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My father, Roger Hallett, who has died aged 69 from lung failure after suffering emphysema, was a landscape gardener, archivist and antique dealer. He became well known for his campaigning work at the celebrated Hafod estate in mid-Wales.
In 1974 Roger took his young family to live in a remote cottage at Nant-y-Cae, Hafod. He and his wife, Linda, whom he had married in 1964, became fascinated by the history of the estate, which was developed as a designed landscape by Thomas Johnes in the late 18th century, and is now managed by the Forestry Commission. They became members of the Friends of Hafod, a society that sought to protect the character of this historic environment and to secure its status as an unspoilt, wooded landscape.
Roger took a leading role in publishing the Friends' newsletter and became the society's archivist, building up an unparalleled collection of materials relating to Hafod's history. This archive now resides at the Ceredigion county archives. He was commissioned to carry out several conservation and restoration projects at Hafod, including restoring lengths of the historic paths.
Roger was born and educated near Birmingham. Having spent some years working as an artist and art teacher, he moved to Wales in 1967, where he forged a new career as a landscape gardener. This helped spark his interest in organic food, self-sufficiency and alternative ways of living. After spending more than 30 years at Hafod, in 2005 Roger and Linda moved to Llanidloes, Powys, where they set up a thriving antiques business which Linda continues to run. Roger brought an incisive intelligence to bear on everything he did. He loved music, art and animated discussion.
He is survived by Linda and by me and my brothers, Bart and Rafe.
