01/10/2026
AN UPDATE FROM THE PARC HOWARD ASSOCIATION 🌳
As many of you know, the Parc Howard Association is incredibly proud of the trees, shrubs and planting we have been able to add to the Parc over the years, including the many special memorial trees planted for local families.
Following two particularly dry summers, we have made the difficult decision to temporarily pause new tree and shrub planting, including new requests for memorial trees, while we work towards finding a more sustainable way of caring for new planting.
Young trees can need between 20–40 litres of water each week during their first two years, and new shrubs also need plenty of water while they become established. Currently, our volunteers have access to just one water standpipe behind the Mansion House, which means filling containers and transporting water around the Parc — often by wheelbarrow.
We are extremely grateful to the Parc groundsmen, who regularly help us by transporting water in their truck. Their support makes a huge difference.
We have contacted Carmarthenshire County Council to ask for support, including the possibility of installing an additional standpipe. Unfortunately, we have not received a positive response to date, but we remain hopeful that a practical and sustainable solution can be found.
We fully appreciate the importance of using water responsibly. However, with just one water supply located behind the Mansion House, caring properly for new planting across a Parc of this size has become increasingly difficult.
For now, our priority is to look after and protect the trees and planting already established throughout Parc Howard, particularly during periods of prolonged dry weather.
This is very much a pause rather than an end to planting, and we sincerely hope that circumstances will allow us to welcome new trees, shrubs and memorial planting back to the Parc in the future. 🌱
Thank you, as always, for your continued support of Parc Howard and the work of the Association. 💚
