Over the coming weeks and months, we’re going to be looking at the community gardens which have been created in Wrexham, starting off with the garden in Rhos.
As one of the Low Carbon Communities in Wrexham, Rhosllanerchrugog Community Council has been working with the Decarbonisation and Open Spaces Teams to create a community garden and Tiny Forest on a redundant space at Penygraig in Rhos.
Situated at the former Ysgol y Wern field, the garden helps local people learn the benefits of growing their own, and enjoying the fruits and vegetables cultivated in the space.
With the support of Rhosllanerchrugog Community Council a redundant space has been revitalised and a fully accessible garden has been created with several raised beds and some fruiting trees and bushes.
Being a larger site there is plenty of scope for further development and there are some ambitious plans with proposals for more raised beds, increased tree-planting and a wildflower meadows along with a small orchard.
“A great asset for the community”
Councillor David A Bithell, Deputy Leader of Wrexham Council, Lead Member for Housing and Climate Champion, said: “Through working in the garden, residents can grow their knowledge and awareness of how easy it is to support nature and grow your own vegetables, herbs and fruits as well as harvesting rainwater and creating compost.
“You can learn some great skills that will help to combat climate change and then share these with others. The community garden is a great asset for the community.”
Local councillor Steve Joe Jones said: “The local community has been at the very forefront of giving this piece of land a new lease of life.
“It’s been a collaborative effort, and the garden is proving to be a wonderful place to spend time for everyone. People are getting the chance to learn skills around growing their own plants, fruit and vegetables, and in doing so they are supporting nature.”
Funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (SPF), Groundwork North Wales has supported the creation of the site and – along with Incredible Edible – has been working with the community to get started on some early planting.
Groundwork is currently running sessions for people to get involved and learn new skills on Wednesdays between 10am-12pm.
All are welcome and if you want to take part, you’ll need to pre-book via email or you can call 01978 757524.
Tiny Forest
Funded by Welsh Government through the Heritage Lottery and delivered in partnership with Woodworks CIC, the community garden hosts one of the four new and innovative, small but mighty Tiny Forests being created in Wrexham, with 600 trees planted densely in the previously prepared ground of a tennis-court size plot.
The current group is looking for people to get help with looking after the garden, and if you want to get involved there is an active WhatsApp group you can join.
Get involved
If you have some good ideas for activities that could support Rhos as a Low Carbon Community, please get in touch.
