People from across south Powys who have opened up their garden to the public to visit have been celebrated at a special awards event,

At the beginning in April, representatives from a host of gardens across the area came together to celebrate at the South Powys Garden Owners’ tea, held at the Neuadd, Llanbedr which was hosted by Robin and Philippa Herbert.

The event, organised by the National Garden Scheme (NGS), celebrated those who open their garden to the general public through the scheme, and help raise money for vital charities.

Ten garden owners were able to hear from the county treasurer the successes of 2021 when over £17,000, a record amount for South Powys, was raised for charity. Progress had also been with cashless payments available, with many visitors already pre-booking where they will visit in 2022.

During the event, Chris Carrow, south Powys county organiser, presented awards to garden owners who have reached milestones in their time opening for NGS.

The garden owners of Llanstephan House, which is around five miles from Erwood, and Tyn y Cwm, at Beulah, Llanwrtyd Wells, received an engraved Burgon & Ball hand trowel in celebration of 10 years of support for NGS.

Sadly, Llwyn Madoc, at Beulah, and Welsh Lavender, at Builth Wells, were not able to attend. These two gardens have also been open for 10 years.

The garden owners of Treberfydd House, which is near Llangors Lake, were unfortunately also unable to attend, although were celebrated for reaching 40 years of opening.

Nor were the owners of Llysdinam, near Newbridge-on-Wye, who were not able to receive their 50-year gift on the day.

In recognition of the funds raised from the open gardens, Sarah Wheeler, regional co-chair of the Queen’s Nurses’s in Wales, made a speech to the group.

She first shared the 135-year history of the Queens Nurse, before explaining how the funds raised by NGS help to support the Queens Nursing Institute, to continue to develop expertise and high quality care in all aspects of community nursing.

Ms Wheeler is a Macmillan specialist palliative care nurse working in the community for Powys Teaching Health Board, and is one of just 70 Queens Nurses who have been awarded the Queens Nurse title in Wales.

Also during the tea, there was an exchange of ideas on how to raise awareness and increase footfall to the gardens. Some took the opportunity to explore the gardens of the Neuadd which opens for the National Garden Scheme on Sunday, June 5 and by arrangement June to September for groups of six to 12.

To discover what local gardens are open for you to visit, go to www.ngs.org.uk