Save the date! Have a Grow day 2024

We are delighted to announce that we will be joining Social Farms and Gardens once again in this national celebration of community gardening. For the second year running, this will also be part of Eden Project Communities’ ‘Month of Community‘ – a month of amazing initiatives and events in June that celebrates everything that makes our communities great.

Our ‘Have a Grow’ event will take place on Saturday 1st June in the Walled Garden, with a host of fun and exciting things to do. Cash is preferred for sales and chargeable activities. Entry is free.

See our poster below for all the details.

How to find us

From Newport/M4, take the A4042 towards Cwmbran. At the Turnpike roundabout, take the right turn towards Caerleon (B4236). Go right at the first mini-roundabout by Grange University Hospital then after about 100m, turn left into the main drive for Llanfrechfa Grange Hospital. Continue to the top of the drive to find the visitors car park on the right.

The Walled Garden is on the  left of Grange House between the house and the Grange University Hospital.

From Abergavenny/north, head south on the A4042 towards Newport until you reach the Turnpike roundabout signposted left for Caerleon and Grange University Hospital (B4236). Take the turn and at the first mini-roundabout by the hospital, turn right and continue another 100m. Turn left just after the pedestrian traffic lights up the drive signposted Llanfrechfa Grange Hospital. Continue to the top of the drive to find the visitors car park on the right.

The Walled Garden is on the  left of Grange House between the house and the Grange University Hospital.

For a map, please scan this QR code.

 

The Walled Garden – Winter issue 2024

Welcome to the latest issue of our quarterly newsletter, ‘The Walled Garden”, which you can download here The Walled Garden – Winter 2023-24 (pdf)

In this issue:

• • A Warmer Winter – welcome
  • Festive Fundraising
  • Christmas tree on the lawn
  • Torfaen Community Resilience Fund Award
  • Visitor opening hours
  • Volunteering news
  • Membership update
  • Local Place for Nature Award
  • Contact us

 

• We hope you enjoy reading it. Comments and suggestions for future issues are always welcome. Please use the contact form below or email us at: info.lgh.garden@gmail.com

The Walled Garden – Autumn newsletter

Welcome to the latest issue of our quarterly newsletter, ‘The Walled Garden”, which you can download here The Walled Garden – Autumn 2023 (pdf)

In this issue:

• Autumn watch – welcome
• Path improvements
• AGM 2023
• Plants for sale
• Planning ahead
• First melons
• Opening hours
• Garden inspires budding artists
• Supporting us
• Latest grant awards
• Garden events
• Cottage make-over
• Contact us

We hope you enjoy reading it. Comments and suggestions for future issues are always welcome. Please use the contact form below or email us at: info.lgh.garden@gmail.com  

Christmas Wreath-making Workshops

Roll up, roll up, we are running wreath-making workshops again this year over 2 weekends in December. The first weekend has already sold out but there are a few places left on 9th and 10th December. Please see the poster below for more information.

Our AGM 2023

In the late afternoon of Tuesday 12th September 2023, the Friends of Llanfrechfa Grange Walled Garden held its Annual General Meeting in the Walled Garden. The AGM is a formal requirement of the Charity Commission for England and Wales for all registered charities, which also involves the submission of an Annual Return or financial statement for the preceding fiscal year, i.e. from April 2022 to March 2023.

The Charity Trustees at the AGM

The meeting was open to the public and attended by the Trustees, except for the Membership secretary Bobinca Wilson, who sent her apologies. The audience numbered about 16 people, all members or volunteers.

Jan Smith, MBE, Chair of the charity, opened proceedings with a look back at last year’s successes and challenges, chief of which had to be our ceremony officially opening the garden to the public at the end of April 2022. What a great occasion that was! One of our biggest challenges was in the winter when the poly tunnel cover took flight during a storm, thankfully rectified through the efforts of our volunteers and a grant to help cover the cost of its replacement.

Following Jan’s talk, Chris Parsons, treasurer for the charity, gave a short update on the financial position of the charity, which he confirmed is very healthy.

A copy of our Annual Report and the financial Annual Return for 2022-2023 will be submitted to the Charity Commission later in the year. In the meantime, final copies can be downloaded here.

Annual Report 2022-23-FINAL – AUGUST 2023

Charity Commission accounts to submit – YE 31 March 2023

After both presentations, questions were invited from the floor. One person asked about the timescale for renovating the utility block and toilet facility. Jan advised that this would be quite a big and potentially costly project to organise so a timescale has not been set for this yet. Another person asked about the timescale for the “Moon gate” to be installed between the Japanese garden and the wildlife garden. Jan reported that a design has been agreed and sent to the supplier but is awaiting sign off of the inscription in Japanese which needs to be double checked for accuracy as none of us can read Japanese! She will chase this up shortly.

As no other questions were raised, the meeting was formally closed and everyone was invited to stay for tea and cake and a chance to buy plants and produce.

 

 

Groundworks in the Walled Garden all this week

Groundworks to complete the surface dressing of paths across the garden are commencing next week from Tuesday 5th September. This will require us to cordon off some sections while the work is taking place. it will mainly effect the west side of the garden, i.e. the side containing the Japanese garden and lawn and the  side with the large flowering borders. We expect the works to be completed by Monday 10th September.

In the meantime, visitors can still come to the garden via the north and south gates. The areas around the veg plot, the east border, the greenhouse area and the seating areas near the cottage garden will all still be accessible. 

Once completed, the paths around the show gardens and reflective quadrant will be smoother and much more accessible for anyone with prams or mobility needs and they should look much nicer too.

Please bear with us and  apologies for any inconvenience.

The Walled Garden – Summer 2023

Welcome to the latest issue of our quarterly newsletter, ‘The Walled Garden”, which you can download here Summer-2023 (pdf).

In this issue:

• Summer Showtime
• Repairs and Refurbishments
• Celebrating Community
• Summer Events – Have a Grow Day
• Volunteering News
• Green Flag Award 2023
• AGM and Plant Sale 2023
• Opening times
• Become a member
• Bring Me Sunshine
• Contact us

We hope you enjoy reading it. Comments and suggestions for future issues are always welcome. Please use the contact form below or email us at: info.lgh.garden@gmail.com

 

Join us for our 2023 AGM and Plant Sale Tues 12th September

Come and join us for our 2023 AGM on Tues 12th Sept starting at 4pm. You will find out how the Walled Garden is progressing and what our future plans are. Anyone can attend, light refreshments will be available and visitors are free to wander around and enjoy the garden or buy plants or produce from our nursery. Copies of our Annual Report for 2022-23 and our Annual Accounts will also be presented.

Have a Grow Day – Sat 3rd June 2023

Save the date! Once again we will be joining the UK wide celebration of community gardening with Social Farms and Gardens on “Have a Grow Day” Sat 3rd June 2023. This year, it is part of Eden Project Communities’ “Month of Community“.

We will have lots of fun activities for all the family, including a propagation station where you can learn all about growing plants, a tombola, lucky dip, pebble painting, shell pictures and more.

We will also have a plant sale selling bedding plants, perennials, veg and hanging baskets and a range of stalls selling craft, books and produce. And of course we will have refreshments including delicious home made cakes.

Please note for sales we can only accept cash.

Visitors will be welcome to just walk around and enjoy the garden. While you are here though, why not pick up a form to become an associate member for just £5 a year. It’s a great way to stay in touch and follow the development of the garden.

We look forward to seeing you.

The Walled Garden – Spring 2023

Welcome to the latest issue of our quarterly newsletter, ‘The Walled Garden”, which you can download here Spring 2023 (pdf).

In this issue:

• Welcome to spring
• Around the garden
• Winter challenges
• Visiting opening times
• News in brief
• Summer diary
• Supporting us
• National Gardening Week
• Contact us

 

We hope you enjoy reading it. As always, we appreciate feedback and any requests for what we should cover in future issues. Please use the comments form below and don’t forget to “like” this page.