As part of our three-year restoration project at the Park, the Trust needs to undertake significant amounts of work on the trees and woodland. This work will focus on rejuvenating the arboretum and woodland areas, removing those trees with disease, those that are compromising the listed structures (particularly the ha-ha), and those invasive species, principally laurel and rhododendron, that have seriously impacted the health of the woodland. This will improve conditions in the Park in terms of public access and enjoyment, biodiversity, security, health and safety, and will also provide an opportunity to plant new trees and shrubs throughout.
It is proposed that the majority of this work will be undertaken in two phases as part of an external contract:
Phase 1:
- anticipated to begin early in 2019 until 28 February 2019, to finish prior to bird-nesting season;
- this round of works will focus on trees in and around the Car Park; the area to the west of the outbuildings down the driveway to the museum entrance; the area immediately around the museum; outside the east wall of the Walled Garden and within the Walled Garden itself.
Phase 2:
- between 01 September 2019 and 29 February 2020;
- this round of works will focus on trees within the Pleasure Grounds and the woodland, and particularly along the length of the ha-ha.
The remaining works will be undertaken by the Trust, with the help of various volunteers and volunteer groups. This phase of works may not be restricted to the timeframes detailed above.
This means that areas of the Park will need to be cordoned off throughout any work periods to ensure public safety. However, the Trust aims to make the Park as accessible as possible whenever works are being undertaken, so whenever a path needs to be closed the Trust will always aim to find an alternative route through if at all possible. During those times when this is not possible the Trust will endeavour to reopen paths as soon as practicable.
The Trust kindly asks for your patience and understanding throughout this time. It is vital for your own safety that you observe all signs and restrictions that may be in operation during periods of works. This includes preventing dogs from crossing any barriers.
Although these works will have a significant impact on the current appearance of the Park they are designed to improve the facility for all users, including the wildlife. If you would like to find out more details about the work please contact the Tywi Gateway Trust head gardener, Piers Lunt, by email:
pierslunt@tywigateway.org.uk
You can also visit Piers and Trust Manager Louise Austin, on Monday 17th December at Abergwili Church Hall between 5-7pm, to discuss the works and the project more generally.
Posted: 25/06/2020 by Admin
Bishops Park to re-open to pedestrians in July
Despite lockdown and the closure of the Bishops Park to the public, great progress is being made with the restoration of these historic gardens at Abergwili. In May specialist conservation builders David Siggery Ltd. started on the repair of the 250 year old walls of the walled garden, where fruit and veg were once grown for the table of the Bishops of Saint Davids. The builders are also repairing the 300m long Ha-ha, a ditch and sunken wall built to separate the Bishop’s gardens from the animals grazing on the meadows beyond. This early 19th century garden features was designed so that the Bishops gardens appeared to extend uninterrupted across the Tywi valley, like the water of an infinity pool becoming one with the ocean.
Alongside the Tywi Gateway Project the County Council’s repairs to the Old Bishops Palace roof are also progressing well with the contractors, TAD Builders Ltd., making the most of the fine weather.
In the light of the announcement by Carmarthenshire County Council on the 11th of June to re-open Carmarthenshire parks and gardens, the Tywi Gateway Trust are working with the Council and the site contractors to find a safe way to re-open the Bishops Park, Abergwili to the public on the 3rd July.
As well as social distancing amongst the park’s visitors, arrangements need to be made to keep our site contractors, volunteers and staff safe. With the increased activity and vehicle movements of two contractor teams on site we will have to restrict further vehicle access to the site. On re-opening we will therefore be initially welcoming visitors on foot only.
Posted: 18/03/2020 by Admin
News March 2020
Interesting Times
An early morning view out over the cleared ha-ha and across the Tywi Valley
We have reached an exciting point in the restoration of the Bishops Park with the first of our contractors about to start on the restoration of the walls of the walled garden and the Ha-ha. And alongside this work, in collaboration with the museum, we were about to announce a programme of public activities and events.
However, this comes at a difficult time. Following government guidance, we have decided that to keep visitors, volunteers and staff as safe as possible from coronavirus we will be delaying our activities and events programme for three months.
All being well we will be relaunching our line up of events for the summer holidays at the end of July with living history performances in the Walled Garden exploring medieval medication and the traditional uses of herbs for healing.
Where safe, and in line with government guidance, volunteering opportunities assisting Piers in the management and maintenance of the Park and Gardens will continue.
In the meantime the Bishops Park will remain open to all.
Posted: 06/09/2019 by Caroline Welch
Phase 2 – Autumn 2019
The Trust is now ready to implement the next phase of tree work at the Bishop’s Park. Working again with local arborists Extreme Tree Services we will be continuing the restoration of this nationally significant park and garden, creating better conditions for the fabulous historical and specimen trees across the site; aiding the restoration of our listed structures; providing new planting and habitat opportunities; and maintaining the park as a safe and exciting place to visit.
From September 23rd Stuart, Dan and Harry will be selectively clearing self-sown scrub trees along the ha-ha, one of the most impressive landscape features in the park. This 315-metre retaining wall was constructed in the early 19th Century to provide uninterrupted views from the estate into the stunning Tywi Valley beyond, views that have been completely lost over a number of decades. Once complete this clearance work, and the conservation stonework to follow, will reinstate a major aspect of the park’s unique character, which is also unique to the Tywi Valley.
Unfortunately ash dieback continues to wreak havoc across the region, and all ash trees at the park have become infected. As a consequence it is necessary for us to remove them to maintain a safe environment for visitors. We hope for this work to be carried out in November. It is vital that all landowners are aware of their responsibilities regarding ash dieback, and that they take all appropriate health and safety measures.
We here at the Trust are incredibly excited to be restoring the park, bringing its history vividly to life while maintaining it as an enjoyable place to visit for years to come. We apologise for any inconvenience this tree work may cause but urge you to abide by all signs and instructions while work is undertaken. If you have any queries or would like to find out more about the project, please feel free to contact us.
Posted: 06/09/2019 by Admin
More tree work at the Bishops Park – Autumn 2019
This autumn tree surgeons will be back at the Bishop’s Park. Sadly, all our ash trees are infected with ash dieback and we have to fell them to make the park safe for visitors. However, by removing the ash and some of the other trees that have grown up along the Ha-ha, we will restore the fabulous historic views across the Tywi Valley.
More Information
Posted: 22/08/2019 by Admin
Explore the Tywi Valley
Come and start to your exploration of the Tywi Valley at Parc yr Esgob – Bishops Park. Parc yr Esgob volunteer Nigel Bailey has designed and described a series of walks which can all be started at Parc yr Esgob and the Museum. All the information you need, including a map, explanation of the route and fascinating insights into the area you are walking through, are on this site.
The first of these self-guided walks is the 3¼ MILES ‘Gwili River and Railway Walk’.
This walk takes you through a landscape of historic places and characters that go back 1000 years; from Rhain “The Irishman” and the Battle of Abergwili to the 18th century Carmarthen tin-plate works and the site of a WWII Prisoner of War camp.
Posted: 11/06/2019 by Admin
Congratulations to Michael Norman MBE!
A European white elm tree being planted at the Bishops Park to celebrate Michael Norman’s contribution to the site.
Michael Norman, one of the founding trustees of the Tywi Gateway Trust, has been honoured in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list.
Awarded for his services to heritage, Michael was one of the founding members of the Welsh Historic Garden Trust 30 years ago and was a volunteer, director and trustee of the Penllergare Valley Woods up until three years ago.
From 2014 Michael worked tirelessly to set up and raise funding for the Tywi Gateway Project and without him we wouldn’t be now restoring the Bishops Park.
Posted: 01/04/2019 by Caroline Welch
What will be happening?
Over the next two years
Initial project work includes managing our trees. As well as restoring the historic design of the park, this will improve the health of specimen trees, enable us to plant more trees and shrubs and increase the park’s wildlife value and appeal to visitors.
Using traditional techniques and materials, the first of the park’s building’s to be restored is the early 19th century Lodge. Work to restore the rest of the outbuildings will follow in late 2019 through to early 2021 creating an education and interpretation centre and café. The conservation of other important features across the park, such as the walled garden, ha-ha, and paths will be undertaken alongside the building work and will integrate the recognition, recording, protection and improved management of the park’s wildlife.
The project aims to ensure that the Bishop’s Park remains a place that brings great pleasure to both the local community and visitors to the area alike and that it becomes a centre of learning and activity for visitors of all ages and abilities.
Posted: 01/02/2019 by Admin
Film makers at the Bishop’s Park
Daisy White and Ioan Ings of Akron Productions are young, up and coming, local film makers. Their first film together was made here in the Bishop’s Park walled kitchen garden, recording the archaeological excavations back in March 2017 .
The park remains as photogenic as ever and in autumn 2018 Meg Phillips, a 2nd year student of film and visual culture at University of Wales Trinity St Davids, chose the Bishop’s Park to represent a “happy place” in her short film “Ear Buds.”
Posted: 07/12/2018 by Caroline Welch
Phase 1 – February 2019
As part of our three-year restoration project at the Park, the Trust needs to undertake significant amounts of work on the trees and woodland. This work will focus on rejuvenating the arboretum and woodland areas, removing those trees with disease, those that are compromising the listed structures (particularly the ha-ha), and those invasive species, principally laurel and rhododendron, that have seriously impacted the health of the woodland. This will improve conditions in the Park in terms of public access and enjoyment, biodiversity, security, health and safety, and will also provide an opportunity to plant new trees and shrubs throughout.
It is proposed that the majority of this work will be undertaken in two phases as part of an external contract:
Phase 1:
Phase 2:
The remaining works will be undertaken by the Trust, with the help of various volunteers and volunteer groups. This phase of works may not be restricted to the timeframes detailed above.
This means that areas of the Park will need to be cordoned off throughout any work periods to ensure public safety. However, the Trust aims to make the Park as accessible as possible whenever works are being undertaken, so whenever a path needs to be closed the Trust will always aim to find an alternative route through if at all possible. During those times when this is not possible the Trust will endeavour to reopen paths as soon as practicable.
The Trust kindly asks for your patience and understanding throughout this time. It is vital for your own safety that you observe all signs and restrictions that may be in operation during periods of works. This includes preventing dogs from crossing any barriers.
Although these works will have a significant impact on the current appearance of the Park they are designed to improve the facility for all users, including the wildlife. If you would like to find out more details about the work please contact the Tywi Gateway Trust head gardener, Piers Lunt, by email:
pierslunt@tywigateway.org.uk
You can also visit Piers and Trust Manager Louise Austin, on Monday 17th December at Abergwili Church Hall between 5-7pm, to discuss the works and the project more generally.
Posted: 07/12/2018 by Admin
Tree Work at the Bishop’s Park
Now that the Parc yr Esgob Trust is actively managing the Bishop’s Park it is vital that we look after the health of our trees and woodland.
This means that we need to do lots of work on them throughout the Park to improve the site for people and wildlife, and to give us the opportunity to plant many more.
To find out more please visit us at Abergwili Church Hall on December 17th from 5-7pm.
Further information can also be found here,
or you can contact head gardener Piers Lunt directly via email:
pierslunt@tywigateway.org.uk