1st March 2010
1 March 589 AD is known as the date of the death of St David, the patron saint of Wales. He was a Celtic monk, abbot and bishop who became Archbishop of Wales and one of many early saints who helped spread Christianity among the pagan Celtic tribes of western Britain.
Dewi (David) was born in southwest Wales, educated in a monastery at Henfynyw, travelled on religious missions and established several churches. He apparently lived for over 100 years and was buried in the grounds of his own monastery, where the Cathedral of St David now stands.
Cadw, the Welsh Assembly Government’s historic environment service, offers free admission today to all its managed monuments in Wales. These include Caernarfon Castle in North Wales, Tintern Abbey, Blaenafon Ironworks and Caerleon Roman fortress.
You may think it a little early in the year for horticultural delights but several gardens in North, South and Mid Wales are open for Wales Holidays visitors staying in self- catering cottages and farmhouses on St David’s Day.
Down in the Carmarthen area, you can celebrate St David’s Day by walking in the footsteps of a former Bishop of St David’s at Aberglasney Gardens. And in the Towy Valley about 7 miles east of Carmarthen is the renowned National Botanic Garden of Wales. Two gardens where there is also something to see all year round are Clyne and Singleton in Swansea.
If you’re staying in a holiday cottage in the north east Wales borders, Chirk Castle and Erddig, near Wrexham, have gardens open to visitors in March. Somewhat different is the Centre for Alternative Technology near Machynlleth in Mid Wales.
