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Garden Name: Cae Hir
Last Modified: 12/01/2011
Garden ID: 0153

pic: 0153_CaeHir.jpg

Owner: Wil Akkermans
Address:
Cribyn
Lampeter
Ceredigion
Postcode: SA48 7NG
County: Wales

tel: 01570 471116
fax: 
website: www.caehirgardens.com
email: caehirgardens {at} googlemail.com

Features: 
Local slate stone work.
Bonsai corner showing off Wil's native bonsai trees.
Delightful Semi-Wild Water and Wildlife Garden complementing the natural meandering stream bordering the bottom of the garden.
RHS Partner Garden.

English Heritage Grade:


Opening Times:
Easter - October; every day, Open Bank Holidays; 10am - 5pm

Best Times of Year to Visit: 
From mid May to mid July

To see: 
All areas. Bonsai garden, Semi-wild areas with ponds

National Collection: 


National Garden Scheme days: No
Comments: 

Parties / Coaches: Yes 
Comments: 

Viewing by Appointment: Yes
Comments: Viewing outside opening hours can be arranged. Groups welcome. 

House Open for Viewing: No
Comments: 

Admission Prices:
Adult/Over 60s £5 Child (6-16) £1
Group reductions apply

Parking: Yes
Lavatories: Yes
Disabled Access: Yes
Shop: Yes
Plants for Sale: Yes
Lunches: Yes
Teas: Yes
Refreshments: Yes
Picnics: Yes
Dogs allowed: Yes
Only on Lead: Yes
Events: Yes

Other Facilities:
Disabled access to part of the garden. Charity openings.
Tea Room with both indoor seating and outside patio area, serving a delicious selection of home-made light lunches and afternoon teas.
Events throughout the Season.
Small gift shop selling local crafts and garden souveniers.
The book "A One Man Job (if not I'm a Dutchman)" was written by Wil Akkermans detailing, in short anecdotes, the adventure of moving his family from his native Holland to West Wales in order to follow his dream of creating a garden. Available to buy in our gift shop.


Designer: Wil Akkermans
Description of Garden:
This six acre garden was created and was, until 2 years ago, solely maintained by the owner, Wil Akkermans. It now lies in the hands of Wil's son and daughter, Stuart and Julie. The objective and soul of the garden remains the same however, this being to find the right balance between wild and cultivated to achieve the natural look which, in the setting of this garden, is essential. 

Apart from the extensive, though informal, herbaceous beds there are many semi-hardy shrubs, such as Chilean fire bush and cordylines and a good selection of ornamental trees including prunus, sorbus and eucalyptus. Glorious rhododendrons set the garden ablaze in Spring. Hedging, from a variety of species such as yew, rose, beech, lonicera and privet abounds. There are formal ponds and small natural lakes. Set in the beautiful Welsh countryside, the natural look, which includes many wild plants in the design, is particularly appealing and appropriate, without ever seeming unkempt.


History: 
Started in 1985 and first opened in 1989 on the centenary of the owner's father's birth. The owner was previously a French teacher but it is apparent that gardening was in his blood and he triumphantly succeeded in turning four, partially marshy, fields that were previously used for rough grazing, into this extraordinary garden - entirely by himself.

Local Inns: 
Black Lion, Lampeter
Fish and Anchor, Llanwnnen

Accomodation: 
Falcondale, Lampeter
Ty Mawr, Ciliau Aeron
Granell, Llanwnen

Restaurants: 
Same, plus several more, eg Vale of Aeron, Felinfach

Village/Town/Sightseeing: 
Glorious countryside, Market towns of Lampeter and Newcastle Emlyn, Coastal Towns of Aberaeron and Aberystwyth. Welsh Botanical Gardens and Aberglasney Gardens both less than an hour away