Gwrych Castle, North Wales, is over 2000 years old, over half of that time in the ownership of the Dundonalds. And if you’ve heard of it, then you’ve probably watched ‘I’m a celebrity.’ Imagine staying in a building created back in the iron age. You can; they welcome tourists. The castle is unusual because it was built as a gift, rather than as a fortification, so is set into the hillside rather than on top.
In the 90’s an American tycoon purchased the castle and it’s 250 acres, with great plans for an event centre, but instead he stripped it and left it to rot. But along came eleven year old Mark Baker from nearby Abergele. This lad began campaigning for the castle to be saved, founding the Gwrych Castle Preservation Trust just a year later. In 2018, when Mark was thirty-three, the Trust purchased the property, though restoration work had begun twelve years earlier. The gardens are also being restored, with a team of volunteers achieving great results. And it all started with an eleven year old.
Change; all around us, and some is natural.
The river Dee has filled in naturally over centuries, but twice a year it experiences a king tide sweeping in to flush out debri and small creatures like voles. This enables the birdlife to flourish, and assists plants who require the minerals from salt water to thrive.
Other change is man-made. In 1934, a tunnel opened under the Mersey, connecting Liverpool with the Wirral, thus allowing incredible expansion on both sides, and saving hours of travel for freight and people. At the time it was the longest underwater tunnel in Europe. Imagine the commentary when the plan was first aired!
In Wales, when the underground mines stopped using pit ponies, many were simply turned out onto the hills to fend for themselves. These tough little ponies survived, and bred. Their descendants still run wild, but locals keep an eye on them. A charity group takes in any who get sick, nurses them back to health, then releases them back to the hills they call home.
Humans are strange creatures at times. Thousands head to Snowdonia in Wales for the fresh air and nature, the wide open spaces and that unpolluted environment. Ironic then that a team of volunteers regularly climb Mt Snowdonia just to pick up litter.
And in another change, at the rope bridge in Northern Ireland, during covid the birdlife and flora flourished so extraordinarily that the decision was made to disallow coaches carrying tourists to visit ever again. If you want to try walking over the bridge, you must arrive by car, bike or foot. The strategy has proven very successful so far.
But not all change is good. Alongside predictions of Ireland undergoing another ice age due to sea and air currents, in Galway, by the Spanish Arch, a light installation shows where the harbour waterline will be after climate change. Sobering to stand there and see how much of that beautiful place sits under that line.
Stories for you - Enjoy! 