February 25th 2004

The National Botanic Gardens of Wales seem to have reached the end of the road, at least as far as the present trustees are concerned, and could close next Monday.
Alan Pugh the Culture Minister for the National Assembly of Wales stated that the Trustees of the Gardens had failed to present any suitable proposals to justify further monies from the National Assembly of Wales. He stated that they had already received £1.6 million pounds of Assembly (our) money and paying any more was unacceptable. Supporters of the gardens say only £300,000   per annum is needed to keep the gardens open.

December 19th 2003

The National Botanic Gardens of Wales have decided to stay open over Christmas while discussions continue on the future of the Gardens. Friday 19th December 2003 - A Celebration of Light and Fire and the lighting of a Beacon of Hope was followed by annual Carol Concert.
Supporters of the National Botanic Gardens helped light up the Great Glasshouse in a ring of light and fire. This event was televised live and was of huge significance for the future of the Garden.
Other Gardens throughout the world showed there support and solidarity by sending messages of solidarity and by lighting candles. The event was followed by the annual Carol Concert in the Great Glass House at 7.00pm.

December 15th 2003
On  the day when the Trustees of the National Botanic Gardens were due to hand over control to the administrators a last minute offer has put it all on hold.
The chairman of the Trustees would not reveal the identity of the benefactor and nothing is yet certain about the future of the Gardens but the news was good enough to prevent the immediate closure of the gardens, and for the Chairman to declare them open at least until the end of this week while talks are ongoing.

The Welsh Assembly refuses to give the Gardens 3 million pounds to bail them out. Although they are happy to pay 47 million pounds for a new building for themselves to talk in. This is the same Welsh Assembly that has such powers that it was eventually able  to grant free bus passes for old age pensioners. There are now 3,695 bureaucrats working for the Welsh Assembly Government.!

11 December 2003
Prince Charles expresses support for Wales Botanic Gardens :

The supporters of the Wales Botanical Gardens felt some cheer today as the Prince of Wales expressed his support for the Gardens. Locals are hoping that he will back his words with action and introduce a consortium of business people with money.

10 December 2003
Pugh fails to back Wales Botanic Gardens :

Allan Pugh the Welsh Assembly " Culture " Minister announced today that there will be no more money available to bail out the Welsh Botanic Gardens in Carmarthenshire.

The obvious mistake was to build the Gardens in West Wales. There would have been no problem getting the money if the Gardens had been built in Cardiff. Anybody can get money to build anything in Caaardiff !!..................

The gardens were opened in 2003 by Prince Charles and cost 43 million pounds. (20 million pounds of lottery money). The curator of the Gardens was hoping that the gardens could have become one of the top ten Botanic Gardens in the world if the extra 3 million pounds they sort was forthcoming from the Welsh Assembly.

But the latest refusal by Pugh to bail out the Gardens could mean that the Gardens close this weekend.

Latest news is that the Gardens owe 2 million pounds, much of it to small companies in West Wales.

 

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