Welsh garden and greenhouse attraction under review

A garden and greenhouse attraction in Wales is set to be placed under financial review, it has been revealed.

The National Botanic Garden of Wales is to be subjected to an independent investigation after asking the Welsh Assembly for more cash, the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) reported.

Director Rosetta Plummer explained that the attraction welcomes the inspection, noting that it had been decided as part of a 2008 financial agreement.

"The garden welcomes the opportunity to demonstrate the significant steps forward it has taken, and is taking," she said.

It has requested a further £250,000 in funding to help cope with predicted cash-flow difficulties as a result of an anticipated drop in visitor numbers.

Minister for heritage Alun Ffred Jones requested the independent assessment to ensure that taxpayer money was going to be put to good use.

Meanwhile, the RHS has revealed that a Bedfordshire garden attraction is to be opened to the public for the first time since its completion 200 years ago.