Hafod estate in Wales  

‘Mr Johnes invited Mr Loudon to dine with the family again. He said they would like to have his opinions on the picturesque improvement of the Hafod estate. Mr Loudon said he would be pleased to do this. Having visited so many gardens in the past two years he could think of few people in a better position to comment.’ This is a quote from The Claudians: gardens, landscapes, reason and faith: John Claudius Loudon and Claudius Buchanan, Tom Turner (Kindle, 2024).

More about the Hafod Estate (which Loudon called Havod)

The UK Forestry Commission acquired the Hafod Estate in the 1930s and focused its management on forestry and timber production, with extensive conifer plantations. Since the late 20th century, there has been growing awareness of the estate's heritage, natural beauty and sustainable forestry practices. To the eye of a landscape designer, or Mr Thomas Johnes (1748 – 1816, the present condition of the estate would be a tragic disappointment, to rank with the loss of his charming wife Jane Johnes in 1782 and his beautiful daughter Mariamné Johnes in 1811. Restoration work is underway but there is far to go.