Tag Archives: Trees

Restoring more trees to these Welsh mountains

In response to the climate and nature emergencies declared in Wales, many landowners are choosing to restore habitats in places instead of focusing mainly on food production. In these mountains we want more trees in the landscape and this is the beginning.

“The clearest way into the universe is through a forest wilderness”, John Muir

Flower Tunnels and Giant Trees

So this week I’ve been in North Wales doing some more work on my grasslands project for the National Trust, and I visited Bodnant Gardens which apparently are world famous, although I hadn’t heard of them and you probably haven’t either, which is a shame because they are absolutely magnificent!  Because I wasn’t being a tourist (I was working!), I didn’t take lots of photos of all the lovely herbaceous borders and lawns and the mansion house, so I can’t show you those.  I did, however, have to take photos of the amazing laburnum tunnel and the magnificent old trees that dominate and seem to exist in a different dimension and time to you and I.  Anyway have a look first at the delightful laburnum tunnel, hand crafted by the very gifted National Trust gardeners who were all really nice to me and showed me around…..

Photo: Mike Howe
Photo: Mike Howe

Photo: Mike Howe
Photo: Mike Howe

Photo: Mike Howe
Photo: Mike Howe

Photo: Mike Howe
Photo: Mike Howe

And now feast your eyes on these humungous trees…..

Photo: Mike Howe
Photo: Mike Howe

Photo: Mike Howe
Photo: Mike Howe

Photo: Mike Howe
Photo: Mike Howe

Photo: Mike Howe
Photo: Mike Howe

Photo: Mike Howe
Photo: Mike Howe

Photo: Mike Howe
Photo: Mike Howe

Here’s an idea of the house and lawns (which I secretly love and would like to play tennis on given half a chance!)…

Photo: Mike Howe
Photo: Mike Howe

Bodnant house 1
Photo: Mike Howe

I can also report that the cream teas served were absolutely divine.  It was a tough job but someone had to do it 🙂