Visiting the garden at Colby Woodland Garden

Autumn highlights at Colby

Colby’s wooded grounds are a haven for nature and the perfect spot to wander whilst enjoying the sights and sounds of autumn. Spot fungi on the forest floor, squirrels hunting for nuts and birds preparing for winter. Soak up the marvellous autumn tones of acers, dogwood and sweet gum as you explore. There’s a small orchard you can visit on the wider estate as well as fruit trees in the walled garden. 

Explore the garden with friends and family as its slowly changes and autumn colours start coming through. From the weekly park run to our half term events there’s plenty to see and explore during these quieter months

Autumn adventures

Why not go on a walk with all the family and tick off ‘50 things to do before you’re 11¾’? Go foraging for wild food, play conkers, watch a bird, or build a den in the undergrowth.  

 

The walled garden at Colby

From humble beginnings as a kitchen garden, the walled garden was semi-derelict by the 1970s. It was transformed into a formal setting by Mr and Mrs Scourfield-Lewis, who took on Colby Lodge (the on-site house) and the walled garden in the 1980s. The walled garden returned into our care in 2010. 

Things to see in the walled garden

• Magnolia A riot of colour in spring and summer, the magnolia tree sits above the entrance to the garden. 
• Trompe l'oeil painting In the gazebo you’ll find an optical illusion, known as trompe l’oeil or ‘trick of the eye’. Peter Chance (who gave us the estate) commissioned American artist Lincoln Taber to paint it. 
• Water feature Punctuated by plants and paths, follow the flow of water as it works its way through the garden.  
• Sculptures You’ll find quirky sculptures dotted all over the garden; see how many you can spot. 

 

The woodland garden at Colby

The site played an active part in the Pembrokeshire coal industry during the 1790s, when landowner John Colby acquired it. 

The garden only really came into its own in the 1870s when a pharmacist named Samuel Kay bought the land and house, Colby Lodge. He began the planting and his descendants continued the legacy in the 1920s by incorporating ponds and additional horticultural features. 

 

Things to see in the woodland garden

• Rhododendrons Colby’s speciality which thrive in the garden’s acidic soil; look out for the large-leaved rhododendrons by the newt pond and old oak corner. 
• Wildlife Binoculars at the ready, the valley is teeming with all kinds of creatures; from birds to bugs and the occasional otter. 
• Japanese redwood Reaching towering heights of 134 feet, Colby has one of the tallest Japanese redwood trees in the UK; you’ll find it adjacent to the newt pond. 
• Industrial reminders The garden is full of heritage hotspots including mine entrances and an old mine track that leads to the beach. 
• Sea views Follow the path through the west wood, which on a clear day boasts views across Carmarthen Bay with Worm’s Head in the distance. 

Family fun in a natural playground at Colby

Making the most of the outdoors is easy at Colby Woodland Garden, just think of it as one big adventure playground. Clamber across stepping-stones scattered in the streams and delve into a water world of pond dipping, dam building and wildlife watching.  

Seasonal highlights at Colby Woodland Garden

Colby is colourful all year round, with each season welcoming a new palette of charming colours. 

Spring brings carpets of bluebells, crocuses and daffodils followed by swathes of camellias, azaleas and rhododendrons, the garden’s speciality. 

Summer sees hydrangeas and wild flowers blossom, and the formal walled garden is a real delight at this time of the year. 

Autumn and winter are just as eye-catching with the marvellous tones of acers, dogwoods and sweet-gum.