Treborth Botanic Garden, near Bangor is celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2010. Now, during this special year, some of the garden’s hidden treasures have been revealed thanks to a grant from Forestry Commission Wales.
The garden, which occupies an enviable position overlooking the Menai Strait, is owned by Bangor University which bought the 40 acres of woodland and pasture in 1960.
Due to the variety of soil types and habitats that support native plants and animals, it offers a valuable teaching resource and is well used by university students and school groups.
Forestry Commission Wales, together with the Countryside Council for Wales, has helped to fund the restoration of the garden’s ancient woodlands.
The restoration work has included the removal of shrub species that were introduced in the 1800s, such as rhododendron and cherry laurel, to allow native plants, which are an important part of an ancient wood like the one at Treborth, to re-colonise the area.
Following the removal of these non-native shrubs, fine pathways and a lime avenue can be seen once again and, thanks to clearance work around the waterfall in the eastern area of the wood, magnificent views across the Menai Strait have been opened up.
Joseph Paxton, designer of Crystal Palace for the Great Exhibition in 1851, first landscaped the area in the 1850s. However the site was abandoned shortly afterwards, with the pleasure grounds and the hotel only partially finished, and the land reverted to pasture and woodland.
Over the years, the grounds and woodlands had become overgrown with ornamental non-native shrubs planted by the Victorians and the remains of Paxton’s design had become smothered while the magnificent views across the Menai Strait became hidden.
Curator of Treborth Botanic Garden Nigel Brown said, “I would like to thank Forestry Commission Wales and the Countryside Council for Wales for helping improve the woodlands at Treborth in such a significant way.
“As 2010 is the International Year of Biodiversity, eliminating ecologically inappropriate species and instigating management practices to encourage species diversity are surely the best contributions anyone can make.”
The historic woodlands are open daily to the public, free of charge. Guided tours are available on open days and special events are organised by the Friends of Treborth Botanic Garden who play a vital role in managing the 40 acre site. For more information, see www.treborthbotanicgarden.org
Grants to create new areas of woodland in Wales will be launched by Forestry Commission Wales in autumn 2010. For more details on the grant scheme, please contact 0300 068 0300 or see www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/infd-5z8jcr.
