A solution to the problems facing
the Botanic Garden will only be found by going back to its original
principles
FOR PUBLICATION AFTER 0100 MONDAY DECEMBER 22ND 2003
A solution to the problems facing the National Botanic Garden in
Carmarthenshire will only be found by going back to its original principles,
the garden’s founder, William Wilkins, claims today.
Writing in agenda, the journal of the Institute of Welsh
Affairs, Mr Wilkins claims the original master plan was partly modified
and partly abandoned and that this has played a part in damaging
the garden’s revenues.
“The great cascades designed by the internationally renowned
landscape architect, Hal Moggridge, to descend from the Great
Glasshouse to the Upper Lake have gone. The restoration of the
spectacular 18th century Great Lake with all its attendant cascades,
bridges and walks has never taken place. These were key factors,
together with the complete restoration of the double-walled garden,
in the calculation of visitor figures,” he argues.
He also points out that the Garden, subsequently renamed Middleton
in an attempt to revive its fortunes with a new marketing image
and campaign, was always meant to be a botanic garden. This meant
that, by virtue of its unique site and design, it would draw sufficient
visitors to run itself and support two posts over and above the
operational staff. These postholders were expected to raise the
revenue funding required for research and educational activities
through programmes that they developed. In short, the garden was
expected to raise both public sector and private sector revenue
funding. Mr Wilkins claims marketing on its own will not make the
gardens work, if the product is wrong, and that money from the public
purse or a sale to the private sector will also not achieve the
desired results on their own. As a way forward he suggests all sides
now involved in seeking to address management and mid-term funding
issues need to develop a good understanding of the core proposition.
“Delivery of a successful garden does not require large injections
of money. It needs steady, sustained support, planned development
over the next ten years if financial stringency requires it, and
it needs confidence.
" Without confidence in a programme of work that year after
year will deliver new high quality features to the garden, no
marketing campaign is going to work. The features in themselves
may be quite modest: one or two new slip gardens, one cascade
at a time if necessary. But there has to be an agreed programme
to allow good marketing to develop public interest and confidence
that season on season, year on year, the Garden will be more interesting.”
Running to 80 pages, the latest issue of agenda also includes
articles comparing the performance of the richer and poorer regions
of Wales, on the Assembly Government’s response to the Wanless review
of health and social care, and on education spending. Other sections
examine the messages on the Welsh language emerging from the 2001
Census and look at successful efforts to develop Welsh branded products.
agenda is available price £5 from the IWA. Tel 029 2057 5511,
or Email wales@iwa.org.uk
Further information from IWA, 029 2057 5511
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