Ebbw Vale Garden Festival
ebbw vale garden festival wale national garden festival attracted two million visitor ebbw vale south wale national garden festival highprofile initiative conservative government response criticism alleged neglect area hit decline heavy industry environment minister michael heseltine proposed derelict land reclaimed garden festival symbol rebirth area festival held every two year first festival held liverpool subsequent festival held stokeontrent glasgow gateshead ebbw vale garden festival eventually competition festival highly successful attracting million visitor country industrial area long ignored british tourist however always lead hopedfor longterm injection private investment affected area ebbw vale chosen last british garden festival site waste land british steel steel tin work part demolished early festival began may ran october well garden plant exhibition fairgroundstyle attraction festival also featured funicular railway ebbw vale garden festival funicular festival park garden festival site occupied house fishing lake festival church owl sanctuary large environmental sculpture mother earth woodland shopping centre mechanical clock known “in nick time” sculptor andy plant erected site clock commissioned paid newport council cost £ hour structure would open expose hidden character inside festival event clock relocated john frost square newport clock currently located roundabout leading glan llyn development behind newport retail park newport clock longer open ebbw vale garden festival funicular unofficial garden festival wale website festival church festival park owl sanctuary funicular railway