Smugglers

TWM ELIAS will be giving a talk on Welsh smugglers on Saturday, 30 April, at 7.30pm in the Dragon Theatre in aid of Barmouth Lifeboat.Twm is a well-known broadcaster and speaker on local and historical themes. North Wales has always been a smugglers’ paradise, so the evening should be an interesting one.

Spring exhibition

THE MAWDDACH Art Group will be holding its annual spring exhibition of work in the Arts Room of the Dragon Theatre from Saturday, 30 April, to Sunday, 8 May, between 10am and 3pm daily, apart from Wednesday when it will be open in the afternoon only.Entry will be free and everyone is assured of a warm welcome.

Spring garden opening

ON SUNDAY, 1 May, from 11am to 5pm, the gardens of Pen y Bryn at Glandwr, two miles east of Barmouth, will be open to the public as part of the National Gardens Scheme.Phil and Jenny Martin are inviting members of the public to visit their garden, which is only open once a year. All profits go to the National Gardens Scheme for Macmillan Cancer Support and Gwynedd Hospice at Home.Pen y Bryn boasts over four acres of established woodland walks and garden featuring a variety of stunning rhododendrons, camellias and azaleas, blending seamlessly into the magnificent panorama backdrop of the Mawddach Estuary, while bluebells abound in spring along the woodland paths and rocky outcrops.Hydrangeas, hellebores, heathers, choisya, ceonothus, crinodendron, clematis, hypericum, mahonia and photinia feature among many other shrubs and flowers on different lawn levels with a water feature and an ancient rock cannon; a nostalgic reminder of the bygone days of celebrating great occasions.There will also be cream teas and plants for sale.