Plas Tan y Bwlch

THE gardens at the Snowdonia National Park’s educational centre are looking blooming marvelous.It is two years since the devastating storms of February 2014 destroyed a section of one of north Wales’ most important gardens – the gardens of Plas Tan y Bwlch, the Victorian masterpiece situated in the beauti-ful Maentwrog valley in Snowdonia National Park.Following the storms – which brought down trees well over 80 foot tall – the Snowdonia National Park Authority commissioned garden consultant and writer Tony Russell to draw up a plan for the gardens’ restoration and since then tonnes of fallen and storm-damaged trees have been removed, paths reinstated, a new visitor garden trail created, a new tea room opened and over 400 new plants, trees and shrubs planted.Plas Tan y Bwlch head of business Andrew Oughton said: “The gardens were originally created by the Oakeley family who owned the estate in the Victorian era.“They were particularly fond of Magnolias, Rhododendrons (not of the ponticum variety!), Camellias and Japanese Maples, so we have planted new varieties of these, along with many other species.“Only in the past few days everything has burst into flower, creating a spectacle of colour the like of which has not been seen for many years.”The flowers are predicted to last right through until the end of the month and the gardens will be open every day from 10am for visitors to enjoy.