A bumper autumn of activities with the National Trust

This autumn at National Trust’s special places across Wales, over 180 different varieties of apples will be turned into juices and cider;pumpkins and turnips will be cultivated ready for Halloween carving, and aharvest of vegetables such asparsnips, courgettes andJerusalem artichokeswill be produced in kitchen gardens.

Visitors will be able to reap the fruits of National Trust Wales’ labour to enjoy a bumper crop of autumnal activities this September and October. From apple festivals and pumpkin carving tobush craft skills and garden walks to enjoy the reds, oranges and browns of the changing season.

To plan a visit, go to:https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/autumn-in-wales

 

SOUTH WEST WALES

Dinefwr, Carmarthenshire

The Heritage Orchard at Dinefwr has been part of the grounds since 2012. Cared for by volunteers, the orchard was created to conserve heritage varieties of apples and pears, including the rare Welsh eating apples, Pig Aderyn and Marged Nicholas.In 2018, 50kg of apples were produced for cider, 314kg of apples for cooking and 329kg for eating. A tradition carried on from owners of the house of years gone by.

 

Orchard day

21 September, 10:00 – 16:00

Booking not needed, normal admission prices apply

Dinefwr will celebrate the home grown produce right from its Heritage Orchard at this special orchard event. In the orchard there will be talks from apple expert Paul Davies, apple pressing, and the National Botanic Garden of Wales will highlight their ‘Growing the Future’ project. Pop into their shop and take a taste of Dinefwr home with you with some juice or cider.

Llanerchaeron, Ceredigion

It has taken many years of learning and research through taste, texture, colour, markings and seeds to try to identify varieties of apple. The oldest apple trees were identified by examining the shape, colour, texture and taste of the fruit. Llanerchaeron is home to 60 varieties of apple from their ancient espalier trees which date back to the 1800s.

 AppleDay

6 October, 10:30 – 17:00

Booking not needed, normal admission prices apply

Make your way to Llanerchaeron for this home-grown festival to celebrate the apple harvest. This year ancient fruit meets modern science as the festival team up with Aberystwyth University to DNA test visitors apples (for a fee). You may or may not discover a new variety of apple, but there will most definitely be traditional autumn delights such as delicious apple cakes to try.

Aberdulais Tinwork and Waterfall, Neath

Aberdulais has a strong connection to witches with Blaengwrach, or Valley of the Witch only five minutes away. This year the tinworks and falls will celebrate their spooky location with Celtic Halloween traditions, creating spooky masks and the re-introduction of turnip carving which used to be a well-known tradition at Aberdulais.

Half term fun at Aberdulais

26 October – 1 November, 10:30 – 15:00

Booking not needed, normal admission prices apply

Watch Aberdulais transform into autumn. Take part in Harvest and CalanGaeaf celebrations, discovering the origins of Celtic Halloween.Daily activities through half-term include CalanGaeaf mask making, and a unique trail that will help you discover Welsh Halloween traditions and legends.

Nos CalanGaeaf

31 October, 17:30 – 20:00

Booking not needed, normal admission prices apply

Explore the Celtic traditions of CalanGaeaf at Aberdulais this Halloween. Make a spooky mask to ward off the Aberdulais witches, craft paper bats, and learn about Celtic Halloween, ‘CalanGaeaf’ They’re heading back to our traditional Welsh roots, celebrating harvest, the Celtic superstitions and legends. Discover the origins of turnip carving, the Welsh version of Pumpkin carving. Just the thing to get your family in the Halloween spirit.

 

SOUTH EAST WALES

 Dyffryn Gardens, Vale of Glamorgan

This autumn sees the return of the gourd tunnel which was planted two years ago as part of the celebrations for the centenary of World War I. The mass production of fruit, vegetables and herbs were used to feed the local village during this time. Walk through the jungle walkway and see brightly coloured and unusual pumpkins and gourds hanging down all around you. Inspired by the experimental nature of the garden’s history, the gourd tunnel will feature Goosebumps pumpkins, bottle gourds, dinosaur gourds, Atlantic giant pumpkins, snowman pumpkins, hedgehog cucumbers, freaky tom pumpkins and sweet dumpling squash.

 

Head Gardener’s Walk

25 September, 11:00 – 12:30

Booking essential, £27.50

Take in the seasonal highlights of the garden with an exclusive tour with the Head Gardener, Chris Flynn. Pick up hints and tips and learn more about the garden projects and the development of the garden. After strolling the gardens, enjoy a buffet lunch in the café with ingredients from the kitchen gardens.

Pumpkin carving

26 October – 31 October, 11:00 – 16:00

Booking essential, £4 per pumpkin

Get messy and creative this autumn and show off your best carving skills. Carve the scariest, funniest or silliest pumpkin this October and take it home for your garden. Wear warm clothing and wellies as this event will be outdoors.

 

Autumn apprentice trail

26 October – 3 November, 10:00 – 15:00

Booking not needed, normal admission prices apply

Do you have what it takes to be a Dyffryn gardener? Have a go at some typical garden tasks that they complete this time of year. Rake some leaves, identify some plants and trees and see if you can keep up. Their gardeners wear warm, waterproof clothing this time of year sorecommend you do too.

 

NORTH WEST WALES

Bodnant Garden, Conwy

Bodnant Garden is a firework display of colour in autumn, as the glowing leaves of trees and shrubs, ripening fruit and berries and late flowering plants put on a show to rival the brightest spectrum of summer.The garden is home to trees from around the world and they are at their finest at this time of year. Among the historic collection there are rare exotics collected by plant hunters more than a century ago along with other beautiful native trees.

Birds of Bodnant Walks

14 October – 4 November, 11:00 – 12:30

Booking not needed, normal admission prices apply

Bring your binoculars and join an expert for a guided tour exploring the variety of birdlife which live in the riverside, woods, meadows and formal gardens of Bodnant.

Autumn Colour Tree Walks

21 – 25 October, 11:00 – 12:00

Booking not needed, normal admission prices apply

With a historic collection of native and exotic trees, Bodnant is ablaze with colour in autumn. Join one of the team for a guided walk of the autumn display and discover fascinating facts about their old, rare and Champion Trees.

Walk with The Head Gardener and Lunch

13 November, 11:00 – 13:00

Booking essential, £25

Join the head gardener for a late autumn/early winter walk. See gardeners preparing the Winter Garden for its big season and find out what the team are working on for 2020! Afterwards, enjoy a hearty Ploughman’s in the Pavilion tearoom.

Penrhyn Castle, Bangor

At Penrhyn autumn remains to be the time to celebrate the harvest but it also used to be a time when spirits roamed the land. Penryn Castle are busy preparing for the colder months as the season changes and have some ghost stories ready to reveal.

 

CalanGaeaf: Autumn Garden Trail

28 September – 3 November, 10:30 – 16:00

Booking not needed, normal admission prices apply

This autumn, Penrhyn Castle are celebrating the ‘Cynhaeaf’ (Harvest) by looking at how the garden prepares for the cold snap. The Welsh festival CalanGaeaf signals the night before the first day of Winter in the Celtic Calendar. Find out how nature and the gardeners prepare for the cold snap.

 

Halloween: The Ghosts of Penrhyn Castle

19 October – 3 November, 11:00 – 16:00

Booking not needed, normal admission prices apply

If you’re feeling brave this Halloween go along to Penrhyn as they explore the real ghost stories of the castle. There is also plenty of family fun with crafts and silhouette puppet crafts for you to make your own stories.

 

NORTH EAST WALES

Erddig, Clwyd

There have been orchards at Erddig since the 17^th Century with archives showing fruit growing on the garden walls back in 1718 and 1724. Erddig have an annual month-long harvest celebration with opportunities for families to enjoy a crop of fruit-filled fun and this year is the 29^th annual celebration. There are plenty of apple fun activities happening throughout the month with Erddig’s apple display which features over 150 different apple varieties, taking centre stage.

 

Events include:

 

Apple carving with Ian Williams

7, 14 and 21 October, 14:00 – 14:30

 

Apple Display Talks by gardeners

8, 15 and 22 October, 13:15 – 14:00

 

Apple Walk and Talk in Garden

9, 15, 22 and 29 October, 12:30 – 14:30

 

Nordic Walk Mini Taster

5, 9, 12, 16, 19, 23, 26, 30 October and 2 November, 11:00 – 14:00

 

Self-led 50 things for tots

10, 17 and 24 October, 11:00 – 14:00

 

50 things – Wolf’s den

31 October, 11:00 – 14:00

Powis Castle and Garden, Welshpool

Autumn was the busiest time of the year at Powis as the family would have hosted shooting parties every weekend throughout the season inviting politicians and royalty. This year, as the evening light begins to fade and the cooler air arrives, the garden at Powis Castle comes alive with a dazzling array of reds, yellows, burnt oranges and golds. Listen to the crisp sound of leaves crunching beneath your feet, take in the sweet aroma of ripe fruit coming from the carefully trained apple trees in the Formal Garden and enjoy the mouth-watering scent of burnt sugar and caramel coming from the CercidiphyllumJaponicum on the lower terraces.

 Powis Pumpkin Trail

28 – 31 October, 11:00 – 16:00

Booking not needed, normal admission prices apply

Hunt along the terraces and in the shadow of giant yew hedges to find the carved pumpkins and hidden clues you’ll need to complete this trail. This family friendly pumpkin trail is guaranteed to keep your little one’s entertained.

BushcraftSkills

1 November, 11:00 – 15:00

Booking not needed, normal admission prices apply

Can you identify trees, plants and animal tracks? Come and test your forest skills and join in bush-craft activities for all the family, with demonstrations of survival skills including foraging and outdoor cookery.