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Cowbridge Physic Garden facts for kids

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Cowbridge Physic Garden
Gardd Berlysiau'r Bont-Faen
A picture of the Physic Garden, featuring some plants a stone wall
The Physic Garden, in 2009, shortly after its opening
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Location Cowbridge, Wales
OS grid SS 99316 74604
Designer Anthony Jellard Associates
Administered by Cowbridge Physic Garden Trust Limited

The Cowbridge Physic Garden is a special garden located in Cowbridge, a town in South Wales. It covers about 0.5 acres (or 2,000 square meters). This unique garden was created to show plants that were used for medicine or other helpful things a long time ago. It's a wonderful place to explore and learn about nature's remedies from the past.

What is a Physic Garden?

A "physic garden" is a type of garden where plants are grown for their medicinal or useful properties. In the past, before modern pharmacies, people relied on plants to treat illnesses. These gardens were like living pharmacies, helping people learn about and use plants for health. The Cowbridge Physic Garden continues this tradition, showing visitors how plants were once used.

A Garden with History

The Cowbridge Physic Garden was started in 2004 by the Welsh Historic Gardens Trust. It officially opened its gates in June 2008. The opening ceremony was a special event, attended by Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, who is now known as Queen Camilla. She is also the patron of the garden, which means she supports its work.

The garden is surrounded by tall stone walls. Some parts of these walls are very old, dating back to the 13th century! This means they are over 700 years old. The garden itself sits on land that was once part of a grand 18th-century garden. This older garden belonged to a family called the Edmondes, who lived at Old Hall.

Plants from the Past

When the Cowbridge Physic Garden was designed, the creators wanted it to look like an 18th-century garden. This means they chose a style that was popular hundreds of years ago.

One of the most interesting rules for this garden is about the plants themselves. Only plants that were found in Britain before the year 1800 are allowed in the garden. This makes the garden a living museum of historical plants. You can see many different types of plants, from herbs used for cooking to flowers that were once thought to cure diseases. It's a great way to see what gardens looked like and what plants people used centuries ago.

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