The plants and the flowers are normally the star attractions at Aberglasney House and Gardens in the Tywi Valley. But they were put in the shade when Miss Wales, Sara Jessica Manchipp, turned up at the gardens for a photo-shoot.
The 21-year-old beauty from Port Talbot was the centre of attention, being followed around the gardens by a photographer from Red Handed magazine and a camera crew from the Welsh TV production company Teledu Telesgop “I had a lovely day here at Aberglasney,”
said fluent Welsh speaker Sara, who will be taking part in the 61st edition of the Miss World pageant at Earl’s Court on November 6. “The countdown is on for the Miss World event and I am really looking forward to taking part and flying the flag for Wales. “Events like today’s photo-shoot make you appreciate what delights we have in Wales.
The gardens here at Aberglasney are marvellous – and the rain held off to let us get out into all the best parts of the gardens.” Photographer Huw Walters was the man behind the lens for the Red Handed magazine shoot.
He said he was delighted to be taking the photos at Aberglasney: “It really does offer a wide selection of different backdrops for a photographer,” he said. “The scenery and the gardens are stunning and they make life so much easier when you are doing a photo-shoot like this one.”
The TV crew from Teledu Telesgop are currently filming Sara’s preparations for the Miss World pageant. A special documentary, called ‘Miss Byd’ is likely to be aired on S4C on November 10
Aberglasney Restoration Trust chief executive Roger Evans said he was delighted to welcome Sara to Aberglasney:
“The gardens are an excellent backdrop for any photographer and we are happy to deal with requests from photographers to use the gardens. The gardens are, of course, ideal for wedding photographs.
“There is a small facility fee for the use of the gardens and we establish rules for where and when you can film. But if anyone needs to know more, they can contact staff here at the gardens, telephone 01558 668998”
For more information about Aberglasney Gardens, visit the website – http://www.aberglasney.org
