Garden Visit: National Botanic Garden of Wales
We visited Wales recently and we always love to fit a garden visit when we are on holiday. With 400 acres to explore, a visit to the National Botanic Garden of Wales was sure to be a day packed full of adventure! Here are some of our highlights and reasons why YOU should visit the National Botanic Garden of Wales.
As soon as you arrive in the garden, there is impressive water features everywhere from cascades in the Visitor Centre, a lovely pond, gorgeous fountains but our favourite were the meandering rills making their way down the main pavement. Visitors often go to Rhyl but in this case, definitely go visit the rill!
A rill not a Rhyl!
We always love a Biome (see our previous blog about Cornwall!) so we were delighted to step inside the National Botanic Garden of Wales impressive glasshouse and be transported to South Africa and Australia and beyond!
The impressive biome
The giant tree stumps at the back of the glasshouse were a huge attraction to our girls. They spent ages climbing on them and we even had our picnic there! The best play park ever!
Tree stumps were a big win
This impressive building is the only part of William Paxton’s mansion that remains today. It was the servants’ quarters, brew house, laundry and kitchens. It survived the fire of 1931, which destroyed the main mansion.
Principality House
Another hit with the kids was the Bird of Prey Centre. There is an additional charge to visit the Bird of Prey Centre and if you want to watch the display there is a further fee for that too.
The bird of prey centre
As you would expect in any botanic garden, there was stunning plants to behold. We especially loved the rock garden which was beautifully maintained and had a glorious display of many decorative grasses, herbaceous and shrubs. The walled garden was fabulous too.
Stunning planting in the rock garden
This lovely window art caught our eye as we wandered around the gardens. Take a tired old shed and add rustic charm with these lovely window stickers. Isn’t it pretty?
Window art
Another favourite of ours are these corten steel planters which were dotted around the visitor centre. We love the sheer scale of them as well as the beautiful frothy planting spilling out.
Corten steel planters
You’re not in Wales if there isn’t a huge dragon sculpture. This fella was sleeping so were quite safe!
Huge dragon sculpture
There are amazing walks all around the grounds with woods and waterfalls to explore. You might spot some fairies along the way!
Lovely walks through woods
And if that isn’t enough of a reason there are shops, cafes, snack bars, play parks and lots and lots of walks to enjoy. Oh and kids get in free with their Blue Peter badges and there are dog friendly days too. Go visit!
Oh and guess what the Welsh word for Kids is…
The Welsh word for “Kids” is PLANT!
All at Vialii