Autumn/Winter 2014 Major, CF61 1UF

Autumn/Winter 2014 Major, CF61 1UF. [email protected] or Mrs Barbara Hodges, Greenfields, Glamorgan, C717LU, [email protected] Mrs Mary Ponting, 4Church Terrace, St MaryChurch, Cowbridge, Valeof For moreInformation, pleasecontact with thisissue. included application forms required using the limited pre-bookingis Where numbers are stated. only, unless otherwise Talks areopen tomembers Programme ofEvents 2014—2015. May 2015 13th Wednesday February 2015 Thursday 12th December 2014 Tuesday 9th November 2014 Thursday 27th November 2014 19th Wednesday November 2014 Thursday 6th Right: Friends inDyffryn

Gardens 2.00 pmintheCoryEducation Centre. Annual General Meeting. 10.30 amintheCory EducationCentre Dyffryn’s WalledKitchenGarden’. Walled Garden Supervisor, entitled‘TheRestoration of Coffee Morning. Talkby Ceridwen Davies, Dyffryn Application Form included Christmas Lunch, StAthanGolfClub 10.30 amintheCory EducationCentre slides) on 'Childhood memories ofDyffryn'. Coffee morning. TalkbyColinEvans (nopictures or Joint meeting withtheWelsh Historic Gardens Trust 2-4 pminthe Cory Education Centre. at HidcoteManor. Talk byGlyn Jones, Garden andCountrysideManager 10.30 amintheCory EducationCentre. to gardens in Wales between 1750 and 1850’. Mad withGardens –thecontribution made bywomen Coffee Morning. TalkbyDr Jean Reader entitled‘Stark ,

Eagleswell Road, Boverton, Llantwit

Autumn/WinterAutumn/Winter 2014 2014 On 1 members ofthe Friends. unable toinform last minutesowewere not announced untilthe are visits Such interest. and places of local various organisations Principality whilevisiting each yearstaying inthe devote ashort period the Duchess ofCornwall TRH Prince Charles and Photos by By Joan Andrews visitors atDyffrynRoyal Gardens Donovon (Site Curator) Gerry inWales), Trust Albert (Director, National They were met byJustin made acallat Dyffryn. Llantwit Major andthen year theyfirst visited FRIENDS

st July of this ofthis July Friends ofDyffrynGardens Dimitris Legakisforthe Dimitris NT NEWSLETTER and were much enjoyed telescopes on thelawn Society hadsetuptheir The Astronomy perspective. a whole new olfactory viewed thegarden from obtrusive as sniffer dogs was large but nottoo show, police presence new buggy wason our borders, immaculate was shining on looked itsbest. Thesun Ontheday Dyffryn Beck. Glamorgan -DrPeter Lieutenant ofSouth Queen –The Lord and representing the

facilities foryounger demonstrated the school children volunteers. Somelocal and metmany ofthe shown round thehouse werefirst Thevisitors garden. had astand by thepanel sport and the apiarists demonstrating their immaculate whiteswere croquet club in The by offdutypolice. Newsletter

Autumn/Winter 2014 gardening dates fromhis childhood interest in His love for Wales. Anglesey, hence his name andhis Rochdale but hisfather was from Glynwas bornandraised in property toits formerglory. century heyday, andreturningthe essence ofHidcote from its early20th restoration project,researching the responsible for steering amajor Manor. Inthisposition,heis Countryside Manager atHidcote Glynisthe Garden and gardens. Jones foraguided tour ofthe ofDyffrynFriends GardensmetGlyn On aglorious Julymorning the By JohnWallace Glyn Jones’GuidedTour the entrance gate mostdays place butthisbuggywillbe waitingat buggies when eventsweretaking years Dyffryn Gardens have hired visitors around thegarden. Inrecent driven byvolunteerstotransport purchase abuggy which will be offer matched fundingforthe NTto The Friends Committeeagreed to By Val Caple BuggyThe New Education Centre. Historic Garden Trust in theCory attending areception bytheWelsh rooms before theyendedtheirvisitby showed thevisitorsround the garden Thegardeners andvolunteers of beingintroduced. behalf oftheFriends Ihad the honour strolled along thelongwalk andon visitors. The royal guests then

at Hidcote. Hehas worked in before accepting his current position Peckover House inEast Anglia Gardener/Property Manager at the was thenpromoted toHead Garden inSomerset forfiveyears. He Hobhouse at the Tintinhull House and workedalongside Penelope Zoo. Hereturned totheUKin1987 Reserve ofIllinoisattheBrookfield anintern intheForestry as worked Garden inEdinburgh in1986, Glyn graduating fromtheRoyal Botanic in theNorthof England.After an apprentice onmunicipal gardens Heleftschool earlyandstarted as provided. seeds or planting inthespace slabs inhis back gardenand sowing and heremembers liftingpaving 2

Autumn/Winter 2014 By Val Caple Friends News CF61 1UF 1UF CF61 Major, Llantwit Boverton, Road, Eagleswell Greenfields, Mrs. BarbaraHodges, Secretary Hon. [email protected] 4BT. CF64 Dinas Powis, Mill Road, Rothbury Cottage, Dr. JoanAndrews, Treasurer [email protected] Mr. JohnKirk Vice Chairman Officers Friends ofDyffryn Committee content. Alsoplease comments about the Please send meany newmembers. to attract members up-to-date and designed tokeep regularly and has been The website is updated Website you feelcould help. Please contact meif the Twitteraccount. updatee-newsletter and someone toedit the We arestilllookingfor E-Newsletter [email protected]

www.dyffryngardens.org.uk events, etc.pleasevisit For thelatest information aboutmembership, under theNT. of Dyffrynasitdevelops continue totellthestory thatIcan House so have ofthegardens or old ornew—which you send mephotographs— Mrs SusanTaylor Miss Cynthia Merrett Mr. DerrickKingham, Mrs. Mary Evans Mrs. KatrinAberg, [email protected] 7RQ, CF71 Cowbridge. Penllyn, Milestone, Dr. ValCaple, Editor Newsletter/Web [email protected] Mrs Mary Ponting, Visit Organiser [email protected] 0SH CF32 St Bride’sMajor yr Eglwys 49 Lon Mrs. ClareWilliamson Membership Secretary Executive Committee. articles, photographs Please send next issue. me items fromyou forthe always happy toreceive Newsletter, andIam This isYOUR Newsletter

addresses above. me oremailthem using Pleasepost itemsto fellow members. would liketo share with interests which you gardens orhorticultural Dyffryn orabout other include articles about Iamalso happy to we haveorganised. events and tripswhich especially those on etc. atanytime, 029 20 593 328 593 029 20 nationaltrust.org.uk dyffryn@ Mrs. Alex.Luker. Head Gardener 328 593 029 20 nationaltrust.org.uk dyffryn@ Donovan. Ms. Geraldine Project Manager Representatives Dyffryn Garden

Autumn/Winter 2014 From theCommittee Garden Cuttings 02920 590813 £15 per person, booking essential on 1860-1952' Goscombe John.Sculptor andpatron 13 Jan in thenineteenth century' Sam: Welshimmigration tothe USA 9 Dec Hidcote' and plant hunters ofDyffrynand 11 Nov Thomas-Do Not GoGentle' 14 Oct 11.30am to1.30pm by adelicious lunchprepared byus. poetry, gardening and history followed Join us fora series oflectures on Lecture lunches experienced officers. difficult timewiththe resignation of 3 The Committee has reached a Plea fornew Committee members Chairman and ViceChairman volunteers to take onthe roles of we arenow urgently inneed of Vice Chairman untilthelastAGMbut John Kirk agreed totakeon thejobof Vice Chairman’s Resignation Visitor Experience From Gwenno Griffith & Jen Park, held inDyffryn Gardens National TrustEventstobe - - - - Bill Jones-'Inse Phil Carradice- 'Dylan Elaine Davey-'Sir William Glyn Jones- 'Planthunting

arch ofUncle

contact meas soon as possible. as aCommitteemember please be willingtoputthemselves forward future. Ifthereisanyone whowould these rôles oftheCommitteein Weneed new bloodtotake over lost withoutyou. lost take place in Dyffryn -we would be refreshments at theeventswhich to allmembers who help with Many Thanks nationaltrust.org.uk/dyffryn- 02920 593328 please contact theNational Trust For more information on events £5 perticket. Under 5sgo free. outfit. your spookiest Hallowe'en disco inthehouse. Wear after forafunfilled us dark Join 31 October5.30 to7.30pm Hallowe'en family party the mysterious golden welly. wellies alloverthegardens andfind themed halfterm.Huntforhidden Join us fora wet and wild welly- 25 October to 2November Welly week 0814, tickets £30. Advance booking only: 0292059 botanical subject fromour gardens. help youlearn howtodraw a who joins us foraone-day course to Debbie Devaudenis abotanical artist 4pm 4 October, 1,22November. 10amto Botanical artcourse

Barbara Hodges, Hon. Secretary gardens

Autumn/Winter 2014 Local Authority (not Cory's but later the sideof house multicoloured Yewsto Glyn pointed out the to thePanelGarden, Onour way references. as paintings Adie's using some of Edith of theissues he faces order toillustratesome tour ofthegarden in Glyntookus ona increase visitor interest. order tomaintain and happen gradually in must out. However,this will havetobecarried years old so much work gardens areabout100 by year.PartsofCory's numbers ofvisitorsyear attract increasing dynamic way inorder to progressively andina Reginald Cory'sgarden recreate thespiritof plan thatoutlines how to documented strategic objective istoproduce a Ingeneral,his here. work already underway excellent restoration Hidcote tocontinue the the experience gained at hopes tobring someof consultant where he Gardens fora yearasa seconded to Dyffryn presently is He years at Hidcote. years, including 14 horticulture forover40

Arboretum. Itwas Griseum inthe at ourspecimen Acer Wethen went tolook the world. its typeincultivation in probably thelargest of Paperbark Maple was thought our Champion but commented thatthey Westonbirt Arboretum on theirwayto They hadtohurry away China andthe USA. in fromtrees samples compare this with Tree and intend to particular theChampion the AcerGriseum in looking atthe DNAof researchers whowere by twoAmerican DNA Wewerethen joined impairing the view. the formalitywithout examples topreserve considered with smaller should perhaps be masked. Replanting toward thehouse were large thatthe views shape and become so they hadgrown outof trees and noticed how looked atother Yew the PanelGarden we At recreate this effect. some replantingto might bedesirable todo tops. Atsomestageit narrow base and flattish mushroomsa with intended toimitate plantings)were which Glyn andmembers providing invaluable neighbour oris it of itsillustrious sacrificed for the benefit Should theOak be issues forconsideration. demonstrated two appeared wild. This the undergrowth an environment where the otherparticularly in treedetractedEach from an ancient Oak Tree. Much too close bywas befitting itsimportance. presented inamanner significant treewas not evident thatthis 3 Autumn/Winter 2014 scale adjusted slightly. used inthefinalversions and the in thisexample. Hardwoodwillbe though only softwood had been used quality ofthe prototype planter even this area. Wenoted theexceptional planter sizes and futureplantings in painting was being used toscale the painting. He described how the those illustrated inEdithAdie's us aprototypeplantertoreplicate next destination where Glyn showed ThePaved CourtGarden was our newts yetagain! we areupagainst the feature. But building, or planting, oragrand water eitherwith a direction, inthis mark Mawson wanted asimilar punctuation disappointing. Glyn thoughtThomas over theempty ponditwas very the otherwaytoward south and totheview.However,looking mark and provided a glorious punctuation now the House lookedmagnificent forthefuture.Even trees all these need toconsider how best tomanage and misshapen. Thisemphasised the they arenow hopelessly overgrown intended torepresent candles but by thecroquet lawnwere originally two YewsTrees withthegolden tops the House that Cory wanted. The the Yews were obscuring the viewof the House and againnoted theway at theviewalongcanal backto to thefarend ofthecanal and looked Wethen continued across thelawn presentation ofthe trees. considered tohelpimprove the managing the undergrowth might be and environmentally friendly waysof more appropriate. Alsocost effective would judicious pruning oftheOakbe protection from theweather. Or

Glyn explainshisplans developments inthe gardens. documented planand tofuture forwardtohis tour. Wenow look such aninteresti Glyn was thanked byeverybodyfor survive quite happily. without threatening thenewts who clear theirponds ofblanket weed Hidcote theyhave been able tolegally same conservation problem. At such different approaches tothe in Englandand Wales should adopt Glyn was puzzled why theauthorities blanketweed cannot beremoved. and because ofthemthe thick again thenewts rearedtheir heads reflecting qualities ofthepool. Once quality which totally destroyed the problem here ofcourse was thewater elsewhere around the site. The planted inrecycledpots from various small Maples have been Pool where Glyn showed us how FinallywevisitedtheReflecting ng andilluminating 4

Autumn/Winter 2014 area of colourful house youmove intoan the steeppath tothe area. Asyou walk down an informal woodland terracing leading upto slope opposite isformal pool.Onthe reflecting hedges thatlead to the reflected inthecurvy local rollinghills are 1842. Lower down the the localTithe Mapof box hedges based on of grasses in a pattern of down onalargeparterre look youfirst so site, park isatthe top ofthe AtVeddwthe car plants. colourful vegetables and more is planted with greenhouse. Thisarea garden and old the walled kitchen Channel. Tothewest is and viewsoftheBristol areainformal woodland lined pathdown tothe through aclipped yew smooth bowling green or wander across the and apool. Youthen gardens, summer house leading down toformal of stonewalled terraces the house with aseries Court starts infrontof garden atWyndcliffe Atouraround the ungodliness.’ children fromtheir boisterous mountain ‘rescue therude,

of oldand new inboth personally lovedthemix the Wyndcliffe garden. I sculptures on display in were themodern Similarly challenging we either lovedorhated. style oftheirown which have added a quirky and Craftstradition, but influenced by theArts Veddw admit tobe Thedesigners of garden and orchard. house isthe vegetable planting. Behind the Veddw—hedges andgrasses Wyndcliffe—statue and pool discovering thesegems trip –thankyou Maryfor Another successful which Iadmired. the plantsor sculptures where Icould putoneof gardens and am thinking 9 Autumn/Winter 2014 at nearby Devauden inthe 1840s to gave land to build achurchand school owned bythe Duke ofBeaufortwho building encroached on wasteland nearby wireworks or woodland. The built byalabourer whoworked inthe surrounds asmallcottage probably IncontrastVeddw House Garden cakes and sandwiches. where wewere served home-made admire theoak-panelled ballroom community andwehad the chance to were well known inthelocal The Clays were asocial couple who designed byEric Francis before WW1. the largeArts andCraft stylehouse Wyndcliffe CourtGarden enhances their money inbanking and brewing. House near Chepstow and hadmade TheClays owned Piercefield and Charles Hawes inthe1990s. created bytheowners Anne Wareham 1922 while Veddw House garden was Manor nearby, todesignWyndcliffe in at hisownhouse atHigh Glanau many famous gardens including that Henry AvrayTipping,who designed Howeverthe Clayscommissioned day when we visited them colourful plants onthebright autumn countryside. Bothincluded bedsof magnificent viewsofthesurrounding sloping sites and include terracing and ‘garden rooms’ andare built on landscape. Bothhaveindividual and areas ofnatural woodland trimmed box and yew hedges or walls areas withaformal design with nearly 70years apart. Bothhave common, despite beingdesigned Thesetwogardens havemuch in By Val Caple House Gardens Wyndcliffe CourtandVeddw

Wyndcliffe—dipping pool +otters Veddw—Reflecting Pool Veddw Wyndcliffe 8

Autumn/Winter 2014 By RitaWhite.Photosby HeatherMarch andGardens Castle Powys We descended en red STONE. infact it was a wonderful later thatIcould see that brick and it was notuntil as ifitwasbuilt ofred itlooked sight Atfirst all directions. a commanding viewin castle standing aloftwith opposed toEnglish) medieval, Welsh (as of thisimposing we had ourfirstglimpse of themountains until way around the contours zigzagged and woveits Theroad from here have moretime. visit when we might remember foranother certainly aplaceto led down totheriver, investigate the paththat us managed to Builth Wells. Some of station notfarfrom situated inan oldrailway Erwood CraftStation, the delightful little welcome coffee break at Westopped fora were notneeded! As itturnedout, they umbrella sono worries! everyone had amac.or forecast but was a bitiffy Gardens. Theweather Powys Castle and from start Dyffryn to It wasanearly morning By Val Caple Scheme (HHSS) Horticultural Skills The Heritage

first thing that Inoticed very eco-friendly andthe Thegardeners are could say. heart ofthegarden you and greenhouses, the discovered the nursery of thehousewe Beyond, and out ofsight hedges and fruittrees. colour bounded by flat, rectangular areas of is typicallyEdwardian, mountains. skyline broken by withthe countryside the wonderful mid-Wales far astheeye could see, gardens below and,as view oftheformal witha trees, specimen wisteria etc., and climbing roses, clematis, herbaceous borders, with stocked were huge sculptures. They balustrades topped with grounds, their fantastic view ofthe the rock,givinga three ofthem, hewn into yes, terraces, layered Webegan on the gardens. guided tourof the gardener who gaveusa before meeting our enjoyed agood lunch restaurant, where we all bloc upon the The Formal Garden Cool coloured beds Hot coloured beds CastlePowis View from Terrace from View 5 Autumn/Winter 2014 Clare Williamson By and JoanAndrews Membership and artefacts going back and barrel, with furniture National Trust lockstock over theCastle tothe generous act ofhanding the benefitofearl’s discoveredbuilding, we residential area ofthe partofthe in fact old keep, buthadbeen Inwhatlooked likean was another surprise. which to theMuseum, was onlyastones throw wildlife. Fromhereit am sure, isa haven for Then tothelake, which I mown paths of amaze. running around theflat, where children were the recreation area, the flatterroute through those steps by taking choosing toavoid allof way back to the castle, here and made ourown Weleftourguide rotational heaps! panels! Then the was thedisplay ofsolar have NOT joinedus yet. new formfor those who Wehaveincluded a do so. 2015 – we hope youwill April 2014 to March fortheyear subscription If youhavenotpaidyour

Barbara and Friend? Members enjoyingview the of thewarnings! Ineed perfect weather inspite and enjoyable day,with Allinallwehadafull and eclectic exhibition. This wasafascinating several hundred years. cannot attend events in are notamember you Remember thatifyou future. makes plans for its change as the NT exciting period of this during House Dyffryn Gardens and tosupport to continue Youwillbe helpingus Pleasejoin today. Potting fornextyear back by8.00pm. the horses’ togetus our driver ‘did notspare the journey homeand coach was veryquieton hardly toadd that the Thank you to ourfinances. make auseful addition Gift Aid–which will complete thesection on Ifeligibleplease do and events. us onour outside visits have topayextrajoin 2015 AGM,and youwill winter talks and the the Dyffryn, including

Autumn/Winter 2014 By RitaWhite House Bowood organ atBowoodHouse interesting history. The ratheran it has of thebeautifulorgan as Opposite ismy photo everyone. was appreciated by Landsdowne herself Marchioness of prepared bythe delicious dinner gardens followed bya talk through theprivate The guided walkand was agreat success. House and Gardens A recent visittoBowood The Upper Terrace

Lakeside Cottage Walled Garden Tunnel inthe Pinetum Kent asconsultant. period withChristopher evidence dating fromthe based ondocumentary case, anorgan was built an earlier chapel organ of Thuringia. Builtwithin Bach inhis native area contemporaries ofJ.S. family whowereactive the Trost organ building project intotheworkof completion of astudy Chapel marked the The Lake Herbaceous Border The Organ 7