Concerns over future of sculpture garden in ‘Camelot’ village

Martin Shipton

The future of a much-loved sculpture garden in a village associated with King Arthur’s Camelot is uncertain after permission was granted to its new owners to fell five trees.

Ffwrwm was developed as a tranquil spot in Caerleon, near Newport, by a larger-than-life GP and councillor called Russell Rees. He commissioned around 100 sculptures based on characters in the medieval Welsh folk tales known as the Mabinogion, in which the village appears as Camelot.

A number of quaint shops and a cafe were also developed as part of the project.

Dr Rees died in 2011, followed by his wife Gillian.

Grace Lloyd told Nation.Cymru: “My husband and I used to run a little shop, Spirit of Awen, in Ffwrwm, so we know and love the place well. We have recently moved out, but still care deeply about this special and magical space.

“The Ffwrwm sculpture garden is set in a walled courtyard garden, hundreds of years old, the sculptures set amongst beautiful mature trees. At the heart of the Ffwrwm is a huge rare tulip tree (one of the UK’s oldest), alongside nine other trees including yew, rowan, oak and mulberry.

“When Dr Rees and his wife died, Ffwrwm was sold to a company called Highmore Investments Ltd in 2025. In 2026, the Ffwrwm was boarded up in preparation for Highmore Investments to begin a programme of refurbishments. Shortly afterwards, a planning application notice was posted up on the gates of Ffwrwm. Highmore Investments were applying to fell five of the 10 trees in Ffwrwm – four of them healthy trees – citing the form and symmetry of the remaining trees.

“One tree, a willow, is diseased, and we all agree sadly that it needs to be removed. The trees to be felled are two rowans, a mature yew and a Scots pine. The remaining trees will be pruned and ‘reduced’, including the historic tulip tree.

“Shocked locals got a campaign together to object to the felling of the four healthy trees, but despite 259 online objections plus a petition signed by 143 people, Newport council approved the application with no objection on July 27. This means that Highmore Investments could begin felling trees at any moment, as none of the trees have a preservation order on them.

Prayer

“With nowhere else to go, but to try to appeal to the owners to change their mind, we suggested that people tie ribbons to the gate of Ffwrwm – each ribbon carrying a name and a prayer to the owners to please not cut the trees that make Ffwrwm such a special place of peace and sanctuary. There are now well over 300 ribbons – also known as clooties – an old tradition of tying a strip of cloth, usually to a tree, to carry a prayer. Today we have over 400.

Highmore Investments Ltd has an office address in Newport. Its sole director is Thomas Stafford Lewis. We have not been able to contact him.

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