South West Wales is home to the world’s youngest botanic garden, but it has big ambitions, and the 226-hectare site is about to benefit from a total of £6m to restore its Grade II listed Regency landscape to its former glory.

From east India to west Wales

Wales’s largest city until the early 19th century and as such its de facto capital, Carmarthen - not Cardiff - attracted the wealthy Middleton family in the late 16th century. Having made their money founding the East India Company, they began to lay out formal gardens there from the late 16th century.

But it wasn’t until the estate was purchased by another East India Company merchant in 1789 that the grounds became home to an enchanting new landscape.

Regency meets 21st century

An innovative water park was constructed, enabling a necklace of water to flow around the estate through a network of dams, sluices, bridges and cascades. It is these ground-breaking water features that will be brought back to life for modern day visitors to enjoy.

To help them get the most out of the exciting new attraction, a specially designed mobile phone app will transport visitors back a few centuries at the touch of a screen using interactive information and maps.

For those who can’t wait…

There is plenty already on offer at the Botanic Gardens this Spring, including a brand new tropical butterfly house and the largest collection of Mediterranean plants in the Northern Hemisphere.

Dog owners can even bring their pooch in a new Doggy Days scheme held every Monday, so no one has to miss out on what the Garden has to offer – two legs or four!

To plan your visit this spring, please visit the National Botanic Garden of Wales website.