Wales Tourism and Visit Planning

The controversy over plans for a lavish garden in remembrance of Diana, Princess of Wales that we announced in August is continuing. Following confirmation that the Royal National Rose Society, the organization planning the garden as an extension of its existing garden at St Albans, is having its plans for the garden investigated by the Charity Commission, the society will also have to face questions from its members. holiday in wales

The controversy has arisen over the fund-raising role of the American BOnnie Masterman in the light of reports that she would earn $5 million from the successful completion of the project. holiday wales

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Chelsea's Japanese Garden in Wales UK Greenfingers Chelsea's Japanese Garden in Wales: UK gardening tips advice on Chelsea's Japanese Garden in Wales Chelsea's Japanese Garden in Wales

The Japanese Garden which was voted the best show garden and won a gold medal at the 2001 Chelsea Flower Show has just been opened at a new permanent home in the grounds of the National Botanic Garden of Wales. caravan holiday in wales

The new botanic garden was opened in May 2000 to much acclaim for the design of its main building and it is already firmly established among the ranks of the distinguished and older botanic gardens around Britain. camping holiday wales

The show garden, sponsored for the Chelsea Flower Show by the Daily Telegraph newspaper and designed by Prof Masao Fukuhara, will add a new dimension to the botanic garden's design features. At the same time it will provide a lasting legacy of the 'Japan 2001' festival which celebrated Japanese arts and culture in a series of events around Britain. accommodation holiday wales

Watch Greenfingers first televison advertisement by clicking the play button on the media player below. All products are now available in our garden superstore. Click here to enter our store. <strong>Click Here</strong> Video requirements: holiday last minute wales

• You will need Windows Media Player to view the advert - If your pc does not have this player you will be asked to download it. This may take several minutes due to the large file size. catering holiday self wales

Estimated Download Time: 10, 187kb @ 28.8kb = 49 mins

• Due to the video's file size (1.6MB) you may have to wait a few minutes before you can view the ad, depending on your modem speed. Estimated Download Time: 1.6mb @ 28.8kb = 9 mins or 1.6mb @ 56kb = 5 mins holiday wales walking

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Ideal Home Exhibition Our Guarantee tv ad2 tv advert ===========End Middle Content ============== Garden Shop End of Summer Sale August Special Offers Garden Furniture Wooden Garden Furniture Compost Bins & Accessories family holiday wales

RHS Honorary Fellow UK Greenfingers RHS Honorary Fellow: UK gardening tips advice on RHS Honorary Fellow RHS Honorary Fellow

The Royal Horticultural Society has awarded the rare accolade of an honorary fellowship of the society to Donald Hearn who has recently retired after 15 years as the RHS's Secretary and Finance Director. holiday riding wales

Mr Hearn joins an elite group of only 14 other current honorary fellows, including Lady Anne Berry and Mrs Helen Robinson who donated two of the RHS's most popular gardens, Rosemoor in Devon and Hyde Hall in Essex. adventure holiday wales

Gardening 365

The website Gardening 365 (previously Oxalis) has recently closed but we are delighted to be able to welcome you exclusively to Greenfingers. We feel confident that you will enjoy our wide range of content, our personal e-mail advice service provided for us by the Professional Gardener's Guild, and - not least - our extensive superstore which covers all elements of your garden from plants to children's toys and gifts. holiday park south wales

To welcome you to Greenfingers we'd like to offer you a special 0 off your first order provided you spend 0 or more. To claim the offer just type the code GG365 into the voucher code box on your shopping basket page. cottage holiday wales

Expert Rules Gardening Books UK Greenfingers Expert Rules Gardening Books: UK gardening tips advice on Expert Rules Gardening Books 'Expert' Rules Gardening Books

In our life dominated by superstars and 'personalities' it is refreshing indeed that the world of gardening books enjoys an extraordinary dominance by one of the industry's most self-affacing and anonymous characters. So much so that his publishers say they 'never see nor hear from the author.' holiday in wales

The character in question is the 'Expert' aka Dr D.G. Hessayon whose series of practical gardening books goes from strength to strength. In 2000 his various titles accounted for an astonishing 42% of the total value of the top 30 gardening books published in the UK. holiday wales

This year it looks like being even better: so far 'Expert' different books fill 12 of the top 15 slots and only those well-promoted tv stars from Gardeners' World and Ground Force get a look-in with one book each (Gardeners' World Complete Book of Gardening, and 'Ground Force Practical Garden Projects), as does the equally well-promoted Royal Horticultural Society with the RHS Plants for Places. cottage holiday in wales

There's a huge following field including luminaries old and young from Christopher Lloyd to Rachel de Thame. But the 'Expert' is definitely out in front alone and looks like staying there. caravan holiday in wales

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Historic Garden Row

One of England's most important 18th century gardens would seem to be heading towards the problems that come with the break-up of an estate. Spring Wood in Hampshire is an extremely rare example of a large formal woodland garden dating from the early years of the 18th century. Most of the these gardens all disappeared in the 'natural' landscape movement which followed during most of the 18th century. accommodation holiday wales

The garden was created as part of the Hackwood Park estate, but on the death of the estate's late owner, the newspaper magnate Lord Camrose, the estate was sold off in lots - one of which comprised the Spring Wood garden. holiday last minute wales

The 80-acre site contains formal paths and avenues cut through woodland and decorated with a series of outstanding ornaments and buildings, including the Menagerie, designed by the architect James Gibbs. catering holiday self wales

Now, the new owner of Spring Wood, Martin Wood, a barrister, has run into trouble with his local council because he wants to live in the Menagerie. He says it is necessary for him to be able to look after the historic gardens, the council says the building does not have planning permission for residential purposes so he can't live there. holiday wales walking

At the same time, any plans Mr Wood might have for felling and renewing the tree plantations in the garden - inevitable with a garden of such antiquity, is for the moment stopped by a tree preservation order imposed by the council on the whole garden. family holiday wales

Garden history experts are - for the moment - being diplomatic on the issue. But while Mr Wood clearly is justified in considering Spring Wood his private property, he also purchased in full knowledge that he was acquiring a landscape site of national importance which, inevitably, comes with responsibilities. And the council should improve on the examples in frequent similar instances and go beyond bureaucracy to a positive interest in the future of a heritage jewel in their area. holiday riding wales

TV Gardeners

The burgeoning romance between gardening television and its audience continues according to the latest annual survey of the gardening industry published by Mintel. But the report also suggests that many armchair gardeners remain that, and do not easily develop into active gardeners keen to get their hands dirty. adventure holiday wales

The report suggests that the popularity of gardening television shows was vital to to the total .3 billion that was spent in British garden centres in 2000. In addition to traditional keen gardeners, many people visit and spend money at garden centres to achieve a garden that looks good but does not require a great deal of maintenance. They regard the activities of gardening: mowing the lawn, weeding, or pruning, as tasks to be done when necessary, not as an enjoyable relaxing pastime. holiday park south wales

Television shows are credited with expanding the audience of people interested in gardening to younger age groups than traditional active gardeners. But it would appear that it still requires the passage of time before the gardening bug really bites. cottage holiday wales

October Records UK Greenfingers October Records: UK gardening tips advice on October Records October Weather Records

It has been confirmed that the month just finished was the warmest October since records began in 1659. Combined with plenty of rain this had the effect of extending this year¯ gardening season as plants continued to flower and put on growth. holiday in wales

In some mild parts of the country it has also resulted in signs of next year¯ spring appearing months early. In the south-west of England, where spring always comes much earlier than in other areas, early daffodils have been seen already pushing up through the soil. holiday wales

Whether or not such weather patterns can be attributed to global warming has not been established. But whatever the reasons, the long-term prospect of such warm weather extending well beyond the usual autumn limits would have interesting implications for the plant cycles in most British gardens. cottage holiday in wales

Historic Prospect Preserved For a Posy UK Greenfingers Historic Prospect Preserved For a Posy: UK gardening tips advice on Historic Prospect Preserved For a Posy Historic Prospect Preserved For a Posy

One of the most important and famous views of the London landscape, from Richmond Hill across Petersham Meadows to the River Thames, has been saved from destruction by developers. caravan holiday in wales

The virtues of such landscapes were especially admired in the 18th century and since then the view has been immortalised by a number of artists, most illustrious of whom was J.M.W. Turner who recorded the scene more than once. camping holiday wales

The victory has come as the result of a decision by Richmond Council to hand over ownership of the 30 acres of Petersham Meadows to a conservation trust headed by Chris Brasher, the former Olympic runner. The Petersham Trust have been awarded a 125-lease on the site, conservatively estimated to be worth 5 million for dev elopment, for the annual rent of a posy of wildflowers. accommodation holiday wales

The view had long been celebrated when, in 1902, the then owner of the land the Earl of Dysart, gave the land to the citizens of Richmond and it passed into the ownership of the council. At the time a government act was passed with the intention of preserving the view, but in recent years the funds available to the council from developing the site made this a real threat. holiday last minute wales

Speaking as the decision was announced after leading a five-year campaign by local residents Chris Brasher said; che view epitomises what England is all about and it¯ only nine miles from Hyde Park Corner what a miracle. br> catering holiday self wales

Rare Apple Discovered UK Greenfingers Rare Apple Discovered: UK gardening tips advice on Rare Apple Discovered Rare Apple Discovered

A variety of cooking apple recorded as not having been grown in Britain since 1946 has turned up at one of the many Apple Day events recently held around the country. holiday wales walking

A ^rofit cooker was taken to the Apple Day event at Dorchester College of Agriculture in Dorset. But unfortunately, in the excitement of taking the rare apple¯ identity, everyone forget to take the owner's details. Apple experts or pomologists, are anxious to contact the owner so that they can take a graft of the tree to add to the Royal Horticultural Society¯ collection and ensure that the Profit does not disappear again. family holiday wales

Italy in Wales UK Greenfingers Italy in Wales: UK gardening tips advice on Italy in Wales Italy in Wales

Wales already has Britain's most flamboyant Italianate fantasy landscape and gardens at Portmeirion, created in the 20th century by the eccentric architect Clough Williams-Ellis. holiday riding wales

Now the country has another, slightly smaller, but no less ingenious and flamboyant essay in Italian garden style - in a back garden in the small mid-Welsh town of Corris, near Machynlleth. 79-year-old Mark Bourne has been filling his garden with concrete models of the places he has seen and loved on a succession of Italian holidays over the last 16 years. The sloping site is now decorated with 30 models including versions of Venice's Rialto Bridge, Pisa's Leaning Tower, Florence's Duomo and Rome's Tempietto. adventure holiday wales

Britain's Woodlands UK Britain's Woodlands

It seems hard to believe but a recent survey claims that there is as much woodland in Britain today as there was in the time of Robin Hood. It would also surprise many people that the most common tree, at 16%, is one of the most ancient and revered - the oak. holiday park south wales

The National Inventory of Woodland and Trees, recently produced by the Forestry Commission, gives evidence of 1.3 billion trees growing in Britain that cover a total 8.4% of the country. It is this percentage which, apparently, has not been achieved since 1250. cottage holiday wales

There are a number of explanations for the news, but there seems no doubt that the storms of 1987 encouraged a strong change in public opinion that has also produced a great deal of activity in the years since then. holiday in wales

Volunteers all over the country monitor their local woods and plant trees; the Woodland Trust has seen its membership grow by 60% in the last two years to over 100, 000 and there are people who go on holidays specially to take part in tree-planting programmes. holiday wales

There are ambitious plans to plant whole new forests covering hundreds of acres, but perhaps most significant is the quantity of former industrial or commercial sites that had become wasteland that have been reclaimed and planted with trees. A good example is the site of a former coal mine within the area of the original Sherwood Forest roamed by Robin Hood and his men, which has recently been reclaimed with a plantation of 25, 000 saplings. cottage holiday in wales

Christmas at Kew

Few gardens in Britain can rival the royal connexions of the Royal Botanic Garden, Kew and those connexions allow the garden to correct a long-held royal story of Christmas. caravan holiday in wales

It has always been understood that the German Prince Albert who married Queen Victoria during the 19th century introduced the tradition of decorating a 'Christmas' tree from his German homeland. But Kew maintains that it was an 18th century German member of the royal family, Queen Charlotte, wife of George III, who first introduced the tradition. This and a number of other Christmas traditions are explained during the next few weeks. Visitors to the Holly Walk, the largest collection of hollies in Europe, will find out that the tradition of holly at this time of year goes back to the Romans who gave holly with presents for the festival of Saturnalia, believing that the prickly leaves drove spirits away. camping holiday wales

Frankincense and myrrh can be discovered in the Princess of Wales conservatory. All these seasonal curiosities are revealed on a series of walking tours of the gardens led by experts. The walks take place daily from 1st-24th December, leaving at 11am and 2pp from the guide's desk at the Victoria Gate Visitor Centre. accommodation holiday wales

Chief Executive for National Gardens Scheme UK Greenfingers Chief Executive for National Gardens Scheme: UK gardening tips advice on Chief Executive for National Gardens Scheme Chief Executive for National Gardens Scheme

The National Gardens Scheme, which organises the nationwide opening of gardens for charity through it's famous annual publication 'The Yellow Book' has announced the appointment of a new chief executive. holiday last minute wales

Beryl Evans has joined the NGS from the Red Cross and she is also Chairman of the Institute of Public Relations' Training and Professional Development Committee. She takes up her post in time to lead the NGS through its 75th anniversary next year. In 2000 the Yellow Book included some 3, 500 gardens and the openings raised some .5 million distributed to more than a dozen charities including Macmillan Cancer Relief and the Gardener's Royal Benevolent Fund. catering holiday self wales

Gardening Beatle

George Harrison, the lead guitarist of the Beatles pop group, who has died from cancer aged 58, was the first garden-loving rock star - a group that would late include other luminaries such as Elton John, Mick Jagger and Sting. holiday wales walking

In 1980, when Harrison published his limited edition autobiography entitled I, Me, Mine, he dedicated it to 'gardeners everywhere'. In 1971, a year-after the Beatles broke up, Harrison purchased Friar Park in Oxfordshire, a fantastical late-Victorian gothick mansion. The house had been built in 1896 for Sir Frank Crisp a devoted student of garden history, who surrounded the house with thirty acres of equally amazing gardens of which the forte was a 30-ft model of the Matterhorn. family holiday wales

When Harrison purchased Friar Park the gardens had falled into disrepair but over a period of years he meticulously restored the major features - including the Matterhorn - and the series of underground passages, caves and grottoes that Crisp had built. holiday riding wales

Crisp's collection of garden gnomes were also redistributed around the garden and Harrison also put out the original signs saying 'Don't keep off the grass.' Harrison's love of gardening was very private but he was a regular if discreet visitor to Chelsea and occasional other Royal Horticultural Society Shows. If he had a particular floral interest it was growing orchids, but in his extensive and painstaking restoration of the Friar Park gardens he made a significant contrbution to garden history. adventure holiday wales

World Heritage Status for Kew UK Greenfingers World Heritage Status for Kew : UK gardening tips advice on World Heritage Status for Kew World Heritage Status for Kew

The Government has announced that the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, has been nominated as Britain's 2002 entry for nomination as a World Heritage Site. holiday park south wales

The awards are made annually by Unesco and so far out of the 721 sites or monuments the only botanic garden is the oldest in the world, Orto Botanica, Pisa, founded in the 1540s. Kew cannot claim such antiquity and the oldest botanic garden in Britain is actually at Oxford ( founded 1621). cottage holiday wales

Kew grew from the gardens surrounding the two 18th-century royal homes of Kew and Richmond with the first botanic garden begun by Princess Augusta, wife of Frederick, Prince of Wales, and mother of George III. It was not until 1841 that the garden became a national scientific and horticultural institute, which it has remained ever since. holiday in wales

Today Kew is unqiestionably the most important and respected botanical and horticultural institution in the world. This status, combined with the historical importance of the 300-acre garden site: rare and precious specimens of trees and other plants; great buildings some dating from the 18th-century royal days when the architect William Chambers and gardener 'Capability' Brown worked here, others like the famous Pagoda and Palm House from the 19th and the most recent built during the last few years, make the gardens a worthy candidate to join such illustrious British sites as Stonehenge and Hadrian's Wall - or international ones such as the Taj Mahal and Great Wall of China. holiday wales

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