Gardens > Wales > Cardiganshire > Cae Hir Gardens

Cae Hir Gardens

A late twentieth century garden, surprising and original. The garden was designed by Dutch born Wil Akkermans and uses both native and exotic plants. Started in 1983 on fields of smallholding - first phase opened 30th April 1989 - final phase opened 18th May 1995.

Head Gardener's Comment

A Welsh Garden with a Dutch History, Cae Hir is a true family garden with real heart and soul. 4 acres of landscaped Welsh hillside provide visitors with a 'proper garden' to explore, meander through, gaze at and sit in. Fully landscaped as one whole garden, Cae Hir boasts a plethora of fabulous trees and swathes of inventive planting, punctured throughout by local slate stonework used in innovative as well as more traditional ways. At Cae Hir the natural meets the formal and riotous planting meets structure and form. This is a garden not just for plant lovers, but also for design enthusiasts.

Nestled comfortably at the bottom of the garden lies the tea room and sunny patio, where you can indulge in home made scones and cakes which have made quite a name for themselves. There is also an extensive range of plants for sale, all propagated from the garden itself.

Cae Hir is an RHS Partner Garden and one of the Great Gardens of West Wales.

Cae Hir Gardens

History

Perhaps the most astonishing part of the history of Cae Hir is that the whole garden was envisaged, designed, created and maintained by just ONE man – Wil Akkermans, using only traditional hand tools (apart from a mower of course). Unlike many successful gardens, Cae Hir has never had the benefit of financial support or backing by anyone other than immediate family. It is a testament to Wil and his wife Gillian that, through thick and thin, success prevailed.
In 2004, 15 years after opening its doors to the public, Cae Hir was invited by the RHS to become one of its original Partner Gardens – an astonishing achievement for such a young garden. Another 15 years on and Cae Hir is currently celebrating 30 Open Years. The garden continues to evolve and flourish under the guardianship of Wil’s children Julie and Stuart who were handed the reigns in 2009. In the hands of this second generation of Akkermans’ it remains a true family business, ensuring you a warm family welcome!