Visitor boost for Colclough

COLCLOUGH GARDENS at Tintern Abbey have proven a hit with visitor numbers up 10 per cent last year on 2014.

More than 40,000 people have visited the gardens since they opened in May 2012 and numbers are up 16 per cent to date this year compared to last year.

Project Manager Alan Ryan said several events are planned for the walled gardens, which were built in 1814, this summer.

Mr Ryan said visitor numbers have been growing at the garden thanks to a strong social media presence and a brochure on the garden which is widely distributed.

‘ The brochure was designed to attract the culturally curious couple.’

The gardens are members of Wexford Garden Trail and Wexford Heritage Trail and their team work in conjunction with the Office of Public Works.

‘ We have an annual joint ticket which costs € 30 for both Tintern Abbey and for the pass into the gardens. That is for up to six adults and children go free. We are open every day apart from Christmas Day.’

Coillte own the gardens which people return to several times of the year to see the flowers in blossom and the fruit. A lovely forest trail leads to the entrance to the gardens which has informative tourist information boards.

Mr Ryan said the gardens are in keeping with traditions of the early 1800s, as featured in J.C. Loudon’s Encyclopedia of Gardening. Cherries, apricots and plums are all grown along the garden walls, while numerous vegetables are grown in the vegetable patch.

‘ The whole idea is to come and enjoy the gardens. We are building a new vinery or orangerie to grow grapes, oranges and lemons.’