BERLLAN FACH - LITTLE ORCHARD - Back 

The Cistercian Order sought out remote valleys as places in which to establish their activities. Working the land was a major undertaking for the monks.

St Benedict decreed that gardening was, ‘a worthy, virtuous and godly occupation.’ The estate map of the Abbey Farm of 1765 delineates areas of land that were used as Berllanau or Orchards. It is likely that the origin of the fruit trees of this date were those planted by the monks at Strata Florida in the 12th century. 

Berllan Fach - Little Orchard pays homage to the importance of these orchards and to the vows and beliefs of the Cistercian Order - Stability - Fidelity – Obedience

Strata Florida, Ceredigion, Wales
Apple trees, planters and text