Dolwyddelan community allotment gets a helping hand

Apr 14 2011 by Samantha Castle, North Wales Weekly News

AN ALLOTMENT and composting project in Dolwyddelan was given a helping hand this week by school children and councillors.

The children planted vegetable seeds in the newly built allotment, created by community group Menter Siabod.

The project has been supported by a grant from Keep Wales Tidy’s Green Communities Project, funded by the Assembly Government and the European Regional Development Interreg 4A Ireland Wales Programme.

The grant has supported the project to transform an area of waste ground into a space for the community to grow their own vegetables and compost garden waste.

The project has received help from Community Justice Interventions Wales, who made raised beds where veg can be grown safe from rabbits.

Cllr Liz Roberts, who lent a hand, said: “I have enjoyed working with the school children and youth club on their allotment project and have been impressed with their knowledge, skills base on growing vegetables and recycling.

“This project is very much a multi-agency partnership with support from Conwy Council, Keep Wales Tidy, Llechwedd Slate quarry, Menter Siabod, Community Justice Interventions Wales and North Wales Community Payback Service and volunteers from the village.

“It’s amazing what has been achieved by working together on a piece of land that looked untidy but has now been transformed. We are all waiting to see the ‘fruits’ of their labour.

“The next task is to build the bottle greenhouse.”

Ceri Morris from Keep Wales Tidy, who assisted on the day, added: “We planted a variety of seeds, so they can look forward to harvesting their own vegetables, including sweetcorn, peppers, carrots and potatoes in the future.

“The children also made a hedgehog box to provide a safe place for hedgehogs to hibernate in the winter, in a bid to help the wildlife of the area.”

Gareth Jones AM, also present, said: “This project is an excellent example of how a school can bring a community closer.”