Some of the best gardens in north Wales play host to botanical experts from all over the UK this week, who will begin their tour at the holiday resort of Portmeirion.

The visits take place during a three-day conference at Bangor which looks at ways of marketing botanical gardens and woodlands.

Organisers PlantNet are a network of 180 botanical gardens in Britain and Ireland which promotes plant collections as a national resource for research, conservation and education.

Portmeirion's Edwardian gardens The Gwyllt - which translates as The Wild - is the first venue visited by delegates on a tour of sites in north west Wales.

Representatives include experts from the Royal Botanical Gardens in Kew and Edinburgh, the Eden Project and the National Trust.

Rocky headland

One of the National Trusts' own gardens, Bodnant Gardens in the Conwy Valley will also be visited as well as the Snowdonia National Park Authority's Plas Tan y Bwlch in Maentwrog and Nanhoron Gardens in Llyn.

Since 1980, the Gwyllt woodland has undergone a major renovation programme of clearing, restructuring and replanting.

"The Gwyllt takes up to 70 acres of the Aber I� peninsula with its rocky headlands and sandy coves world famous for its splendid trees and flowering shrubs," said Robin Llywelyn, Portmeirion's Managing Director.

"The gardens are constantly evolving with something to interest everyone, whatever the season."

Under the guidance of Portmeirion's Head Gardener, Russell Sharp, the visitors will explore biodiversity conservation, cultural and scientific heritage at the holiday resort.

Plas Tan y Bwlch has received funding to restore its gardens

They will also visit the gardens of Plas Brondanw in nearby Llanfrothen, the home of Portmeirion architect, the late Sir Clough Williams-Ellis.

Plas Tan y Bwlch, Snowdonia National Park's education centre in the Vale of Ffestiniog, recently announced plans to restore its 19th Century gardens with a �815,000 lottery grant.

Cadw, the Welsh historic monuments body, described the mansion and its grounds as one of the most important in Wales.

A spokesperson said: "It is an example of fine, picturesque nineteenth century landscaping on a large scale within an exceptional setting."

Portmeirion's eclectic architecture and scenic coastline already attracts more than 250,000 visitors annually.

Fans of cult 1960s TV show The Prisoner and more recently the ITV drama series Cold Feet have boosted visitor numbers.

The aim of the conference is to help public gardens market themselves and attract more visitors.