The National Botanic Garden of Wales

Gardens

Dedicated to horticulture, conservation, science, education, leisure and the arts

The National Botanic Garden of Wales, dedicated to horticulture, conservation, science, education, leisure and the arts, is rapidly taking shape in the hills overlooking the beautiful Tywi Valley, Carmarthenshire. The Garden of Wales is a œ43.3 million project that has attracted œ21.7 million from the Millennium Commission. The Great Glasshouse, designed by Sir Norman Foster as the centrepiece of the new garden, is complete and the innovative planting scheme within it is underway. Already the public enjoy the Gatehouse, the Broadwalk with its rills, fountains and unique 220m long herbaceous borders, a necklace of lakes, an aquatic ecology laboratory, sluices and bridges, and appropriate technology biomass burner and sewage Living Machine. Inheriting the historical 568 acre Middleton Hall estate, developed by William Paxton in the late 1700s, has provided regency buildings, walled gardens, lakes, waterfalls and cascades for restoration. Past and present blend to give visitors a rich experience and an understanding of mankind's fundamental dependency upon the diversity and potential of plants in embracing a preferred and sustainable future. As the first national botanic garden to be built in the UK for 200 years, The National Botanic Garden of Wales is a new model for the 21st century. OPENING TIMES 29 March - 29 October: Daylight hours. Pre-booked groups (15+) on most dates. Full programme of 1999 preview days. Please telephone to book your places