THE owners of a manor hotel near Crickhowell are inviting people to go along and explore their grounds and woodland.
Apparently visitors can ask at reception for a tree map to help them identify some of the arboreal delights they will come across as they wander around the parkland that surrounds Gliffaes Country House Hotel.
Alternatively, events like The Autumn Tree Walks, that the hotel organises, are the perfect opportunity to stretch your legs and enjoy the autumn colours as you learn some fascinating facts about the biodiversity of the 33-acre site.
The walk is accompanied by James and Susie Suter, the owners of Gliffaes, and the best-selling author and woodland specialist Rob Penn, who wrote and presented the TV series Tales From the Wild Wood for BBC4.
He also wrote the IBW Book Awards-shortlisted novel The Man Who Made Things Out of Trees, which was featured as one of The Times’ Books of the Year.
The gentle walk included a range of information about trees that are native to this part of Wales, as well as some that are normally found in other parts of Britain as well as overseas, while looking around at more than 100 different tree species ranging from saplings to giant redwoods.
The site hosts trees which need fires in order to reproduce and others which produce anti-rot chemicals.
Walking boots and a thick coat are recommended as the walk takes its guests off the path, onto the grass and the damp autumn ground to see a good chunk of the beautiful scenery at Gliffaes.
The history of the grounds is also a large feature of the walk: guests get to learn about Reverend West, who built the hotel in 1885, as well as the impact of the Second World War after which the house, which passed between various owners last century, stood abandoned for a short time.
On the walk, Rob also talked about the growing theory that trees communicate with other trees of the same species – one example being when a swarm of bugs attacks – and fungi.
On the walk the sheer number of animals which call Gliffaes home is also evident as you can clearly see signs of foxes, bats and a variety of wild birds.
One of the more surprising statistics Rob revealed was that the UK has the second lowest level of tree coverage after Ireland in Europe.
Only 13% of the UK is covered by woodland, while the national average of mainland Europe is 37%. The country with the highest coverage in the world is Japan with around 70%.
Rob said: “We import about 80% of timber in the UK – we really need to get much better about it.
“A lot of the woods in the UK are derelict and unmaintained when there could be so much production.”
Rob told guests about a new “prescribed” treatment in Japan called “tree bathing” which is simply spending time in old woodland.
He said: “There is pretty convincing evidence to suggest its effective. It’s prescribed there as the forest’s affect on the body reduces stress, blood pressure, likeliness of depression. It shows that trees really are good for us.”
After the walk a two-course meal is provided in the hotel with a crackling log fire and accompanied by both owners and Rob.
The meal provided on my October 22 walk was roasted duck with a bean and pancetta casserole, followed by apple crumble – apples grown in their own orchard – and orange custard. All in all the perfect warm up after a cold winter’s walk.
After the meal, James said: “Anyone is more than welcome to have a walk around the grounds and explore.
“They can come, park here for the day, grab a tree map from the reception and just explore. They don’t need to be a guest at the hotel and they are more than welcome to bring their dogs.”
You can find out more about joining a guided walk at Gliffaes on their website or by calling 01874 730371. It costs £22 per person which includes lunch and coffee following the walk.