Welsh Icons News | Cathedral says it with flowers

Golden Heritage Festival – this weekend

The Festival ends tomorrow (Sunday) with a Festival Service at 3.30pm. Tickets today cost £6 (children under 16 are free). Flower design demonstrations will be held at Llandaff Cathedral School on Saturday (TODAY), at 11am, 1pm and 3pm. They will be taken by NAFAS Area demonstrators. Workshops for children (accompanied) will take place at the Cathedral School at 12noon and 2pm TODAY.

Hundreds of flower lovers will spend this weekend at the most spectacular flower festival in South Wales this year.

More than 200 flower arrangers – from Haverfordwest to Hereford – have transformed Llandaff Cathedral into a blaze of floral glory to celebrate two golden anniversaries.

From carpets of flowers to cascades, garlands and wreaths and even a huge Welsh dragon (see photo attached), the magnificent building is bursting with 101 breathtaking arrangements and displays, both traditional and modern, as it hosts the Golden Heritage Festival of Flowers. The exciting floral designs shower the whole Cathedral in gold – from the renowned Majestas sculpture, the Rossetti painting and the stunning new organ to ancient caskets, sparkling stained glass windows and historic oak chests.

They are a labour of love by members of the Three Counties and South Wales branch of the National Association of Flower Arrangement Societies which is celebrating its 50th anniversary. It is a joint celebration as the event will also mark the 50th anniversary of the Queen’s visit and rededication of Llandaff Cathedral in 1960, following its extensive reconstruction from bomb damage in 1941.

Many of the designs depict themes inspired by the Cathedral and from around the area. These include the Welsh language, the slate industry, sailing around the Gower coast, stalagmites and stalactites at the famous Welsh National Show Caves at Dan Yr Ogof, Welsh dairy farming, Welsh costume, the Garden of Eden, steel works, harp music and the creation.

The Dean of Llandaff, the Very Revd John Lewis, said the three-day festival, which has been two years in the planning, showcases the talents of the army of volunteers who decorate churches week by week. He said, “We are delighted that Llandaff Cathedral is hosting this wonderful event. It is truly a celebration of the gifts of all those hundreds of people who devote hours of their time in churches across the land every week. The displays they so lovingly create enhance our worship by reminding us of the beauty of God’s creation.”

Andrew Lloyd, area chairman of the Three Counties and South Wales branch of NAFAS, said, “We are delighted to be taking part in the Golden Heritage Festival of Flowers at Llandaff Cathedral. Throughout the centuries, flowers have been used to decorate and enhance the beauty of this ancient building. This event promises to be a spectacular demonstration of the art of floral design and will be a magnificent accolade in the Area’s 50th year celebrations.”

All donations will go towards the £1.5m Cathedral Organ Appeal.

Enquiries to 029 2055 2002 or email [email protected]. Tickets may be purchased online at www.ticketsource.co.uk/llandaffcathedral.

The floral societies taking part are:

South-East Wales