the Garden is holding a party on Saturday (May 24) which will provide visitors with a packed programme of live entertainment, family-friendly activities and a vibrant showcase of Welsh music and culture. And in a nod to the turn of the millennium, prices will be rolled back to what they were in 2000 for the celebration - £6.50 for adults and £3 for children. The site has come a long way since construction began in the late 1990s (Image: The National Botanic Garden of Wales ) 'No other organisation can merge science, culture and the arts in a way that a botanic garden can, and the National Botanic Garden of Wales has really put itself on the map in this regard,' said Garden director Dr Lucy Sutherland. '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.' Looking out from the Science Centre with the Great Glasshouse beaming from the terrain below, chair of trustees Mr Davies speaks passionately about what the Garden has become, and what it can be in the future. 'This is a special place' (Image: WalesOnline/Rob Browne ) 'In Wales it's been a difficult 12 months,' he said. 'We rely on people's disposable income. People might want to come to the Garden but increased energy costs and food costs have made it harder. It's a challenging environment and we want to make this place affordable so that everyone can enjoy it. 'We want to embed the fact that the Garden is all about the charitable mission. It has been a struggle at times financially but as we have become more successful and financially viable we want to focus on our core mission which is looking at things like biodiversity and climate change, and getting our visitors and the wider population to become aware of how important the environment is to everybody. That's our vision, and that's the importance of the Botanic Garden.' Walking around the Garden, everywhere you turn a sublime picture is painted before your eyes. A double walled garden, a bee hotel, ancient buildings, modern structures - behind every corner lies something new (or very old) to glare at, to learn about. Water features dotted around mean you are seldom out of earshot of the tranquil sound of trickling water, while a Japanese Garden instantly transports you away to an exotic land far, far away. Mr Murray's claim that we do not celebrate the good things in Wales enough rings true. It's a privilege to have this national landmark nestled within the beauty of rural Carmarthenshire. It should be admired, explored, protected, and most of all, celebrated. Article continues below
Business News Wales
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Business News Wales
National Botanic Garden of Wales Celebrates 25 Years
The National Botanic Garden of Wales is set to celebrate a significant milestone this summer as it marks 25 years since opening to the public at the turn of the new millennium. Since welcoming its first visitors on May 24 2000, the Garden has grown into a globally recognised centre for biodiversity, conservation, horticulture, education and wellbeing. To commemorate the anniversary, a special Garden Party will be held over the late May Bank Holiday weekend (Saturday 24th – Sunday 25th May), offering a packed programme of live entertainment, family-friendly activities, and a showcase of Welsh music and culture. And in a nostalgic tribute to its opening year, admission prices on Saturday will be rolled back to year 2000 rates – £6.50 for adults and £3 for children. Established as a flagship Millennium project, the National Botanic Garden of Wales was one of the first new botanical gardens to be created in the UK in more than 200 years. The Garden gained international recognition for the innovative Norman Foster designed Great Glasshouse. In 2000, it was the world's largest single-span glasshouse and lauded for both its environmental design and seamless integration into the rural Welsh landscape. Among the Garden's most notable contributions to science is the ground breaking 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, covers more than 1,473 native plants, continues to support global research and conservation efforts and has been replicated worldwide. In recent years, the Garden has further developed its vast estate and has undergone an extensive landscape restoration, including a £6 million transformation of the original Regency landscape supported by many funders, including the National Lottery Heritage Fund. 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. Designed as a botanical journey through the nation's diverse habitats, from coastal cliffs to the peaks of Yr Wyddfa, the project will also address the urgent threats of habitat loss and plant extinction. 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. No other organisations can merge science, culture and the arts in a way that a botanic garden can, and the National Botanic Garden of Wales has really put itself on the map in this regard. '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. We're excited to welcome visitors, old and new, to share in this special milestone and to be part of the next chapter of our journey.' Beyond its conservation work, the Garden plays a 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. More than 11,000 schoolchildren engage with its programmes annually, and a new goal, supported by the Welsh Government and the philanthropic community, aims to connect every child in Wales with the Garden through visits or outreach. A new vehicle will soon bring interactive biodiversity workshops and lessons to schools in underrepresented and harder-to-reach communities across the country. 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 aimed at further exploring the Garden's evolving story and vision for the future.
Wales Online
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Wales Online
Top Welsh attraction slashes prices for one weekend only
Top Welsh attraction slashes prices for one weekend only For one weekend only you can enjoy access to this popular Welsh attraction for the same price it was in 2000 This attract is slashing their prices (Image: WalesOnline/Richard Williams ) One popular Welsh attraction has slashed admission prices back to the same it was in 2000 for one weekend only. This means visitors can enjoy highly discounted entry prices. The National Botanic Garden of Wales, in Carmarthenshire, is holding a special garden party to celebrate their 25th anniversary. They will be offering a packed programme of live entertainment, family-friendly activities, and a vibrant showcase of Welsh music and culture. Admission prices on Saturday, May 24, and Sunday, May 25, will also be rolled back to year 2000 rates. This means that entry for adults will be £6.50 and entry for children will be £3. For the latest TV and showbiz gossip sign up to our newsletter . This is a significant drop in prices from £16.85 (£19 including gift aid) for adults and £8.65 (£10 including gift aid) for kids. Since welcoming its first visitors on Wednesday, May 24, 2000, the garden has grown into a globally-recognised centre for biodiversity, conservation, horticulture, education, and wellbeing. Established as a flagship millennium project the National Botanic Garden of Wales was one of the first new botanical gardens to be created in the UK in more than 200 years. Article continues below Among the garden's most notable contributions to science is the groundbreaking 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, which covers more than 1,473 native plants, continues to support global research and conservation efforts and has been replicated worldwide. In recent years the garden has further developed its vast estate and has undergone an extensive landscape restoration including a £6m transformation of the original regency landscape supported by many funders including the National Lottery Heritage Fund. 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. Designed as a botanical journey through the nation's diverse habitats, from coastal cliffs to the peaks of Yr Wyddfa, the project will also address the urgent threats of habitat loss and plant extinction. Article continues below 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 aimed at further exploring the garden's evolving story and vision for the future. You can find out more and buy your discounted tickets here.
South Wales Guardian
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- South Wales Guardian
National Botanic Garden of Wales celebrates 25 years
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.
Pembrokeshire Herald
06-05-2025
- General
- Pembrokeshire Herald
Kurtz: ‘We must back our farmers with fair and workable policies'
A NEW National Register of Welsh Apple Varieties has been unveiled by National Trust Cymru to safeguard the future of the nation's rich apple-growing tradition. The register identifies 29 distinct varieties of Welsh apples, the result of a three-year collaboration between experts and enthusiasts including author and apple identification specialist Carwyn Graves, the National Botanic Garden of Wales, and the Marcher Apple Network. Unveiled as apple trees across the country burst into bloom for spring, the announcement coincides with the National Trust's annual #BlossomWatch and #GwleddYGwanwyn campaigns, which encourage the public to enjoy the spectacle of spring blossoms. Apples have been cultivated in Wales for over a thousand years, and references to orchards and fruit appear throughout Welsh mythology, poetry, folk music and place names – from the Mabinogi tales and early mentions of Merlin to the traditional carving of apple-wood love spoons. However, the tradition is under threat. Research by the National Trust in 2022 found that more than half of orchards in England and Wales have vanished since 1900, largely due to changes in land use. The rate of loss is thought to be even higher in Wales, with significant implications for local fruit varieties, wildlife habitats and the seasonal beauty of orchard blossom. To reverse this decline, members of the Marcher Apple Network have spent over 40 years searching for lost and heritage varieties in old orchards and gardens across Wales and the English border counties. Together with collections held by the National Trust and the National Fruit Collection at Brogdale, this work has formed the basis for the new National Register and the beginnings of a Welsh National Collection. The register categorises apple varieties into three groups: 'historic' (pre-1950), 'modern' (post-1950), and 'associated' – apples not bred in Wales but which have strong cultural ties to Welsh communities. 'This is the first register of its kind to group varieties this way,' said Carwyn Graves, author of Apples of Wales. 'Wales' unique apple heritage was almost entirely forgotten a generation ago, but it has enormous cultural value – from folk songs to a farmhouse cider tradition dating back to the Middle Ages.' Work on the register began in 2022 with a list of over 120 potential varieties supplied by the Marcher Apple Network. Today, all 29 named varieties can be seen flowering in orchards and gardens cared for by the National Trust and its partners – including Erddig near Wrexham, Penrhyn Castle near Bangor, Llanerchaeron in Ceredigion, and the National Botanic Garden of Wales, home to the Plant Heritage National Collection of Welsh Heritage Apples. At Llanerchaeron, six of the 29 varieties are cultivated, including Baker's Delicious, Bardsey, King of the Pippins (known in Welsh as Gwell na Mil), and Llanerchaeron Peach. 'Some are veteran trees, others are more recent plantings, but all play a role in maintaining our orchard heritage,' said Head Gardener Alex Summers. 'By choosing varieties from the register, people can plant trees well-suited to the Welsh climate, while also protecting our cultural legacy.' An additional 35 varieties remain under review, and several lost Welsh apples – such as Forman's Crew, Bassaleg Pippin and Pêr Gwenyn – may yet be rediscovered. The partnership behind the register is now calling on the public to help. Anyone in Wales with an old apple tree linked to an orchard or farmstead is invited to share details, including location coordinates (What3Words, grid reference or GPS), photos, and a description of the tree and its fruit, by emailing: WelshAppleTrees@ and carwyn@ The full list of apple varieties in the register is available at:
