One of the benefits of becoming a member of the Garden Club is being able to visit wonderful private gardens which are not generally open to the public. There have been many such visits over the years. Several in particular stand out as being very memorable.
We visited Craig-y-Bwla, near Llanbedr, by kind invitation of the owner Richard Chenevix-Trench in May 2018. Craig-y-Bwla is a woodland garden in a stunning setting flanking the Grwyne Fawr river in the foothills of the Sugar Loaf. The timing was perfect to enjoy the huge variety of mature trees in their Spring glory and the swathes of naturalised Camassias at their best.
I have personally known the garden for probably 40 years, as a previous owner hosted the Summer Fete for Llanbedr School in the grounds on several occasions. It was very interesting to have a guided tour with Richard and learn about his ambitions for developing the garden in the future.
Several years before we visited Lower House Garden, Cusop, created by Nicki and Peter Daw. The garden features in “Discovering Welsh Gardens’ written by our Garden Club president, Stephen Anderton, who describes the garden …’it’s not fiddly or sentimental, and although its roots are most definitely in cottage gardening, it has many contemporary elements and attitudes’. A stunning garden. Due to my inefficient/non-existent filing system I can’t find my photos taken when we visited, but I continue to enjoy the garden by following on Instagram. The garden is now managed by Peter, Nicki having sadly died, and Peter’s daughter regularly posts on Instagram.
Included in our programme of garden visits for 2003 was a visit to Llowes Court, which is a garden I have always wanted to visit. We visited one evening in early summer and had a wonderful introduction to the garden by the owner and garden creator, Susan Briggs, before being allowed to wander at will in this magical space. A folly, huge roses, a pavilion with views back across the garden to the handsome medieval house could suggest that this is a grand garden, but the wild is allowed in…and chickens. The beautiful restoration work on the cobbled yard (where the chickens live) particularly took my eye.
2024 visits included Mounton House, near Chepstow, a return visit to Craig-y-bwla, this time at hydrangea time, and a visit to Caisson Gardens near Bath.
Helena Gerrish, an expert on Arts & Crafts gardens was a speaker at the Club in our 2003/4 programme, speaking about her most recent book about Mounton House, Chepstow. We were privileged to be invited to join a tour of this very private garden, led by Helena, and joined by the gardening team, in June. Major restoration work has taken place and is on-going under the direction of garden designer, Arne Maynard. Some photos below.
In September we visited Caisson Gardens, a garden steeped in industrial history which is being brought to life by the owners. Here are some pictures. Those of us who visited decided that it would be wonderful to visit again in 2025 in June or early July when the wildflower meadows will be in their glory.
All in all, a wonderful treat to be able to visit these very special gardens and talk with the garden creators.
The committee has started thinking about the 2025 summer visits to gardens. If you have any ideas, please do pass them to one of the committee members.
Written by Sue Mabberley, who gardens at Nant-y-bedd Garden,
Committee Member
llanthonygardenclub.org 