Escape to the Country Season 24 Episode 36: Carmarthenshire (2023) | FULL EPISODE

Escape to the Country Season 24 Episode 36: Carmarthenshire (2023) | FULL EPISODE

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we all have an ideal country retreat in mind  I can spend hours in here I could see that   but it's not always the bricks and water  that make the difference it's just a place   to sit and watch the season I get anything  done any move can be an emotional Journey   you know I've always had my husband there in  the background and um but you know I have to   do something different now and getting it  right might mean a team effort this is you   know a great sized place for the whole family to  come and meet up [Music] now come more than sh   in the heart of Southwest Wales with Castle  topped Hills overlooking magnificent beaches and   Lively Market towns packed with local produce if  you're feeling hemmed in then this county is the   Outdoor Paradise you could be looking [Music]  for over 90% of South Wales properties have a   garden the highest proportion in the whole of  the UK now I'm not sure if that's exactly what   people mean when they refer to kamaran as the  garden of Wales but if having a home with your   very own patch of green is important to you  and the chances are you're going to find it here bordered to the north by kedigian  Paris to the East and facing the Bristol   channel to the South Karena is a wash  with Landscapes reflecting its ancient   agricultural Heritage its geography is  spectacular its mountains its rivers it   valleys it castles it's can hold its own amongst  any of the counties in Wales and and Beyond in   the north clam Town Hall stands over the Town  Central marketplace where visitors can explore   cobbled streets lined with Artisan cafes and  boutique [Music] shops Stefan on the Golden   Shore of Karan Bay is a village with one  of the most beautiful panoramic beaches in Wales leg has it that the magician Merlin was born  in a cave near Karan so perhaps it's no surprise   that magical Karena is a Haven for those who enjoy  wales's Beauty along with its myths and [Music] legends people move to the countryside  for all kinds of reasons and this week's   Escape he is looking for a rural home that  they find inspiring both inside and out   and all in a truly beautiful part of the world  right now Bev and her dog Indie share somewhat   Crown quarters this is where I currently live in  my camper van I sold my house in February so I'm   now looking for somewhere else to go my husband  and I always wanted to have a a nice place to move   on to as our forever home but unfortunately  he died in March last year so now it's just IND helping Bev on her property Quest will  be one of her four Sons 28-year-old Chef   Joe so tell us why you would you chose me to  come with you than Mom uh well your brothers   would say it's because you're my favorite  because they always argue um but I think   you'll be the voice of reason Bev's Focus for  her forever home is on The Great Outdoors the   kind of property I'm looking for is something  that has a nice large driveway so that I can   park my van on it but also there's plenty  of outdoor space that's the most important   thing for me um the house itself doesn't have  to be very big at all Karena offers the space   she craves it just has this really light open  feel and it's so beautifully quiet I think she   wants somewhere to settle down so we can all come  back and see her as well Bev has her sight set on   a bright and welcoming property with at least  two bedrooms but is open to any style in fact   the outdoor space is perhaps more important  than the house itself as she wants plenty   of it and outbuildings would be a bonus to  achieve all this Bev has a budget of [Music] 450,000 this is a special move for Bev it's  one that represents a new chapter in her life   life and an opportunity to really embed herself  in a new lifestyle and community so she's already   sold a house and she is completely ready  to move to this fantastic County so I just   hope that Joe and I can help guide her to her  perfect property so she can part that motor home our house search will be focused  north of kamaran but before we get   started I want to meet Bev and Joe and  learn more about this very emotional move so Bev and Joe even on a misty morning  it's gorgeous here isn't it it's fantastic   yeah really do you feel ready to make this move  now Bev yes I think I do definitely it's um now   is the right time and if I don't do it now I  think I might sort of slip into old ways and   um stay indoors a lot so I want to be out in  the countryside how do you feel about this cuz   this is a massive move and you've been through  a really big couple of years are you excited   apprehensive well obviously apprehensive slightly  um I'm used to having my husband there to sort of   see the things that I don't always see so this  will be the first house that I've actually seen   myself and decided on so that's quite a big  move yeah but you've got Joe here yes how do   you feel about this move Joe oh fantastic yeah  I think Mom really needs a place now where she   can you know progress the way that she wants  to with her gardening and you know the rest   of our family she wants to have a place where  we can all come together and yeah I think it's   time oh let's talk about the garden for  a minute so if it came down to it house   or garden oh Garden no no yeah no contest yeah  now of course you'll have Joe your other son's   grandchildren coming here so would some kind  of I don't know outside space and out building   and Alex be useful it would be nice yes yes  even if it's out buildings or just you know   somewhere that you know I can get everybody  together that would be lovely so should we go   and explore this beautiful place and also let's  go meet some people as well lovely okay thank you we're starting about 7 miles west of  lovery in the village of claron which is   in Northeast [Music] Karen regular get togethers  for the 500 or so residents include film nights   and an art Club these social and hobby groups  meet at the Reg meeting rooms the church and   the pub there are regular buses to the county town  of Karan it's surrounded by open Countryside ideal   for walking and cycling and our F property is  a mile from the Village Center so here we go t   fabulous incredible it's lovely I do like the  stonework so so the house you you were quite   open to style so this is a blend of Olden new  so we've got the 1850s side the Stonehouse and   then a more modern extension that's fabulous  I love the connection of the two actually very   much so and if you look behind us you can't  really miss oh don't worry Joe there's not   a load of building work for you to do know say  it looks like it's ready it's half of it is a   self-contained um one bedroom Annex with the  small bathroom the rest of it is storage but   you could easily just convert the whole thing  yeah so you had a you know completely separate   space for when the family come down fabulous  I love it cuz it's so wild has so much to do   that's F that's brilliant really is I can spend  hours in here I could see that can you see your   mom here Joe in the garden definitely yeah this  is going to be even a year from now it'll be   completely different it won't even look the same  I love that positivity okay well that's a really   great start should we see if we can continue  this update feeling inside let's have a look this attractive Victorian property was given  a modern extension in 2020 with bold patio   doors providing us with direct access into a  spacious and modern kitchen living room come on in oh lovely love the height very dog friendly  yeah nice flooring slate floors and lovely   worktops as well yeah nice big space to put the  table in as well and then over the other side   You've Got A really lovely sort of hidden utility  area with another sink and storage and then places   for all your muddy boots and you bringing the  dogs in or the dog in when you're been for a walk   might be dogs you know might be dogs who knows  um Joe could you imagine you and your brothers   and the rest of the family gathering here oh yeah  definitely this is you know a great sized place   for the whole family to come and meet up now I  quite like the sort of modern inside as well but   I I do like the Cozy bit as well of the old house  so I'll be interested to see what that side looks   like as well well we've seen the new should  we go and check out the old yes love to thank you a corridor leads to a traditional sitting  and dining room with a feature fireplace so as   you can see it's quite a contrast in here oh  that's nice though oh look at that yes yes now   you're talking fantastic yeah definitely and again  it's it's just lovely cozy isn't it the old part   really nice I can see myself sitting in here  quite happily Dogg by the fire I love the wood   beams on the roof as well do you like the contrast  I do I do very much so actually I like the modern   size for what you know for the light and the the  sort of tall ceilings and things but um I also   like this part as I say for the hug that's such a  nice way to describe it it is a hug isn't it it's   got It's kind of like wraps itself around you  yeah the ground floor has given Bev the country   cocoon she's after and upstairs provides just as  big a blanket with its two cozy and comfortable bedrooms oh I like the stone wall That's Lovely  isn't it yeah really lovely I do love the solid   huge wood beams of they yeah they are great  very cozy yeah nice and bright as well lovely   yeah yeah a family bathroom serves both  bedrooms cute little room oh fantastic   I can see this being your craft room already  yeah I know that's a great size isn't it yeah   size is about to get even greater as I take  them to explore the outside and take it from   me there is a lot to [Music] S oh my goodness  no way wow oh my [Music] goodness fantastic   how far back does this go oh right the way back  to the trees allit and and the poly tunnel wow   um I mean a poly tunnel of that size do you think  you could put that to work I think there might be   something I could do with it yes yes definitely  I don't know quite what yet I can already see the   cogs turning yeah she's getting the tomatoes ready  already some incredible things will happen here I   can tell [Music] already this small holding  of four acres would definitely keep be busy   but she doesn't seem overwhelmed at the prospect  of such a large amount of land she can of course   call on the help of her four sons who could toss  a coin to see who stays in the well-appointed   annex that Bev could also rent out oh this is  cute oh here we go this is where I'm going to   be staying isn't it is it you booked it already  have you yeah love all the wood floors that they   put everywhere as well that's great didn't look  like it was going to be this big on the inside but   all this space inside and out comes at a cost your  excitement is wearing off on me there is a lot   to explore here cuz there are four acres in total  fabulous so should we see where it sits pricewise   I think it's going to be right up there at the top  really so I would say 450,000 okay yeah I think at   least 425,000 ,000 actually as always in life Joe  your mom is absolutely it's it's bang on the top   end of your budget £450,000 it's definitely worth  of money I think it's a lovely lovely place on the   market for offers in the region of £450,000 this  19th century Cottage has a modern extension with   a kitchen and living area a cozy sitting room and  two bedrooms just a mile from a village it sits   in 4 acres of land which includes a one-bedroom  Annex moving to this area I didn't think that I   would be getting a house or as much land as I  have with this this is quite huge um in a good   way um I thought um that I probably wouldn't be  able to afford it so yeah so it's it's a nice   surprise I think this is an incredible upgrade  for her she's um got way more Garden than she   could ever have you know run out of things to do  with it so yeah and the house is fantastic as well   it's got some real character to it I think all of  our family will be coming down here immediately [Music] like in the south of Karan sha on  the river tawi lies the town that gives the   county its name Karan proudly claiming the  title oldest town in Wales it was settled   by the Romans and its name meaning Merlin's  Fortress reflects an ancient magical Heritage   Karan Castle was built by the Normans but its  winding Labyrinthian streets aren't stuck in   the past favorite things about this town is  you have a wide range of eclectic shops both   National and some very good independent retailers  especially in the old part of the town near the castle kamaran is a town that opens its  arms to newcomers Priya runs a clothing   Emporium I've been Kaden for about 33 years  I love Kaden the main reason is because it's   very quiet tranquility and the people are very  friend it has very it has a strong sense of a community would you reckon of this one I  think it's great yeah suits you fits my   jacket doesn't it yeah it does Karan may  seem isolated on a map but regular trains   mean Swansea is only 45 minutes away with  fast connections to the rest of the country   the town is a hub of music and culture  good news for music fan Bev oh here we   are we're sending her and Joe to meet Mike  Hilton who runs one of karan's popular night spots it's a great place you've got  here it's really cool isn't it thank   you very much very much so how do you  actually pronounce it though um so you   pronounce it Kuru Kur Kuru um it means beer  in Welsh so it's quite a popular venue any   good bands in town um yeah yeah there's  there's a lot of of talent within Kamar   one in particular is adwi they've recently  performed at glastenbury yeah so they H the skills   right here wow it's great they've got somewhere to  come to do that uh well this is one of the things   why we opened it's the nature that creative Talent  not just in within music but within literature   and poetry happens here so what's the community  like in Kar we all help each other out it's it's   one of them communities that's got a real sense  of identity is there Lots going on in town yeah   you know calan is a a really modern town in that  sense next week There's a festival actually lovely   um it's a and we've just had the Town Festival so  you don't sound very Welsh where have you hailed   from uh originally from Liverpool all right I've  lived here four years uh I moved here with my wife   and now two children yeah the reason being it's a  real good base for for the outdoors yeah amazing   green spaces and Coastal path probably come down  later for a pint if that's right with you you're   very welcome please do thank you very much all try  guys thank you bye Bev can't embrace the culture   and community of Karan without a new home so  we are pressing on with the property [Music] search we're on the road again and making our way  to the Village of Clan Arne conveniently situated   with access to the M4 Motorway in just 20 minutes  clne offers a community Pub and a store selling   a wealth of Lo local produce it's overlooked by  Paxton's Tower a Neo Gothic Folly built 200 years   ago in memory of Lord Nelson our second property  is 2 mil away in a commanding position above the   T Valley so Bev I thought that after 6 months in  a motor home you might appreciates a bit of a view   oh my goodness oh that is amazing isn't it look  at that and of course it isn't just a view because   you get a house as well fabulous that Lovely  isn't it it's incredible a real sort of children's   drawing of a house it is it's an old Welsh  Farmhouse lovely dating back to around the 1860s   um and unusually it's got those really nice high  Windows as well and high ceiling so it's not a a   pokey little farmouse at all it's not and in terms  of the land um around us it's got about three and   a half acres of land as well all right yeah um  but I don't know if you've spotted you do have   a poly tunnel over in the front corner a theme  going here so obviously this is the back of the   house we'll go around the side and go in through  the front door which is not this side thank you fantastic the entrance opens into  a modern kitchen extension covering   the front aspect of the house so we're  going to kick off with a room with View   oh yes wow that's Lovely Isn't it nice light  room as well big stove I like all of the wood   and marble together that looks fantastic  doesn't it really good color scheme very   light yeah it has got a good feel yeah I think  this house I partly cuz you got these amazing   skylights so this is all an older property this  is the new extension but even that isn't modern   in the way that we've just shown you um but  actually you've got really good uh living   size living rooms in here as well so come on  through look at this amazing size dining room oh   that's Lovely isn't it and just a small fireplace  beautiful it's fantastic they seem suitably   impressed so far and they're still much more to  see the living room is reached across a tiled hallway so these lovely original Welsh tiles are  gorgeous lovely aren't they and then wooden floor   in here wow beautiful fire that's a nice fire  isn't it and of course you got all the views   as well they're amazing they are I mean it's  it's just a place to sit and watch the season   TR I would get anything done and that deck is  special it is yeah that's that's lovely imagine   it in the evening can't you particularly when  it's dark outside it'd be fabulous absolutely   fabulous see you with your tea and biscuits  sat right there you know looking out over   the hillside fantastic yeah that' be lovely  yeah it's got a lot of character to it and a   lot of style um but it's also very rustic and  homey as well yeah what I'd like you to to do   is just go and have a look on your own go go and  wander upstairs and I will be probably out there   on the deck Lely waiting for you come come and  find all right thank you upstairs two bedrooms   lead off the landing oh that's lovely is here  isn't it and a stone wall as well yeah behind   wow even better views out there oh man the highest  this looks ftic yeah incredible Wow Let's have a   look in here oh and the bathroom that's lovely  too the bathroom can be accessed directly through   doors from both bedrooms oh another big room  nice size yeah I really like the size of the   rooms in this house feels very fresh in every  room we've been in so far feels really nice I was expecting a bit more of a wow reaction to  that few when uh Beth and joei saw it so I wasn't   sure but I actually do think that this is growing  on them they've definitely been positive to the   inside and they've been upstairs for quite a while  which in my experience is usually quite a good sign and surely just over 3 and 1 half acres of  land complete with poly tunnel and Greenhouse   help to make up Bev's [Music] mind it is a  lovely view it is indeed and of course that   view is only part of what you'll enjoy outside  CU it's a huge Garden as well 3.6 Acres yeah I'm   just generally not getting the same feeling okay  about the garden um lots of ideas running through   my head last time here not so much so come on  I'm still going to ask you what do you think   this property is on the market for uh I think  about 400 £130,000 okay and Joe I think for me   it probably be yeah £ 395,000 around that area  yeah well this time I'm afraid Mom isn't right   neither of you are cuz it's it's actually bang  on budget it's 450,000 whether you feel you're   getting those feelings or not it's still a  fantastic property it is yeah this detached   Victorian Farmhouse has traditional characterful  reception rooms an extension with a modern kitchen   two bedrooms and over three and a half acres  of land which enjoy spectacular Valley views   two miles from the nearest Village it's  on the market for offers close to £450,000 but it is a stunning view there's no doubt about  that I don't know if that's enough to convince me   put it that way I think it's just not for you  no it's just it's not grabbing me and you can   sort of tell when someone isn't fully convinced  by a place even if it has incredible features   um and yeah I just don't think it's hit you  emotionally as it the same as other places   yeah today house one with that expansive  Garden has taken center stage but I can't   forget that this big rural move is one that  Bev hadn't originally planned to be taking on solo ah and relax so Beth how does it feel think you that  you'll be able to pop down here for a walk on a   beach like this fabulous it's um beautiful down  here and again so still and quiet and what's   this journey been like for you now coming here  and this realization that this is a step that   you're doing it and yes you're you're doing  it on your own with the support and love of   all the family um I know I'm quite independent  anyway but you know I've always had my husband   there in the background and um but you know I  have to do something different now so I'm sort   of quite looking forward to the challenge as  well well so yeah how do you think he'd feel   if he could oh he he'd be cheering me on in  the background definitely definitely yeah I   think it's incredibly Brave of you and just just  brilliant that you're seizing life you must be so   proud of you Mom oh definitely I think she's done  exactly what Dad would have wanted to do I think   it would be great for all of our family to come  down and explore the area with my mom and spend   some real quality time we need to make sure we  find you at house that keeps drawing them back   exactly yes something they don't want to leave  how could you leave this beach though as [Music] well though Road and rail links make Kamara  surprisingly accessible its low profile means   that property in the garden of Wales  can offer excellent value for money   the average cost of a detached house in the  county is just under £285,000 that compares   very favorably to the average figure across  the whole of Wales which is slightly over £ 331,000 here's a range of what  else is on offer in the county this   three-bedroom Cottage is just outside  of Market town with a well-maintained   garden Galley kitchen and large living  room it's on the market for $332,500 for those with a larger budget this four-bedroom  Farmhouse with a joining Barn conversion sits in   a rural Village has a lofty reception room and is  packed with character it enjoys incredible views   over the black mountains and is priced at £600,000  if a shorter break is more your style then how   about these rustic cabins surrounded by nature  and completely self-contained prices started £20   per night with a minimum two night [Music] stay we  had a great day yesterday and I think it's going   to be pretty hard to top it um what really became  clear to me was that for Bev this move is about   much more than the house it's about the area  the community most importantly the garden and   the land so I've got something up my sleeve today  that I think B is going to find pretty inspiring   Ing and then there is the mystery house which  is really going to push her out of her comfort   zone so that's where we're starting the mystery  destination is in the village of Conwell elvet   home to around a thousand residents who  have a primary school and a few shops at   their disposal for a wider range of facilities  Karan is 5 miles away and is easily accessed   by Road Conwell El's many social and hobby  groups are well served by the Community Hall   while Bev and Joe explore the village and its  Community I'm preparing the mystery house for   their viewing and it's a house that offers  both more and less of what's on Bev's wish list I really love the Symmetry and also the  generous proportions of the rooms in this house   um and I can see that Bev and her sons are all  such a close-knit family I can just imagine them   all in here Christmas tree big dining table it's  got loads of space for when they all get together   now I may like this house but it's Bev and Joe's  opinion that really [Music] counts come and join   me yeah Welcome To The Mystery House lovely and  the Mystery is this one is bang up in the heart   of a village yes so you're not as you know out  in the wild as perhaps you were but we wanted   to challenge you with that thank you CU you're  moving to a new area so we thought it'd be good   for you to perhaps just give some thoughts of what  it'd be like to be in the center of the community   yeah it's nice and bright isn't it and it's it's  a pretty house isn't it I think it's awesome it's   massive it looks huge is it yeah it looks like  it's going to be really nice and spacious inside   I like that and there's a little surprise in the  garden all right that's all I'm going to say okay   and how are you feeling about the thought of being  in a village yeah it depends doesn't it I'd have   to have a good look around the village as well I  think yeah there's quite a lot to see in the house   should we get started lovely yes come on thank  you I'm sensing that the mystery house isn't an   immediate hit with Bev but I'm hoping that the  interior may change her mind the front of the   property dates from the 1900s and an elegant  living room lies off the entrance hall let's   start off in here so as you can see high ceilings  lots of space lot of light I love the color scheme   as well that's really nice and wood winner yes  yes that's Lovely isn't it I like the wood and   everything there as well and it's such a good size  face as well for when you've got all the family   here definitely and so would you like to see more  yes please onto the kitchen yes come on thank you a second spacious room that could be used  as a dining area lies across the hall from the   sitting room the rear of the hallway leads  into the original house built in the 1800s   a conveniently situated utility room with  ad joining WC opens into a bright and modern   kitchen with a conservatory extension that's  a lovely kitchen isn't it really lovely it's   like a proper Farmhouse kitchen isn't it with  a big open fireplace as well Conservatory off   there as well would you use all this space do  you think know it doesn't feel too big so far   but at the same time you know there is a lot  of room so there are four bedrooms in this   house almost one for each of your sons I'd like  you to just go upstairs then explore them and   I'll just be waiting near the garden so I can  show you that little surprise that I mentioned   lovely okay thank you thank you upstairs of  the landing you'll find a bedroom oh this is   a lovely room isn't it that's gorgeous very  light isn't it I like the wood yeah having   the white all the way around is actually really  nice that's really nice I like got a little good   view out as well a family bathroom sits opposite  whilst the remaining three bedrooms are at the   top of the stairs oh this is nice oh wow like  the wooden ceilings yeah very vintage style I   like that a lot so much light in there it's  great yeah it's got that nice feel hasn't it yeah it's been interesting that Bev hasn't  been at all overwhelmed by the Acres of garden   that I've showed her all that land but I  do wonder whether the size of this house   might be something that overwhelms her  there's also a smaller bedroom this is   a good size as well some there sweet bathroom  yeah one much tinier guest room completes this   quartet of bedrooms adjoining the house a  modern garage provides space for two cars   so we've upscaled the requested accommodation and  downsized the grounds with this mystery but the   rear Garden is beautiful all the same and could  offer a rare opportunity now this house doesn't   have the acres of land that I've shown B with the  other two properties however it does have this a   beautiful river that just runs along the back here  and it's got the potential for Beth to create a   lovely seating area right next to it so I'm quite  excited about this and I think it might win her over oh look at this the sound of the  water's lovely so peaceful is very jealous so it just strikes me that  this would be a very nice place to   sit and relax yeah sitting out here in  the evening glass of wine just a job yeah   I love the sounds it's great is this enough of  a project for you outside though I don't think   it is to be honest with you okay yeah cuz I'm  I'm not getting that sort of cogs turning going   on that I did on the first house maybe all  right well I'm going to challenge you both   now and ask you what you think this one is  on the market for I'm still going to go for 420,000 okay Joe it's quite difficult one to  engage but I think I think around the 400,000   mark on this occasion I'm going to say that Mom is  almost right it's on the market for 425,000 very   close it's a lovely house this detached property  has spacious sitting and dining rooms a kitchen   with a conservatory four bedrooms and a third of  an acre Garden in the village of Conwell elid it's   on the market for offers in the region of £425,000  I think the mystery house has um May me think what   it would be like to live inside a village but  I think that might have cemented my idea that I   won't be living that close to people when the boys  all come that'll be the time to you know have a   big house like this but you know on a day-to-day  basis I think something smaller might be better [Music] as well as creating her own outdoor Sanctuary  when she moves green fingered Bev hopes to   meet like-minded people so we're better to  take her and Joe than the National Garden   of Wales in clne since opening in 2000 a team  of volunteers has worked alongside permanent   staff Jane down is the volunteer coordinator hello hello and welcome to the  botanic garden thank you thank you B you might   have found your spiritual home here I think you're  right yes tell us about the gardens they are so   beautiful it's the jewel in the crown of Wales  it's fantastic it's lovely working here we've   got 560 acres in total and awful lot of work so  we've got over 200 volunteers here and we couldn't   run the G without them there are amazing peoples  and you can volunteer in a multitude of different   departments it's a symbiotic relationship uh they  want to give something to society give something   back and in return we get the help of keeping this  beautiful place as it is and could you have people   sort of dip in and out I'm just thinking I could  imagine you really getting involved here and then   Joe maybe you coming down for a week and coming  along and helping as well can it work like that   as well yeah we have volunteers some of them go  off on extended holidays um so come back and we   often have students here who just come for a  couple of weeks but we also have volunteers   who've uh sadly lost spouses and partners and  again it's one way of you know meeting people   so are you up for giving you're trying some  volunteering meeting some volunteers what do   you think oh absolutely come and meet Allison and  Linda they'd love to meet you and they'll tell you   more about volunteering here I'm off to explore  whilst Bev and Joe get their hands dirty Lind   and Allison hi there meet and Joe and they going  to hopefully volunteer here at the Garden so can   I leave them with you lovely at the moment we're  deadheading would you like to have a go I would   love to thank [Music] you Allison how long have  you been doing this volunteering I've been here   for 14 years and there are some volunteers  who have been here 25 years goodness Linda   you've been here for just as long haven't  you oh just about 10 you're practically a   newbie then well yeah there are a few who are a  bit younger than me so do you stay in the same   area or do you do different jobs we gain the  knowledge that the experts have if we float   around the garden and you know one of the best  things about working in the garden is talking   to visitors and of course we come because  our friends are here so if you really do   decide you're going to come in Wales and fingers  crossed you do thank you please come and volunteer   here because such can you bake yes cuz it's a  rule of th Volunteers in turn have to bring a c well that's Bev's kitchen put to good use the  garden boasts the world's largest single span   Glass House 95 M long and 55 M wide and inside  I've come to meet horticulturalist Ellena James   I am being transported back to Australia where  my sister lives yeah it's beautiful it is just   kind of disconnecting from rural whales outside  and then just coming in and exploring something   completely different so presumably it's not just  Australia in here that's being represented no no   we also showcase plants from Chile uh California  South Africa and also the Mediterranean Basin   itself so yeah and and why those particular  regions so those are Mediterranean climates   so we want to showcase that zone as a whole  and also some of these plants um some of them   are threatened with the increase of wildfires  with climate change so it's really important   to keep this collection going really so there's a  little Haven of species here in Wales yeah so the   temperates has to be really carefully controlled  does it it does yeah yeah we do in the winter we   we have to heat the glass house only ever so  gently just to keep the frost off but um yeah   gives you that real Mediterranean feel I think  given what we see happening around the world   with climate change do you feel a real sense  of satisfaction when you do come and you see   these species being protected yeah it's just  great to educate people um with what we're   growing what we're trying to do um what we're  trying to achieve and you know it's great to   see kids running around in here just loving  it and in terms of the mission I guess what   are you working towards so our core mission is  to inspire people educate and also to conserve   um and to to think about the biodiversity here  within within Wales as well so we focus on things   in the Mediterranean but we also focus on a  lot of our own Welsh endemic plants as well   I'm sure this is a mission that Bev would Embrace  but that all depends on whether any of the houses   she and Joe have seen will make her ideal Welsh  [Music] Retreat hello it's windy but it's lovely what a nice few days been fantastic yeah I have  one question that I need to ask you be have we   found somewhere for you to part the motor home  I think you have oh my goodness mate well I know   which one it it is yes yes house number one yeah  definitely it's just a feeling you know that you   get it's just the garden everything about it was  just just right for me I think the house is just   the right size for me and then having that extra  with the out buildings as well for the boys to   come up and everything that that just works well  really works well I could just tell that youd left   your heart in that first house we all saw it  when she got to that first house she was you   know in love straight away yeah and when I get  that feeling I have to go with it so definitely   what do you think your dad would have made of the  property of that house he would be over the moon   definitely yeah I think he would have been very  proud yeah so what are you going to do next what's   plan talk to the estate agent tomorrow would be  the next step I've already got sisters and things   lined up so that's all nice and easy well I'll  keep everything cross for you that it all happens   smoothly from here yeah and honestly I just wish  you so much happiness the move here and for all of   you as a family as well thank you very much it's  been great experience for us I think amazing for you there's often a feeling when you're house  hunting that you need to compromise on something   and I know that was prepared to compromise  on the house in order to get the garden and   the land that she was really looking for and I'm  so happy that she hasn't had to do that because   I really get a feeling that we've been able to  find Bev a home that will take care of her and   in her words wrap her up in a great big hug I do  hope it all works out for her cuz I can't wait   to come back and find out what she does to that  Garden join me next time on ES skap to the country   if you would like to escapee to the  country in Wales England Northern   Ireland or Scotland and need our help why  not apply online at bbc.co.uk slake part [Music]

2025-05-13 23:45

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