Welcome to the NBGOW

Welcome to the National Botanic Garden of Wales, the first national botanic garden to be created in the new millennium. In such a short time we have developed into one of the most fascinating gardens in the UK. Already we have the most visited garden in Wales, we were voted number 1 wonder of Wales by the Western Mail and are helping to conserve some of the rarest plants in the world.

The National Botanic Garden of Wales exists to develop a viable world-class national botanic garden dedicated to the research and conservation of biodiversity and its sustainable utilisation, to lifelong learning and to the enjoyment of the visitor.

We want every visitor to leave the Garden with a sense that they've learnt a little bit more about the world and how to live a little more sustainably on it. Our visitors might discover that plants are more interesting than first thought, that Welsh plants have an important role to play in medicine or that organic gardening might be worth a try. Youngsters may realise that some plants smell funny, carrots grow in the soil, raspberries can be yellow or that recycled CDs make a great Christmas tree decoration.

We welcome hundreds of schools here every year. They have a wide choice of courses to select from, based around the National Curriculum and Curriculum Cymraeg, from Tedwen's Adventure for early years to Everyday Choices at secondary school level. We provide what we term "essential environmental education experiences" for all pupils who visit us, in either English or in Welsh. The Garden has a team of professionals and volunteers to help teachers, both here and at school, make the most of the Garden's enormous potential.

There is also plenty of structured learning for older students. Since 2004, Coleg Sir Gar provides on site training for horticulture students and, for several years, the Garden has worked with the University of Wales. This has opened up many undergraduate and postgraduate opportunities to study subjects from biological sciences to art, design and architecture.

Adults not in formal education will find a choice of short-term /leisure courses here, from basic computer training to willow weaving, herbal medicine and woodturning. During school holidays, families have the chance to learn together on a variety of seasonal family fun activities.

Future Plans

As a very young Botanic Garden, we are still developing, and we have to think decades ahead with some of our plantings, landscaping and buildings.

In the next few years, we will continue opening up the estate for visitors. The highlight of this will be the Forgotten Falls of Pont Felin Gat, an enchanting woodland with cascades, characterful stone bridges and other relics from William Paxton's Georgian water park. Before we open this up, we need to make sure the paths are safe and accessible.

We are hoping to renovate the Peach House within the Double Walled Garden.

We are also planning to extend and improve the Plants for Health exhibition at the Apothecaries' Hall with, among other things, a new glasshouse to display non-hardy medicinal plants.

Exciting plans for a brand new education centre at the former Waun Las farm buildings are also at the "drawing board" stage.