Bedwas could soon see Mother Nature reclaim a designated allotment space, after volunteers received funding to create a wild flower zone.
Bridgend Allotment Association have been successful in applying for a £500 All Wales Grant Scheme, and have created a secure, environmentally-friendly zone intended to increase local biodiversity and provide a protected zone for wildlife.
Run by environmental charity Keep Wales Tidy and funded by Tesco’s single use carrier bag charge, the scheme offers grants of £100 to £500 to environmental groups across Wales.
The All Wales Grant Scheme assists in real environmental actions, both financially and practically, to help improve local green initiatives.
As part of their environmental project, the Bedwas-based Allotment Association aim to create a dedicated bee and wild flower zone which will be self-sustaining and self-funding going forwards.
Don Jones, Allotment Chairman said: “Our committee wanted to do something this year that would not only directly benefit our members’ individual growing efforts, but also give something back to the wider community and the environment.
“We have all read about the many threats to bees, and this is our way of making a positive contribution to their survival.
“Thanks to the funding support we received and the hard work from a team of committed volunteers, we have brought this community-based environmental project to fruition and I am really delighted with what we have all managed to achieve by working together.”
Lesley Jones, Chief Executive of Keep Wales Tidy, said:
“I am delighted that so many groups and environmental projects across Wales have benefitted from a financial boost thanks to the All Wales Grants Scheme.
“It’s vital that we all do our bit to care for our local environment and through the scheme, local people across Wales have been able to get the support, resources and expert advice they need to carry out their environmental improvement projects.”
The grant scheme was the first project to be launched thanks to a partnership between Keep Wales Tidy and Tesco, after 27,000 customers took part in a vote to choose Keep Wales Tidy as the charity to benefit from Tesco’s carrier bag charge in Wales from 1st October 2014.
For more information on the All Wales Grant Scheme, you can e-mail grants@keepwalestidy.org or visit the website www.keepwalestidy.org.
Tesco give a grant of £500 to create a wild flower zone when Tesco themselves sell a 1.5kg pack of wild flowers for £7, I’m no mathematics genius but that doesn’t appear value for money to me.
Of course it is not value for money. Most of what charities do can be done for far less. It is more a case of charities wanting to be seen doing something.