Rare flowers get royal approval

HRH Prince Charles has opened a new area of the National Botanic Garden of Wales that features rare flowers from Criggion quarry.

The Prince viewed the plants, which are in soil and rock brought from the mid-Wales site, during his visit to the conserving Welsh natives section of the Carmarthenshire garden.

Principal landscape architect John Ingham said the Criggion display, which includes a photo backdrop, makes up around a quarter of the area.

“They created the replica quarry habitat as part of our partnership with them to cultivate a number of the quarry’s rare species for replanting,” said John.

“The project has already dramatically increased the population of three rarities, rock cinquefoil, sticky catchfly and spiked speedwell.”