Cestyll Gwydir ac Upton Gerddi Cymru

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-Did you know that Wales

-has hundreds of registered gardens?

-Big or small, formal or wild.

-Every garden delights the visitors

-that arrive every year.

-I'll visit some to show you the

-wealth that is on our own doorstep.

-Yes, it's the golden age

-of the garden.

-Welcome to Gerddi Cymru.

-Every garden is unique, but it's

-not often one discovers a garden...

-..that has stayed true to one

-particular period in history.

-You step through that small door

-in the large door...

-..and enter a perfect Tudor world.

-A house and garden

-has been frozen in time.

-So much so,

-that both are Grade I Listed.

-I don't think there are

-many of these in Wales.

-This Tudor masterpiece

-from the Middle Ages...

-..sits in ten acres of lush gardens

-on the banks of the Conwy River.

-This is Gwydir Castle.

-The castle is near Llanrwst...

-..a historical town

-dating back to the fifth century.

-Llanrwst was built

-on the wool industry...

-..but now its fortunes

-relies heavily on tourists.

-One attraction for them is Gwydir

-Castle and its enchanting gardens.

-The grand house and lush gardens

-that surround us here today...

-..suggest that the family

-were respected and influential.

-Their identity seems to

-undermine all of this.

-With their roots going back to

-the Welsh kings and nobility...

-..the Wynn family had the wealth,

-influence and presence...

-..in this small corner of Wales.

-Other residents now make

-Gwydir famous.

-Wherever you wander in the gardens

-you'll see peacocks...

-..and they're not shy either!

-The peacocks are as attractive

-as the design of the gardens.

-They complement the traditional

-Tudor style of the design...

-..something the floral designer,

-Sioned Edwards, particularly enjoys.

-The Tudors favoured order,

-as seen in this garden.

-Yes, definitely.

-It's a quintessential Tudor garden.

-They tried to regulate everything.

-Behind the wall, we can see nature,

-the mountains and woodlands...

-..but they maintained the garden

-by trimming everything...

-..such as topiary and yew trees.

-Symmetrical patterns mattered.

-The avenue of yew trees

-reflects this.

-The garden looks a lot simpler

-than its early images.

-There were terraces, flower beds

-and a lot of squares and lines.

-Its style has also been inspired by

-Dutch gardens in the Netherlands...

-..with inviting pathways

-to wander with guests.

-This is the concept behind it.

-Apart from flowers in the pond,

-there's very little colour here.

-It's a very green garden.

-But people didn't travel much and

-didn't bring flowers back with them.

-They designed different shapes on

-the trees to make it interesting.

-But during Tudor times

-it signified human strength...

-..and the fact

-they could pursue women!

-From looking at this lawn,

-there's a lot of strength here!

-The castle sits comfortably

-into the landscape.

-The grey stone contracts beautifully

-with the lush greenery.

-The dozens of chimneys

-were built unusually tall...

-..to reflect the power and strength

-of the owners.

-This mighty property was built

-in a revolutionary way...

-..and attracted a lot of attention.

-The local gentry,

-Gwynedd in particular...

-..who visited

-this style of property...

-..would've been aware of

-its surrounding gardens.

-Gwydir Castle has a rich history

-stretching back almost 500 years.

-Historian, Catrin Wager delights

-in the historical gardens...

-..and the famous family

-which lived here.

-Gwydir's history is ancient

-and incredibly significant.

-I'm not exaggerating

-when I say the Wynns...

-..were one of the leading

-gentry families in North Wales...

-..if not Wales.

-It's a very interesting period.

-The Act of Union

-and a governmental system...

-..reflected the system in England.

-The Wynns were given roles

-to govern the new laws.

-They were sheriffs and lieutenants.

-They had important roles associated

-with the Monarch and Parliament.

-This proves they were one of

-the leading families in the area.

-Important figures lived here...

-..including Katheryn of Berain who

-is known as the Mother of Wales...

-..and John Wynn,

-the first Baronet of Gwydir.

-This house was a destination

-for aristocracy in North Wales.

-The garden was an important part

-of the attraction.

-We had moved from projecting power

-via military form...

-..to projecting it through wealth.

-Conspicuous consumption enabled us

-to create lavish homes and gardens.

-And a lot of money was poured

-into Gwydir Gardens.

-In Tudor times, a stylish garden

-was a symbol of status...

-..and decorum.

-Welsh nobility were eager to

-design gardens that were striking...

-..and fashionable.

-A traditional Tudor court garden

-that sits in front of Gwydir Castle.

-This section of the garden

-has three aspects.

-The wisteria, the peacocks

-and this knot garden.

-All three came here

-at the same time.

-What era was this

-as they're not originals?

-No, they're not originals.

-Sir Charles Barry

-designed this area in 1828.

-He also designed

-the House of Commons.

-The wisteria was planted

-and the peacocks are still here.

-This knot garden

-was like a hobble for him.

-Something similar to this

-was here originally...

-..but instead of buxus

-there was lavender and rosemary.

-Herbs were also grown inside.

-The pattern is also in the shape

-of the Tudor rose.

-It used to be a lot bigger

-with petals around it.

-But only this section exists now.

-The concept stemmed from the

-popularity of embroidery...

-..during this period.

-The art of needlework

-inside the home...

-..was also displayed outside.

-The patterns can be seen in nature.

-It's lovely.

-During the Middle Ages

-and 18th century...

-..it was fashionable for

-the wealthy to employ a poet...

-..to sing about

-their homes and gardens.

-In many ways, it's the only record

-we've got about their lifestyles.

-John Wynn employed Huw Machno

-as the family's poet.

-He sang about Gwydir Castle.

-'Orchards, lush gardens

-'A glorious park

-'Great fellows

-'Bright yellows, plentiful

-'A beautiful, tender smile

-'And its white dove-cote.'

-Bardic works not only give us

-an insight into past...

-..with some vivid images

-of these places...

-..but they also indicate what

-was relevant to the gentry.

-Huw Machno describes the garden

-and the house...

-..and the banquets

-that were held here.

-His work reflected how John Wynn

-wanted to be perceived in society.

-Sion Tudur describes a labyrinth

-that is no longer here.

-'A fair labyrinth

-'Green and fruitful

-'The work of gentle Daedalus

-'The ledge of Saint John's

-leafy towers

-'Sties like Helicon houses.'

-Goodness me.

-That's worth five pounds!

-What's so special about the garden

-at Gwydir Castle...

-..is that it has stayed true

-to the Tudor period.

-In Victorian times, when everyone

-added borders and palm trees...

-..the Wynn family still respected

-the original garden.

-In 1901, it reached the pages of

-Country Life for this very reason.

-The condition of the garden today

-is down to the present owners.

-Judy Corbett and Peter Welford

-have totally immersed themselves...

-..in renovating the castle

-and garden since 1994.

-The house was in a very poor state

-at that point.

-It had fallen into a serious state

-of disrepair.

-We've been busy re-roofing

-the entire house.

-It's very nice not to be living

-with buckets catching the rainwater.

-In December 2015, more than a bucket

-was needed to catch those raindrops.

-Terrible floods hit Llanrwst

-and the surrounding area.

-The historical garden

-at Gwydir Castle was underwater...

-..and it was almost lost completely.

-Despite the effects of the floods,

-the Gwydir gardens survived.

-New trees replaced those drowned...

-..and the ancient trees

-are still standing strong.

-A symbol of the garden's longevity.

-There are a few special ones

-amongst them.

-This is known as the Lovers Tree.

-Is there a reason

-why it's called Lovers Tree?

-No, I don't think so.

-It's a type of yew tree.

-Where lovers may have

-sheltered from the rain.

-Yes, maybe,

-and it's even older than the house.

-They claim it's between 600

-and 1,000 years old.

-But it's a massive attraction.

-All the trees here

-are steeped in history.

-They attract a lot of visitors.

-Twelve trees were planted here

-when Charles I got married.

-They were cedars from Lebanon and

-four of them remain standing today.

-That's about four centuries ago.

-And they are enormous!

-Gwydir Castle

-is back on its feet once again.

-For the time being,

-the future looks bright.

-Visit the magic and history of

-this small, green corner of Wales.

-You won't be disappointed.

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-With its mild climate

-and fertile land...

-..it's no surprise Pembrokeshire

-is known as the garden of Wales.

-This is a magical region

-filled with castles.

-However, Upton Castle is quite

-different to what you would expect.

-Upton Castle is a Norman manor.

-It's a symbol of oppression

-and power.

-You wouldn't expect to find

-a quaint, private garden here.

-Upton Castle is located

-near Pembroke Dock.

-It hides in a wooded valley

-which extends for 40 acres.

-An important historical location...

-..the beautiful landscape

-is perfect for a house and gardens.

-Over 900 years, it has developed as

-a luxurious home for notable owners.

-Each one has left their mark

-on the place.

-These days,

-the castle has private owners...

-..and they maintain

-the gardens themselves.

-Upton's design is very unique.

-You're unable to see

-the entire garden from one spot.

-It's like a series of boxes

-or various rooms...

-..and each one is secluded.

-The garden as a whole

-is full of hidden treasures.

-Its most amazing secret is the

-building next door to the castle.

-Not many can claim to have a Norman

-chapel instead of a garden shed!

-Historian, Catrin Wager loves this

-garden and what's hiding inside it.

-Gerald of Wales mentioned that

-there was a chapel at Upton.

-This dates it back to

-the late 12th century.

-There are features here

-that confirm this.

-The font in the centre

-dates around 1200.

-And a door would have been

-on this side.

-Typically, there would have been

-two doors facing each other...

-..which dates

-the chapel around 1200.

-Is this chapel older than the manor?

-Yes, it has been suggested.

-There are clues here

-that can confirm dates.

-This gentleman's uniform

-is from the late 14th century.

-There are documents that state

-William Malefant lived here.

-Features around the castle

-are from the same era as this.

-We're quite confident

-that the Malefant family...

-..would have worked on this

-building during that period.

-Whoever has lived here over the

-centuries, one thing is certain...

-..they needed food.

-Just as in every other good garden,

-Upton has its own vegetable patch.

-But the vegetable patch at Upton

-is a bit bigger than ours at home.

-Sioned Edwards joins me

-to disuses its design.

-This is another walled garden,

-Sioned.

-It's differs to others we've seen...

-..as it's still used to

-grow vegetables and fruit.

-Yes, it is.

-According to a book

-written in the 18th century...

-..this is a perfect walled garden

-in terms of its design.

-It flows down to the south

-but deviates towards the south-east.

-There's a great watering system.

-They never have to water plants,

-only the seeds.

-This system runs underground.

-This system runs underground.

-

-Yes, sections of it are exposed.

-The surrounding trees

-also provide extra shade.

-A wide variety of vegetables

-grow here.

-Each plant flourishes

-in the fertile soil...

-..that makes gardening in

-Pembrokeshire so successful.

-It is that soil which gives

-the adjoining garden...

-..its wonderful aroma and colour.

-This is the Rose Garden,

-but who planted it?

-It was Stanley Neal's daughter.

-He bought the place in 1927

-and lived here.

-He designed the terraces and rooms

-and his daughter planted everything.

-Joyce is 95 years old...

-..lives locally

-and visits the garden occasionally.

-New owners moved in ten years ago

-and the garden was in a poor state.

-They didn't know what to do.

-They worked hard to try

-and save the plants.

-They trimmed them right back...

-..and they look fantastic

-ten years on.

-Yes, and they look so healthy.

-And they're not easy to look after.

-But the foliage looks healthy

-and there's no sign of pests.

-Are there any rare plants here?

-There's a very unusual rose

-from the David Austin family.

-It's called the Moss Rose.

-There's a curious growth around

-the flower before it blooms.

-It seems to protect it

-and I've never seen this before.

-It's got a wonderful aroma.

-Just like the whole garden

-and the wonderful colours.

-This is another border

-but I must admit it's special.

-Yes, it's got a lovely shape

-and isn't in a straight line.

-It reflects circular shapes

-such as this pool.

-The curves make it more interesting.

-There are deep colours here.

-There are deep colours here.

-

-Yes, it's wonderful.

-These white peonies are great.

-There are cornflowers and foxgloves.

-It's paradise for someone like me

-who likes arrangements.

-There's so much here to cut

-and display.

-Yes, make use of them.

-Yes, make use of them.

-

-It's wonderful.

-It's also elevated, so you can

-look down over the trees.

-Yes, it acts like a stage,

-it's fantastic.

-Yes, it's lovely.

-On the other side of

-the formal gardens...

-..the owners have chopped down

-a few trees...

-..and opened a forest pathway at

-the furthest point of the garden.

-In this part of Pembrokeshire,

-you're never too far from the sea.

-But you'd never to expect to see it

-at the bottom of the garden.

-We're at the furthest point...

-..and we can't go any further

-as the sea is behind us!

-The sea was also important

-to the Normans.

-Yes, it gives us a clue why the

-Normans came to Pembrokeshire.

-The castles are all located

-on this enormous estuary...

-..of the River Cleddau and Carew.

-They acted like a highway

-and were incredibly important.

-These waters were also important for

-generations following the Normans.

-Yes, during modern times

-of the estate...

-..after the Malefants

-and the Bowens...

-..the estate was purchased

-by John Tasker, a sea captain.

-He was also a master attendant

-for the East India Company.

-He was responsible for the ships

-that came from Bombay with goods.

-In 1927, the estate was sold to

-Stanley Neal with sea connections.

-He ran a steamship business

-in Cardiff.

-His money and time helped with

-the development of the garden.

-He designed the terraces

-and planted exotic trees.

-The trees planted by Stanley Neal

-can be seen today.

-They are a unique collection

-to this area.

-I've never seen such

-a sad beech tree.

-It's the Weeping Beech.

-Me neither. It's amazing.

-It's so big.

-It's so big.

-

-It's enormous!

-It sits lovely opposite

-this gunnera plant.

-I've never seen leaves

-that big on a gunnera.

-This Wedding Cake tree

-is so pretty behind us.

-It resembles a graceful ballerina.

-There are some amazing trees here.

-They were planted 800 years ago.

-The owners claim

-they've grown twice as tall...

-..because

-there's a shaded valley here.

-They haven't been whipped

-by the wind.

-There are also some very special

-trees that are county champions.

-It means that they are better

-than other trees in the county.

-They're also part of a collection.

-I'm quite fond of this garden.

-You're able to visit and enjoy

-the plants and splendid trees.

-It's quite peaceful here.

-It's quite peaceful here.

-

-Yes, it is.

-It's very quiet.

-It's unassuming.

-It's unassuming.

-

-Indeed.

-Upton Castle and Gardens are one

-of Pembrokeshire's hidden secrets.

-It's an intriguing garden with

-plenty to discover in it...

-..and a paradise where you can

-lose yourself in its beauty.

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