I’m running Wales Wildflower Day this coming Sunday (June 26th).
This is the fourth year I’ve run this event and the sun has shone every year. And every year, something new or rarely seen appears on the day. Last year’s hit was the hundreds of greater butterfly orchids in our Cae Trawscoed hay meadow and they’ve continued to spread even further afield this year.
With the help of my colleague Linsey Perry, I’ve invited some great wildflower inspired artists and craft makers to join us this year. Just have a look at some of the paintings of Katie Bullock and Lil Tudor-Craig, Hilda Harries’ porcelain flowers, Anne Straker’s paper Quilling, Sarah Enoch’s felting and Denny Kraft Korner’s handmade flowers. Some of these will be demonstrating as well as displaying a and selling.
They’ll be joined in the Great Glasshouse by Kate Jones, who’ll be showing some great wildflower books from the Garden’s library, by woodturner Les Bryan, a paper maker, spinners and weavers, and by Marigold Oakley, who’ll be showing you moths collected overnight from our flower rich meadows. Just outside, Laura Vettori will be running our wildflower themed family activities and Dr.Michael Isaac will be showing you how to go about identifying wildflowers.
Down in the Bee Garden, members of our volunteer beekeeping team will be on hand to talk to you about beekeeping and about the exciting new research being conducted by the Garden into nectar and pollen sources of our honey bees.
Finally, we’ll have our ever popular guided tours. These are informal and friendly, and everyone is welcome. Some will focus on the wild garden area beneath the Great Glasshouse, and others will take you onto our Cae Trawscoed hay meadow. I’m running one myself so if you turn up, introduce yourself to me. One other thing, if our yellow rattles have produced seed by then, feel free to collect some seed for your lawn or meadow. Why? Well come along and find out.
10.50 – 11.45 Hay Meadow Wildflowers with Dr. Michael Isaac
12.00 – 12.45 Hay Meadow Butterflies with Deborah Sazer
1.00 – 1.45 Wild Garden Bumble Bees with Sinead Lynch of Bumble Bee Conservation Trust
2.00 – 2.45 Meadow Wildflowers with Bruce Langridge
All walks begin from the western entrance to the Great Glasshouse.
See you Sunday!