Written by Cai Davies, Translated by Iwan Thomas

The Aberystwyth University Botanic Gardens offer an unusual experience for a coastal Welsh town: a warm, luscious space that recreates the conditions of the tropics.

Across the road from the main university entrance, visible over a row of hedges, is the university’s Botany Gardens Glasshouse – a facility owned by the Department for Life Science. It houses a plant paradise and offers shelter from the coastal weather. Plant lovers like me, who could only bring a few plants to university due to small window availability, will appreciate the species within. These include familiar favourites such as snake plants, staghorn ferns, and pothos.

Andrew Taravella currently maintains the glasshouse. His arrangement of the plants is intended to create variety and colour throughout its three rooms. He waters and maintains the plants every day. The various species include banana trees, bird-of-paradise, many weird and wonderful cacti, and a pond dominated by water hyacinth.

The glasshouse was constructed after the purchase of the Plas Penglais estate (the current residence of the Vice-Chancellor) in 1946. Over the years, additional buildings and glasshouses have been added to expand capacity. The potting and storage shed serves as the entrance to the main tropical glasshouse.

The glasshouse is open to students during working hours as long as a staff member is present. It also functions as an important learning resource, hosting practical lessons where students can go beyond theory and learn about plants with live specimens.

Surrounding glasshouses are used for growing experiments by researchers. They form an important element of the university’s scientific output. The university also owns growing facilities at its Gogerddan campus opposite Aberinnovation. However, these are only used for commercial and research growing purposes.

The Botanic Gardens are gaining a new lead in Dr Dylan Jones. Their previous lead, Dr Ian Scott, is retiring.

If you are looking to relax and enjoy a warmer climate, I highly recommend a visit.

For more information, visit https://www.aber.ac.uk/en/life-sciences/our-facilities/botany-gardens/.

Special thanks to Andrew Taravella for assisting with this article.

Cymraeg

Mae Gerddi Botaneg Prifysgol Aberystwyth yn cynnig profiad anarferol i dref arfordirol Gymreig: gofod cynnes, melys sy’n ail-greu amodau’r trofannau. 

Ar draws y ffordd o brif fynedfa’r brifysgol, sydd i’w weld dros res o wrychoedd, mae Tŷ Gwydr Gerddi Botaneg y brifysgol – cyfleuster sy’n eiddo i’r Adran Gwyddor Bywyd. Mae'n gartref i baradwys o blanhigion ac yn cynnig cysgod rhag y tywydd arfordirol. Bydd y rhai sy'n hoff o blanhigion fel fi, a allai ddod ag ychydig yn unig o blanhigion  i'r brifysgol oherwydd y ffenestri bach sydd ar gael, yn gwerthfawrogi'r rhywogaeth o’i fewn. Mae'r rhain yn cynnwys ffefrynnau cyfarwydd fel planhigion nadroedd, rhedyn y gorn, a phothos. 

Andrew Taravella sy'n cynnal y tŷ gwydr ar hyn o bryd. Bwriad ei drefniant o'r planhigion yw creu amrywiaeth a lliw drwy'r tair ystafell. Mae'n dyfrio ac yn cynnal y planhigion bob dydd. Mae'r rhywogaethau amrywiol yn cynnwys coed banana, aderyn paradwys, llawer o gacti rhyfedd a rhyfeddol, a phwll lle mae hyasinth dŵr yn bennaf. 

Adeiladwyd y tŷ gwydr ar ôl prynu ystâd Plas Penglais (preswylfa bresennol yr Is-Ganghellor) ym 1946. Dros y blynyddoedd, mae adeiladau a thai gwydr ychwanegol wedi’u hychwanegu i ehangu’r capasiti. Mae'r sied potio a storio yn fynedfa i'r prif dŷ gwydr trofannol. 

Mae’r tŷ gwydr ar agor i fyfyrwyr yn ystod oriau gwaith cyn belled â bod aelod o staff yn bresennol. Mae hefyd yn gweithredu fel adnodd dysgu pwysig, gan gynnal gwersi ymarferol lle gall myfyrwyr fynd y tu hwnt i theori a dysgu am blanhigion gyda sbesimenau byw. Mae ymchwilwyr yn defnyddio tai gwydr o amgylch ar gyfer arbrofion tyfu. Maent yn elfen bwysig o allbwn gwyddonol y brifysgol. Mae’r brifysgol hefyd yn berchen ar gyfleusterau tyfu ar ei champws yng Ngogerddan gyferbyn ag Aberinnovation. Fodd bynnag, dim ond at ddibenion masnachol a thyfu ymchwil y defnyddir y rhain. 

Mae'r Gerddi Botaneg yn ennill arweiniad newydd yn Dr Dylan Jones. Mae eu harweinydd blaenorol, Dr Ian Scott, yn ymddeol. 

Os ydych chi am ymlacio a mwynhau hinsawdd gynhesach, rwy'n argymell ymweliad yn fawr. 

Am ragor o wybodaeth, ewch i https://www.aber.ac.uk/en/life-sciences/our-facilities/botany-gardens/.  

Diolch yn arbennig i Andrew Taravella am gynorthwyo gyda'r erthygl hon.