Another boost for Llwynhendy Environmental Group

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 community growing spaces on an area of land that has been a nuisance to those living around it due to anti-social behaviour. It will transform neglected, overgrown and litter-strewn garages in to an area that will be used by the surrounding community, encouraging social interaction, community ownership, healthy activity and lifestyle.”
The Llwynhendy Environmental Group has been supported throughout the development of the garden and allotment project by a team from the Environmental Works Project, part of the council’s housing division.
EWP manager Clare Tinkler said: “The Dwyfor allotment project was first brought to our attention as a ‘bright idea’ on our Environmental Works Project register. We have worked closely with Llwynhendy Communities First and the Llwynhendy Environmental Group in developing these community growing spaces. They were officially opened in June, and have since proved to be a great success, with the plots well cultivated and oversubscribed.
“There is a good community spirit with the sharing of gardening expertise and exchanging of plants. It has also created better relations and understanding between the young and older members of the community.
“It is great news that the lease has been extended to include the garages to the south of the land, and we will look forward to supporting the development of the project in the coming months.”