Robert Lloyd - a Sir Gar Blog of random news . . . and some Clecs!

Young people from Hendy Youth Club have given up their time to develop a new community garden. The picturesque garden, in front of the Urdd Hall, where they attend the youth club, took over three days to complete. It included turning the grassed bank into a seating area, laying pathways and planting flowers. The project was led by Carmarthenshire County Council’s Youth Service and was supported by Llanedi Community Council which donated £500 toward materials. Other donations included £150 in wood from D.G.Heath, coloured stone for the pathways from Hanson Quarry Products and all flowers given by Wrenvale Nurseries in Cwmgors. The council’s executive board member for youth services Cllr Keith Davies said: “The young people worked really hard to develop this lovely garden, I do hope the community enjoys it and looks after it.”

Not even the weather could dampen the mood at the official opening of a new community garden at Garnant Family Centre on the weekend. Rugby hero Shane Williams, recently appointed MBE, was the star attraction on the day which was also attended by dignitaries and many local families. Family Centre staff pulled out all the stops to make it a day to remember, with a barbecue and refreshments as well as activities and face painting for the children. The garden, which will be used by the whole community for enjoyment and education, has been made possible through grant funding. The Environmental Works Project - part of the county council’s Carmarthenshire Homes Standard programme to update council homes and benefit communities – contributed £56,500. A further £50,000 came from the Landfill Communities Fund of Waste Recycling Group (WRG) administered by the Environmental body WREN. The County Collaboration Fund and Cwmamman Town Council also provided support. Council Leader and local me...

More land has been offered to the Llwynhendy Environmental Group to extend its successful community garden and allotment project. In April, Carmarthenshire County Council agreed to lease a large area of disused land on Cefncaeau’s Dwyfor estate for a period of 21 years on a peppercorn rent to cover the cost of the setting up of the lease agreement. It was officially opened in June, and provides 16 full-sized plots and three raised beds, with sheds, paths and security fencing. Now, Housing Executive Board Member Cllr Hugh Evans has agreed to extend the lease of the land to include another parcel of land to the south, which incorporates 10 disused garages. The group has secured £26,000 Local Environment Quality funding, and plans to use the money to develop a sensory garden on the new land, as well as using the garages for storage and potting. Cllr Evans made the decision to extend the lease on September 8. He said: “Leasing of the land to the Llwynhendy Environmental Group will enable c...

Garnant Family Centre has been given permission to turn redundant land into a community garden. A meeting of Carmarthenshire County Council’s planning committee approved the Family Centre’s application for a change of use of the land alongside Maesybedol Play Area in Maesybedol, Garnant. Currently the land isn’t being used for any specific purpose. The community garden will include an eco lodge (with solar panels on the roof), a glasshouse, a polytunnel, a greenhouse, a storage container and a pet area. A number of vegetable plots and raised beds are also proposed. A planning officers’ report said: “The use of the land as a community garden is a positive development that makes use of currently vacant land for the benefit of the community.” The funding for this project comes from a number of sources, the Carmarthenshire County Council County Collaboration Fund, £25,000; WREN, £50,000 and Carmarthenshire County Council Environmental Works Project, £56,000. Local member Cllr Kevin Madge, ...