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Old 03-10-2003, 05:22 PM
jane
 
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Default 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!
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Old 03-10-2003, 09:03 PM
Aphodius
 
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Default 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


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Old 05-10-2003, 01:12 PM
Natalie
 
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Default 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




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Old 05-10-2003, 03:02 PM
David Hill
 
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Default 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



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Old 05-10-2003, 07:42 PM
jane
 
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Default 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!
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Old 05-10-2003, 08:32 PM
David Hill
 
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Default 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



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Old 05-10-2003, 09:02 PM
martin
 
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Default 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


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Old 05-10-2003, 11:32 PM
jane
 
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Default 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!
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Old 05-10-2003, 11:44 PM
Franz Heymann
 
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Default 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


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Old 06-10-2003, 09:02 AM
Sad Sid
 
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Default 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....)


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Old 06-10-2003, 10:42 AM
David Hill
 
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Default 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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