Nature’s Gift Garden, a project to transform a disused tennis court in Troedyrhiw Park, has recently won the Pro Landscaper Community Green Space Under £50,000award.
The area was identified as a well-used public open space that lacked floral diversity and educational opportunities, so using over £44,000 funding from Welsh Government’s Local Nature Partnership Fund, biodiversity officers set about changing the area from tarmac to a green oasis of useful plants that could be enjoyed by all.
Specialist plants – including medicinal plants, culinary herbs, edible plants, drought tolerant plants and colour grouped native wildflowers for pollinators – were sourced from all over the UK, and some were even grown by our own staff from specialist seed companies. Contained flower beds were created using aluminium edgings and re-cycled green waste was incorporated to provide some organic content for the plants. Soil fungi were also added to improve the health of the growing conditions.
Seating has also been introduced and interpretation panels offer information on the space and its benefits.
Councillor David Hughes, Cabinet Member for Neighbourhood Services, said: “What a wonderful transformation! I’d like to congratulate and thank all the officers and volunteers who were involved in creating such a beautiful, user-friendly space. This truly has been a team effort, with volunteers helping to stone pick, weed, prune and plant.
“The team has already received countless compliments from local park users, and we hope the space will be enjoyed for many generations to come.”
