The first weekend in October, Saturday and Sunday 1st and 2nd, will see the return of the Autumn Derwen Antiques Fair at the National Botanic Garden of Wales.

With up to 100 stands on display, the fair has become quite a spectacle. There will be buggies whizzing back and for, transporting excited antiques enthusiasts from the Gate House up to the Glasshouse.

However, a lot of visitors prefer to meander up the path and enjoy the spectacle of the garden in full autumn glory. What a treat they have when arriving at the fair, with many stands on display outside in the gardens, surrounding the Millennium Square.

Visitors are able to leisurely browse the eclectic mix of antiques and vintage wares and will be treated to a wonderful spectacle of Welsh art and pottery and 17th century Welsh oak in a setting of Mediterranean fauna growing inside the awesome glasshouse designed by Sir Norman Foster.

The fair has expanded greatly over the last five years and the addition of the use of the Botanica theatre and the Gallery room has increased the variety of antiques on offer. The fair has also expanded into the Millennium Courtyard, filling it with a Vintage Antiques Market. The vintage market houses smaller marquees plus numerous other outside stands. There you will find retro items, upcycled furniture and a host of quirky finds. This is a new and exciting addition to the established inside sections.

The recipe for the success of this fair is its unique setting. When you witness the array of antiques, set against the backdrop of the flora and fauna, when you step inside the Norman Foster Great Glass House, you can only be impressed.

The Antiques Fair and Vintage Market at the prestigious National Botanic Gardens of Wales can be found at Llanarthne, at the end of the M4; you will find ample free parking inside the grounds. The fair opens its doors at 10 am and closes at 4.30 pm; admission is just £4 to both the gardens and the fair.