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Starring role is a nice one, Cyril
The popular Swansea City mascot will perform the official opening of the West Wales Koi Keepers’ Society 2017 show, which is being held at the Carmarthenshire attraction for the second year in a row.
Show chairman Cliff Beckett said: “Cyril is a big fan of the Swans but is just as big a fan of koi – he is also our most famous member.”
Cliff urged everyone (not just Swans fans) to visit the Garden this bank holiday to see the fabulously fishy spectacle: “Come along and experience first-hand the beauty of these wonderful fish – there will be more than 100 of them. Members of the club will be on hand to answer any questions you might have and a warm welcome awaits,” he said.
The koi carp show is just part of the fabulous bank holiday family fun on offer at the Garden.
As well as the crowning of The Grand Champion Koi of Wales, there is also magic, music, balloon-modelling, water zorbing, hay-bale maze, tropical butterflies, birds of prey displays and the ever-popular annual Botanic Garden Vegetable Olympics.
Families will again be challenged by such events as the rhubarb javelin, putting the suede, potato throwing and welly wanging. The faster, higher, stronger you are, the more likely you are to end up with one of the Garden’s coveted winners’ wreaths.
It is also worth remembering that anyone buying a full-price ticket to the Garden between now the end of the year will be able to re-visit FREE of charge for seven days after their initial visit – and as many times as they like in those seven days.
The Garden is open from 10am to 6pm with last entry at 5pm.
Admission to the Garden is £10.50 (including Gift Aid) for adults and £4.95 for children over five. Entry is FREE for Garden members and parking is free for all.
For more information about this or other events, call 01558 667149, email info@gardenofwales.org.uk
* The Saturday night Jurassic Park ‘Cinema Under The Stars’ event is sold out.
Orchid Festival
Need help with your orchids? Then the National Botanic Garden of Wales is the place to be on Saturday and Sunday, September 2-3.
At the Carmarthenshire attraction’s 10th annual Orchid Festival, there are talks and tips for everyone, from beginners to experts; teenage orchid grower Archie Smith will give a talk entitled: ‘Bulbophyllum – love them or hate them?’; there’s a demonstration of repotting and mounting; and a ‘How to create your own epiphyte orchid tree’ demo.
Organised by the Orchid Study Group under the chairmanship of botanist Dr Kevin Davies, the festival really does have something for everyone.
Menter Cwm Gwendraeth Family Fun Day
A special day of events for the whole family, put on by Menter Cwm Gwendraeth, on Saturday the 2nd of September.
Tickets must be bought in advance from Menter – £5 for adults, £3 for children under 16 years old – please call 01269 871600
Members, Bring a Friend – Free of Charge
Remember, remember: all of September is ‘Members: bring a friend, FREE of charge’ month at the National Botanic Garden of Wales.
All month long, your membership card will act as if it has a “plus one” facility attached to it – every single day of September.
And there’s plenty to see and do during this special month.
There’s the 10th annual Orchid Festival (2nd and 3rd); Tours of the Great Glasshouse, with our volunteer guide Derek Caldwell at 11am, 12.30 and 2pm – every Tuesday; On the 9th and 10th, the National Vegetable Society, Welsh Branch is holding its Championship show, and the South Wales Group of theNational Chrysanthemum Society is holding its annual Chrysanthemum Show; and there’s the world’s first ever Science, Nature and Comedy festival on the weekend of the 16th and 17th.
For information about becoming a member of the National Botanic Garden call Jane on 01558 667118 or email membership@gardenofwales.org.uk
The British Bird of Prey Centre
There are awesome encounters to be had EVERY day at the National Botanic Garden’s brand-new attraction – The British Bird of Prey Centre – with daily flying displays at 11:30am and 2:30pm!
There’s an additional £3 charge to the Centre, and you’ll be able to enjoy amazing flying displays by a Jack Merlin, Red Kites, and Angus, the White Tailed Sea Eagle!