The small village of Rydal nearly 1000 metres above sea level has the ideal climate for growing daffodils and like its namesake in England where William Wordsworth lived for a time and wrote about daffodils, Rydal New South Wales can present a host of golden daffodils.
The village is small, only about 80 residents but there is lots of enthusiasm. The gardens are all different some private, some public. Each spring the village and gardens are open and garden entry goes to charities in the Lithgow district. Since 2002 Rydal has donated $181,576.00 to charities.
Open gardens raise funds for charities
One special location for the daffodils can be found in Pioneers Park, which covers some two acres, right in the heart of the village. Once a piece of largely waste land, though part of Trust land that joins the Rydal Showground, the villagers got together and cleaned it out, laid paths and started planting daffodils.
Pioneer Park, bridge & path
Looking after such a large area has its challenges and the Rydal Village Association gets help from the low security day release inmates from the nearby Lithgow Gaol! Over the last few months they have been busy digging up the bulbs that had got overcrowded and spreading them out. The beds have then all been freshly mulched.
Rydal daffodils
Linsey Featherstone third generation resident of the village, has supervised the overall plan. The park has picnic tables and chairs, a BBQ and an amphitheatre, built by local residents and used for musical events.
Daffodils at Rydal Festival: gardens are open from 10 am to 4pm on September 8 and 9 and September 15 and 16.
For more information and to download a brochure visit rydal.com.au
