Community garden creates welcome environment to prevent loneliness

The Gardening Club is an active group of residents who have been working to get funding and support to develop the gardens both at the side and front of the scheme located in Ogmore Vale.

This has included a grant from Linc to help create more facilities. They have also been working with Maria Bennett, Bridgend Community Coordinator, who has encouraged the residents to see their ideas blossom.

The garden has helped the residents to stay fit and active and socialise during recent months. They have enjoyed the fruits of their labours, looking out on a selection of raised beds planted up with herbs, flowers and other plants.

Scheme manager Angela Jones said: “Maria initially got the project started with the physical help of the Open Spaces and Keep Wales Tidy project officers, along with Mens’ Sheds, involved in the construction of the raised beds. All the plants were sourced and purchased from the local B’leaf project at Bryn Garw Country Park, a work-based initiative for adults with disabilities which operates as a nursery and garden centre.

“These links have been invaluable in terms of developing the knowledge and skills of residents, allowing them to continue the establishment of the garden as it is today.  In recent months, we also opened up the garden to the local community, for anyone interested in gardening or for those experiencing loneliness and isolation, to come along and join with the residents of Cwrt Gwalia.

Resident Brian Thomas said: ‘The benefits I have had are tremendous. It has given me the opportunity to get out of doors to relive boredom and get fresh air and sun. It is great to see the benefits of your own garden.”