Pennod 1 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.

-Pembrokeshire is famous for its

-fertile land, golden beaches...

-..and for having the perfect system

-of paths for wandering the area.

-Seaside towns like Tenby

-are a Mecca for tourists...

-..who flock here every summer

-to enjoy all the area has to offer.

-But there's one hidden gem

-in a remote part of the countryside.

-It's Picton Castle.

-You need money to create

-a large, glorious garden.

-It's inevitable that every large

-garden is linked with a grand home.

-In this case, it's a castle.

-It sits nobly on a small hill...

-..in 45 acres of glorious gardens.

-Picton Castle

-is near the town of Haverfordwest.

-This incredible estate...

-..has played an important part

-in the area's history for centuries.

-Before venturing to the gardens,

-we enter the magnificent castle...

-..to learn about its owners.

-This is the Great Hall

-as it stands today.

-It shows taste, artistry and wealth.

-More importantly, it shows

-the genealogy of its owners...

-..and their links

-with the Royal Family.

-Picton Castle is in excellent

-condition for a good reason.

-Three famous and wealthy families

-lived here.

-The Wogans in the 13th century

-were followed by the Dunns.

-The Phillipps have been here

-for 500 years and are still here.

-Is he one of them?

-The local historian, Edward Perkins,

-is a mine of information...

-..about the castle and its owners.

-Tell me more about the people

-who lived here, Edward.

-The first castle

-was built by the Wogan family.

-The Wogans lived here

-until the mid 15th century.

-The first was Sir John Wogan

-and he was a very important man.

-He was the Justiciar of Ireland for

-King Edward I and King Edward II.

-I suspect he owned

-grand estates in Ireland...

-..as well as the property

-in Wiston and Picton.

-Each new owner brought added wealth

-and made changes to the castle.

-The biggest was the addition of

-an extension to the original castle.

-Like many grand, rural homes...

-..the burden of maintaining

-such a site became too much.

-Today, the castle and gardens are

-managed by the Picton Castle Trust.

-It's their aim

-to secure the castle...

-..and its glorious gardens

-for the future.

-We must remember that this was

-a massive and important estate...

-..that was about 20,000 acres.

-That is how they made their money.

-They had tenants paying rent...

-..but also made money from coal,

-the ships and many other fields.

-This site was unlike many

-of the other grand homes.

-It's where they lived

-and made their money.

-After visiting the castle

-and learning about its owners...

-..you'd expect to find

-an incredible garden.

-And you're quite right.

-These gardens prove what you

-can achieve with time and money.

-These days, the gardens

-are the main attraction to visitors.

-The flowers and plants add colour

-and drama to the various sections.

-Each and every corner of the gardens

-has something new to offer.

-Some gardens

-are neat and traditional.

-Others are large and exotic.

-There's something

-for every member of the family.

-I'm approaching one of the most

-enchanting gardens at Picton Castle.

-Passing through these gates is like

-going on a pathway to another world.

-This garden reflects the style

-of the Victorian age.

-It was created in about 1800.

-It's the ideal place to relax

-and forget about the outside world.

-Sioned Edwards

-loves this luxurious garden.

-This is the Walled Garden.

-It's an enclosed garden where

-they grew fruit and vegetables.

-The equipment for achieving that

-has gone...

-..but you're left

-with this perfect paradise.

-And it's so pretty.

-And it's so pretty.

-

-Yes, it's wonderful.

-All the colours of these flowers

-make it look so incredible.

-They also get to experiment here.

-They chose the roses and sweet peas

-very carefully...

-..as they have to withstand

-this very dry soil.

-This part of Pembrokeshire

-doesn't get a lot of rain.

-But that was a good thing...

-..as it was the ideal environment

-to grow their fruit and vegetables.

-They had glasshouses full of peaches

-which is unheard of today.

-There is order

-with the various areas.

-This is what makes it interesting

-for me.

-But it isn't too neat or structured.

-No, but it takes a lot of work

-to make it look so natural.

-These roses, sweet peas

-and aquilegias...

-..remind me of a cottage garden.

-They are more formal when planted in

-these beds with the straight lines.

-These lead to another room

-through the trees.

-It's very clever.

-This isn't a square

-with a wall around it.

-You have these rooms

-that hide other people.

-It feels like your own private

-garden and there's no-one else here.

-I think it's very clever.

-The gardens at Picton Castle have

-attracted visitors for centuries.

-Some have kept detailed records

-of their visit.

-A gentleman by the name

-of Richard Fenton...

-..wrote a book about his travels

-around Pembrokeshire in 1810.

-He states that the garden

-was fertile every month of the year.

-"The gardens are a vast extent

-and luxuriantly cropped.

-"The hot houses and hot walls

-occupy an immense space.

-"Nor is the conservatory

-ill-stocked.

-"No desert could be better or more

-amply furnished than that of Picton.

-"It exhibits the richest fruit of

-every kind the whole season round."

-Was it heated all year?

-Was it heated all year?

-

-Yes, that's right.

-There was a large coal-fired boiler

-in the garden.

-It piped warm air

-into the glasshouses.

-They could grow everything.

-It's rare to find evidence of the

-success of gardeners in these homes.

-You've got some certificates.

-Yes, and this is from 1888

-for peaches.

-They won second prize

-for six fruit of peaches.

-This garden was full of peaches.

-There's other certificates

-for grapes and melons.

-We don't have competitions

-of this kind today...

-..but there are common ones too.

-The Pembrokeshire

-Chrysanthemum Society.

-Do they still exist?

-Do they still exist?

-

-I've got no idea.

-I doubt their certificates

-are this beautiful.

-"Large flowered

-chrysanthemum blooms.

-"First Prize,

-Bristol Chrysanthemum Society."

-Were these grown for the house?

-I suspect they grew chrysanthemum

-in the glasshouse...

-..and used to decorate the house.

-The house is massive...

-..so the gardener would have picked

-them and taken them to the house.

-These are incredible.

-These are incredible.

-

-Yes, they are.

-The contents of the Walled Garden

-has changed a lot in 200 years.

-The structure, the walls and gates

-are unchanged but need protecting.

-After many years of deterioration...

-..the walls and iron gates

-are in a sorry state in some places.

-This changed when Picton Castle

-won a grant of over 600,000...

-..to restore the historic

-Walled Garden.

-The director, Dai Evans,

-is responsible for it all.

-This is for restoring and conserving

-the Walled Garden...

-..and the gardeners' offices and

-bothies and opening all those up.

-They're about to crumble.

-We'll apply to restore the Cascade

-Ponds in Peach House Wood...

-..which is part of the 19th century

-landscaping.

-We've warned

-the Heritage Lottery Fund...

-..that we'll put in a very big one

-for the castle itself.

-It's wonderful that they experiment

-with the different areas...

-..and develop them.

-This area is the Jungle Garden.

-It looks like a jungle too!

-Yes, it looks exactly like a jungle

-thanks to the banana trees.

-They have also got tree stumps

-to create a jungle environment.

-It's incredible that all these

-exotic plants withstand our winters.

-You'd never expect it.

-Does that include the bananas?

-Does that include the bananas?

-

-Yes.

-They won't produce fruit.

-They won't produce fruit.

-

-No, I doubt it.

-They are an interesting shape

-for children.

-They want to run around the area.

-I suspect they think the shapes

-of the plants are odd and unusual.

-We have to think about the future.

-Yes, and it's very important to

-enjoy the site with your children.

-They are the future.

-It would be brilliant to get them to

-appreciate these gardens and plants.

-There's an amazing array of plants

-in the gardens at Picton Castle.

-I'm not the sort to admire the

-neat, traditional, floral gardens...

-..it's difficult not to be put under

-the spell of this incredible garden.

-Thanks to the work of the trust...

-..a piece of Pembrokeshire's history

-is alive and well at Picton Castle.

-Come to enjoy and experience it all

-for yourself.

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-There's an incredible house hidden

-in the trees near the River Severn.

-It was built

-in the early 20th century...

-..during the Arts

-and Crafts Movement.

-The house boasts a garden...

-..but this is no ordinary garden.

-It's a place where you'd expect

-to find Alice having a tea party!

-This is Wyndcliffe Court

-in Monmouthshire.

-This house and garden

-is near the town of Chepstow.

-You can see the River Severn

-and its grand crossing...

-..and the famous Chepstow Racecourse

-in the base of the valley.

-It's the ideal place

-to bet a shilling on the gee-gees...

-..and watch your gee-gee win

-or lose!

-Chepstow is in Monmouthshire on the

-border between Wales and England.

-The town dates back to Norman times.

-It's home to the oldest

-surviving stone castle in Britain...

-..sitting on the River Wye.

-Wyndcliffe Court

-is far more recent...

-..but is just as interesting...

-..thanks to its link

-with the Arts and Crafts Movement.

-The famous garden designer,

-Henry Avray Tipping...

-..designed this garden.

-The house was designed

-by his friend, Eric Francis.

-Both were prominent figures

-in the Arts and Crafts Movement.

-It was influential,

-fashionable and daring...

-..at the end of the 19th century.

-It wasn't just a British movement as

-it spread to America and even Japan.

-The movement

-inspired many architects.

-None more so than

-Clough Williams-Ellis.

-Portmeirion is full of examples

-from the Arts and Crafts Movement.

-The aim was to combine colourful

-craftsmanship with nature.

-Wyndcliffe Court is just the same.

-Nature plays a key part

-in its design.

-In gardens and houses of this style,

-the interior reflected the exterior.

-The designer, William Morris,

-was a key figure in the movement.

-The garden and its contents

-were prominent in the designs.

-The artist, Nia Wyn Jones...

-..knows how it influenced the design

-of Wyndcliffe.

-Charles Clay commissioned

-the house and garden in 1910.

-He was a successful businessman who

-ran Claymore Shipping in Cardiff.

-The house and garden

-weren't completed until 1922...

-..due to the Great War.

-There was nobody to build!

-There was nobody to build!

-

-No, that's right.

-If you wanted a garden designed in

-that era, then Tipping was your man.

-He visited

-four or five gardens a week.

-He understood this style

-within the Arts and Crafts Movement.

-He was linked with Country Life.

-Yes, it was part of his role

-as their editor.

-This garden was viewed as a classic

-in its time.

-The terraces have been positioned

-very formally...

-..and the garden has been separated

-into a series of rooms.

-Each room takes you

-to a romantic retreat...

-..that is like something

-out of a fantasy world.

-There's the summer house

-and lily pond.

-It could have been designed

-by a child as it has an innocence.

-Wyndcliffe Court has only had

-three head gardeners...

-..since the garden was designed

-90 years ago.

-One was here for 49 years and gave

-his heart and soul to the place.

-His ashes are buried

-under this rose!

-That's what I call

-a real labour of love.

-In fact,

-every corner is a labour of love.

-Wyndcliffe Court garden

-is the best example...

-..of an Arts and Crafts garden

-in Britain.

-Nia specializes

-in this period of history.

-It was a movement that saw

-a group of people come together...

-..who shared the same passion

-for history.

-They rebelled against

-the Industrial Revolution...

-..and the over-the-top Victorian art

-with its gold decorations.

-Wood was also painted

-to resemble wood.

-It was all garish!

-There was this desire...

-..to go back to basics

-and create art that was unique.

-They had three rules.

-The first was to have good,

-honest design because less is more!

-The second was that the core fabric

-was of the best quality.

-The third was that everything

-was skilfully made by hand.

-This garden

-is a perfect example of all that.

-Everything is organic and rustic.

-Was every stone cut by hand?

-Was every stone cut by hand?

-

-None of this was made in a factory.

-There was strong opposition to

-the whole idea of mass production.

-You had to pay for this

-as it had to be created.

-Was it the start

-of an elitist period?

-Yes, definitely.

-There was so much wealth

-in this part of Wales...

-..due to the owners of the

-shipping companies and collieries.

-They wanted to spend their money

-on something that nobody else owned.

-It happens today.

-Keeping Up with the Joneses!

-Thank heavens for those people

-for supporting these artists...

-..or we would only be left

-with factory-produced art.

-The Arts and Crafts elements in the

-design of the house and garden...

-..mean that both

-are grade II listed.

-The garden,

-with all its hidden corners...

-..is the ideal place

-to exhibit some modern art.

-The original owners of the house

-and garden were not artistic...

-..but had enough imagination

-to have an Arts and Crafts design.

-This has changed from being

-a garden with some art...

-..to being art in a garden!

-This makes sense because

-its latest owners are two artists.

-They opened the garden

-as an open-air art gallery...

-..to celebrate Wyndcliffe's

-artistic beginnings.

-I've visited a lot of gardens that

-were designed as a piece of art...

-..but this garden

-is almost like a gallery...

-..that is being used

-to exhibit pieces of art.

-It is a gallery because the owners

-are artists and not gardeners.

-Every season,

-they host two exhibitions.

-This artwork

-is from all over the world.

-It's been commissioned

-for the various parts of the garden.

-It looks perfect.

-Earlier, we mentioned that piece and

-how it is in line with gates behind.

-It unites two periods.

-It's a modern piece

-with something much older.

-It's the perfect coupling.

-I love the glass

-and the rusted items.

-If it wasn't for this artwork...

-..the garden wouldn't be

-half as impressive.

-It's the art

-that brings this garden to life.

-You're quite right.

-That's a good way to put it.

-There's a formal garden

-but also a beautiful kitchen garden.

-There's no telling what you might

-find hiding amongst the vegetables!

-There's a dark and magical forest

-in front of the house.

-It's full of wonders and

-allows you to be a child once again.

-In a world

-that is full of technology...

-..it's wonderful to enjoy something

-that pre-dates all that...

-..when everything was made by hand

-during the Arts and Crafts Movement.

-It's also the perfect backdrop

-for exhibiting some modern art.

-Thanks to the dedication

-of the owners and the gardeners...

-..Tipping's vision and the Arts

-and Crafts designs are protected.

-It's a place to forget about life...

-..and enjoy an innocent,

-colourful and playful garden...

-..in this corner of Wales.

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