Sustainable Gynaladwy Cyf

Rhif y Cwmni: 5535254

PORTHMADOG LEISURE CENTRE ALLOTMENTS

PORTHMADOG LEISURE CENTRE ALLOTMENTS

Background After a public meeting in June in Y Ganolfan, Porthmadog, a meeting was arranged between Cynthia Hughes and Emma Quaeck , Exercise Referral Co-ordinator, Porthmadog Leisure Centre to discuss a grant application.

It was decided that three raised beds could be fitted in to the space in front of the leisure centre, one which could be utilized by wheelchair users. A garden shed would also be needed. Although the application also asked for a cold frame, it was decided half way through the project that this would not be necessary, and it was later agreed by Lucy that the money set aside for this could be used as hard standing for the shed.

Liaison Emma, in her role as Exercise Referral Co-ordinator has contacts with many organisations, and invitations were given to individuals attending the Exercise Referral scheme, local schools, various NHS departments, Gwynedd Council etc. to the public meeting on the 21st of February. Seran Dolma,Development Officer of Felin Fach, Botwnnog (an organisation set up to turn community land into allotments as a therapeutic gardening project for people who are experiencing or recovering from the effects of mental illness, alcohol and substance misuse, or who are feeling isolated in their community) gave a short presentation on her work, and Cynthia Hughes, Sustainable Gwynedd gave a powerpoint presentation on various allotments in Porthmadog and also the Riverside Community Gardens in Cardiff. 25 people attended, and all were enthusiastic. Several others apologised, but offered their support to this project. As a direct result of publicity given to this meeting, offers of second hand gardening tools were made to Sustainable Gwynedd for use on the project.

Implementation On the 2nd April a Planting Day was organised with Tom Edwards of Groundwork demonstrating. Around 14 people attended in the morning, and during the afternoon several children, who were on half term holiday, turned up to the demo. Aled Hughes, Senior Public Health Practitioner, Public Health , also attended to give his support.

Glaslyn Leisure Centre Allotment project.docx Page 2 of 4

Delivery and erection of the garden shed, and three raised beds was arranged to co-incide with the demonstration.

Tom Edwards of Groundwork has now put in a grant to Cist Gwynedd for funds to erect a polytunnel and two other raised beds, and the Leisure Centre are awaiting confirmation of this grant.

Sustainable Gwynedd are also arranging for a Compost Site which was set up in 2008 in Penrhyndeudraeth on Wildlife Trust land, and which is no longer used, to be erected at the side of the Leisure Centre.

Glaslyn Leisure Centre Allotment project.docx Page 3 of 4 A small greenhouse has been purchased, which is now in use, and Emma Quaeck is in contact with Mark Rendell of The Growing Company (www.thegrowingcompany.co.uk) and who is a member of Sustainable Gwynedd, who is willing to give expert help on growing vegetables. A lady who has to use a wheelchair, from Cil de Gwynedd, an organisation helping disabled people, has this week been able to use the special raised bed for planting.

Extension Meetings have already taken place with other leisure centre managers in Gwynedd with a view to replicating the pilot. As a result of these talks, several residential homes in the Gwynedd area (Barmouth and Caernarfon) and members of the community who have set up a trust to run the Harlech Swimming Pool, are also interested in a similar set up. We are in the process of arranging meetings with a view to finding further funding for these ventures.

The future We feel that this project is only just beginning, and that the possibilities are virtually endless. As more and more people are aware of what