The most spectacular flower festival in South Wales this year is about to begin.
More than 200 flower arrangers – from Haverfordwest to Hereford – are preparing to transform Llandaff Cathedral into a blaze of floral glory to celebrate a golden anniversary.
The magnificent building will be bursting with 101 breathtaking arrangements and displays, both traditional and modern, as it hosts the Golden Heritage Festival of Flowers. The exciting floral designs will shower the whole Cathedral in gold – from the renowned Majestas sculpture and the stunning new organ to ancient caskets, sparkling stained glass windows and historic oak chests.
They will be 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 will be 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.
The Dean of Llandaff, the Very Revd John Lewis, said the three-day festival, which has been two years in the planning, would showcase 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.”
The event will be held on August 5-7. There will be a gala preview evening and champagne reception – open to all by ticket – on Wednesday 4 August at 7pm and then opening hours for individuals and coach parties are Thursday 5th to Saturday 7th August between 10am and 5.30pm.
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.
Two of the arrangers:
Katharine Lee
Katharine Lee is vice-chairman of the Three Counties and South Wales Area of NAFAS, with more than 30 experience of flower arranging. She’s using materials from her own garden near Llanboidy to create a pedestal exhibit at the Cathedral in the style of the world renowned flower arranger, Constance Spry.
“In 1974, with the aid of books and containers borrowed from my flower-arranging grandmother, I took the Girl Guide badge in floral art. This was to start what has become a lifelong interest in working with plant materials. I joined the local NAFAS Flower club and attended evening classes to expand my knowledge and skills. When the time came to leave school, I studied at the Constance Spry Flower School learning floristry and flower arranging. This led to a teaching post at Winkfield Place, Berkshire, where my appreciation of garden flowers and foliages was strengthened.
“Over the 36 years since I first displayed flowers in a container, I have seen many different influences change the way we arrange plant materials. This, to me, is the most exciting thing about our art. We are constantly adapting and learning. We also have so many different plants to work with, from tiny snowdrops and violets, through to large imported exotic leaves and flowers. The transient nature of our work also has an appeal. I always feel that if my work has given pleasure to one person, it has been a success, if more, a resounding success.
“I am qualified to teach in adult education and worked at Pershore College of Horticulture for 12 years. People who make good flower arrangers tend to have a love of flowers, a good sense of proportion, patience, a sense of humour and some strength to lift and carry buckets of water and stands! I enjoy travelling countrywide to visit clubs and associations, sharing my love of this art.
“I consider myself fortunate to live on a small-holding near Llanboidy, where I appreciate being able to grow many plants to cut for my floral art displays. I do not have a favourite material as such, but I prefer to use ‘garden grown’ flowers and foliages as much as possible. I choose what is in season and in good condition although I’m growing Amaranthus (Love lies bleeding) and Artichoke foliage especially for Llandaff.”
Gloria Davies
Welsh-speaker Gloria Davies (pictured above) is a NAFAS area demonstrator and a farmer in Ammanford. She is arranging two exhibits at the Cathedral – an ancient oak chest in the Processional Way and the remains of the 13th Century “priests’ bench” at the High Altar which was damaged by the bomb in 1941.
“As soon as I saw the ancient oak chest, with well crafted metal crosses on it, I knew exactly what to do with it. It would hold the treasures brought back to Wales from Jerusalem by the three Welsh saints – an altar for St David, a bell for St Teilo and a staff for St Padarn. The staff is a shepherd’s crook I’ve borrowed from my husband John and I’m using materials from my garden at Penyrheol, such as driftwood, Jerusalem sage, palms, pampas grass and evening primrose.
“The exhibit at the high altar recreates the original Sedilia or ‘priests’ bench’ – seats which were richly decorated with carved canopies, moulded shafts and pinnacles. They had the four Gospels represented on them along with foliage, flowers, feathers and birds. My exhibit is double-sided and will have four gilded wooded triangles for the Gospels, adorned with 160 gilded Phormium tenax leaves plaited into rose shapes and a range of other gilded leaves. The birds are portrayed with carved wooden Pelican, Dove, Robin, Partridge, TomTit and Woodpecker with feathers of Pheasant, White Peacock, Pigeon and Crow.
“I began flower arranging when I was 16 and in the Llandybie YFC. I became an area demonstrator for NAFAS in 1997 and teach flower arranging at Carmarthen and Llandeilo Education Centres, the National Botanical Garden of Wales, Aberglasney, and Groundsworks Caerphilly. I have won a bronze medal at the Chelsea Flower Show, arranged flowers at the Royal Welsh Show, and been Supreme Champion at the Winter Fair. I have also designed major exhibitions at my own chapel, Ebenezer at Ammanford, at St John’s Maesteilo Church at Capel Isaac and at St Michael’s church, Ammanford.
“It’s a great delight to be an area demonstrator, travelling around, meeting and making new friends through the medium of flowers. Flowers are Nature’s gifts and the passion, skills, techniques, styles, creativity and challenges of interpretation of any title using all aspects of plant material is so thrilling.”
