Bodnant Risen Garden in Snowdonia

It's a popular National Trust garden attracting 160,000 visitors a year.

But with annual running costs

It's been a passion of mine to try and make autumn join hands

with spring and create lots of

I would love to try and develop

It will benefit the finances and it will give more pleasure to

members of the public, and that's actually a lot of what we're about.

Bodnant is stunning in winter,

and work here can enjoy it.

Head gardener Troy Scott-Smith

He's keen to open the garden

For me, gardens are more than just about the time visitors usually

They are a 12 months' experience.

I'm extremely fortunate, as are all the gardeners, in that we see

Bodnant all through the year in all its different guises, in snow and frost, in wind and gales.

And for me, actually, you kind of become connected with it

in a much sort of deeper way.

The National Trust took over Bodnant Garden 60 years ago

but the hall is still home to

London-based Michael McLaren manages the garden for the Trust

and shares the family passion

My father said he preferred the

because you don't have the leaves,

the architecture of the garden and I think it's quite an important point

because if you do come off season

to see the garden without the

of the leaves and the flowers.

But opening the garden in winter would inevitably create problems.

slopes and terraces and it could be a health and safety minefield.

There are all sorts of things we need to take into account.

garden we couldn't open to the

For example, the terraces would be too slippery and icy and so on.

So it will probably only be a relatively small part of the garden

but, conversely, if one opens it as a winter garden then one ought to

The plan is to create a winter walk

I think we should be bold really.

I was wondering that. But how many do you think you'll plant in the

Well, these gardens are not

the owner, who is passionate

donate two different varieties

It was very popular in Victorian times to take a stroll in your

wood and see the magnificent displays of snowdrops there.

So they must have really amassed into big colonies now. 150 years.

increasingly fashionable. But they're not native to Britain.

are prepared to pay staggering amounts for the rarest bulbs.

Some bulbs go for sort of £60 or £70 each, just for one single bulb.

So that's why it's even more generous of George, really, to

we may have a few plants that Hodstock may like in return.

Let's go and have a look over here cos we've got a lovely collection here which we can dig up for you.

Which are these ones, George?

These are all doubles. These are the ones which will be showing en masse at this time of year.

Really lovely variety here.

we're very happy to transplant

I think there is mixed feeling about when's the best time to move snowdrops or indeed any bulb.

what we call in the green, so when

into smaller little clumplets and put

If you can get them in quick enough then there's no shock and the bulbs

So let's have a look at this.

So from one bulb several years ago,

they are quite congested, so

probably doing it a favour, really, aren't we, lifting and splitting.

I've always liked snowdrops,

of course they are one of the first plants that flower in the spring.

a real added attraction to Bodnant once we get them back there.

best possible start, planting has to take place the following morning.

Here we are then, all the way from

Warrell to oversee the volunteers.

I mean, eventually we want them

But first we'll have to split them,

beautiful and ancient trees.

are concerned about the oldest oak.

It's 300 years old and dying.

They may be forced to cut it down.

Well, I think we've already

It's as simple as that! I love the mosses on some of those branches.

and many years ago my husband and I made a garden overlooking the Dell

and this was the sort of focal point of the garden and the whole thing was arranged so it was in a direct line.

So it's very, very important,

I think it's got enormous presence hate it if they had to take it.

the enemy at Bodnant this winter.

Well, this year particularly we've had a real problem with moles so

we've started trapping them, which is not something you really want to do

but it's something you really have to do for a number of reasons.

It will damage the mower if we don't do it and they look a bit unsightly.

We've a lot of daffodils and they'll damage the bulbs and if we don't

stop them, they'll get into the

OK, we'll come back in a few hours

Deputy head gardener Adam Salvin has called in an expert to scan

much to the family's dismay.

Using sophisticated sonar equipment,

scans the diseased tree trunk

In Bodnant, trees are of great importance to us and certainly

this one, amongst another couple on this lawn, are very important.

They're close to the Hall so they're highly valued to the family.

So, Steve, how's the tree looking?

I don't think it's too bad, you know, I think the results are

I think compared to last year,

Right, that sounds promising. I was a bit...this morning.

If you'd condemned it then we might have to take it down, which would be a sad thing to see.

If it's looking good then that's

And it's good news for the family.

The oak lives to fight another day.

it's seen a dramatic increase

plant expert, Alison Clarke.

map out their vision for Bodnant.

This stunning winter garden was established 11 years ago.

It's built around a winding path,

is keen to share his secrets.

Well, I've been working here now for just over 35 years and without doubt

and continuing to do the winter garden is the best thing I've ever done in my whole career.

a tremendous success story.

to this. We just came through a very dark green entrance,

absolute spectacular colour, and it doesn't matter where you look.

that's what I love about the winter.

Fantastic, cos you just can't resist wanting to touch it, all this lovely shiny bark.

And if you ever have any at Bodnant,

you need to put it close to the path so they can do that.

And the other great thing about

shining through it, because it's

got some flaky bits of bark, they

telling people what to see.

There are many treats in store

and the highlight is a magical group of silver birch trees.

That lovely blue sky sets it off,

What I want to know is what do

We've been using a bucket of water and a brush, scrubbing away.

Certainly does the job - they're beautifully white and clean.

We often get people say to us,

"I've got to sit and write a poem.

something like that - that sense of inspiration. The power of plants.

For us they do. Our visitor is really enjoying this and I think

on the right tracks by starting

Of course, you know, fashion can change, but I think snowdrop

fanciers are a pretty stalwart group

It's given me a lot of motivation as well, and energy. I think winter

very beautiful thing to make.

I would like to think that we can come to an agreement about the space

Anglesey Abbey? Very good - it is really just one long space,

I haven't been to Anglesey Abbey for quite a number of years.

again, I'm not sure whether it really applies directly to us,

Hard to believe, but I think he said something like 80,000 visitors in the

winter opening, 16,000 in one week.

centres of population, but even so, that's a terrific amount.

He said it's just been phenomenal.

The interest, people wanting

We don't have that problem cos we've got a large car park,

although the car park is not normally used in the winter hours,

so when it becomes icy, it's a skating rink on a steep slope.

Bill and Graham have come to check the traps they set for the moles.

Let's have a look at this one then.

I think we have, haven't we?

the moles could wreak havoc on their beautifully manicured lawns.

Oh, dear, yep. Sorry, Mr Mole.

That's the second this week, isn't it? And the seventh overall.

time to clear up the ever-growing

months a year clearing up before

so Bodnant has lots of free help.

Graham Williams and Barbara Bennett first volunteered two years ago.

They thrive on the challenge.

People think you're absolutely potty

we're just guiding them round

I am barking mad, but it's lovely.

your wet weather gear on and you know what you are doing.

Graham and Barbara are part of a team of 20 volunteers.

I was a physiotherapist and worked for the National Health

spread my wings and do lots of things that I'm interested in.

People pay to come in to see this garden and we get it for free

every day, every time we come in!

The garden wouldn't look as good as it does without their help.

keeping the standards up visually,

whereas the gardeners have been doing perhaps more of the skilled

Right, guys, it's that time of the year again, river clearing.

If we start upstream, work our way down, bringing it into the water

Down in the lower woodland section of the garden, Dave Larter and his

team are preparing to clear the

with fallen leaves and other debris.

One team works its way downriver, raking the debris into the water.

The current carries it downstream,

I mean, we've found lots of plastic bottles and, you know,

pretty awful, but, you know, you've got to get rid of it.

Clearing the river in February is a cold and slippery job.

I think ahead. Unfortunately,

I keep meaning to get myself

wear them that you remember.

waders are a must next year.

It's an area, really, at the moment that doesn't do a lot.

The rockwork is really nice,

It's just really got a mountain of these azaleas and other shrubs on.

As you can see, it does have a

But we're still in discussion with the family about this area

so it's by no means certain that this is the chosen area.

Garden manager Michael McLaren

has also agreed to the plan,

and she hopes it will culminate with a carpet of snowdrops.

They are not the ordinary snowdrop

that is in everybody's back garden,

But you need masses, I mean,

They want the Hodstock snowdrops to provide a fitting climax

And there's talk of bluebells.

..You're not allowed to dig them up.

We do have some bluebells on the bank there. I love bluebells.

I think they are so protected, you can't dig them up and move

place in your own garden to another?

I don't know. Being a lawyer,

so not quite sure what one's allowed to do and what one isn't!

They hope to plant the winter garden in the coming months,

the start of the new season.

It's February. The garden is about to reopen after its winter closure.

there are lots of last-minute preparations to get Bodnant ready.

Stephen Anderton was scathing.

I think Bodnant has needed a bomb under it for a long time.

Beautiful though it is, you know, it's been dying on its feet.

It was an old man's garden.

He's worked hard to give Bodnant a facelift, with a £2 million

And now, he's inviting the Times

The team have worked so hard over the last year in all areas of the garden,

and I'd be very surprised if he

Some of them were very scathing and

some of them were quite personal towards the garden, as well, and

so I'd like to question him

And you know what it says -

It says capital expenditure.

and that takes a lot of doing,

but no, I think you've done well.

Yeah, it's consistent work, isn't it? It doesn't happen overnight

happening after a few years.

I mean, I've committed myself mentally for 20 years and I

Long may you remain committed!

Thanks for that. The official seal of approval at long last.

It's the first day of the new season and Bodnant is looking good.

ten months behind schedule.

embarrassment last year when Prince

Charles opened the then unfinished

scaffolding and plastic sheeting.

The whole project has been delayed for causes which lie with others.

Best put tactfully like that.

Today, this splendid building, with its distinctive Welsh stone, blends

in perfectly with its surroundings.

is delighted with the result.

there are one or two things

one might have done slightly differently, but in fairness

they're fairly minor things and most people are delighted with it.

the gates open to the public,

Lady Aberconway is confident the hard work has paid off.

I think they've got a lot to see.

you've got a place like this,

And my father-in-law, who was the creator of the garden, used to say,

"The garden looks much more alive

to have people coming round

of the garden is to share it

people the enjoyment of going round it, so it's great that it's open.

It doesn't look quite so neglected as it did in March last year.

And I think there's been an awful lot of work done during the winter.

Whether you come in here rain,

It is an absolute work of art!

as they get older, but then also of course potential gardeners.

The hard work has paid off, and visitor numbers are on the increase.

head gardener and thrilled to

is thank you so much, you've done a

you've done a fantastic job.

He's got a fresh eye, yet he's very sensitive to the whole tradition and

history of Bodnant, and I think

There's been a lot going on.

It's been my belief ever since I

For me, it's the greatest thing

as head gardener and having

the opportunity to work here with the family and a team of gardeners,

transforming Bodnant once again into this real horticultural masterpiece,

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