Yr Ardd Summer 2018
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botanicgarden.wales YRMAGAZINE FOR MEMBERS ISSUE 30 SU MMER 2018ARDD GROWING THE FUTURE – A PROJECT FOR EVERYONE 4 Contents Highlights 8 Growing the Future Croeso Our World-class Botanic Garden This Botanic Garden might be relatively new in comparison to others around the world, but the skills and expertise we have here are world-class. We are delighted that international recognition has come our way this year when the Garden became one of only 12 14 six botanic gardens in the world to be accredited under a new accreditation scheme launched at the Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI) European conference in May 2018. The Power Members’ Congratulations to everyone who has made this possible. Our of Grasses Patch science team is conducting cutting edge research in the field of pollinators, bio-diversity and habitat restoration, and our horticulture team is conserving rare and endangered plants from around the National Botanic Garden of Wales All information correct at the time world. Notably, the conserving Welsh native plants programme will Llanarthne, Carmarthenshire of going to press. SA32 8HN be reintroducing rare plants back into the wild, as well as providing Tel: 01558 667149 Editor: Mairwen Jones advice and guidance to other organisations around the country. [email protected] Design: InglebyDavies.com botanicgarden.wales Photos: Tim Jones Photography, The BGCI places a high value on the unique skills, knowledge Common Ground, Steffan John, Bruce and data in botanic gardens, and their importance as centres of The National Botanic Garden of Wales Langridge, Will Ritchie, Col Ford/Natasha Growing the Future at the National Botanic Garden of Wales is part of the is a registered charity (no. 1036354) De Vere, Charles Stirton, Carl Stringer, Welsh Government Rural Communities-Rural Development Programme 2014- excellence in horticulture, research and education. We are proud to and is supported by the Welsh Claire Ward, © Crown Copyright (2018) 2020, which is funded by the Welsh Government and the European Union. Government, National Lottery and Visit Wales; Oliveromg/Alexander Raths/ be part of a common aim that is a truly motivating force for all of Carmarthenshire County Council. Andrey Snegirev/Shutterstock.com us at the National Botanic Garden of Wales: to protect and promote Opinions expressed within Yr Ardd biodiversity for the benefit of future generations. Follow us: are those of the contributors and do Sponsored by not necessarily reflect the views of the National Botanic Garden of Wales. Huw Francis, Director Enquiries regarding Yr Ardd should be addressed to David Hardy ([email protected]) 3 highlights Highlights ARTISTS AT THE GARDEN Catch up with the news and events in the Garden The exhibition which opens in July 2018, Regency Restoration: Responses, will show sculpture, textiles, collage, paintings and ceramics created by members of the Carmarthen Artists’ Network to interpret the restoration of the Regency parkland in imaginative ways. CAN artists have been working with the project for the Sealed Knot past 18 months, using the history, flora and site of the restoration This band of re-enactors of battles and skirmishes in the English Civil work to inspire them. A wallpaper War will bring the action to our Garden for two days this summer, design by Jo Moss entitled on August 11th and 12th. There will be a Living History Camp which ‘Craig of Middleton Hall’ (below) visitors can walk around, watching the various demonstrations gives you a taste of the wit and and chatting to the re-enactors and cameos will be performed creativity to be enjoyed. throughout the day, all pertaining to life in the 17th century. A talk on historical costume and other aspects of social history and a pre- battle sharing of tactics and methodology will precede the actual battle at 2pm on Saturday. Fortunately, there will be no fatalities, which means that the same number of soldiers will have another battle at 2pm on Sunday! 3 OF THE BEST from THE apothecary’S GARDEN The British Bird of Prey Centre Opens Awesome flying displays from Pembrokeshire Falconry have long been a popular attraction at the Garden, and the opening of their specially designed British Bird of Prey Centre this summer has been an exciting development, especially for families. Husband and wife team Alex and Emma have a passion for the birds in their care and an enthusiasm that is infectious. Families or groups who have booked an ‘experience’, sometimes a half-day or even a full day, are full of praise for the way it MARIGOLD COMFREY FENNEL is organised and the opportunity they are given to have a bird fly to the Calendula officinalis Symphytum officinale Foeniculum vulgare glove. To be in such a beautiful setting for the experience means that Marigold is the herbalist’s The 13th-century Physicians Herbalists make great the photo-opportunities are unique. Many visitors will be on first name go-to first-aid plant. Used of Myddfai recommended use of fennel. It’s used to terms with these powerful creatures: among them are Midas the Golden to reduce soreness and the use of comfrey root to flavour cough medicines, to inflammation, it’s also used treat an abscess. Today’s stimulate appetite and to Eagle, Enzo the Peregrine Falcon, Chilli, Salsa, Saffron and Scarlet the Red as an anti-microbial to treat herbalists use it to heal treat conjunctivitis, rheumatic Kites and Oak the Tawny Owl. wounds, bruises and burns. shallow wounds. pains, coughs and flatulence. 4 5 highlights highlights TRansfoRMED by VOLUNTEERS Remember the cwtsh in the Great Glasshouse where the amazing fungi exhibition was displayed? It has had a new look, thanks to a band of volunteers deft with the MIDSUMMER paintbrushes. This is now the place CONCERT to check on all the news of the Regency Restoration project. Not Many of our members love only will progress of the landscaping the performing arts almost as Carly in California be charted with photographs and much as they love gardens, drawings, but the numerous events and the annual midsummer Though she was travelling in a camper van, the highlights of a and training days will be advertised concert is a highlight not to be spring trip to California for our horticulturist Carly Green were there too. As with all the Garden’s missed. Symphonica Tywi will not the typical sun, sea and surf combination that many young initiatives, it is a project in which be celebrating the ‘Year of the Sea’ in their programme this people dream of. Carly’s focus was on ‘Conflagrations and the work of volunteers is highly year. Other musical events will Conservancy’, as she studied the effect that last year’s record- valued, and many relish the chance to learn an unexpected skill, like Little Visitors take you in other directions breaking wildfires had on the native plant communities. After fires, charcoal-making. – at the harp weekend at the many wildflowers will burst into bloom once the first rain arrives. This summer and autumn you can expect to see many, many end of June, there’s a chance Carly’s trip, funded by travel bursaries from the Merlin Trust excited little faces at the Garden. Following the success of the Welly to try the instrument and and the RHS, enabled her to visit three national forests, Angeles, Wednesdays we have been offering here during term-time for experiment with technique. Or come the August bank Sequoia and Los Padres, as well as the botanic gardens of Santa several seasons, centred on outdoor play and exploration for tots, holiday weekend, you can Barbara and Rancho Santa Ana and two native plant nurseries – Carmarthenshire County Council has awarded funding for all of enjoy the contemporary sound Las Pilitas and the Theodore Payne foundation. the playgroup and nursery groups in the county (those not based of Lowri Evans and Lee Mason, What Carly learned there about conserving native plants will in schools) to come to the Garden to enjoy the fun. In March 2018 the former a singer-songwriter be invaluable to the Garden’s work. She also made new contacts alone there were 348 young explorers here, in a total of 27 sessions. and the latter a talented to source wild-collected seeds and to exchange information. This is possible by means of the Early Years Pupil Development guitarist. Not to mention the special dance days, and Botanic gardens work well together, working out how to Grant, designed to ensure that all children, from all backgrounds, can visits by theatre companies propagate a tricky plant species, for example, and reporting on CINEMA UNDER access rich educational experiences. So it’s pond-dipping, treasure – music, dance and drama plant pathogens so knowledge of how diseases are spreading or THE STARS hunts and, very important, a song and story before they go home. are very much at home in the changing can be passed on efficiently. It will be no surprise if the These are surely our future members. magnificent setting provided The Garden in the dark is a crowd- by the Garden. Californian quarter of the Great Glasshouse will from now on have puller! This is the second summer a very special place in Carly’s affections. for our outdoor cinema, which has proved to be a great favourite, especially with families. The Guardian recently reported that Events Britain is in the middle of a boom in outdoor cinema, sales having tripled For full listings, take home in the last three years. Apparently or download our events people are once again being drawn leaflet atbotanicgarden. to communal viewing experiences, wales/visit/whats-on/ where there’s space and a crowd of upcoming-events/ people reacting together.