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Water, Water Everywhere…….

The other morning I woke up thinking about the garden make over programme “Ground Force” and the water features they used.  Well it had been raining all night!  It made me think about the water at the National Botanic Garden of Wales.  There’s a lot of water there and so I started a little guided tour in my mind ‘spotting’ all the water features.

I started as you might expect at The Gatehouse and the beautiful glass and water sculpture which is actually called ‘Thirty Three Thousand, Seven Hundred and Ninety Eight’ and reflects the number of plant species that were threatened by extinction in 2000. On the left we come to the little stream which flows down from the hills and into the first of the necklace of lakes which are a big feature of the Garden.

Pwll yr Ardd is the first one and is home to coots, moorhens and mallards.  Yesterday we spent a delightful 5 minutes watching a pair of coots with their six babies.  Next I came to Scaladaqua Tonda (I wish it had an easier name), that’s the steps of water on each side of the path with the echo spot in the centre.  I always have to make a noise – even just a little one – when I walk past there so that I can hear the effect.

Where to next?  The Circle of Decision of course.  This is a lovely fountain fed by the Rill which winds down The Broadwalk and provides endless delight to children young and old (like me).  So should I go to the left, the right or straight on?  To the left then, where I pause briefly to look at the tranquil Japanese garden with its tumbling stream and peaceful pool.  Then into the Double Walled Garden where there is a central ‘dipping pool’ originally for the gardeners to water the plants and 4 decorative pools complete with water lilies.  More water in the Tropical House with its mirror like raised pool.  Back to The Broadwalk and over to the Bog Garden.  This is one of my favourites.  When I was there this week the colours of the candelabra primula were just stunning and the Gunnera with its tough, prickly leaves gives the whole place a lush feel.

Now it really is decision time.  Round the lakes or up The Broadwalk.  So up to Millennium Square with its irresistible fountains and then across to The Mirror Pool.  Beautifully still this week but not so long ago the wind was whipping the water into spray and soaking anyone close enough.   Through the Great Glasshouse with its fish pond and down to the other lakes, LLyn Uchaf with its yellow water lilies and dragonflies and then to Llyn Canol hoping to see a kingfisher or perhaps an otter (no such luck).  Next on my whistle stop tour would be Pont Felin Gat with its tumbling river and the lovely waterfall which has been there for about 200 years.

I’m sure that someone will tell me that I’ve missed something out and I’m sorry if it’s your favourite.  I just hope that I’ve whetted your appetite and you will come and see our myriad water features for yourselves.

Pam Murden