Half-term fun in the Garden – Caru’r Cennau

For the love of lichen

Amazing adventures in a secret world

We’re falling in love with lichen at the National Botanic Garden of Wales. And, this half term (February 17-25), we will be investigating this amazing organism in all its colours, shapes and sizes.

Get ready to be a lichen detective and explore the Garden’s rocks and trees to track down as many types of lichen as you can. There will be trails and talks and various challenges after which you will know a lot more about this under-appreciated life-form.

Did you know it accounts for eight per cent of the vegetation covering the earth’s surface? And that it indicates how clean our air and water is? They are also among a reindeer’s favourite food.

The Garden’s Head of Interpretation, Bruce Langridge says: “For its size, Wales may have the most diverse population of lichen on Earth. There are more than 70 species of lichen on our Rock of Ages display alone – and one of them might be a cure for mad cow disease.”

Bruce adds: “I’ve been blown away with how diverse they are and how much they can tell us about the health of our environment. So, join us as we adventure into the little-known world of lichen through all shades of green, blue grey, white, black, red, orange and yellow.”

The Botanic Garden is launching a new booklet on its tree lichen and will be taking visitors to see a European first experiment in lichen conservation.

There is also an exhibition in the Garden gallery of lichen-inspired artworks by Julie Ann Sheridan, who says: “I wanted to raise the profile of these small but critical organisms, put them on canvas to highlight their environmental importance as well as their beauty.”

To find out more, visit the Garden this February half-term. The Garden is open from 10am to 4.30pm each day and all the half-term activities are free with admission.

Admission to the Garden is £10.50 (including Gift Aid) for adults and £4.95 for children five-to-16 years of age. Under 5s are free. Entry is FREE for Garden members and parking is free for all.

Caru’r Cennau

Anturiaethau mewn byd rhyfeddol

Rydym ni’n caru’r cennau yma yng Ngardd Fotaneg Genedlaethol Cymru.  Ac, yr hanner tymor hwn (Chwefror 17-25), byddwn yn archwilio’r organeddau anhygoel hyn, drwy edrych ar eu lliwiau, siapiau a meintiau.

Byddwch yn barod i archwilio cerrig a choed yr Ardd i ddod o hyd i gymaint o gennau ag y gallwch.  Bydd yna lwybrau a sgyrsiau ac amrywiaeth o heriau, ar ôl hynny byddwch chi’n gwybod llawer mwy am y bodau byw hyn sydd heb ei werthfawrogi.

Meddai Pennaeth Dehongli’r Ardd, Bruce Langridge: “Mae yna dros 70 math o gennau ar ein harddangosfa Craig yr Oesoedd yn unig – a gall un ohonynt fod yn driniaeth am glefyd gwartheg coch.”

Ychwanegodd Bruce: “Dewch i ymuno â ni am antur i fyd y cen trwy bob arlliw o wyrdd, glas, llwyd, gwyn, du, coch, oren a melyn.”

Mae hefyd gan yr Ardd arddangosfa yn Oriel yr Ardd o waith celf ag ysbrydolwyd gan gennau gan Julie Ann Sheridan, sydd wedi dweud: “Roeddwn am godi ymwybyddiaeth am yr organebau bychain ond hanfodol hyn, a’u rhoi nhw ar ganfas i dalu sylw i’w pwysigrwydd amgylcheddol yn ogystal â’u harddwch.”

I ddarganfod mwy, dewch i’r Ardd yn ystod hanner-tymor mis Chwefror.  Mae’r Ardd ar agor o 10yb hyd at 4:30yp pob dydd, ac mae gweithgareddau’r hanner tymor i gyd wedi’u cynnwys yn y pris mynediad.

Mae mynediad i’r Ardd yn £10.50 (gan gynnwys Cymorth Rhodd) i oedolion a £4.95 i blant rhwng pump ac 16 mlwydd oed.  Mae plant dan 5 mlwydd oed am ddim.  Mae mynediad i aelodau’r Ardd AM DDIM a pharcio AM DDIM i bawb.