The Tywi Gateway Project
The Tywi Gateway Project is an exciting and innovative community driven landscape restoration project led by the Tywi Gateway Trust based at the Bishop’s Park, Abergwili.
Once set on the banks of the River Tywi, in the beautiful Tywi Valley, for nearly 500 years the Bishop’s Park was the private garden of the Bishops of St. Davids. Today, what remains of the park is now open to the public all year round and is a much-loved place to take a stroll and follow in the footsteps of the Bishops of St Davids.
Over its long history the park's landscape has gone through many changes reflecting the fashions of the time, changes in its use and more dramatically the forces of nature. The most recent changes were made in the 1970s when part of the grounds were chosen as the site on which to build a new Bishop’s Palace. The old Bishop’s Palace eventually becoming the home of the fascinating Carmarthenshire County Museum and no visit to the Bishop’s Park is complete without exploring this jewel of a museum.
Despite the many changes that have taken place, as we look around the Bishop’s Park today we can still see the remains of these earlier parks. The wonderful but overgrown Walled Kitchen Garden with its quaint cottage ornee, the old pathways through the trees, the ha ha overlooking The Great Meadow and the Bishop’s Pond with its secret island, all offer us a hint at the one time splendour of these important and peaceful grounds.
This undiscovered jewel set within a landscape famously known as the Garden of Wales is a truly unique site and though its glory is somewhat faded the Tywi Gateway Project is working to restore the Bishop’s Park to it former grandeur.
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Historic Parks and Gardens of Carmarthenshire – New book
Carmarthenshire Branch of The Welsh Historic Gardens Trust (WHGT) is pleased to announce the publication of a new book, ‘Historic Parks and Gardens of Carmarthenshire’.
Researched and written by a group of volunteers, this book sets
Friends of Penllergare Valley Woods
Today we were delighted to show a group from Penllergare around the Bishop’s Park. Despite the weather we all had a great time. Penllergare Valley Woods is another fascinating landscape restoration project and well worth a visit.
Friends of Whitehurst Garden
Today we had a visit from the Friends of Whitehurst Garden who in the process of developing their own restoration project for a mid 17th century garden in north east wales. They had been on a tour of gardens projects in south wales and we were their last stop
Comfort, Pleasure & Prestige
One of our project trustees Dr Alan Wilson has a new book coming out soon on the technology of the country house in west Wales. Comfort, Pleasure and Prestige describes the various ways the Welsh gentry used domestic technology to ensure that their
