What’s taking shape on the lawn?

Every summer, the gardeners at Powis Castle create an exceptional piece of art on the Great Lawn for visitors to admire.

Popular designs have previously included a Welsh Dragon, the word croeso (Welsh for welcome), a fleur-de-lis and a labyrinth.

But this week has seen the gardeners unveil their 2013 offering, a detailed design which is based upon the wood carvings on the fireplaces in Powis Castle’s state dining room.

Ruth Scutter, Assistant Visitor Services Manager said: “It’s great that the design can be enjoyed by all our visitors, whether admiring it from our castle and terraces or getting closer to its twists and turns, running around its path. The design fits in well with the National Trust’s campaign ‘50 things to do before you’re 11 and ¾’ and we’re already seeing families tick off number 24 – ‘go on a walk barefoot’ as they trace the outlines of the design.”

The carvings were designed by the renowned architect GF Bodley (14 March 1827 – 21 October 1907). He was employed in 1902 by George Herbert, the 4th Earl of Powis, who was keen to update Powis Castle whilst retaining its Jacobean style. He originally commissioned Bodley to renovate rooms around the entrance to the Castle, but the Earl soon expanded the commission to take in both the interior and exterior of Powis. Between 1903 and 1905 the equivalent of over a million pounds in today’s money (£15,182 10s 2d) was spent on the renovations.