Millennium projects' Welsh legacy

The National Botanic Garden - a millennium success

With just days of the year 2000 left to go, the Millennium Commission has said the projects it helped fund throughout Wales will leave a lasting and worthwhile legacy for many years to come.

There has been intense criticism that some developments have still to get off the ground.

However, the Commission has insisted that sites like the National Botanic Garden of Wales in Carmarthenshire are shining examples of how well the money has been spent.

The £44m horticultural centre of excellence at Llanarthne - with its unique 3,500 sq m glasshouse - has become one of Wales's most popular tourist attractions this year.

Opened in May by its patron, the Prince of Wales, it has already attracted more than 180,000 visitors through its doors.

£27m arts showcase for Wales

In Cardiff Bay, however, there is a very different story. Work has still not started on the Millennium Centre - destined to be the arts showcase for Wales.

Nevertheless, the Commission has pledged £27m to the project, and is still confident of its success.

The flagship Millennium Stadium in Cardiff has also come in for criticism, largely because of teething problems with preserving the quality of the pitch.

Despite the attacks, however, the Commission has said that this high-profile entertainment arena is helping to put Wales's on the map throughout the world.