OUT AND ABOUT IN ONE BIG GARDEN

There are six different words for 'green' in Welsh and it needs every one of them! South West Wales is rich in gorgeous green spaces, from man-made masterpieces like The National Botanic Garden of Wales to the spectacular, natural beauty of the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park. No wonder the area’s tourism chiefs have been working on a marketing campaign called ‘One Big Garden’.

When you enter One Big Garden from the east, you pass through the Neath and Afan areas of Swansea Bay, which has some of Wales's finest country and forest parks and dozens of dramatic waterfalls that just take your breath away, including the National Trust's Aberdulais falls with its backdrop of picturesque ruins.

Margam Country Park’s is a multi-faceted attraction with its magnificent 18th century orangery (Europe's largest), a ruined abbey, a unique fuchsia collection and an imposing 'castle' - a Victorian gothic mansion overlooking 850 acres of stunning landscape.

Gnoll Country Park is based on an 18th-century landscaped garden with lakes, cascades and excellent visitor facilities. Afan Forest Park’s 8,000-odd acres contain one of the most beautiful valleys in Wales and is also renowned for its impressive mountain bike trails and Japanese Arboretum.

Singleton Park Botanical Gardens and Clyne Gardens have won numerous awards from the Royal Horticultural Society and are a must-see as they both stage special events throughout the year. In May, 'Clyne in Bloom' shows its acclaimed collection of azaleas and rhododendrons at their best. Singleton Botanical Gardens stages 'Botanics in Bloom' in August when its floral and architectural plant designs are in their pomp. And Plantasia, in the city centre, is an impressive glass pyramid-shaped hothouse holding over 5,000 exotic plants in three climatic zones.

The Gulf Stream creates a micro-climate in South-West Wales in which tender and exotic plants flourish. Carmarthenshire’s verdant rolling landscapes and horticultural attractions have given it the title 'The Garden of Wales'.

The National Botanic Garden of Wales is the first of its kind to be created in Britain for more than 200 years. Truly a garden for a new age, Middleton has everything from Mediterranean flora to typical Welsh species, imaginative landscaping and astonishing architecture. At its centre, Sir Norman Foster set his masterpiece, the world's largest single-span glasshouse in which scent and colour delight the senses.

Just a short drive away is Aberglasney, one of the UK’s most exciting restoration projects, recreating a hauntingly beautiful 16th and 17th century lay-out of six different garden spaces in its10 acres.

Close by is the National Trust's Dinefwr Park - acres of gracefully landscaped parklands overlooked by Dinefwr Castle, which provides breathtaking panoramic view of the beautiful Tywi Valley at the heart of the Garden of Wales.

In the west of Carmarthenshire, the Hywel Dda Centre is a fascinating horticultural tribute to one of the great Welsh kings and his legal code that functioned until the Act of the Union of 1536. Six interconnecting gardens display extracts from these laws on slate plaques, whilst the Interpretive Centre holds a permanent exhibition on Hywel and his law-making.

Rich natural flora, excellent garden attractions and spectacular landscapes give Pembrokeshire its reputation as a paradise for lovers of the outdoor life. Almost a third of the county, including the entire coastal strip are in the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park.

Many of Pembrokeshire's gardens are collections of exotic species in a natural setting rather than more formal arrangements. This is true of the National Trust's Colby Woodland Garden near Amroth and Picton Castle and Gardens near Haverfordwest. Colby has a marvellous walled garden and a Gothic gazebo. Picton’s Norman castle, which has become a grand country house, extends over 40 acres that include a vast collection of medicinal and culinary herbs.

Smaller, but equally compelling gardens in the north of Pembrokeshire include Penlan Uchaf in the Gwaun Valley, the 17th century Manorowen Walled Garden near Fishguard and Bro Meigan near Boncath, which was recently been appointed a partner garden of the Royal Horticultural Society - a rare honour for a privately-owned garden and tea room.

In the south, Begelly Park with its Japanese garden is a delight and Bosherston Lily Ponds near Pembroke never fails to charm its visitors.

More information can be found on www.onebiggarden.com