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Climate change is a term which has been used a lot more commonly in recent decades. Last month, as temperatures soared and the UK sweltered in temperatures of up to 40°C in some parts, the reality of the situation hit home.
Recently, Caerphilly Miners’ Centre opened its climate change garden, which has since been awarded Green Flag status.
Chris O’Meara, a gardening volunteer at the Miners’ who has played a key role in the development of the climate change garden, explained: “Our climate is changing, we all know that. What the scientists are telling us is that we’re going to have warmer winters and we’re going to have more extreme weather events.
“Anything we grow should be capable of surviving flood or drought – so that dictates what we grow and where we grow it.
“It’s about demonstrating that as the world changes around us, those of us who are interested in gardening can adapt what we do and still have a beautiful garden.”
The garden has a variety of different flowers, plants, fruit and vegetables growing, as well as a pond, a seating area, compost bins and a greenhouse.
Chris continued: “I’m really excited and thrilled that all the efforts so many people have put in has crystallised into something that’s so beautiful, and so welcomed by the community.”
The gardening group at the centre, which sits on the site of the former Caerphilly Miners’ Hospital, is made up of ten volunteers who have been busy getting the garden into shape.
Describing the garden as a “bomb site” before being developed, Chris said: “We’ve got a brilliant crew who come through rain or shine – there’s no egos and everybody loves gardening and we all learn from each other.”
She added: “Lots of people have past connections with the hospital – everybody’s got a story about the miners.
“We get so much support from people who are just walking up and down who stop and have a chat. They ask us what something is and whether they can come and have a look. That’s just brilliant because it’s a community garden.”
To allow the gardening group to transform the plot of land into what it is now, Alan Richards of AJ Richards Building Solutions and Phil Turner of Turner’s Garden Maintenance, worked on the landscaping of the site.
Caerphilly’s Labour MP, Wayne David, cut the ribbon to officially open the garden.
Mr David, who was a trustee at the centre when the idea of the garden was first mooted, said: “Some had doubts about it, others thought it would work but it would be a modest venture.
“Few thought it would be the enormously successful initiative which it clearly is. All credit must go to the fantastic volunteers who have made it happen”.
Plaid Cymru Senedd Member Peredur Owen Griffiths, who represents the South Wales East region, was at the unveiling ceremony and said: “[Miners’ Secretary Katherine Hughes] and the rest of the committee have driven this project incredibly to establish what is a brilliant and beautiful resource for the local community which I hope will be well used.
“Special praise must also go to the local contractors – Turners Garden Maintenance and A J Richards Building Solutions – who were brought in when the initial landscaping works faltered.
“They have done a fantastic job and deserve all the praise coming their way for the final result.”
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