It was ten years ago – in the year 2000 – that the National Botanic Garden of Wales first opened its gates. And it is now throwing open those same gates to celebrate this milestone anniversary.
A series of events have been arranged throughout the month to help the Garden’s celebrations go with a swing, including:
* Food Fair
* Wood Craft Weekend
* RSPB birdwatching weekends
* Talks, tours and trails around the Garden and the National Nature Reserve.
There will be a festival of local food and drink on the last weekend of January (Saturday 30 and Sunday 31 January) taking place undercover in the stunning surrounds of Lord Foster’s Great Glasshouse.
Toy-makers, wood-turners and lovespoon-carvers will be taking over the Great Glasshouse on the penultimate weekend (Saturday 23 and Sunday 24 January) for the Wood Craft Weekend.
There are two special Birdwatching Weekends, which will be put on with the help of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds. On Saturday 9 and Sunday 10 January there will be a schedule of walks and tours as well as talks and tips about how to feed the birds and how to attract them into your Garden.
Bird experts are hosting a second weekend of events (Saturday 30 and Sunday 31 January) to celebrate the annual RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch.
In addition, there will be special family activities every weekend in January – these take place in the Great Glasshouse.
There will also be a special menu in the Garden’s award-winning Seasons Restaurant. From January 3-31, it will be roasts on Sundays; Welsh fare every Monday; A ‘Great British Menu’ each Tuesday; Wednesday is Curry Day; Mediterranean Day on Thursdays; Friday is fish; with Chef’s Specials every Saturday. A freshly prepared vegetarian option will be available each day.
Head of Marketing and Communications David Hardy said:
There is a whole host of events throughout our tenth anniversary year to look forward to but we plan to start the year off on a bit of a high with FREE admission for all of January. We’re hoping to see lots of visitors and make some new friends, too.
For more information, call 01558 668768.
