A brand new attraction at the National Botanic Garden of Wales has been nominated for a top international award.

The Regency Restoration project, which includes two new lakes, bridges, dams, cascades, a waterfall and an extensive network of paths all set in 300 acres of wooded parkland, has been short-listed in the 2021 Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) People’s Choice Award.

The largest project of its kind in Wales has been five years in the making and cost £7.3 million, winning big backing from the National Lottery Heritage Lottery Fund. It is one of six projects from around the world on the ICE award short list.

Project officer, Angharad Phillips said: “The restored landscape is already proving a big draw and is a huge hit with our visitors. We’ve received some fantastic comments as well as record numbers of people through the gate this summer.

“We urge all these new-found fans along with all our old friends to vote for us in these prestigious awards.”

Angharad explained that the success is down to a huge and co-ordinated effort involving the local community, local historians, Botanic Garden staff and volunteers, engineers, architects, archaeologists as well as environmental contractors to sympathetically restore the landscape which sits in the Garden’s Waun Las National Nature Reserve.

Damian McGettrick, who owns the main contractor, WM Longreach, said: “We are honoured to be put forward for this award and extremely proud to have been part of this passionate and dedicated team.”

You can now vote for the ‘Regency Restoration Project’ as your favourite civil engineering project here: https://bit.ly/3hcxVEf