The first North Wales Festival of Gardens begins on Saturday 28th May and will showcase many of the great gardens of North Wales with a nine day programme of almost 100 events, tours and activities.

The celebrated garden at Bodnant

The Festival will be officially opened by plantsman, gardener, author and broadcaster Roy Lancaster CBE, VMH, at the beautifully-restored gardens of Plas Cadnant, a historic country estate on the island of Anglesey, on the afternoon of 28th May.

The Festival is the brainchild of North Wales based garden writer and broadcaster Tony Russell, who is renowned as one of Britain’s leading experts on trees and shrubs and famously put the National Arboretum at Westonbirt in Gloucestershire onto the international tourism map.

Supported by North Wales Tourism, dates of the Festival have been deliberately chosen to follow on from the world famous RHS Chelsea Flower Show. They also coincide with late-spring flowering displays, which include rhododendrons, azaleas, magnolias, tulips and flowering cherries.

Spring azaleas at Plas Tan y Bwlch

The Festival will feature an exciting programme of special events including the opportunity to meet garden owners and head gardeners, take part in ‘behind the scenes’ guided walks and workshops and attend lectures, concerts and exhibitions.

“Here at Janet Redler Travel & Tourism, we are eagerly anticipating the start of the 2016 North Wales Festival of Gardens and we are looking forward to visiting some of the gardens over the next couple weeks,” said Janet Redler, Chief Executive of Janet Redler Travel & Tourism.

“This really will be one of the highlights of the gardening year and we’d urge everyone with an interest in gardens to come along and enjoy the exciting activities taking place in some of the country’s most beautiful surroundings.”

Shirley Foulkes, event co-ordinator at North Wales Tourism, said: “We’re really excited about the project, showcasing our gardens is an excellent way in which we can appeal to a new audience and increase the number of visitors to our gardens.”

Gardens taking part in the Festival include Bodnant, Chirk Castle, The Dingle, Erddig, Plas Brondanw, Plas Cadnant, Plas Tan y Bwlch, Powis Castle and Welsh Mountain Zoo Gardens. Click here to find out more and to download a free map and guide.

If you or your group would like to visit some of the great gardens of North Wales, or if you would like us to put together a specialist garden tour for you, please do get in touch with us.