{"id":10311,"date":"2022-05-04T13:36:58","date_gmt":"2022-05-04T11:36:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.gardensillustrated.com\/?p=79759"},"modified":"2022-05-04T13:46:10","modified_gmt":"2022-05-04T11:46:10","slug":"nant-y-bedd-a-forest-garden-in-the-black-mountains","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/gardensillustrated\/rss_feed\/nant-y-bedd-a-forest-garden-in-the-black-mountains\/","title":{"rendered":"Nant-y-bedd: a forest garden in the Black Mountains"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>

By Jason Ingram\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Wednesday, 04 May 2022 at 12:00 am<\/p>

\n\n

Sue and Ian Mabberley have spent 40 years developing the wild, organic garden that surrounds their ivy-clad former forester\u2019s cottage. In an area dominated by dark Forestry Commission conifer plantations, it stands out as an oasis of wild planting, and their pretty front garden has become a local landmark.<\/p>\n

Nant-y-Bedd<\/a> blends so seamlessly into the wider landscape that it is easy to overlook the dedication of Sue and Ian, who clearly recognise the garden as part of a greater landscape and larger timescale than our own.<\/p>\n

Their intuitive, light-touch approach comes from years of observation and trial. They\u2019ve welcomed nature in, and though the hand of the gardener is evident, it often feels secondary; almost invisible to the atmosphere and rich biodiversity of this special place.<\/p>\n

IN BRIEF<\/strong><\/p>\n

Name<\/strong> Nant-y-Bedd.\u00a0<\/p>\n

What<\/strong> Organic country garden and woodland.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Where<\/strong> Powys.<\/p>\n

Size<\/strong> Ten acres.<\/p>\n

Soil<\/strong> Free-draining, slightly acidic.<\/p>\n

Climate<\/strong> Extreme as gardening at an altitude of 366m; harsh, wet winters and short springs and summers. Above average rainfall for Wales (1,497mm in 2021).<\/p>\n

Hardiness zone<\/strong> USDA 9a.<\/p>\n

<\/p><\/div> <\/section>

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\u00a9 Jason Ingram<\/i> <\/span>\n<\/div>\n

Spanning the stream Nant-y-Bedd (or stream of the grave), which gives the house and garden its name, a simple wooden bridge links the Cottage Garden at the front of the house to the Edible Forest Garden.<\/p>\n

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\u00a9 Jason Ingram<\/i> <\/span>\n<\/div>\n

Cars often slow down when passing the Cottage Garden at the front of the house as people admire the prettiness of it all. The garden includes a small wildlife pond<\/a> surrounded by Persicaria bistorta<\/em>, Allium hollandicum<\/em> \u2018Purple Sensation\u2019 and self-seeded Welsh poppies<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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\u00a9\u00a0Jason Ingram<\/i> <\/span>\n<\/div><\/a><\/p>\n

A spectacularly long \u2013 and to some terrifying \u2013 rope bridge leads visitors across a steep gorge filled with native ferns<\/a>. This bridge links the more cultivated Potager Garden with the wilds of the meadow<\/a>, woodland pasture and natural swimming pool. Here, naturalised Camassia leichtlinii<\/em> subsp. suksdorfii<\/em> and the white daffodil<\/a> Narcissus poeticus<\/em> grow in rough pasture requiring very little maintenance.<\/p>\n

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\u00a9 Jason Ingram<\/i> <\/span>\n<\/div>\n

Sunlight fills the organic Potager Garden, a space that appears carved out of the forest. Hazel poles are coppiced from the riverside to create domes, wigwams and a long bean tunnel, all built to withstand snow, rain and high winds. A dry-stone wall beautifully colonised with moss and ferns creates a clear boundary between garden and forest.<\/p>\n

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Nant y Bedd Organic Garden<\/span><\/figcaption> \u00a9 Jason Ingram<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Towering Douglas firs, some as tall as 36m, create a protective backdrop to the serene natural swimming pool clearing. To the southwest, beyond the infinity reflections of the pool, lie spectacular alpine-like views down a valley of woodland pasture.<\/p>\n

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Straddled within a veteran sycamore nestles a two-storey tree house constructed by Dan Tuckett out of sweet chestnut and larch. A steep climb up to the top \u2018yoga deck\u2019 rewards you with views through woodland towards pasture, a picnic meadow and the gushing Grwyne Fawr river.<\/p>\n

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\u00a9 Jason Ingram<\/i> <\/span>\n<\/div>\n

Sue and Ian see value and possibility in all the materials of the surrounding forest and landscape \u2013 both natural and man-made. Much of the garden incorporates locally salvaged materials such as containers used as planters or corrugated sheeting, here used as border edging. Many of the rusted steel plant supports<\/a> are hand forged on-site by Ian.<\/p>\n

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\u00a9 Jason Ingram<\/i> <\/span>\n<\/div>\n

Persicaria bistorta<\/em> loves Nant-y-Bedd\u2019s damp conditions, growing vigorously among self-seeded native Dryopteris<\/em> ferns, Welsh poppies, Allium hollandicum<\/em> \u2018Purple Sensation\u2019 and white tulips<\/a>. The persicaria\u2019s<\/a> pink bottle-brush flowers put on a show for weeks throughout summer.<\/p>\n

8 plants from Nant-y-Bedd Garden<\/h2>\n
\""Brassica\"<\/picture><\/div>
Brassica oleracea var. italica \u2018Early Purple Sprouting\u2019<\/strong> Saving their own seed is fundamental to how Sue and Ian grow at Nant-y-Bedd, and they allow some brassica flowers to set seeds for planting the following year. 90cm x 60cm.<\/span> <\/figcaption> \u00a9 Jason Ingram<\/i> <\/span>\n<\/div> <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>
\""Iris\"<\/picture><\/div>
Iris sibirica<\/strong> Sue loves this iris for its spring strip of vibrant blue in one of the garden\u2019s boggy areas. 90cm x 40cm<\/span> <\/figcaption> \u00a9 Jason Ingram<\/i> <\/span>\n<\/div> <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>
\""Anthriscus\"<\/picture><\/div>
Anthriscus sylvestris \u2018Ravenswing\u2019<\/strong> This decorative cow parsley adds frothy umbellifers for pollinators. Sue uses it throughout the potager and in containers with spring bulbs. 1m x 60cm.<\/span> <\/figcaption> \u00a9 Jason Ingram<\/i> <\/span>\n<\/div> <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>
\""Saxifraga\"<\/picture><\/div>
Saxifraga \u2018Knapton Pink\u2019<\/strong> A spreading evergreen perennial that produces masses of rose-pink flowers above mounds of fresh-green foliage. 20cm x 25cm.<\/span> <\/figcaption> \u00a9 Jason Ingram<\/i> <\/span>\n<\/div> <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>
\""Galium\"<\/picture><\/div>
Galium odoratum<\/strong> A magnet for bees and other insects, sweet woodruff makes a scented and extremely pretty groundcover. Its dried foliage is excellent for flavouring custards. 20cm x 35cm.<\/span> <\/figcaption> \u00a9 Jason Ingram<\/i> <\/span>\n<\/div> <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>
\""Rumex\"<\/picture><\/div>
Rumex sanguineus<\/strong> Harvested in spring, the young leaves make a tart and lemony addition to salads and sandwiches. A welcome self-seeder, it contains oxalic acid so avoid eating too much. 30cm x 30cm<\/span> <\/figcaption> <\/span>\n<\/div> <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>
\""Papaver\"<\/picture><\/div>
Papaver cambricum<\/strong> Both yellow and orange Welsh poppies grow here. A wonderful self-seeder popping up in unexpected places. Tolerant of shade. Considered native (or possibly a garden escapee) in this part of Wales. Just allow them to seed around and welcome the spontaneity of the pops of brightness that they introduce. 30-45cm x 30cm.<\/span> <\/figcaption> \u00a9 Jason Ingram<\/i> <\/span>\n<\/div> <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>

Visit Nant-y-Bedd Garden<\/h2>\n

Nant-y-Bedd<\/a>, Fforest Coal Pit, Abergavenny, Monmouthshire NP7 7LY. Tel 01873 890219, nantybedd.com<\/a>. Open July to September, Friday to Sunday, 2-6pm (tickets must be pre-booked), and at other times by appointment. Admission \u00a37.<\/p><\/body><\/html>\n

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