Seven varieties of native ferns have been planted at a new fern garden at Pembroke Mill Pond in the latest green enhancement to the town.
The garden is tucked away in a shady corner of the Mill Pond walk near the town walls – providing perfect growing conditions for the plants.
The fern garden was created by volunteers from Roots to Recovery programme, a people-led project all about the restorative powers of Pembrokeshire’s amazing outdoors.
The new garden will make a significant difference to a previously overgrown and neglected area, as Maisie Sherratt explains.
“The before and after photos above show how much ivy and bramble and other unwanted greenery we removed. The new and improved fern garden is a lovely addition to the Millpond walk,” said Maisie, from the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority.
“We have a few more jobs lined up around the Castle and the Millpond for the coming months, it’s really enjoyable being able to make a difference to this area and always lovely when locals walk pass and say thank you to the group for their efforts.”
Sara Walters, from Mind Pembrokeshire, who works alongside Maisie on the project added: “We want to say a big thank you to the lovely ladies at Pembroke Town Hall where we meet up before activities, always so helpful and accommodating and absolutely wonderful with our group members too!”
Other work carried out by ‘Roots to Recovery’ in Pembroke include wildflower seed sowing on the Barnard’s Tower bank, clearance of invasive vegetation around the Castle Pond, clearance of built-up vegetation around the dipping platform, and tree weeding at Barnard’s Tower.
Roots to Recovery is delivered in partnership by Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority and Mind Pembrokeshire, supported through the National Lottery Community Fund.
The materials for the Fern Garden project were funded through a Welsh Government grant (Local Places for Nature) to the Pembrokeshire Nature Partnership which is all about connecting people with nature where they live and work. This element of the work is led by Pembrokeshire County Council’s Regeneration Unit.
