Keep Wales Tidy is delighted to be reopening applications for its Local Places for Nature initiative.
With many of us limited to our immediate locality during lockdown, there has never been a better time to consider how our community areas can be improved for nature.
A choice of pre-paid garden packages are being offered to local community groups and town and community councils to transform a space in their local area. Groups and potential applicants are being asked to make best use of their time at home, by submitting an application. Keep Wales Tidy staff are on hand to help.
The first assessment panel was impressed with the quality and variety of applications from across Wales and were happy to award:
- 101 Butterfly gardens
- 44 Fruit gardens
- 71 Wildlife gardens
The safety of staff and volunteers is of the utmost importance, so no practical work has started to date. However, Keep Wales Tidy are making plans as to how they might deliver some activities safely when government guidelines allow.
Deputy Chief Executive for Keep Wales Tidy, Louise Tambini said:
“Through these difficult times the value of nature and accessible green space has never been more recognisable and important to our communities. It has been heartening to see so many people volunteering to help others through the COVID-19 pandemic and we would encourage you to continue volunteering and join the Local Places for Nature initiative to create new, accessible spaces for wildlife in your local community. It is easy to apply, and applicants will be supported to install their new gardens safely within social distancing and government guidelines, only when it is safe to do so. We look forward to starting practical work when regulations are eased “.
Minister for Environment, Energy and Rural Affairs, Lesley Griffiths MS said:
‘’We have all seen how important nature is for our mental well-being. Our £5m Local Places for Nature programme encourages communities to get involved with creating nature ‘on their doorsteps’. We are delighted that Keep Wales Tidy are accepting applications again, in readiness for when projects can begin. Currently we are all staying at home, to protect the NHS and save lives. But as conditions allow and when safety can be assured, I hope volunteers across Wales will be involved in these local projects to restore and enhance nature.”
The initiative is part of a wider £5m Welsh Government ‘Local Places for Nature’ fund committed to acquiring, restoring and enhancing nature ‘on your doorstep’.
Check out the map to see where all the gardens will be across Wales https://www.keepwalestidy.cymru/lpfn-map
