In a visit to the world-famous Bodnant Garden near Tal-y-Cafn in Conwy, the Member of the Welsh Parliament for Aberconwy and Shadow Minister for Climate Change - Janet Finch-Saunders MS - has praised the work of the Trust and their collaborative local efforts to restore biodiverse habitats and increase tree coverage.
The Trust say that they are committed to playing their part to help restore and protect our natural environment and tackle climate change; with ambitions to become carbon net zero in Wales by 2030 and aims to restore 4,600 hectares of priority habitat by 2025. Approximately 80% of their energy needs across the Trust in Wales is now sourced from renewables.
Rhys Thomas, General Manager for Bodnant Garden, said:
“It was great to welcome Janet to Bodnant Garden to find out more about how we are delivering for nature, playing our part to tackle climate change, supporting visitor access and conserving one of Europe’s most significant gardens.”
Commenting on the visit, Janet said:
“That Bodnant is home to five National Collections and a host of champion trees made this a fitting venue to discuss the role that the Trust can play in combating Climate Change risks, such as flooding, by working in partnership with tenant farmers, local communities and key stakeholders to restore biodiverse habitats and strategically increase tree coverage.
“The Trust is a key partner in this work locally, cooperating with NRW on the Upper Conwy project which looks to assist in the storage of flood waters in the upland by slowing water flows through the restoration of moors. This essential corrective work includes ditch blocking and river restoration.
“I’m pleased to have seen how the Trust is taking a bold leadership role in the effort to combat unnecessary emissions, with their 175 photovoltaic panels on the hillside generating enough electricity to power the Pavilion café, two charging points for electric vehicles and the gardeners’ battery power tools.
“Whilst a minor detail, the switch to battery-operated power tools, which are lighter and cleaner for their gardeners to use, is a small step that can have a big and beneficial impact on the environment. I hope to see this change replicated elsewhere, given the success experienced at Bodnant.”
ENDS
Notes to Editors:
- National Trust Cymru is Wales’ largest private landowner caring for 46,000 hectares of land, 157 miles of coastline and 18 of the nation’s finest castles, houses, gardens, and industrial sites.
- The Trust employs a team of 41 staff at Bodnant, supported by a team of volunteers carrying out various roles across the site. The garden is visited by more than 250,000 visitors a year, looked after by a dedicated Welcome Team and 25 gardeners who work tirelessly to ensure the garden is maintained to the highest possible standards.
