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National Botanic Garden of Wales
Hi folk
I was lucky enough to go to this last Tuesday, on the day that it made headline news as they are not expecting to be able to keep on funding it... and not enough folk are going. Got interviewed by BBC Radio Wales for my reaction, which was a bit stunned as it was the first I'd heard! http://www.gardenofwales.org.uk/ As a gesture of thanks to all the support they are receiving from people (but not, it seems, the politicians...) the place is open for free on Saturday and Sunday 4th and 5th October, with voluntary donations appreciated (normal cost £6.95). I would recommend going, if only because it may be the last chance. They have just finished rebuilding a double walled garden, and are digging in green manures this week so they can bring the second half into cultivation next year. If they can... The place is nowhere near at it's full potential as the plantings have only been in for a maximum of three years. But you can see where they're going if allowed. At the moment there are a lot of plants still in flower for inspiration if you need autumn colour. Maps are on the website, but it's not *that* hard to find. There are a lot of signposts. A few miles away are Aberglasney gardens and a few other places of note for gardeners, and loads of B&Bs for low cost if needed. I'm not connected with it at all - just went as part of a recharging batteries week pottering about, and am quite upset that something that potentially good is being threatened by the penny pinchers... -- jane Don't part with your illusions. When they are gone, you may still exist but you have ceased to live. Mark Twain Please remove onmaps from replies, thanks! |
National Botanic Garden of Wales
"jane" wrote in a message:. Hi folk I was lucky enough to go to this last Tuesday, on the day that it made headline news as they are not expecting to be able to keep on funding it... and not enough folk are going. -- Perhaps like me, they hadn't a clue it is there. A bit late in the day to start advertising its existence don't you think? Aphodius |
National Botanic Garden of Wales
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National Botanic Garden of Wales
"Janet Baraclough" wrote in message ... The message from (jane) contains these words: Hi folk I was lucky enough to go to this last Tuesday, on the day that it made headline news as they are not expecting to be able to keep on funding it... and not enough folk are going. (snip) (normal cost £6.95). !!!!! There's the reason why not enough people go. Janet. But people flood to Eden which costs £10 for adults! Natalie |
National Botanic Garden of Wales
"jane" wrote in message ... Hi folk I was lucky enough to go to this last Tuesday, on the day that it made headline news as they are not expecting to be able to keep on funding it... and not enough folk are going. Got interviewed by BBC Radio Wales for my reaction, which was a bit stunned as it was the first I'd heard! http://www.gardenofwales.org.uk/ I, by chance, on Tuesday I caught a bit of a radio program saying that the gardens may have to close unless they get funding. I'm so surprised that they don't already get some funding. They definitely need more publicity to give them a higher profile. That is why people flock to Eden but not to the Nat. Botanic Gardens of Wales! It was on my list of places to visit this summer but I didn't manage to get there...shall definitely make a bigger effort at half-term. Anyone care to join me, Probably 29th or 30th October? Natalie |
National Botanic Garden of Wales
"..........I'm so surprised that they don't already get some funding.
.........." They have had a lot of funding including an additional 1/4 of a Million pounds from the Welsh assembly, and now a further 1/4 million Half from the local council and the other half from The Welsh assembly again. This is on top of all the grants (Lottery etc) to get them set up in the first instance. News Release from the gardens http://www.gardenofwales.org.uk/ There are many good gardens to visit in this part of Wales and details of most of them can be had from the Welsh Tourist Board.not from their web site) Carmarthen council web site at http://www.tourlink.co.uk/indexframenoflash.cfm Swansea http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/southwest.../gardens.shtml and there a lot more. -- David Hill Abacus nurseries www.abacus-nurseries.co.uk |
National Botanic Garden of Wales
"Natalie" wrote in message ... "Janet Baraclough" wrote in message ... The message from (jane) contains these words: Hi folk I was lucky enough to go to this last Tuesday, on the day that it made headline news as they are not expecting to be able to keep on funding it... and not enough folk are going. (snip) (normal cost £6.95). !!!!! There's the reason why not enough people go. Janet. But people flood to Eden which costs £10 for adults! Eden has had a much more vigorous PR campaign Eden is very close to a very popular holiday area. Franz |
National Botanic Garden of Wales
On Fri, 3 Oct 2003 19:59:39 +0100, "Aphodius"
wrote: ~ ~"jane" wrote in a message:. ~ Hi folk ~ ~ I was lucky enough to go to this last Tuesday, on the day that it made ~ headline news as they are not expecting to be able to keep on funding ~ it... and not enough folk are going. ~-- ~Perhaps like me, they hadn't a clue it is there. A bit late in the day to ~start advertising its existence don't you think? ~ This is apparently one of the criticisms levelled at the management. I knew of it's existence because of the BBC Gardener of the Year a couple of years ago, held in the then-bare glasshouse. But apart from that they haven't said an awful lot. It's within reach of the largest Welsh cities, yet is struggling badly. The other main thing is that it is not publicised in England, and neither was it's plight. I was told by one of the reporters there that because of devolution they can't go to the UK parliament and get it propped up - and the Welsh Assembly just doesn't have the funds... political mess, anyone? Pity they didn't have a few marketing droids a la Micro$oft... Kew also is £7.50 to get in and Wisley is now £6. And as was mentioned, the Eden Project is a tenner. If you want to go to an RHS show you're looking at silly prices (£9 last weekend on the gate for the Malvern Autumn show, which I went to en route to Wales and which was incredibly crowded - but still a fraction of the cost of Chelsea, £22 this year on a Member's day). Gardens aren't cheap these days, sadly. I guess it also says something about the lack of publicity about south Wales as a holiday destination - the places I went to were stunning. If anyone wants a cheap break away from it all, go youth hostelling in the Brecon Beacons... wow. There's red kites, lots of gardens, even more fantastic countryside, castles, Hay on Wye if you're a bookworm like I am (bought 34 secondhand books!) and it's unspoilt. Highly recommended. But do you hear about these places? Nope... possibly why it's unspoilt! I am now back to the unwelcome prospect of going back to work tomorrow... -- jane Don't part with your illusions. When they are gone, you may still exist but you have ceased to live. Mark Twain Please remove onmaps from replies, thanks! |
National Botanic Garden of Wales
".........This is apparently one of the criticisms levelled at the
management. I new of it's existence because of the BBC Gardener of the Year a couple of years ago, held in the then-bare glasshouse. But apart from that they haven't said an awful lot. .........." They did a lot to publicise it, but the Press found the development of redundant china clay pits with the largest greenhouse I the world far more news worthy than the rescue and renovation of an old garden. If it hadn't been yet another Millennium project, and there was that thing in London that was taking a lot of media space at the time........and that ****** Dome cost a hell of a lot more and only lasted a year, and had a lot of handouts just to get it through that year. How is anyone supposed to find it when The capitol of Wales isn't signposted till you are almost into Wales. Come out of London on the M4 and you soon see Newport listed for mileage, but it is a long time before Cardiff is listed. Probably because "Westminster" doesn't want people to discover the delights of Wales. We're a well kept secrete. -- David Hill Abacus nurseries www.abacus-nurseries.co.uk |
National Botanic Garden of Wales
On Sun, 5 Oct 2003 19:25:04 +0100, "David Hill"
wrote: ".........This is apparently one of the criticisms levelled at the management. I new of it's existence because of the BBC Gardener of the Year a couple of years ago, held in the then-bare glasshouse. But apart from that they haven't said an awful lot. .........." They did a lot to publicise it, but the Press found the development of redundant china clay pits with the largest greenhouse I the world far more news worthy than the rescue and renovation of an old garden. If it hadn't been yet another Millennium project, and there was that thing in London that was taking a lot of media space at the time........and that ****** Dome cost a hell of a lot more and only lasted a year, and had a lot of handouts just to get it through that year. How is anyone supposed to find it when The capitol of Wales isn't signposted till you are almost into Wales. whereas London is sign posted 536 km away on the A4 just outside Schiphol airport. -- Martin |
National Botanic Garden of Wales
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National Botanic Garden of Wales
On Sun, 5 Oct 2003 19:25:04 +0100, "David Hill"
wrote: ~".........This is apparently one of the criticisms levelled at the ~management. I new of it's existence because of the BBC Gardener of the Year ~a couple of years ago, held in the then-bare glasshouse. But apart from that ~they haven't said an awful lot. .........." ~ ~They did a lot to publicise it, but the Press found the development of ~redundant china clay pits with the largest greenhouse I the world far more ~news worthy than the rescue and renovation of an old garden. ~If it hadn't been yet another Millennium project, and there was that thing ~in London that was taking a lot of media space at the time........and that ~****** Dome cost a hell of a lot more and only lasted a year, and had a lot ~of handouts just to get it through that year. True. I made a conscious effort to Not go to that thing in London. So did all of my friends, all of whom share your sentiments. Admittedly we did all trot off to the Eden project in its first week, but that was made somewhat easier by one of them having access to a Cornish cottage not far off... so we made a holiday of it. ~ ~How is anyone supposed to find it when The capitol of Wales isn't signposted ~till you are almost into Wales. ~Come out of London on the M4 and you soon see Newport listed for mileage, ~but it is a long time before Cardiff is listed. Probably because ~"Westminster" doesn't want people to discover the delights of Wales. ~We're a well kept secrete. jane decides to blow this secret as there are some stunning gardens and other places to visit Llanddeusant YHA is near Aberglasney gardens and Dinefwr (NT: not open Tues or Weds) castle and gardens, Dryslwyn castle remains (great view and free to scramble up) and the Botanic garden as well as the Beacons. Capel-y-Ffin YHA also hosts a Pony Trekking centre and does day treks regardless of if you've ridden before. The black mountains round there are just stunning. Capel-y-Ffin YHA is £9 a night and does full board on top of that, and Llanddeusant is also £9 a night. Both are in the middle of nowhere, out of mobile range and fantastic. I hadn't youth hostelled for some years and was extremely pleasantly surprised. The beds these days have duvets, individual reading lights at some hostels, and large kitchens and facilities for walkers. There are also loads of farmhouse B&Bs. Aberglasney gardens: http://www.aberglasney.org/ Dryslwyn: http://www.castlewales.com/dryslwyn.html Dinefwr gardens and castle: http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/scri...PROPERTYID=217 http://www.castlewales.com/dinefwr.html YHA: http://www.yha.org.uk/website-yhauk/...gnl/wales.html and I didn't even scratch the surface of what else there is to do!!!!! In addition, the autumn colours are just amazing right now... Have fun.... -- jane Don't part with your illusions. When they are gone, you may still exist but you have ceased to live. Mark Twain Please remove onmaps from replies, thanks! |
National Botanic Garden of Wales
"David Hill" wrote in message ... [snip] They did a lot to publicise it, but the Press found the development of redundant china clay pits with the largest greenhouse I the world far more news worthy than the rescue and renovation of an old garden. Heligan, another renovated old garden, is doing very well, by all accounts. Both Heligan and Eden had much better PR than the Welsh garden at the crucial time. If it hadn't been yet another Millennium project, and there was that thing in London that was taking a lot of media space at the time........and that ****** Dome cost a hell of a lot more and only lasted a year, and had a lot of handouts just to get it through that year. How is anyone supposed to find it when The capitol of Wales isn't signposted till you are almost into Wales. Come out of London on the M4 and you soon see Newport listed for mileage, but it is a long time before Cardiff is listed. Probably because "Westminster" doesn't want people to discover the delights of Wales. We're a well kept secrete. Franz |
National Botanic Garden of Wales
"Franz Heymann" wrote in message ... Eden has had a much more vigorous PR campaign And lots of free publicity during construction... Eden is very close to a very popular holiday area. The National Botanic Gardens (now called "Middleton") are just a short drive from the Gower. They are a short trip from Pembrey Country Park and less than an hour from Tenby or any of the Pembrokeshire holiday spots. The stupid thing is that very few people realise what they are missing in South Wales. On the other side of the Bristol Channel the Grockles are falling over each other on the Devon & Cornwall beaches. On August Bank Holiday I took an eight-mile walk along a pristine sandy beach (from Burry Porth through to Cefn Sidan and Pembrey). There was no-one on the beach at Burry, I met a few dog walkers on Cefn Sidan. Pembrey had about five hundred bunched together on half a mile of sand. The rest was deserted! Eden is very close to a very popular holiday area. It used to be popular with me too - but I now find it overcrowded, overpriced and over-touristified (?) to the point of tackiness. The Beacons, Pembrokeshire and the Gower have the climate, the scenery and the beaches - but not the Grockles and the Tat. (Ducks swiftly and waits for the incoming flak....) |
National Botanic Garden of Wales
Anyone wishing to go garden visiting might find this site of use.
http://www.greatbritishgardens.co.uk/ then if you need somewhere to stay then http://www.smoothhound.co.uk/ -- David Hill Abacus nurseries www.abacus-nurseries.co.uk |
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