Japan Comes to Llantwit Major

Mon, Sep 30th 2019 at 6:30 pm - 7:30 pm

Club members visited the Japanese garden in Llantwit Major

Members of the Club in the Japanese garden

Club membersr paid a special visit to what must be the most extraordinary garden in the town.  Hidden behind a detached house in Monmouth Way is, quite simply, a piece of Japan. The short walk from the front garden around the house transports you to the other side of the world. A Zen gate, lanterns, waterfalls, ferns and a pagoda are all complimented by a truly wonderful pond of huge  Koi carp.  The creator of this astonishing place is Don Knight and his wife Ann.  Don, originally from Llantwit Major spent much of his life in Cheshire where he created similar masterpieces.  He returned eight years ago when he married Anne.  He then began to transform the traditional lawn and bushes into what we see today. The soft rainfall in the early evening added to the sense of tranquillity
and peace.  

Since appearing in the national news, the garden has attracted attention from visitors all over Britain and beyond. Unsurprisingly, the BBC recently filmed there prior to the Welsh squad's visit to Japan for the Rugby World Cup. Don says that every donation that they receive from visitors goes to the Great Ormond Street Hospital for sick children which is a charity close to his heart.  Don described to Rotary visitors that he must water the bonsai trees twice a day. This, together with the work of feeding the fish and general maintenance makes going away on holiday a rather anxious experience for him. 

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Interact is Rotary International's service club for young people aged between 12 and 18. The Interact club in Llantwit Major is made up of year 12 and 13 students from Llantwit Major Comprehensive School

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