Criw Craggy, Friends of Craig-y-nos Country Park, have a new polytunnel for their community garden. The garden, in the grounds of the park, has been established over the last few years and aims to provide a space for individuals and groups to come and learn to grow vegetables, fruit and flowers.
Gardening is understood to be beneficial for mental and physical well-being and Criw Craggy are opening the garden to local individuals and groups, not only seasoned gardeners, but also those who want to learn in a supportive atmosphere. Volunteers with Criw undertook training in horticulture from the Royal Horticultural Society as they wanted to make sure their skills and qualifications were up to date before passing them on.
The garden is set out on an east facing slope below the terrace at the Country Park, offering spectacular views across the fishpond and up to Craig y Rhiwarth and Fan Gyhyrich, an iconic peak in the National Park. Raised beds have been installed and an accessible path leads up from the pond, with the new polytunnel providing a space for growing and propagating plants during the cooler months. The planting has been chosen to be of most benefit to wildlife ensuring many plants for pollinators and companion planting to help keep pests at a minimum. Criw Craggy have also been helping to collect seeds from around the Country Park and the polytunnel will provide a vital space to grow the next generation of trees.
‘The polytunnel gives us so much more scope for what and when we can grow in the garden.’ said Jackie Thomas, Chair of Criw Craggy. ‘We can grow early in the year and really be ahead of the season. It also gives us indoor space to work when the weather is wet, though most of us don’t let rain stop us gardening.’
Criw Craggy has been awarded a grant of £4,760 from the Bannau Brycheiniog National Park’s Sustainable Development Fund. The fund supports projects that help improve quality of life in communities – protecting and enhancing the local environment, helping people to live healthy and fulfilled lives now and in the future. For more information, see: beacons-npa.gov.uk/substainable-development-fund/
For more information contact Criw Craggy www.facebook.com/criwcraggy
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