Tagged with: National trust
Posts (14)
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Erddig country house
Rachael Garside
It's a beautiful sunny and crisp day in Wrexham today (Wednesday) where I've come to record an edition of Country Focus at Erddig, the National Trust property described as the 'jewel in the crown of Welsh country houses'. For the first time this year, parts of the main house are being open...
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Nation's favourite walk
Martin Aaron
The National Trust have enlisted eight celebrities, including the comedian Omid Djalili, the best selling crime-writer Val McDermid and Time Team's archaeologist Francis Pryor to find the nation's favourite walk. Representing Wales is celebrity weather presenter, Sian Lloyd who chose Powis ...
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Grey seal pups due
Martin Aaron
The first grey seal pups of the year are due any day now and luckily for us, Wales is one the best places in Europe to see them. Female grey seals start congregating at special sites, called rookeries, to give birth at the end of summer and beginning of autumn and already the first few have made it ashore. Richard Ellis of the National Trust said, "West Wales is home to 5,000 grey seals and their spread of pupping dates is wider than in any other breeding colony, although scientists are unsure why. Pups can be seen from September to December, with the most visible during October." A grey seal pup by 'Top Sausage Lobber' on Flickr. Despite their name, grey seal pups are born with a yellowish white coat and weigh 15 kilograms. During the two to three weeks they are suckled, the pups put on an incredible 1.4 kilograms in weight, every day. To ensure visitors to the Pembrokeshire coast don't disturb the seals, the National Trust have issued a few guidelines to follow: Keep well away from baby seals if you spot one on a beach, and keep dogs on the lead at all times. Baby seals are sometimes left unattended while their mothers are away feeding. They will return, so don't assume a lone pup has been abandoned. The RSPCA also offer some good advice on seal pups. Some grey seal facts: Grey seals are the largest breeding seals on our shores. Half the world's population of grey seals live in our waters. Seal milk is 60% fat so that the pup can put on as much blubber as quickly as possible. A grey seal bull can be twice the size of a cow, weighing in at as much as 300 kilograms and measuring up to 3.3 metres in length. Grey seals can dive to a depth of 70 metres to find food. Each seal needs around five kilograms of food a day and favourite foods include sand eels, herring, skate, cod and flatfish, but they will also eat lobster and octopus. The National Trust are offering special guided walks along the Marloes Peninsula to see the first seal pups on Friday, 26 August and Sunday, 4 September. For more information phone (01348) 837860 or visit the website www.nationaltrust.org.uk.
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New Director for Wales
Martin Aaron
The National Trust has recently appointed Justin Albert as its new Director for Wales. Justin has had a long and distinguished career in broadcasting and documentary film production in America and since returning to Wales, has worked with Horse and Country TV, become a founder of the Hay Castle Trust and, as a consultant, undertaken a substantial review of S4C. Justin Albert Justin has also worked on preservation and arts projects in Merthyr Tydfil and is a direct descendent of the Mabinogion translator, Lady Charlotte Guest. He is a vice president of the Hay Literary Festival and the Brecon Jazz Festival. Justin Albert said: "I am honoured to have the opportunity to work with the team at National Trust Wales and look forward to sharing my passion and love of my country with all who live in or visit this wonderful land."
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April walks at Bodnant
Martin Aaron
Bodnant Gardens have been in touch to promote a series of new walks around the gardens this month: Breakfast Walk Early risers prepare to witness the splendour of the Garden in the early morning light on Tuesday, 12 April at 7.15am. It will be rounded off with a hearty breakfast in the Pavi...
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According to the Mabinogion...
Martin Aaron
The National Trust has recently completed vital work to tackle erosion at an important historic site on the Gwynedd coast. Bwncan Dinas Dinlle is a 3,000 year old hill fort, built for status and defence in the Iron Age. The name Dinas Dinlle derives from 'Din' meaning fort and 'lle' derive...
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A real cliff hanger
Martin Aaron
For fans of the 成人论坛 programme Coast, you'll be pleased to know that Gower is being featured again shortly, when the remarkable walled sea cave known as Culver Hole puts in an appearance. Believed to date from the 13th or 14th century, Culver Hole is sealed off by a sixty foot high stone wall, ...
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Fancy some voluntary work?
Martin Aaron
The National Trust is offering two volunteer 'taster days' this summer at Carneddau and Glyderau. Due to the nature of the work, numbers have been limited to twenty people per session. The first event will be held on Thursday, 12 August at Dyffryn Mymbyr near Capel Curig between 9.30am - 4pm...
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A weekend walk for Sunday
Martin Aaron
Stuck for something to do this weekend? On Sunday July 18, you can join the National Trust for another guided walk from one of their 9x9x9 walking events. This particular walk will take in the spectacular scenery along the coast from Port Eynon to Rhossili with plenty of stunning views along the way. You'll get to learn about the local wildlife you encounter as well as the historical features dotted along this part of the coast. Head warden, Sian Musgrave led last months walk around Whiteford Burrows: It's a linear walk of around 11.5km so take lunch and 拢3 with you. Families are very welcome but it's worth remembering that some of the paths are quite steep and narrow with the odd stile to hop over along the way. Meet at 10.30am at Port Eynon car park or meet at 10am at the National Trust shop in Rhossili for a bus to Port Eynon (拢1 charge). The walk will finish at approximately 3pm. Booking is essential as numbers are limited. For further details or to book your place, contact 01792 390636 or e-mail gower.admin@nationaltrust.org.uk Watch a clip about Worm's Head from the 成人论坛 Wales' Weatherman Walking series.
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Woodland garden reveals artistic gem
Martin Aaron
Every year, thousands of people visit Colby Woodland Garden in South Pembrokeshire, but very few know of the hidden gem that resides inside the gazebo there. In the past visitors could only see the decorated interior by peering in through the glass. The gazebo however will be now be open daily to the public, allowing visitors to step inside and marvel at the work of talented American artist - Lincoln Taber. In the 1970's Peter Chance - Chairman of Christie's auction house, who owned the house and garden, commissioned an unusual summer house - a striking octagonal building with a copper cone-shaped roof and golden gilded pinnacle. The real treasure however, lies inside its eight walls. In 1976 California born artist Lincoln Taber completed the gazebo project with what is now regarded as one of his most successful murals. Lincoln Taber was equally at home in landscape, trompe l'oeil and mural painting. He met Dali in Spain, trained with Nerina Simi in Florence, and worked with Annigoni, before settling in England in 1967. He decorated the interior of the Colby gazebo with amazingly detailed trompe l'oeil paintings. A climbing clematis adorns the walls beneath which are glasses of wine and a bottle of champagne, reflecting the entirely functional purpose of the building as a place for hosting dinner parties. Higher up he painted a series of fake quarter foil windows and a heron flying past. The gazebo has doors opening onto the garden, and where a real door was not possible Taber painted a false one with a view of the path leading down the garden. He also painted the ceiling with eight signs of the zodiac to represent the eight people involved in the project. Besides the walled garden, you will also find 100's of hydrangea coming into flower as well as wild flower meadows which are attracting large numbers of damselflies, damosels and dragonflies. Every Wednesday and Thursday throughout the school holidays there are all sorts of wild activities taking place - whatever the weather! Contact Steve Whitehead for more details on 01834 811885.
