This was our first visit to Llanelly in 20 years and we visited three historic houses. Our first stop was Llanelly House. It was owned by the Stepney family in the 18^th Century. They had moved from London to share in the wealth that Llanelly was creating with its local supplies of lead, tin and coal. The house was extensively renovated in the early 18^th century and is seen to be the best example of early Georgian architecture in Wales. At that time the house was home to Sir Thomas Stepney, the 5^th Baronet, and his wife Lady Elizabeth. They acted out the acrimonious state of their marriage for us, with Sir Thomas complaining about his lack of funds, and Lady Elizabeth talking about her latest trip to Bath that enabled her to buy all those things that would keep her up with the latest fashions.

The House was later owned by a number of families but as Llanelly’s wealth decreased it deteriorated and it was finally bought by the Town Council for use by local businesses. Its resurrection began in 2003 when it was runner up in the BBC Restoration series. Following a period of fund-raising, renovation commenced in 2011. This work was done with great care so that the House was brought back to its 18^th Century design. However as a 21^st century addition, it was fitted with splendid Audio Visual displays which included a court action against the Butler for inappropriate behaviour with one of the maids. It also has a very good café.

Our next stop was Parc Howard, a. Victorian stone House built in 1885 by the Buckley family, the local brewers. It was gifted to the town in 1912. It is now a museum and art gallery which shows various facets of Llanelli’s growth through mining and shipbuilding, and becoming the largest tin plate centre of manufacturing in the world, acquiring the nickname of Tinopolis. It also houses the largest public collection of Llanelli pottery. This shows how the manufacturing of pottery progressed and the problem of balancing of quality and cost. Few local potteries survived into the 20^th century.

Our final stop was Stradey Castle, built for the Mansel Lewis family around 1850. We were welcomed by the current custodians, Patrick and Claire Mansel Lewis, who have lived there since 2009, who were our guides. The House was built to impress, and has a grand staircase and large rooms. The pictures on display were also impressive. From the tower you have a good view down to the sea, but this was only achieved by moving another large house which blocked the view.

Patrick and Claire were very open about the financial constraints of running the House. When they took it over, the Insurers demanded that the roof had to be made weatherproof and there had to be up to date electrical wiring. This work was costly but has now been done. As with all historic houses, trying to bring them up to modern living standards is not easy.

Our tour finished off with tea and biscuits in the dining room prepared by Claire followed by a short walk in the garden.

Dale Sailing at Neyland Marina were willing to take us on our planned boat trip, but as it was pouring with rain, with little prospect of let up, they kindly let us cancel at the quayside following a show of hands, in favour of keeping dry.

Instead, after a warming cuppa at the nearby cafe, we drove to Dale to enjoy a sociable lunch at Coco’s @the Sailing Club, looking out at the grey skies with a wry smile.

Thirty nine members headed south east to the Connaught Hotel, Bournemouth. Some had been on many a PNTA tour before, others were new to the experience. En route we visited Lacock NT featuring the Abbey, the village famous for TV and film locations, and the museum of photography.

On the Monday we did not need to venture far to enjoy the delights of Kingston Lacy NT. The house offered art by famous names, whilst the grounds offered walks through acer groves and cedar avenues. In the afternoon most of the group strolled Compton Acres, with its selection of themed gardens. A grass snake was seen swimming in the waters of the Japanese area.

Tuesday saw us venturing further afield. The morning visit was to Nothe Fort, Weymouth. Constructed in the 1870s of Portland stone, it was built to deter Napoleon 3rd, like the many forts of Pembrokeshire. Now in the ownership of the council, enthusiastic volunteers have made it a historical museum of interest to all ages. Three such volunteers took us on guided tours. Amongst the many passages and nuclear bunker, the group sizes dwindled, but fortunately everyone found their way back to the coach at the appointed time. The afternoon was spent at Abbotsbury Sub tropical Gardens which offered views of Chesil Bank and Golden Cap. A splinter group went to see the cygnets at the swannery.

Fortunately the weather continued to be bright, if breezy, for our Poole Harbour Cruise, on the Wednesday. We saw the palatial retreat for John Lewis staff on Brownsea Island, learnt about the oil producing island. We saw terns diving and a dolphin swimming by. The afternoon optional visit was the Russell-Cotes Gallery, in Bournemouth with its personal collection of paintings and much more.

At the hotel, our tasty suppers were enjoyed at a leisurely pace, with much conversation, so there was no time for a quiz, despite travellers keenly absorbing facts across the week, ready to be tested.

The route home took us via Stourhead, where the National Trust gardens were looking fine, with the Rhododendrons in full bloom.

(Report by Andrew Weaver)

Southwood Farm, near Roch and overlooking Newgale, was donated to the NT in 2003 and has become the Home Farm for all the North Pembs. Properties. The two previous walks we had there both started on the coast side of the farm but this time we began at the farmhouse. Andrew led us down the lane which runs through the middle of the farm and into an old wood. The wood had been properly surveyed but one old ash was the only tree to be registered. It had some enormous branches which seemed to be defying gravity.

Andrew then showed us the herd of 20 Welsh Black cattle which are based at Southwood. Their role is to be taken out in the summer to the different areas of wild coast owned by the Trust to munch the undergrowth to stop it becoming dominant. Ideally about 50 cattle are needed but Southwood can only provide winter quarters for 20 and are reliant on the tenant farmers making up the balance.

Southwood also has 34 Welsh Mountain ponies, also used for coastland grazing. Andrew showed us six plump ponies which were still at Southwood and enjoying grassy meadows. He said they would quickly lose their fat when they had to forage for food in the undergrowth.

Wild flower meadows are also being developed at Southwood and they hope to have established 71 hectares in the next three years. Work on covered wildlife corridors is also underway with hedgerows being widened and connecting corridors created.

Andrew finished by showing us around the Courtyard buildings which were advanced for their time but have no obvious current use without a large amount of money being spent.

Haydn explained that Gupton Farm, which abuts Freshwater West, came under the ownership of the NT as part of the Stackpole Estate which was transferred to them from the Cawdor Estate in 1976. The NT left the management of farms to their tenant farmers, but when Mr and Mrs Watkins retired in 2013, the Trust took Gupton ‘in hand’. It was important that Gupton should be self-funding, and the better land was rented out to some other local farmers. It was decided that the farmhouse, farm buildings and some adjacent fields would be used to support tourism with the farmhouse being used as a holiday let, and the buildings and fields used for caravan and tents.

On other fields, which were less fertile, the aim became to implement the diversification of flora and fauna with wild meadow planting and the development of wildlife corridors. This programme is starting to progress but will take time on the very sandy soil..

The lower part of the farm is dominated by the Castlemartin Corse, the stream which runs into the sea at Freshwater West. The Corse has developed an enormous reed bed used by lots of different birds. It is a hotspot for local birders who have seen flocks of a thousand skylarks in the winter and also flocks of several thousands of lapwings and golden plovers.

On our visit we were treated to the sight of a lone marsh harrier drifting over the reed beds which is a sight many of us will remember.

At the recent AGM of Pembrokeshire National Trust Association, there was reflection on a year of well attended events, including walks, talks and trips. A donation of £3000 was made for improvements at Pembrokeshire National Trust properties. Three hives will be purchased to further enhance the “Bee Friendly” status of Colby. Replacement picnic benches will be provided at Stackpole Quay. At Southwood, the money will be used to restore wildflower meadows. Kate Rees, Marketing and Communications Manager for Pembrokeshire National Trust, accepted the cheque, and reported progress on other projects previously funded by the Association, including information boards at Little Milford and Marloes, bat detectors for Colby, and garden renovations at Tenby Tudor Merchants House, Tenby.

Kate Rees accepting the cheque from Margret and Jim Price

After the business meeting Alan Kearsley-Evans, Coast and Countryside Manager for Gower and Ceredigion, gave a talk on changes to farming practices on National Trust land at The Vile, near Rhossili. Now the main crop is bird seed, making the area more attractive to both wildlife and visitors, especially at sunflower time.

Talk at AGM on April 4th – Alan Kearsley-Evans – ‘NT on Gower’

Alan, whose NT responsibilities cover both Gower and Ceredigion, decided to concentrate his talk on a small farm adjacent to Rhosilli, called Vile. Nobody is sure how the name originated but it first appeared on a local map in 1845.

As with NT properties in Pembrokeshire, the Trust has decided to shift the objectives of its land management to protect the local flora and fauna which are under threat from problems such as global warming and intensive farming.

Vile has its own special characteristic in that it still has the traditional land management ‘three field’ system. What it is has to do is change some of its structure and farming to the benefit of wildlife, and people who want to visit the farm. Structure therefore includes more trees and hedges which give cover, food and ‘wildlife corridors’ to the fauna, but also a network of footpaths for visitors.

Farming also has to change. Wild flower meadows are being developed. Spring planting will be used for barley, and other crops if appropriate. This again gives better cover for fauna but also makes more food available during the breeding season. The aim is not to disturb the natural processes of fields from April to September. Crops are being reviewed. Arable weeds such as sunflowers and poppies are under consideration as are linseed and lavender. They will bring colour and scent to the farm to the benefit of insect lif.

Perhaps, in a few years, visitors will come to look at Vile and not Rhosilli.

Dai has worked in a number of NT Houses in his working career and has latterly been at Picton Castle. He has an interest in the world of Antiques, having dabbled in it himself, and he started by explaining the legal rules of the trade.

Antiques shops follow the same legislation as other retailers. You can go into a shop and buy something. If you subsequently decide that you were misled about the object, or the information you received, you can go back to the shop and ask for your money back. However if you buy from auctioneers, their terms of sale state that any they are not liable for any wrong information and once the hammer goes down, it belongs to you and not them. In addition they demand a commission for having sold it. He also warned that sale prices are very subject fashion and if you later decide you want to sell it the value is as likely to have gone down as up. Age is only one of the factors which decide value. However he then took us briefly through a range of products which are dealt with in the antiques business; furniture, earthenware, porcelain, glassware, carpets and silverware. Interestingly only silverware, with its hallmarks, provides an accurate measure of age, where it was made and by whom.

His final advice was, if you see something you like and you can afford it, then buy it. Remember also that you bought it because you liked it, and do not be put off because of what others think.