A 'moongate' theme remembered from over 50 years ago is behind the new look to the summer house at Upton Castle Gardens, Cosheston.
The summer house - an important feature on The Terrace - has been refurbished in a joint project involving Pembrokeshire College students and the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority, which manages the gardens.
The front of the summer house now incorporates a moongate feature, the inspiration for which came from Canon and Mrs. John Skelton, the owners of Upton Castle.
Said Canon Skelton: "In my young days I was involved in creating a moongate, working alongside my uncle who was a gardener, and the memory of this has stayed with me all these years. When there were discussions on renovating the summer house the idea came up of a moon feature, and this is what has been done."
The moon shape, in marine ply edged in lead, has been built into the front of the summer house and the theme is continued in the surrounding yew hedges. Inside the building, new 'half moon' seats in Welsh oak have been provided - the timber coming from the National Park's Woodland Centre at Cilrhedyn in the Gwaun Valley.
The summer house was one of the early structures built at Upton by Mrs. Joyce Skelton's parents after they purchased the castle and grounds in the late 1920s. This work, together with the pool and all the stonewalling, was carried out by the late Mr. Jack Hicks and his sons, Ronald and Wilfred, of Carew.
Working on the project have been Pembrokeshire College students Vicky Greasley and Gill Lewis, as part of their two-year full-time course for a National Diploma in landscape garden design, helped by course tutor, Tim Morris, and lecturer Garry Thomas.
Said Tim: "It has been a challenging project to be involved in and we are very pleased with the way the summer house has been transformed. Vicky and Gill have enjoyed working at Upton."
National Park support and advice has been provided by the authority's technical officer, Steve Brick. Said Steve: "The summer house really needed a face-lift and now visitors are finding it a very pleasant place to sit for a while during their walk around the extensive grounds. The moon feature is something new to discover at Upton Castle Gardens - often referred to as one of Pembrokeshire's best kept secrets.
"We are pleased to have helped the students by providing a real and challenging project, and we also showed them how the timber was prepared at our Cilrhedyn Centre."
* Upton Castle Gardens, managed by the National Park Authority, are open every day of the week, except Saturday, from 10 am to 5 pm. There is a small entry charge to the gardens. For further information on Upton Gardens contact (01646) 651782. Details of the college courses are available by 'phoning Pembrokeshire College on 0800 716236.