In 2025 ISWE partnered with the National Trust on an new oral history project to capture memories of gardeners past and present at Bodnant Garden in the Conwy Valley.
The idea for the project originated with Danny Adams, a Gardener at Bodnant, who felt the importance of capturing the lived experiences and established knowledge of his predecessors and colleagues, many of whom have worked at the site for almost forty years. Two postgraduate Oral History Research Interns, Anna Reynolds and Sam Trethouen-Haycox, were appointed by ISWE to create oral history recordings and an archive of historical photographs and memorabilia. Many of the interviews took place on site in Bodnant to enrich the context. It is hoped that the material collected will ensure that the lives and experiences of the gardeners will be incorporated more fully into the ‘story’ of Bodnant and how it is presented to its visitors.
This project is ongoing and we plan to share regular updates as it progresses.