PRESS RELEASE 15/03/22
Spring has sprung at Bishops Park!
Popular Carmarthenshire visitor attraction to host new Plant Fair this Easter
Bishops Park and Gardens at Abergwili goes from strength to strength this Easter launching its 2022 activities with a new Spring Plant Fair on Sunday 10th April, 10am-2pm. Organised by the Tywi Gateway Trust, the tiny charity behind the restoration of the Park and conversion of the derelict outbuildings, the event will promote the newly-restored visitor destination and highlight it as one of Wales key places to visit, enjoy and learn.
Celebrating key West Wales growers including Farmyard Nurseries, West Wales Willows, Liliwen Herbs and Brynllwyd Nurseries, the new Plant Fair will help put Carmarthen on the tourist and horticultural map, welcoming gardeners, plant hunters and visitors from all over the area.
Highlights include a talk by Head Gardener Piers Lunt about the new Jenkinson Garden (11am), including the inspiration for his design and how the planting takes its cue from heritage cultivars for maximum wildlife benefit. Visitors will also be able to join a free tour of the park by Piers at 1pm, including the walled garden not normally open to the public.
Louise Austin, Trust Manager, said, “We are so delighted to hold this exciting event for Carmarthen and the wider area. It has been a huge project to restore the park and gardens to their former glory and we are just thrilled to see all our hard work, and that of our volunteers finally come to fruition. We are passionate about sustainability and a celebration of local growers, encouraging more of us to garden and grow our own, for wellbeing and for the future of the planet, is the perfect way to open our activities for the year.”
Unique window onto Carmarthenshire’s Heritage
Bishops Park & Gardens at Abergwili surrounds Carmarthenshire Museum, formerly the Palace of the Bishops of St Davids – and visitors can now spend a full day on the site as the two visitor attractions showcase Carmarthenshire’s unique horticulture, wildlife and heritage. With two new garden areas, restored parkland, new seating and interpretation panels, views opened up across the Tywi Valley, scramble ropes and a balancing log for children, with a cafe and learning centre opening later in the Spring, there’s lots to see and do for visitors of all ages.
Help ensure the reinvigorated Bishops Park is here to stay….
Tywi Gateway Trust is a tiny charity and needs more support to ensure the reinvigorated Bishops Park is here to stay. Support them by visiting, volunteering, donating, or spreading the word about their work on social media. More events in the park are planned for the Summer, including a re-enactment of the Battle of Abergwili on 13th August and the return of the popular Bishops Park show in September. Find out more at: www.parcyresgob.org.uk
| Images
To download these & more image for this Press Release: https://photos.app.goo.gl/Dsunas8aDh17uQZi8
For general visitor images: https://photos.app.goo.gl/PynhZjTB4un7NKsh6
|
 The new Jenkinson Garden at Bishops Park is planted for wildlife and beauty.
©Tywi Gateway Trust / Aled Llwyelyn |
 The Bishop’s former Walled Garden will be open for the Spring Plant Fair
©Tywi Gateway Trust / Aled Llwyelyn |
 Tywi Gateway Trust have restored the parkland and opened up views across the Tywi Valley for visitors.
©Tywi Gateway Trust / Aled Llwyelyn |
 The fair includes a free talk by Head Gardener Piers Lunt on the inspiration for the new Jenkinson garden (pictured).
©Tywi Gateway Trust / Aled Llwyelyn |
Notes to editors
About the Tywi Gateway Trust
The Trust was set up in 2016 to: “promote for the benefit of the public at the Bishop’s Park and its cultural setting in Abergwili the conservation, protection, improvement and understanding of the built and natural environments.”
The Tywi Gateway Trust are currently delivering the Tywi Gateway Project at the Bishop’s Park, Abergwili, a £2.4m Parks for People project funded with a £1.2m grant by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
The Trust are a tiny charity with the equivalent of just 3 full time staff, relying on the generosity of volunteers and supporters to continue our work.
To find out more about the work of the Trust visit: https://parcyresgob.org.uk/
To give monthly to the Trust visit: https://localgiving.org/charity/the-tywi-gateway-trust/
Follow @ParkYrEsgob on Facebook – Twitter – Instagram – YouTube
Further information
For further information, images and interviews please contact Louise Austin at the Tywi Gateway Trust on 07399 265237, email: louiseaustin@tywigateway.org.uk
All Bishops Park Press:
Press Releases: https://tywigateway.org.uk/category/press-releases-2/
Posted: 10/08/2022 by Ffiona Jones
New Skill Opportunities for Young People
14 -25 years old? An opportunity to learn new skills for free!
Scripting and film-making workshops at Bishop’s Park this month as part of out 15 Minute Digital Heritage project.
Scripting workshops – Thursday 25th & Friday 26th August 10.30am
Film workshops – Tuesday 30th August – Friday 2nd September 10am- 4pm
Contact Ffiona for more details or to book your place: 07395082719, FfionaJones@tywigateway.org.uk
Posted: 04/08/2022 by Ffiona Jones
Café Open!
It is with great pleasure that we can announce the long-awaited café has finally opened!
We welcome Stacey & Lisa, two local business women who live in Abergwili, who run ‘Stacey’s Kitchen’, along with their team.
There has been much excitement since they opened – long may it continue!
Stacey’s Kitchen’s opening times are 9.00am – 5.00pm, Monday – Sunday
Dogs are welcome & we are fully accessible
Posted: 26/07/2022 by Ffiona Jones
Bishop’s Park Recollections
We’re working with our volunteers and groups of local young people around the Carmarthen area to collect and record recollections and stories of the site of the Old Bishop’s Palace, Abergwili, which will then feed into the 15 Minute Digital Heritage project. The site has over 800 years of history & our historical research volunteers have worked hard to collate it, but we don’t have much on record from the 1930’s onwards. We have a number of visitors who tell us how they were allowed into the gardens on a Sunday afternoon, or how they would fish the Bishop’s Pond, or that their aunt was a maid in the Palac, or that they had their wedding photos taken in the grounds etc. Well, this project is a chance for us to collect these stories and memories and to keep them on record. We’ve received a grant from the 15 Minute Digital Heritage Fund in order to do this and to feed into the trust’s digital content, through working with young people from the Carmarthen area to create short films which will be based around the recollection & stories that we collect.
We’d like to invite anyone who has any connection to the Old Bishop’s Palace, Abergwili site to come for a cup of tea or coffee & cake in our brand new café area to share their stories, memories and recollections and our trained volunteers will be on hand to record them.
The drop-in sessions will be held:
02/08/22 (Wednesday) 2pm – 4pm
03/08/22 (Thursday) 10am-12pm and 4.30pm-6.30pm
09/08/22 (Tuesday) 11am – 4pm
For further details please contact Ffiona on 07395082719 email: FfionaJones@tywigateway.org.uk
Posted: 07/07/2022 by Ffiona Jones
Max Pulford
It is with great sadness that we have to let everyone know that our newly appointed Commercial Manager, Max Pulford, died suddenly last week. Although only a few weeks into the job Max had already begun to make an impact, and all of us were benefitting from his infectious enthusiasm, drive and ability to connect with everyone he met. His wife Penny said that Max was thrilled to have joined our team at the park, and that he came home from his last day at work feeling he’d had a particularly good day. Max evidently enjoyed his new role building practical relationships with local businesses and organisations, and encouraging them to view the park as a valuable asset that could enhance their work. Max was clearly dedicated to the ethos of the Trust, and to making Bishop’s Park a better place for everyone. Our thoughts and condolences go to his family and friends at this difficult time.
Posted: 24/06/2022 by Ffiona Jones
Wildlife Walk – 21st June 2022
Wildlife Walk – 21st June 2022, 2pm. The Bishop’s Park
8 attendees, led by Max Pulford
Phew what a scorcher! Bright sunshine, 27oC and light winds greeted the best turn out on the on the longest day of the year. Large numbers of bees (honey, bumble and carder) and hover flies were collecting pollen as we headed out from the Jenkinson Garden. The 200-year-old London Plane tree, standing proud was undergoing a June drop of leaves – whether this is because of the hot weather, the lack of rain or just what happens we don’t know but the wild bees’ nest was very active in the crevice up the left trunk. A song thrush was singing and then the fluty song of a male blackcap was heard whist the group looked at Carex pendula (the pendulous sedge) in a typical damp woodland edge. Sedges are easy to identify because sedges have edges on their stems. A flowering dog rose and St John’s wort and red campion were nearby in amongst the usual woodland plants including mallow and hedge woundwort. One of the attendees, a tree surgeon in previous life regaled the group with interesting facts about trees.
At the Bishop’s Pond (very low in water) two mallards and a heron were seen in amongst the starting to flower yellow water lilies, Nupar Lutea. Common blue damselflies were skimming over the water. Wrens and chaffinches were heard, and jackdaws seen but the highlight was a pair of spotted flycatchers with food in their beaks suggesting the likelihood of a nest with young. It was hoped a slow worm might be seen in the walled garden, but the day was even too hot for them. Ice creams were a fine finish to the walk and although not many birds were seen, a lovely and interesting walk was had by all. The next walk is Tuesday 19th July.
Max Pulford
Posted: 18/06/2022 by Louise Austin
National Meadows Day 2022
Come and celebrate National Meadows Day with us at Parc Yr Esgob-Bishop’s Park. There will guided tours of Y Waun Fawr, our floodplain meadow, with ecologist, Laurence Brooks. Matthew Collison will be demonstrating his scything skills and how to look after your scythe and there will be a chance for children to go on a bug hunt around the Park.
Posted: 17/06/2022 by Louise Austin
Monthly Wildlife Watch
Join us on our monthly wildlife watch walk at Bishop’s Park – next Tuesday, 21st 2022
2-3pm to help monitor what’s growing and living in the Park.
Wildlife enthusiasts warmly welcomed but no prior knowledge needed. Meet in the Jenkinson Garden at 2pm.
Posted: 23/05/2022 by Louise Austin
Pollinator Logo Competition
The competition winner was Seren Atherton from Talley Primary School and in 2nd place was Oliver Hedd Horn from Nantgaredig Primary School.
Our Community Engagement & Learning Officer and two of our trustees, Betsan Caldwell & Anne Loughrane, visited the schools recently to present Seren & Oliver with their prizes.
Seren’s picture can be seen on our new interpretation boards to note information on the park’s wildlife and Oliver’s picture will soon be seen in our new centre.
There’s a gallery of the contestants pictures on our website.
Posted: 13/05/2022 by Louise Austin
Bishop’s Park Horticultural Show 2022
Following the success of last year’s event, the Bishop’s Park Horticultural Show will be back this year on Saturday 3rd of September, with new classes for bee keepers, as well as classes for growers of vegetables and flowers, bakers, preserve makers, crafters and junior classes.
The show schedule is available here: Show schedule 22 – LA edit-CND02830BL
entry form: Entry Form
Judges will be announced shortly.
Posted: 15/03/2022 by Caroline Welch
New Spring Plant Fair at Bishops Park!
PRESS RELEASE 15/03/22
Spring has sprung at Bishops Park!
Popular Carmarthenshire visitor attraction to host new Plant Fair this Easter
Bishops Park and Gardens at Abergwili goes from strength to strength this Easter launching its 2022 activities with a new Spring Plant Fair on Sunday 10th April, 10am-2pm. Organised by the Tywi Gateway Trust, the tiny charity behind the restoration of the Park and conversion of the derelict outbuildings, the event will promote the newly-restored visitor destination and highlight it as one of Wales key places to visit, enjoy and learn.
Celebrating key West Wales growers including Farmyard Nurseries, West Wales Willows, Liliwen Herbs and Brynllwyd Nurseries, the new Plant Fair will help put Carmarthen on the tourist and horticultural map, welcoming gardeners, plant hunters and visitors from all over the area.
Highlights include a talk by Head Gardener Piers Lunt about the new Jenkinson Garden (11am), including the inspiration for his design and how the planting takes its cue from heritage cultivars for maximum wildlife benefit. Visitors will also be able to join a free tour of the park by Piers at 1pm, including the walled garden not normally open to the public.
Louise Austin, Trust Manager, said, “We are so delighted to hold this exciting event for Carmarthen and the wider area. It has been a huge project to restore the park and gardens to their former glory and we are just thrilled to see all our hard work, and that of our volunteers finally come to fruition. We are passionate about sustainability and a celebration of local growers, encouraging more of us to garden and grow our own, for wellbeing and for the future of the planet, is the perfect way to open our activities for the year.”
Unique window onto Carmarthenshire’s Heritage
Bishops Park & Gardens at Abergwili surrounds Carmarthenshire Museum, formerly the Palace of the Bishops of St Davids – and visitors can now spend a full day on the site as the two visitor attractions showcase Carmarthenshire’s unique horticulture, wildlife and heritage. With two new garden areas, restored parkland, new seating and interpretation panels, views opened up across the Tywi Valley, scramble ropes and a balancing log for children, with a cafe and learning centre opening later in the Spring, there’s lots to see and do for visitors of all ages.
Help ensure the reinvigorated Bishops Park is here to stay….
Tywi Gateway Trust is a tiny charity and needs more support to ensure the reinvigorated Bishops Park is here to stay. Support them by visiting, volunteering, donating, or spreading the word about their work on social media. More events in the park are planned for the Summer, including a re-enactment of the Battle of Abergwili on 13th August and the return of the popular Bishops Park show in September. Find out more at: www.parcyresgob.org.uk
To download these & more image for this Press Release: https://photos.app.goo.gl/Dsunas8aDh17uQZi8
For general visitor images: https://photos.app.goo.gl/PynhZjTB4un7NKsh6
©Tywi Gateway Trust / Aled Llwyelyn
©Tywi Gateway Trust / Aled Llwyelyn
©Tywi Gateway Trust / Aled Llwyelyn
©Tywi Gateway Trust / Aled Llwyelyn
Notes to editors
About the Tywi Gateway Trust
The Trust was set up in 2016 to: “promote for the benefit of the public at the Bishop’s Park and its cultural setting in Abergwili the conservation, protection, improvement and understanding of the built and natural environments.”
The Tywi Gateway Trust are currently delivering the Tywi Gateway Project at the Bishop’s Park, Abergwili, a £2.4m Parks for People project funded with a £1.2m grant by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
The Trust are a tiny charity with the equivalent of just 3 full time staff, relying on the generosity of volunteers and supporters to continue our work.
To find out more about the work of the Trust visit: https://parcyresgob.org.uk/
To give monthly to the Trust visit: https://localgiving.org/charity/the-tywi-gateway-trust/
Follow @ParkYrEsgob on Facebook – Twitter – Instagram – YouTube
Further information
For further information, images and interviews please contact Louise Austin at the Tywi Gateway Trust on 07399 265237, email: louiseaustin@tywigateway.org.uk
All Bishops Park Press:
Press Releases: https://tywigateway.org.uk/category/press-releases-2/