A garden that won Gold at this year’s Chelsea Flower Show has now been transferred to its ‘forever home’ at Treborth Botanic Garden, part of Bangor University.
The ‘Size of Wales Garden’ was officially opened this Friday (12 July, 10.30am) in the presence of local primary schools, politicians, Friends of Treborth volunteers and representatives of Bangor University, garden designers Studio Bristow and charity partners, Size of Wales.
The garden will be open seven days a week for the public to enjoy. It is situated on the main lawns at Treborth Botanic Garden with the woodland as a backdrop.
The garden was very well received at the show, winning a Gold medal and Best in Category in the ‘All About Plants’ category, so bringing the garden back to Treborth is extra special. It has been an exciting process to work with the garden designer Dan Bristow and the team on rebuilding the garden in the grounds of Treborth, recreating the essence of the garden with some tweaks and new ideas to ensure it thrives in its new home here in Wales.
Dan Bristow partnered with Welsh climate change charity Size of Wales on the magical, biodiverse garden to bring to the fore the rich biodiversity of plantlife in tropical forests, whilst highlighting the devastating consequences of deforestation – an area of forest more than twice the size of Wales was lost in 2022. The project received funding from Project Giving Back, the unique grant-giving charity that supports gardens for good causes at RHS Chelsea.
The garden contains around 313 plant species, reflecting the number of tree species that can occur in just one hectare of tropical forest.
The Size of Wales Garden immerses visitors in a rich landscape representative of tropical forests but features plant species that thrive in our own vital ecosystems here in the UK. We hope this will challenge the viewer to recognise that their beloved home landscapes are also under threat.
The garden displays a strong conservation message, raising awareness about the critical issue of deforestation and its impact on global biodiversity. Not only does it allow visitors to learn about our impact on climate change, but being home to the Size of Wales garden further highlights the value of Treborth as a space for all to learn about and have access to a garden that very few are able to visit at the show itself.
Celebrating the official opening of the Size of Wales Garden at Treborth
