(just a mile or so south off the A48 at St. Nicholas)
In September 2005, 24th and 25th to be exact, Dyffryn gardens opened up to the public for free! It was a European Heritage weekend and we
went along on a warm sunny autumn day to take a look at the gardens. My last
full visit was many years ago so I was very pleasantly surprised to see just
how much has been done by the gardening staff there.
They are said to be the finest surviving
Thomas Mawson gardens in Britain. The local authority owner is in the midst of
extensive renovation. During our visit, we felt to have only scratched the surface of all that was to
be seen.
Dyffryn also hosts weddings during the summer; one had just taken
place the previous day between one of the gardening staff and the head of the
catering staff!
On this day, the wedding marquee was being used for a
display of art by local artists.
There was an exhibition of local art in one of the
marquees on the extensive front lawns.
A giant tap made of I know not what.
Outside, there was a small exhibition of
agricultural steam engines.
No, she's not real, just there to
demonstrate the scale of things.
The extensive arboretum is in the background of this
shot.
A water feature and rockery just to the left of the
previous shot.
Lots of visitors today.
A guide was taking mini tours around the
principal features.
Into the arboretum we go, colours are beginning to
change.
There are many apple trees therein, I reckon they ought
to go into apple wine and/or cider production to sell in the visitor centre.
Very ripe and very good they look too.
Not sure what this is, but it's very
colourful.
A view of the house in the distance across the site for a
proposed lake.
Some pinky pampas grass in the foreground.
There is always an interesting view around the next
corner. An arch to frame the view is what photographers look for.
