Aberglasney Gardens
Aberglasney Gardens
Carmarthenshire, SA32 8QH
- 7th July 2027
- 11:00 - 17:30
- £125
Discover Aberglasney, one of Wales’ finest gardens, during a special Perennial visit featuring a guided tour with Helen Scutt, Director of Gardens.
Although Aberglasney is open to visitors throughout the year, this event offers the chance to experience the gardens with expert insight from the person leading their care and development.
At its heart is the fully restored Elizabethan Cloister Garden, the only surviving example of its kind in the UK today.
Guests will also explore 10 acres of more than 20 distinctive garden styles, from formal and woodland areas to exotic and contemporary planting, including the award-winning Ninfarium, a subtropical indoor garden filled with rare and unusual plants from around the world.
The visit also showcases the restored Grade II* listed mansion, tearooms, gift shop and plant sales area.
Your ticket purchase helps Perennial support those facing challenges in the horticulture industry.
Lunch will be served in the Mansion.
After lunch, guests will be treated to an art demonstration with Resident Artist Andrew Douglas-Forbes.
Helen Scutt, Director of Gardens
Helen has been involved with Aberglasney since its restoration began 27 years ago. As a Trustee, with her own successful landscape gardening business, she has helped guide numerous head gardeners and directors over the years.
In January 2025 Helen stood down as a Trustee to take on the role of Gardens’ Director at Aberglasney. This combines the roles of Head Gardener and Director of Operations.
Helen was born and raised in Llanarthne, Carmarthenshire - her mother grew up in Golden Grove and her father was from Llangathen – both within a short distance of Aberglasney.
Helen, a fluent Welsh speaker, started her career in horticulture as a landscape designer in London, before setting up her own landscape gardening consultancy in the affluent areas of Ascot and Belgravia where she had some very high profile clients.
Helen decided to move back to Carmarthenshire to bring up her two sons. Since moving to Llandeilo, almost 30 years ago, she has developed her landscape gardening business in Carmarthenshire, as well as continuing to work with some clients in London. Helen will be familiar to those that watch S4C’s gardening programme, Garddio a Mwy, as she is a regular guest presenter.
Andrew Douglas-Forbes, Artist in residence
Andrew is an internationally renowned painter who studied under Patricia Briggs at Swansea College of Art. He subsequently received guidance from Gordon Stuart, known for his portrait of Dylan Thomas and dramatic landscapes where forms emerge from light.
Beyond his artistic talents, Andrew is a scholar of the Royal Academy of Music and a professional tenor who lived in Tuscany for several years to pursue an opera career.
Andrew will hold a water colour art demonstration of how to paint a basket of summer garden flowers. Enjoy this insight into how this internationally renowned painter creates his masterpieces.