Dyffryn a'r Bontfaen Gerddi Cymru

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-Our journey has taken us to

-a variety of gardens across Wales.

-They've been big, small,

-pretty, formal, wild and wooded.

-Each garden is a perfect example

-of the wealth on our own doorstep.

-During this episode,

-we follow a different path...

-..and visit two gardens

-only a few miles apart.

-Welcome to Gerddi Cymru.

-Welcome to a garden...

-..that is the most stately

-Edwardian garden in Wales.

-The Vale of Glamorgan is one of

-the most fertile counties in Wales.

-It's no surprise that such

-a striking garden can be found here.

-You won't get

-a better garden than this!

-Dyffryn Gardens is situated

-in a rural area near Cowbridge.

-You'll find a number of beautiful,

-colourful gardens here...

-..and every one

-has a different style.

-Forget the garden for a moment...

-..and take a look

-at this wonderful house.

-It's quite the show stopper!

-Dyffryn House as it stands today,

-dates back to the late 19th century.

-This is one of the final grand,

-country homes built in Wales.

-It represents the ambition...

-..of one of Wales' most prosperous

-families of that period.

-The wealthy owners who put their

-stamp on the house and gardens...

-..were the Cory family.

-The family had great influence

-over the coal industry...

-..during the Industrial Revolution.

-John Cory

-was the head of the family...

-..and he was quite the entrepreneur.

-The historian, Catrin Wager

-knows a lot about John Cory.

-John Cory was ten years old

-when he came to Cardiff in 1838.

-Cardiff was a small town with only

-10,000 residents but it was growing.

-By the time of John Cory's death...

-..it had developed into

-a city of 180,000 people.

-John Cory played a major role...

-..in the growth and development

-of Cardiff.

-They started as coal merchants

-with only one ship in Cardiff...

-..but grew to be a company with

-80 coal depots across the world.

-They sold coal to the Empire and

-used the profit to build this house.

-During the 20th century, a number

-of stately homes were demolished...

-..as a result of the death duties

-and taxes.

-However, this was a wealthy family

-thanks to the coal industry.

-After renovating the house,

-they set their sights on the garden.

-It wasn't your average garden...

-..but one that made an impact

-and was groundbreaking.

-Within the 55 acres of land

-that surrounds the house...

-..there's a number

-of smaller gardens.

-Each has a variety of colour,

-interesting architecture...

-..trees and flowers

-of all shapes and sizes.

-In its heyday, this garden was

-very innovative and experimental.

-They employed the landscape

-architect, Thomas Mawson.

-The original plans show that he

-wanted a variety of small gardens...

-..in the format of rooms.

-This was a typical feature

-of the Arts and Crafts Movement.

-The gardens we see today

-are the vision of Reginald Cory...

-..one of John Cory's sons.

-He was part

-of the family business...

-..but had a keen interest

-in botanical gardens.

-Carys Whelan knows all about him.

-Reginald Cory was very eager to have

-a garden that created an impact.

-He was also a man who loved plants.

-You'll find a lovely array

-of borders here.

-The series of gardens have

-different combinations of plants.

-There's also many ponds

-and even a theatre area.

-You can imagine people enjoying

-an outdoor performance in the area.

-There's a Mediterranean garden.

-The gardens feel

-like a variety of rooms.

-Reginald had the idea

-of creating a Pompeian Garden...

-..following a trip to Italy.

-They could travel across the world

-on their ships that carried coal.

-This garden is Grade I listed...

-..and the house is only a Grade II.

-The garden is very special.

-This is one of the

-most exceptional gardens of its era.

-It doesn't matter

-where you go in this garden...

-..there's always something

-interesting to see.

-A garden this innovative

-was bound to attract attention.

-The artist, Edith Aide

-came here in 1923...

-..to paint eleven watercolour images

-of the gardens.

-The images are a reminder of how

-the gardens looked 100 years ago.

-Edith Aide's images were used

-in the renovation of the garden.

-The workers used one painting

-to recreate the pond garden.

-This pond is home to lizards...

-..and to any hedgehogs

-which fall in.

-The ramps at the sides help them

-to climb out after a swim!

-As Reginald travelled the world...

-..he returned with exotic plants

-and trees to plant in his garden.

-The potting shed is where

-Reginald kept his records.

-You could say that this

-is where he pottered about.

-When you see the amount of pots,

-you'll realize how much he did!

-Reginald was constantly searching

-for ways to develop the garden.

-A glasshouse was erected so that

-he could experiment with new plants.

-This glasshouse has two purposes.

-The National Trust...

-..is restoring the site

-to how it was a century ago.

-Reginald organized everything

-in this garden.

-This glasshouse would have been used

-to grow exotic fruits.

-Apricots, peaches and grapes were

-grown on the south facing wall.

-The grapes would have been used

-to make their own wine.

-This is where he stored

-his various collections...

-..of plants from different climates

-including cacti.

-At one time, he had the best

-cactus collection in Britain.

-This is the garden

-of a professional collector.

-Dyffryn is famous throughout

-the world for their dahlias.

-Between 1913 and 1914...

-..Reginald Cory

-planted 7,000 dahlias.

-I'm sure that took more than a day!

-The work was pioneering...

-..and Reginald was awarded by

-the Royal Horticultural Society.

-In 1923, the Cory Cup was founded.

-The award is given to mark the

-Corys' contribution to horticulture.

-Who'd have thought that an

-industrial family like the Corys...

-..would also be well-known

-for their dahlias?!

-You would never put them together.

-Dyffryn is full of surprises and

-that is what makes it so special.

-Dyffryn is also known for

-its collection of striking trees.

-Are there any remaining plants

-from the Reginald Cory period?

-Yes, many of the trees

-are still here.

-These are also Champion Trees

-and are the best in Britain.

-Reginald would have brought

-them back from the Far East.

-In this area of the garden...

-..you'll find an old vine

-that has survived.

-This area has been restored

-to how it was a century ago.

-The framework from Reginald Cory's

-period is still here.

-They've kept the surviving vines...

-..and planted new ones

-to restore it to its former glory.

-I can imagine Reginald

-and his friends...

-..wandering around this area with

-the grapes maturing above them.

-In the background,

-you see this wonderful house...

-..and the great views of the lawn.

-It's incredible.

-Yes, there's a great variety here.

-The coal of South Wales

-gave the Corys their wealth.

-The coal mines have long gone...

-..but this gem

-remains for future generations.

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-The Vale of Glamorgan has

-a successful, agricultural history.

-The town of Cowbridge sits a few

-miles away from Dyffryn Gardens.

-The busy, market town

-dates back to the Roman era.

-This thriving town

-is full of boutiques and cafes.

-You need a penny or two

-to live in this area!

-As I stroll along the pavement

-and gaze at the shops and traffic...

-..you would never believe that

-there's a public, medieval garden...

-..only a few hundred yards away.

-That's where I'm going next!

-The garden is hidden behind

-the old Norman walls of the town.

-Size doesn't matter...

-..when you have a garden as neat,

-well-kept and perfect as this one.

-Everything has been planted

-in confined spaces...

-..to squeeze it into

-this half an acre of garden.

-They've managed to put

-a quart into a pint pot.

-This isn't a grand garden.

-It has been designed

-for a purpose...

-..and volunteers are responsible

-for maintaining the garden.

-It differs to other gardens

-as you don't need to pay to enter.

-The garden hasn't always

-been this pretty.

-Ten years ago,

-the garden looked very different.

-Carys Whelan

-is one of the main volunteers.

-A group of those interested

-in historical gardens got together.

-We knew that there was

-a spare area of land here...

-..so we decided to create

-a community garden for the town.

-There has always been

-a garden on this site.

-It was a vegetable garden

-for the grammar school...

-..and it provided food for 40 years.

-The pupils would come

-to work in the garden.

-I'm not sure if it was detention or

-something to do in their spare time.

-Later, the council decided

-to make it a tree nursery.

-They wanted to plant trees...

-..for Plant a Tree for Jubilee

-in 1977.

-However, they went away

-and forgot about them.

-The trees and land were left.

-They designed a garden that was

-atmospheric and old-fashioned.

-A Tudor garden would usually

-have a fountain in the middle...

-..paths to walk along...

-..shaded seating areas

-and fruit trees.

-However,

-you wouldn't find many flowers.

-All these elements

-are found in this garden.

-The Old Hall Garden has existed

-since the 18th century...

-..when it was owned

-by the Edmonds family.

-The family were notable landowners.

-They lived in the mansion house

-next to the garden.

-The Italian architecture suggests

-it once was a very grand home.

-This is all that remains

-of the family home, the Old Hall.

-This area was their back garden...

-..and the walled kitchen garden

-was an integral part of it.

-Traditionally, every kitchen garden

-had a vital function.

-Every plant would be used

-within the house.

-They would have grown vegetables...

-..fragrant and decorative flowers...

-..and many fruit trees.

-Grapes would have grown

-along this wall.

-At one time,

-they also had a glasshouse...

-..where they grew exotic fruit.

-They also had flowers

-that were used for dying materials.

-Fabrics have only been dyed

-using chemicals for a century...

-..because they used plants

-in the past.

-It's claimed that the family

-avoided the common folk...

-..by walking along the path

-through the herb garden.

-They would fill their lungs

-with sweet scents...

-..before venturing

-onto the dirty streets.

-The herb garden was more than

-just a place full of fine aromas.

-Before antibiotics were discovered

-in the 20th century...

-..herbs were used

-to treat illnesses.

-This age-old tradition

-dates back to Ancient Greece...

-..and The Physicians of Myddfai

-in Wales.

-Every village had a herb doctor...

-..who knew the benefits

-of every herb.

-Culpeper's Complete Herbal

-is like the Bible of all herbs!

-It dates back to 1653.

-This is incredible.

-It contains all the remedies

-that people used.

-Do you have any Stinking Gladwin?

-Do you have any Stinking Gladwin?

-

-I don't think so.

-We do have some mace.

-Today, many use Mace

-to help lower their blood pressure.

-We also have marigolds.

-Marigolds are used

-for skin and blood.

-Culpeper says "it strengthens

-the heart exceedingly."

-If you use the leaves

-with vinegar...

-.."any hot swelling

-bathed in it instantly gives ease."

-When I was younger,

-I would use to lighten my hair.

-I placed marigold in the water

-to lighten the hair.

-Did it work?

-Did it work?

-

-No, obviously not!

-There's also Echinacea here.

-This is the same as you buy

-in a chemist or herbal stores.

-The Greek definition for Echinacea

-is "hedgehog."

-This is because of the cone centre.

-People treat colds with Echinacea.

-It's an antiseptic and very useful.

-It reduces the duration

-and the severity of the cold.

-Echinacea has no scent.

-No, and they use

-the leaves and flowers.

-You can smell the lavender

-throughout the garden.

-There are many

-varieties of lavender.

-Yes, and lavender has many benefits.

-It's great for aching muscles

-and aids with relaxation.

-Many put lavender oil in the bath

-to help them relax...

-..and others put lavender

-on a pillow to aid with sleep.

-However,

-you need to use it sparingly.

-Yes, and I have bad news for you.

-Culpeper says that the oil is

-"fierce and piercing in quality."

-Oh, goodness!

-"Some few drops either for inward

-or outward griefs."

-You wouldn't take it as a medicine.

-He says to use it for "inward or

-outward griefs" so it does a lot.

-The garden doesn't have

-as many plants as the book...

-..but the group of volunteers work

-tirelessly to maintain the garden.

-But what are the plans

-for the future?

-We don't have much scope to expand

-as we're confined by the four walls.

-The volunteers are always working...

-..to keep everything

-in the best condition.

-Occasionally, they realize that a

-plant isn't suitable for its bed...

-..and they remove it.

-Do you struggle to find volunteers?

-Last year,

-we had a waiting list of volunteers.

-People wanted to help on

-a Thursday...

-..with the weeding, pruning

-of the box hedges and planting.

-These are weeds or plants

-that are native to Wales...

-..so they wilt in September, October

-and November and need to be removed.

-I'm a dab hand

-at killing and burning!

-I don't think they would like that.

-They treasure this hidden gem

-in the middle of their town.

-This is a great example

-of a community garden in a town.

-Who wouldn't want a garden like this

-in their own town?

-Who wouldn't want something

-like this in their own garden?

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