News and events for autumn 2018 Wales Explore the great outdoors this autumn Come and explore the outdoors and unearth hidden secrets Castle and Garden where you in our houses, there’s something special for everyone this can enjoy the rich colour of the autumn. Sedums, Asters and deep blue Aconites flowering against the Celebrating the harvest If fungi are your thing, join a In South Wales, follow the Cwm vibrant Acers. season at Erddig guided Fungi Foray at Chirk Llwch horseshoe walk in the Castle. Hear all about how we Brecon Beacons and you’ll be We are celebrating the stories look after the grassland to allow rewarded with stunning scenery of the wonderful women at our the fungi to thrive and have a go and a view like no other, of the places throughout the year. Hear at some fungi identification. legendary glistening lake, Llyn all about the Bodnant Garden Cwm Llwch. suffragists and their sixty-year It’s squirrel month at Plas fight for votes for women on the Newydd, and in celebration of Celebrate the harvest season new ‘Unbind the Wing’ garden the red squirrel population that throughout October at Erddig, trail. call Plas Newydd home, there’s where there will be cider press a jam-packed programme of demonstrations, apple trails In the spirit of a spooky season, squirrel and woodland themed and a line-up of local music and experience the Spooktacular events for all ages throughout entertainment. At Llanerchaeron Halloween trail at Aberdulais, or October. you can see what goes on behind take a torchlight tour at Tredegar the scenes on a tour of the House and uncover the secrets It’s the perfect season to enjoy apple orchards, test your apple behind the closed doors of the the wonderful Welsh landscape identification and enjoy fun mansion at night. on foot. Try the circular walk family activities. from Ganllwyd in Snowdonia Every autumn adventure you where you can spot the For a glimpse of autumn colour, have helps us look after the impressive Rhaeadr Ddu waterfall follow the nature trail and take places that made it special. and you might catch a glimpse in the autumn scenery through Extraordinary experiences are of the cute conservation grazers, the grounds of Penrhyn Castle closer than you think, so make highland cattle Hamish and Iorri. or have a wander around Powis your autumn an amazing one. Autumn colours in the garden at Powis Pembrokeshire seal pups, sport and scarily good fun September and October are all about seal pup season in Pembrokeshire, with West Wales home to around 5,000 Atlantic grey seals. At this time of year, the pups are born along the There’s scarily good fun planned for half-term coast and you can often spot the very cute new and Halloween too. Colby Woodland Garden arrivals on our more secluded beaches. is hosting wicker man activities, Stackpole is getting crafty with pumpkin pottery painting, Our rangers are gearing up for a series of guided Southwood Farm is weaving a spooky spider trail seal pup walks at Pwll Deri and the Marloes and Tudor Merchant’s House gets hands-on with Peninsula; they’re a must for wildlife watchers pomander making. and mini explorers too. If you’re all about outdoor exercise then there’s As a new addition for this year, we’ve also the Barafundle Bay Trailathlon and our annual teamed up with Runwayskiln café and Preseli festive fun run at Stackpole to enjoy. Venture, to provide a food and drink as part of the adventure. Visit: nationaltrust.org.uk/pembrokeshire For more ideas or further information visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk/wales Plenty to see and do. Go to: www.nationaltrust.org.uk/wales or follow us on NT Wales @NTWales and @YGCymru @NTWales Autumn 2018 1 On your doorstep South-West A word from 60 seconds with Jamie Roberts Wales our Director He’s enjoyed the special outdoor places Wales has to offer since he Tensions rise for the deer rut buried his dad in the sand when he hile there was little. So we spent 60 seconds is much W with international rugby star, Everybody who visits us at Dinefwr says how much they love the colourful transformation of our uncertainty woodlands during the autumn. surrounding Brexit Jamie Roberts, to find out what and its implications, he thinks about his new role as an The towering canopies are awash The rutting season happens in early It will host a series of after-dark there is also a clear Ambassador for the National Trust. with gold and orange leaves, there are October and we highly recommend events in its haunted house on 26, opportunity to shape crunchy walks through our forest trails a walk on the Capability Brown 27 and 31 October before being the future of farming What inspired you to work with the and there’s a good chance to experience trail to get the best view. Whilst dressed up brightly for Christmas in a way that brings National Trust? “When I was growing up, we wildlife encounters galore, as nature on the footpath, keep an eye until the year is out. positive outcomes for didn’t go abroad much, we spent most of our prepares for the cold snap ahead. out for the brand new woodland farmers, nature and time exploring the outdoor across the UK. wildlife spotter trail. It was installed The popular Dinefwr Christmas wildlife for the long term. One exhilarating wildlife spectacle earlier in the year in celebration of Fair will take place over three Current discussions on the future of “My parents took my brother David and I, to look out for at Dinefwr Park in ‘Lady Cecil’s – Mother of Nature’ days this year, from 23 to 25 farming have identified two major challenges: on walks every weekend, where we created Llandeilo, is the fallow deer rut. exhibition. November. the subsidy system and the way intensive some of my favourite childhood memories. Tensions rise as the biggest and farming is seriously threatening the condition most impressive bucks compete At half-term, pumpkin carving Visit: www.nationaltrust.org.uk/ of land. “When I was approached to support the for the right to father the next and Halloween crafts will keep the dinefwr Shaping the future of farming post-Brexit National Trust, I jumped at the chance. I generation by clashing antlers in a children busy from 27 to 31 October allows us the chance to tackle both these know how many of the places I’ve explored heated battle. at Newton House. challenges in a way that can bring positive and are looked after by the Trust and I’m keen vital outcomes for both nature and people. to encourage as many people as possible This is something we have been pushing in to discover the benefits of spending time the National Trust for some time now. outdoors. Plus, I knew my parents would be We don’t say we have all the answers. But really chuffed!” we feel we are doing things and working with Jamie & David Big Beach Clean Harvesting apples others in a way that shows we want to get the Where are your favourite places in Wales? Sugar Loaf right answers that benefit farmers and deliver “My favourite mountain would have to be Jamie & David Jamie - Rhosili wider public good for the long run. Pen y Fan. It is so close to Cardiff so as a Pen y Fan Challenge at Llanerchaeron As well as shaping discussions and child, any spare day or weekend would be consultations with partner bodies, and spent up there. “I love dogs, I really want to get one but will I missed when living in London. Don’t get As autumn approaches on Gower, we’ll be During the crisp autumn months, Llanerchaeron erupts with colour the Welsh Government’s consultation on have to wait until I retire! So it’s no surprise me wrong, London has some great outdoor celebrating the final beach cleans as part of and a celebration of the self-sufficient way of life, as harvest time Brexit and land management, we have been “I walked it with the Wales team as a part of that the tragic story of Beddgelert, is one of spaces in the form of parks, but you can’t our Big Beach Clean Challenge. approaches. energetically developing good practice that our pre-World Cup training in 2015. And I my favourite fables and going to see Gelert’s lose yourself in the greenery like you can in can help influence future direction. loved getting stuck in to stone pitching with grave is a must-do when in Snowdonia.” Wales. Our rangers have led a monthly series of events The first event will be the Farming more than 60 varieties of apple, We have some fantastic success stories the volunteers back in April. to try to combat the ever-increasing plastic and Rural Life Celebration Day including rediscovered Welsh where farming, nature and wildlife are What inspires you to spend time in the “Helping the Trust to find four nature problem on our beaches. This year, you’ve on Saturday, 22 September. varieties and the Keswick Codling working together for the greater good. You “My choice for a summer’s day would be outdoors? “Spending time outdoors helps Ambassadors has highlighted how many helped us clear tonnes of rubbish off the Gower This year, join the Ceredigion grown in the 16th century. can read more about them in the nature Rhosili. We used to holiday in Whiteford Bay me to escape the everyday noise, the other people rely on the outdoors to beaches.