ABERGLASNEY Gardens has been named by the Royal Horticultural Society as one of the UK’s top 10 formal gardens to visit in 2015.

In a list compiled by RHS Executive Vice President Jim Gardiner, Aberglasney is the only Welsh garden to make the cut.

Mr Gardiner has visited hundreds of gardens both in the UK and around the world and is currently heading up a search for the RHS’ new fifth garden.

Amongst his favourite parts of Aberglasney are the Yew Tunnel, the award winning sub-tropical ‘Ninfarium’ and what he describes as the “legendary” Cloister Garden.

Julie Nicholas-Humphreys, Chief Executive of the Aberglasney Restoration Trust said that the accolade is testament to the hard work of head gardener Joseph Atkin and the dedicated team of staff, trustees and volunteers at Aberglasney: “Few people realise that Aberglasney is a registered charity with only a small group of people involved in its day to day running. I feel incredibly proud to be part of that team.”

Joseph Atkin, who is one of the youngest head gardeners in Britain, could not be more pleased to have Aberglasney listed alongside world renowned gardens such as those at Chatsworth House in Derbyshire and Hatfield House in Hertfordshire on this prestigious list of must-see formal gardens.

Joseph said: “Aberglasney is a magical place, I’ve never worked at, or indeed visited anywhere like it. It’s the one thing our visitors always talk about too. For the Gardens also to receive formal recognition means a great deal, especially when considering we only have two full-time gardeners working across the 10 acre site.”

The news of Aberglasney’s high standing comes as the Gardens begin to burst into life once again with the first of more than 30,000 daffodils beginning to flower as well as crocus and hellebore.

In order to continue with the restoration and development of these historically important Gardens more fund raising events than ever before are planned for 2015.

As well as a series of art and craft exhibitions in the mansion, beginning with local artist David Cowdry on March the 27, there will be theatre and live music throughout the spring and summer.

The first of these events will be ‘Music in the Mansion’ on Good Friday. Also across Easter weekend will be the ‘Easter Explorer’ – a treasure hunt through the Gardens. Other new events this year will be a Father’s Day Teddy Bear’s Picnic, a Vintage Afternoon Tea on July the 11th and a Welsh Country Life Fair and Wedding Showcase both in October.

In addition to these events and many more there will also be the opportunity to join Aberglasney head gardener Joseph Atkin on one of two special evening tours of the Gardens followed by supper and an after dinner talk on the terrace in the beautiful Pool Garden. These will take place on Thursday, June 25 and Thursday, August 13.

More information on Aberglasney’s art and craft exhibitions and events can be found by visiting www.aberglasney.org or by calling 01558 668998.