Kirsty welcomes community garden map (Kirsty Williams AM )

Cymraeg
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Kirsty Williams AM <info@kirstywilliams.org.uk>

Kirsty welcomes community garden map

June 16, 2010 12:00 AM

Kirsty Williams AM for Brecon and Radnorshire has welcomed the development of a map highlighting the increase in community gardening and farming projects.

A dual-language map which highlights community gardening and farming projects across Wales was launched on June 9, 2010 at a special celebration event at the Senedd in Cardiff.

There has been an explosion of interest over the last two years in creating green spaces in Wales, due to concerns over issues such as food miles, climate change and healthy eating. The map acts as a guide to many of these projects which are open to visitors. The map also features associated groups such as community orchards, school growing projects, community-managed allotment gardens and community supported agriculture schemes.

Kirsty Williams said: "I am very pleased to have been able to support the map, which demonstrates the massive growth in the demand for community gardens and allotments. They are a great community enterprise, promote healthy living and help reduce food miles with locally grown produce".

Federation of City Farms and Community Gardens Development Co-ordinator for Wales Katie Jones, said: "As well as the groups on the map, there are more than 130 groups not yet members of FCFCG, plus many more new and fledgling groups being set up all the time. Our job is to support their work and advocate on their behalf to the Welsh Assembly. This map is the first of its kind in Wales and marks a major milestone for community farming and gardening here. It highlights the phenomenal amount of interest there is in these community-led activities in Wales."

Katie added: "Not only will this map be useful for people wanting to visit these type of projects or get involved with activities, events, training and volunteering opportunities, but it also enables people thinking of setting up a group to get in contact with someone in their region who has already done it. And there are also pointers to where all these kind of groups can get information and support from FCFCG itself."

Andy Kenyan-Wade of the Knucklas Castle Community Land Project said:" The Map's a great tool, to see what's going on across Wales and also to connect with other projects to share ideas and knowledge. In Knucklas we've recently purchased land within the village to create growing spaces for the whole community so more people can have the opportunity to grow their own food and consume food produced on their doorstep. The project's really made a difference to the way people feel about the community as people get to know each other through getting involved with different activities. Last autumn, the whole village came together to help plant over 70 fruit trees, so we now have our very own orchard which will provide us and future generations with fruit in years to come".